by Lily Harlem
“Hey,” she called when she was closer.
He turned. “Olivia. What are you doing here?”
She smiled. “I wanted to see you. Make sure you’re okay.”
He frowned. “You shouldn’t have come alone, the leopard—”
“Has been captured and currently on the way to a sanctuary with Raul, Anya, and her father.”
“Really?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Yes, really.”
“You still shouldn’t have walked alone. I saw some big fresh burrows, might be honey badgers. Nasty things.”
“I saw them, too, but I wasn’t alone. Mason walked with me.” She gestured behind herself.
Evan looked over her shoulder. “Oh, okay.” He held his hand up.
She turned and saw Mason do the same.
“But I’m okay,” Evan said, pulling gently on his fishing rod. The small fly at the end bobbed. “You didn’t need to come here.”
“You can’t blame me for being worried.” She hesitated. “You appeared ready to kill Harry, one of your best friends, when I last saw you.”
He scowled and glanced at Mason again. “Does he know that’s why you’ve come to talk to me?”
“Of course not, Evan. Whatever is going on between you and Harry is your business…and mine.”
“There’s nothing going on,” he said in a hushed voice, and then held up his hand. “See you back at the village, mate.”
“Aye, see you then.” Mason turned and walked away.
“Evan.” She rested her hand on his bare arm. “Harry feels really bad, he’s worried you hate him.”
“I don’t hate him,” he muttered.
“I know that.”
He swallowed and pressed his lips together.
“I’m worried you may not understand what he was trying to suggest.”
“Not understand? It’s pretty damn obvious; he’s gay, Olivia, and never thought to mention it, and after all we’ve done and—”
“Hold your bloody horses.” She’d spoken much louder than she’d intended, and several flamingos turned her way. “He’s not gay, but so what if he was?”
“Because we’ve…”
“Done things together, the three of us, yes we have, and don’t you go and spoil some of the most incredible, erotic experiences of my life, Evan.”
He sighed and shook his head. “I don’t want to do that, of course I don’t. It’s been incredible, it always is…whenever we’re together.”
She was silent as she stared out at the lake. The birds nearest her had placed their beaks in the water again. “Harry told me to tell you, and these are his words, that he doesn’t want to bend you over and shove his cock up your arse.”
“Thank fuck for that.” He whipped out the line, the fly flew into the air, then he flicked his wrist and sent it shooting back out into the lake. “Because I don’t want to do that to him, either.”
“He knows that, I know that.”
Evan pulled in a large breath then blew it out.
“Harry is my husband, the same as you are,” she said. “He’s in love with me, he dreams of me, so he says; what he wanted was to relax the rules when the three of us are together.”
“Yeah, so he said.”
“But clearly you have a problem with that.”
He moved his attention from the fishing line to her.
She couldn’t fathom his expression. There was something in his eyes. Was it confusion, anger, exasperation?
“Define relaxing the rules, babe, as he told it to you.”
She swallowed and remembered seeing them kiss. It had been hot until it had nearly turned into war. “Touching, kissing, not being afraid to do what feels right.”
“And what the hell are the others going to make of that?”
“Do they need to know?”
“Raul joined us unexpectedly last night. Imagine if he’d seen Harry sucking my cock when he’d stepped into the room.”
“Harry doesn’t want to suck your cock, Evan.” At least she didn’t think he did.
He clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth.
“Evan.” She ran her hand up his arm. His thick biceps were tense beneath her palm. “Don’t let this ruin your friendship. It was only a kiss.”
He whipped his head around to face her. “He told you?”
“No.” She paused. “I saw.”
“Fuck.”
“Why? Why fuck? Why is that so bad?”
He pressed his hand over his mouth.
“Evan.” She tugged his wrist, forcing him to drop it. “Why is a kiss so bad? Tell me.”
“You’re my wife, I don’t kiss other people, no one, I’m not a cheat…but…”
“But you did kiss him.”
“He kissed me.” He stared out at the water again.
“Yes, okay, he kissed you.” She paused, sensing she had to play it carefully. “But for the record, I wouldn’t see it as cheating if you kissed Harry. You’re good for each other, you’re—”
“Olivia, you’re not hearing me. It’s not going to happen, okay. Harry is not my sort.”
“I get that.” She took his cheeks in her hands and turned him to face her again. “And so does he now, so it’s time to put it behind us, okay?” She reached up and touched her nose to his. “For all our sakes.”
He was quiet.
“Harry made a mistake by suggesting it, don’t punish him for that. No one should be punished for speaking of his or her desires or wanting to show affection.”
“You’re being very understanding,” he whispered.
“That’s because I understand you and I understand him. You need each other, and I need you both, too. If you decide to hate one another, this whole thing, our marriage, won’t work. You guys being bonded as friends, brothers, is our glue.”
“I’d argue with that and say it’s our love for you that sticks us together.”
She smiled and kissed him gently. “Yes, but anger and mistrust are slow-growing cancers in any relationship. No matter how many people are in it. We need to make this right with Harry, today.”
“We do?”
“Yes.”
“I’m catching fish, for Raul to cook later.”
