Chapter 5

5

Dakota

R eed was exceptionally gallant on the way home. He didn't even try touching me again. Every fiber in my body screamed for his lips, but he kept our rapport gentle and respectful, a sure-fire way straight into a woman's heart. Decency—a rare quality in people today yet the Faulkner triplets seem to carry it in bucketloads.

The whole evening was a whirlwind of moments that continue to baffle me.

I had no clue that my body would react the way it did. That my own brain would shut down if only for me to feel the physical desire of three men at once. Had anyone told me a few years back that I'd be into something like this, I would've laughed to the point of crying.

It was insane, debauchery at a completely different level, but it was real. The Faulkner triplets are clearly into me. It was fire at first sight during that Single Dads Club meeting, and it's only escalated from there. But where does it lead? Where do we go with this?

Chelsea comes downstairs after putting Maisie to bed. "Thanks for bringing her home," I say as I pull a bottle of pink prosecco from the fridge and a mason jar filled with berries. "Let me treat you to something nice."

"Oh, Dakota, honey, don't worry about it. You know it's always a pleasure. Besides, I just want to know how your date went," Chelsea shoots back and takes a seat at the counter island, a huge smile slitting her tanned face.

I set the ingredients on the beige marble counter, then pick a few other things from the pantry and the fridge, along with some of my bar tools from the bottom drawer. I'm feeling creative tonight, and if there's one thing that takes the edge off for me, it's mixing, just me and the flavors, experimenting until something wonderful happens.

"It was… nice," I say, wondering if I should tell Chelsea about the whole thing.

Would she understand? Would she be okay with it? We've known each other since we were kids. She's pretty open-minded, but three guys? It might be a stretch, even for her. I start adding berries and several spices into a mixing bowl while Chelsea follows my every move.

"Just nice?" she asks. "You're kidding. I thought Archer was a super-hot hunk."

"He is. So are his brothers."

"Oh, right. Triplets. Come on, Dakota, give me deets, girl. I spend most of my days with children. I need my dose of filth once in a while. Let me live vicariously through you."

I laugh as I add mint leaves to the bowl, bringing out their aroma with hard, circular, crushing movements. "The date was really nice. We went to Dante's, we tried some cocktails, we kissed."

"Ah!" she exclaims, eyes wide with excitement. "You and Archer kissed? Holy smokes!"

"No, me and Reed."

Now, she's confused. "I thought you went out with Archer."

"Actually, I went out with all three of them. I almost kissed Archer. Actually, if the waiter hadn't come along, I'm pretty sure I would've kissed Maddox, too," I mutter, remembering their touch. My breasts tingle. My core tightens. There's a vibrator in my bedroom drawer that's going to need new batteries after tonight.

Chelsea keeps staring at me. "Wait, what?"

"They were all into me. I mean, they are into me."

"Hold up. They want to share you or what?" she laughs, not really believing any of it. Why should she? Her reaction is totally normal. I'm clearly the crazy one, willing to go ahead with it in the first place. But how could I turn them down? "Dakota?"

"Yeah?"

"They want to share you?"

I nod once. "I want it, too."

Chelsea takes a deep breath, watching my hands move as I load various ingredients into the tin shaker. She's known me for so long that I simply don't see the point in keeping this from her.

"Let me see if I've got this right," she finally says. "We're talking about Reed, Archer, and Maddox, the three hot triplets you met at the Single Dads Club, who are currently fostering their best friends' son with the intention of adopting him. Do I have it right so far?"

"Yeah."

"These three want to be with you, to literally share you."

"Yeah. It sounds insane, I know."

"We're not talking about taking turns or planning days like Reed gets Mondays and Fridays, Archer gets Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Maddox gets Wednesdays and Saturdays, for example. The three of them at the same time. On the same date."

"I believe that is the case, yes," I reply, and it is so hard not to laugh as she's spelling it out.

"For what it's worth, I think you should go for it," Chelsea declares. "If it makes you happy if you want to give it a shot to see if it's something you're into, I say go for it. You're a grown-ass woman with thoughts, ambitions, and needs of your own. You gave Keith some of your best years, and it is time for you to finally focus on yourself and spoil yourself. And if spoiling yourself means getting it on with three identical-looking studs, then knock yourself out, sister."

"It's insanely taboo," I mumble, then push one of the glasses over to her. "Give this a try."

"So, what if it's taboo? I won't tell anyone. They certainly won't tell anyone. Besides, it's nobody's business. You said they run some huge fintech company, right?"

"A corporation, actually."

"Therefore, they have to be concerned about stock market shares, public image risks, and so on and so forth. They definitely won't tell," Chelsea concludes and takes a sip of my cocktail. Instantly, her mood shifts, her expression softening and glowing with wonderful surprise. "Oh, my God, Dakota, what magical potion is this?"

"Go easy; it does have some triple sec in it," I chuckle softly.

She gives me a long look. "This talent needs to be nurtured. It's as if summer itself is exploding in my mouth; I don't know how else to describe it. But if I close my eyes, I can picture myself somewhere in the Bahamas, a tanned hunk fanning me with giant peacock feathers while I sip this, and thank heavens, I'm no longer a mere mortal. Honey, this cocktail is practically transcendent."

"I'm so glad you like it."

"Like it? I love it. Is it your own recipe?"

I nod once. "But also a twist on an old favorite of mine."

"You need to give it a name, and you need some big, high-class bar event to showcase it."

"That would be nice, for sure," I agree.

We go back to talking about the triplets, and by the time Chelsea leaves for the night, I find myself resolved to give things a try.

Chelsea was right; I deserve a little treat.