Free For Research Purposes Only by Stephanie Williams

buddy, their buddy. All three of them had been through a lot. Jerry always had her best interest at heart, too. Even when he’d turned down her advances so many years before, he’d done it for her own good. But he always loved her. She’d thought like a sister, but apparently more.
    She needed to trust both of them now if she wanted to go through with this. “I, um, need a little more time to think.”
    “Tell you what. Today we’ll just hang around the house, catch up on things, maybe watch the game. No mention of writing, books, or threesomes. Later, we’ll see what the evening brings.” Marty rested his hand on her shoulder and kissed her forehead.
    “That sounds like a plan.” Jerry came around to the other side of her. He bent down and kissed her cheek. His kisses were butterfly soft, yet still sexy and sensual.
    “That does sound good,” Lacy threw down her book. “Besides, my eyes are beginning to hurt.”
    “Great, let’s head downstairs, I’m hungry, too.” Marty led them both out of the bedroom.
    Once they settled in the den, they continued to talk about the latest gossip from Jerry’s job they hadn’t gotten to at the picnic.
    “So, Peter still thinks he has a job when he comes back from Zurich?” Marty asked as he popped another potato chip in his mouth.
    “Oh yeah, in fact he asked Robin, his secretary, to put down some important meeting on his calendar. She came to me asking what she should say. I told her say nothing.”
    “So, everyone knows Peter is pinked-slipped, except Peter.” Lacy reached for a chip.
    “That’s cold,” Marty agreed.
    “That’s advertising,” Jerry said, matter of factly. “That’s why the turnover is so high in the industry. You leave first before they give you the boot.”
    “Are you sure you’re going to have a job when you get back?’ Marty asked.
    “I’m important to them; I hold a lot of their VIP accounts. But just in case, I’m invested and got a nice nest egg.”
    They laughed.
    The gossip continued and they caught up on things. The trio played cards and a few games of checkers, where Marty beat the pants off both of them, then took a break and had dinner. Marty cooked up another one of his Spanish dishes, which included five courses. After dinner they lay on the couches and chairs, bloated.
    “I’m surprised I’m not as big as a house, with his cooking,” Lacy said, patting her tummy.
    “You work out.” Marty reached over, squeezing her biceps.
    Lacy giggled, she was ticklish in that spot. “Thank goodness!”
    “No complaints here,” Jerry said. “With my busy schedule and late hours, it’s nice to have a home cooked meal for a change.”
    “Running a tab at the local burger joint?” Lacy smirked.
    “You got it.”
    “Doesn’t show.” And it didn’t. Lacy always marveled at Jerry’s body, and was guilty of sneaking a peek when the three of them went to the beach.
    “Glad you noticed.”
    After watching the late show, they got up one by one and went upstairs.
    Marty caught up to Lacy at the bedroom door and whispered in her ear. “Let’s invite Jerry to our bed.”
    Lacy’s body responded, going up in flames, starting from her toes and ending at the tips of her hair. She didn’t think she could still be that turned on. She watched Jerry as he turned to go to the guest bedroom. He paused to look at them and smiled. Damn, could a man be any sexier? And brother, did her curiosity go up a few notches. “Uh, Jerry.”
    “Yes.” He leaned against the doorway
    She glanced up at Marty; he winked and nodded to her. “Why don’t you come…and keep us company a bit.” She noticed a look pass between them.
    “Okay, if you’re sure.”
    “Yes, I’m sure.”
    He moved away from the door and walked into Lacy and Marty’s bedroom.
    They followed him in. At first, all three stood there, not saying a word. Something hung in the air which couldn’t be or wouldn’t be expressed. She sighed. How do you break the ice on