“He won’t be back for dinner. I told you, he’s gone to Springbok to the sanctuary. We’ll be cooking tonight. A fish would be good, but there’s spiced vegetable curry on the menu.”
He sighed and closed his eyes. “You want me to come and talk to Harry now, don’t you.” He hadn’t said it as a question.
Olivia was pleased, because she wasn’t really asking, she was demanding. Harry and Evan needed to make up before nightfall. Going to bed on an argument was never good. “Yes, come on. Beautiful as it is here, this is important.”
He set his line in the sand. “I’ll come check on this again later.”
“Good plan.”
He straightened and closed his eyes. She wondered if he was summoning courage or if he was remembering how he’d kissed Harry back for those first few seconds.
“Come on, then.” He blew out a breath and swiped his hair from his brow. It had become a pale, sandy color, the sun seeming to bleach it further each day, and the curls were long and wild. All her men were becoming in need of a barber.
She slipped her arm about his waist and fell into step with him over the sand.
He draped his arm across her shoulders, in the casual way he often did. “So tell me about the leopard.”
“I wish you’d been there, it scared me so much.” She pressed her hand to her chest, remembering the awful sight of the creature stalking toward Lucas.
As they walked back to the village, then around the outskirts, she filled Evan in on what had happened. How Lucas had been the unplanned bait, and how his brothers had saved him. Raul’s quick thinking in closing the door and trapping the creature.
“Raul always steps up to the mark when it matters,” Evan said as the hospital and tent came into view. “It would be a foo
lish person who thought because he gets English words muddled on occasion, and always has a smile for everyone, that he’s not as sharp as one of those kitchen knives he loves so much.”
“I know. He’s a man of many talents and layers.”
“I’d trust him with your life, and mine.”
“Me, too.” She gave him a squeeze. “I trust all of you to protect and look out for each other.”
Mason and Lucas were walking their way. Both had super short hair again.
“Hey, what happened while I was gone?” she asked, gesturing to their heads.
“Ah, Harry got an electric razor out, so we thought we’d get back to normal.”
“Looks good.” And it did. Their sharp cuts suited their strong, angular features.
“Glad you think so, hen.” Mason nodded at the hospital. “Wind turbine’s playing up. We’re gonna check it over.”
“Sure. Where’s Harry?”
“In the tent moaning about his beard.”
“Oh, okay, thanks.”
Evan nodded at the portable loo beside the tent. “I’m gonna take a leak. See you in there in a minute.”
“Okay.” She batted at a fly that had been following her, then stepped into the tent.
Harry sat on a stool in the center. A bucket of water was placed at his feet, and he was peering into a small mirror. “Damn it.”
“What’s the matter?”
A deep frown slashed across his brow. “I can’t get through this damn beard. Just about broke the electric thing, and now this mirror is so small, and I can’t hold it and do this…”
“Come here.” She stepped up to him and took the razor.
The handle was neon blue and heavy, the razor blade covered in thick white foam. He’d managed to make some headway on the right side of his face, his cheek, but other than that he was as hairy as ever.
“Be careful,” he said as she placed the blade on his jawline.
“Trust me,” she whispered.
He set his gaze on her as she slowly drew down the blade, catching foam and dark hairs. After rinsing the blade in the few inches of water at the base of the bucket, she repeated the action, pleased when she saw smooth skin appearing.
“You done this before?” he asked, barely moving his lips.
“No. Never.”
“Fuck, really?”
“Keep still, no talking.”
He froze, hardly seeming to breathe.
She bit on her bottom lip, concentrated, and slid the blade down again.
After a few minutes and having cleared the hair from half of Harry’s face, Evan entered the tent.
He didn’t speak.
She carried on with what she was doing. The tension in the air was palpable, but she did her best to ignore it and focused on the task at hand. She couldn’t leave Harry with half a beard.
When she’d finally finished, without a nick or spot of blood in sight, she handed Harry a towel.
“Thanks,” he said, burying his face in it.
She wiped her hands and studied Evan.
He stood with his arms crossed and his feet hip width apart.
“You want shaving, too?” she asked.
“Nah, I’m good.” He ran his hand over his jaw. His stubble was pale and soft, the opposite end of the spectrum to Harry’s.
“That feels better.” Harry discarded the towel and stepped close to Olivia. “What do you think?” He stooped and ran his smooth cheek over hers.
“Wow, yes, no more beard burn for me.”
He chuckled, but it didn’t last long. He turned to Evan. “You calmed down?”
Evan tipped his chin.
“Yes, he has.” Olivia reached for Harry’s hand and tugged him so he was standing closer to Evan. She also took Evan’s hand. “And you two are going to say sorry for a misunderstanding—”
“Misunderstanding?” Evan said.
“Yes.” She squeezed his fingers and looked between them as they stared at each other.
For a moment she had to summon her courage to hash this out. She had no choice. Belligerence and hostility had no place in their small, private world of acceptance and love.
“Listen, I’m sorry. If you’d let me finish earlier…” Harry started.
Evan seemed to hold his breath.
Harry went on, “I was going to say it’s Olivia I’m in love with not you, it was just a suggestion to make our time together hotter.” He paused. “I thought she’d like it.”
