Tymber Dalton by It's a Sweet Life Read Free Book Online Page B

completed, the men had taken a quick trip to the store for sheets, pillows, towels, and groceries, and they were settled in for the night. Before Grover had left for the day, he’d slipped Ben a piece of paper with his name and several phone numbers written on it.
    “You call me if she has trouble,” he told Ben. “Girl’s too damn stubborn to ask for help when she needs it the most. I’m counting on you two to help me keep an eye on her when I can’t be here.”
    Libbie had gone to bed nearly two hours earlier, her face pinched with pain as she bid the men good-night.
    I wish I could make her feel better. Ben shoved the wistful thought back into its cage again and slammed the door shut. He really liked Libbie and could tell Allan did, too. That was dangerous.
    Very dangerous.
    It wouldn’t do to fall for her. From the way she’d acted that afternoon, Ben could tell she’d quickly grown comfortable around them.
    It would be too damn easy for him to fall for her.
    You’re just lonely. Don’t be a dick and hurt her. Keep your distance.
    Later, as he collapsed into bed, alone, after taking a shower, he couldn’t help but think about her sweet green eyes.
     
    * * * *
     
    Libbie slowly sank into the deep tub of hot water with a relieved groan. Galileo, still disgruntled by the upheaval, strolled into the bathroom and put his front feet up on the tub’s edge.
    “Mwrao.”
    She closed her eyes and put her head back against the tub pillow. “Stuff it, buddy. This is Mommy’s time.”
    Everything hurt. Hurt worse than it had in a long time.
    At least something makes my hands seem to feel better. She smiled at the irony. Tonight, her total pain level was through the roof, meaning her hands were the least of her problems.
    And now she had some nice man-candy to think about while waiting for sleep to kick in later. Ken and Charles were sweethearts.
    Just my luck they’re gay.
    Didn’t it figure? The first two decent guys, not to mention hunktacular guys, to cross her path in years, and neither was available.
    Too bad. At least I have Bob. He never let her down as long as she kept fresh batteries in him. And he could stay in her bedside drawer, so she knew he couldn’t sleep around on her or lie to her about who he’d been with.
    Bonus.
    She’d learned the hard way it wasn’t worth having a relationship with someone who couldn’t give as much as she did. She’d divorced her first mistake, fortunately before her parents had died, eight years ago. They’d been totally supportive when she’d found out he was a cheating, lying bastard.
    Especially when she admitted he gave her a hard time about her fibro and accused her of faking it.
    After she caught herself drifting off, she drained the tub and got out. She rubbed more of both the ointment and oil mix Mandaline gave her into her hands and headed for bed. Tomorrow, with the shop closed, she could sleep late. And she would. As well as spend most of the day curled up on the couch with Galileo, a heating pad, and her Kindle. She had a new Cooper McKenzie ménage waiting for her.
    If only those kinds of things happened in real life. Well, they did to lucky people like Mandaline. While initial scuttlebutt about the woman’s triad with Ellis and Bradley had been scandalous, eventually the rumors died down when people realized they didn’t do anything shocking like have sex in public or try to convert everyone to their lifestyle.
    Libbie could give a flying rat’s ass what Mandaline did in her bedroom. Truth be told, she was a little envious.
    She let out a wistful sigh. Maybe I should ask Mandaline what they’re putting in their drinks over there and order a buttload of it for myself.

Chapter Six
     
    Libbie’s first thought upon waking Sunday morning was that she was caught in a nightmare. The light looked wrong, her whole bedroom seemed out of place, and it felt like every single muscle in her body was simultaneously caught in a horrible spasm.
    Even rolling