Whoa. Hell yes, but…
“Harry,” Olivia managed. It hadn’t been what she’d been expecting him to say.
“You said you’d find it sexy.” He tipped his chin. “Earlier at the hospital.”
“Well yes, but…” She took a deep breath. He’d found that out after the kiss, was it really what he’d thought before? “Sex is only sexy if everyone is into it.”
“And I’m not into guys,” Evan said, his teeth practically gritted.
“And I’ll repeat, neither am I.” Harry frowned so deeply his eyebrows touched.
“So we forget it, yeah?” Evan said.
“Sure thing…buddy.” Harry released Olivia’s hand and held it out to Evan. “Never happened.”
“Never happened.” Evan shook, once, then stepped away. “I’m gonna take a shower.”
Chapter Four
An hour later, the Jeep had been half towed, half dragged next to the tent. The engine was back together, and she’d try it, turn it over, very soon. But right now the bodywork needed attention, as did the tires—she feared one wouldn’t be salvageable.
She worked quickly to jack it up, then removed the tire that seemed to be in the least disrepair. Luckily fixing it was simple enough, though using the foot pump in the heat of the day to get the air pressure back up wasn’t exactly fun.
Soon she was hot and sweaty and sipping constantly from her water bottle.
“You okay?” Paul asked, passing by with his stethoscope around his neck.
“Yes, nothing I can’t handle.” She nodded at the hospital. “Busy today?”
“Aye, word is spreading that we’re here. Which is good.”
“It’s why we built the hospital, so it gets used.”
“Let’s hope Global Medics send more medical staff soon otherwise I’ll be run ragged. I could do with more vaccines, too.”
“Which reminds me,” she said, “the little boy with impetigo, did he come back yet for his jab?”
Paul frowned. “No, he hasn’t. It’s a long walk, Anya said.”
“Six hours, here and home again.”
“Perhaps I could use the Jeep, go to him.” Paul gestured to it. “When will it be useable?”
“The mechanics are done, just some fine tuning. It’s the tires I’m struggling with. I’ve decided I’m not going to worry about the dinks on the bodywork, it’s hardly a super car.” She paused. “So, probably tomorrow, or the next day.”
“Good, we’ll go then.”
“We?” She smiled, liking that Paul wanted to spend time with her on a trip out of Kaskum.
“Olivia, if this thing is going to conk out in the middle of nowhere, there’s only one person I want with me, and that’s the person with an engineering degree who can fix the bloody thing.”
“Oh, okay.” She began working the foot pump again as he wandered off.
A little fizz of disappointment burned inside her. Perhaps she needed to give Paul some more attention. Which of course she could, if they spent a whole day together.
Her fears had been correct when she removed the second flat tire. The inner spindles were twisted and broken. It was just as well she had a welder, otherwise there would have been no point getting the engine working.
For the next two hours she labored on the tire. It was hot work, the scent of welding filled the air, and having to wear the protective eye shield added to the discomfort of the job.
But eventually she’d made as best an improvement she could hope for. After refuelling herself with
several oat biscuits Raul had made the day before, she pumped the tire up and put it back on the Jeep. Releasing the jack and seeing it standing straight for the first time, and not slumped to the side, was a great feeling.
“Hey, looking good,” Mason said, clasping her shoulder.
“At last. It’s been a long time coming and not without a few adventures along the way.”
“You started it yet?” Lucas appeared, wiping his hands on his t-shirt.
“Next job.”
He grinned. “Go for it.”
Paul joined them. “Is this the big moment?”
She laughed. “Yes, let’s hope it works as I’ve got an audience.”
Evan was poking new small flames with a long stick. The sun was setting, and he’d just lit the fire.
Harry stood in the entrance of the tent, in the shade, holding his water bottle. “You’ll need the ignition key, Liv?”
“Oh, yes, good point.”
“Here.” He held up a key on a small silver ring. “Catch.”
“Thanks.” She caught it and looked beneath the hood. All was in order, as best as she could get it given the circumstances. She’d taken every component to pieces, cleaned, fixed, and carefully reassembled.
“Cross your fingers and toes.” She dropped the hood with a bang.
“Nah, you don’t need luck, hen. I’ve seen you fix stuff before.” Mason grinned.
“Nothing as knackered as this.”
“True.” He nodded.
She sat in the driver’s seat. Slid in the key, and turned.
Nothing.
Her heart was thudding. She turned it again.
Please work.
The Jeep growled to life. A huge bang shot from the exhaust. She revved it, another bang, then it seemed to settle and tick along nicely.
“That’s our girl.” Evan crossed his arms and nodded.
Paul came to the open door and looked at the dials. “Aye, well done. I’m impressed.”
“You didn’t think I could do it, huh?”
“No…truth be told I didn’t, but you constantly surprise me.”
“Good, I’d hate to be boring.”
“Oh, you’re definitely not that.” He laughed. “I’ve got to get back to the hospital, but we’re on for that trip now, yeah?”
“Absolutely.” She shut the door.
The Jeep was manual, so she shoved it into first and pulled away. Another loud pop came from the exhaust, and in the rear-view mirror she spotted a puff of black smoke swirling upward.
