Three Little Words. Susan Mallery

topics about which people are reticent are money-related topics. Sometimes politics, but we don’t usually discuss...” She sighed. “Sorry. Sometimes my analytical brain gets ahead of me.”

      Noelle was sitting next to her and hugged her. “I love you so much.”

      “Thank you. Your support is gratifying.”

      Patience looked at Isabel. “Don’t think any of this has distracted me. What’s up?”

      “It’s nothing,” Isabel said. “Really, it’s silly.” She paused, knowing there was no way she was getting out of it. Not unless she could think of a really good lie.

      “Ford wants me to be his pretend girlfriend to get his mother off his back. I told him no and now I feel guilty.”

      Five pairs of eyes widened.

      “I didn’t know you were seeing Ford,” Patience said.

      “I’m not. We’ve talked.”

      “She came to CDS,” Consuelo offered with a grin.

      “Thanks for the support,” Isabel told her. “I wanted to clear the air. He’s in the apartment above the garage. I didn’t want him to think I was stalking him or anything. So we talked and it was nice. We’re friends now.”

      “Have you had sex?” Charlie asked flatly.

      Isabel was glad she hadn’t just taken another bite of her salad. “What? No. Of course not. We’re not dating.”

      “Technically, dating isn’t required for sex,” Felicia said. “With Gideon, I...” She pressed her lips together. “Never mind.”

      Patience grinned. “That’s right. You were wild with him. I was so impressed.” She turned to Isabel. “No wildness from you?”

      “We’re just friends.” The brief kiss had been nice, but even though there were tingles, she wasn’t all that interested in sex. The act never lived up to the hype, and she wasn’t in the mood to be disappointed yet another time by a man.

      “Didn’t you used to be in love with him?” Consuelo asked. “When you were younger?”

      “I was fourteen, so no, it wasn’t love.”

      “You could use him as your interim relationship,” Felicia said. “There’s extensive research on the value of having an interim relationship. It helps break the emotional bond with a long-term partner. In your case, your ex-husband.”

      “She’s helpful.” Charlie picked up her burger. “I like that about her.”

      “In addition,” Felicia added, “from all accounts, Ford has a reputation for being an excellent sexual partner. Over the years, several women who slept with him have expressed their approval.” She paused. “Not that I have personal experience.”

      Isabel felt her mouth hanging open. Even Charlie looked a little shocked.

      “It’s true,” Consuelo said with a grin. “All the ladies say he’s hot.”

      “Did you...” Noelle began, then flicked her wrist. “You know.”

      Consuelo shook her head. “Not my type. We worked together. I’m not interested in him that way.”

      “There you go,” Patience said with a triumphant smile. “A plan and your friends’ approval.”

      “I’m not sleeping with Ford!” Isabel announced, her voice a little louder than she’d planned. Patrons at other tables turned to look.

      She lowered her voice. “I’m not. That’s not what this is about. He asked me to help him.”

      “Be careful,” Consuelo told her. “He’s charming and sexy. Not to me, of course. I find him annoying and emotional. But other women are all over him. He tells them he doesn’t do relationships and they never believe him. They always think they’ll be the one to change him. And then he breaks their hearts.”

      “I’m not interested in forever,” Isabel said firmly. “I’m leaving Fool’s Gold next year and moving back to New York.”

      “So you’re fine,” Patience said with a grin. “But seriously, the fake-girlfriend thing? You need to tell him you want perks. Sexual perks.”

      Charlie raised her eyebrows. “When did you get slutty?”

      “Since I started sleeping with Justice.” Patience laughed. “I can’t help it. I’m so happy and he’s so amazing in bed. I want everyone to have what I have. Just not with him.”

      Noelle sighed. “I want that, too. I’m ready for hot monkey sex, even if it doesn’t involve a relationship. If you don’t want Ford, tell him I’m happy to be his pretend girlfriend as long as there are perks.”

      Everyone laughed. Conversation turned to sexual etiquette and then somehow moved on to Felicia’s trials of potty training the new puppy in her house. Apparently dog behavior wasn’t as predictable as the how-to books promised.

      Isabel listened but didn’t participate. She felt uncomfortable—as if there was something wrong with her.

      Did everyone like sex but her? Was there a secret she didn’t know? Had she been doing it wrong all this time?

      With Eric, a lack of passion was understandable, but what about before? Billy had been her first time, and the back of a truck wasn’t exactly romantic, so maybe it wasn’t a surprise she hadn’t had much fun with him. There had been only a couple of guys in between, mostly because she hadn’t seen the point. The kissing was nice and the touching, but when things progressed beyond that, she lost interest.

      When lunch was over, she still didn’t have an answer to what about her was different. A problem for another time, she told herself.

      They all walked out and started to go their separate ways. Consuelo stopped her.

      “Do you have a second?” the other woman asked.

      “Sure. What’s up?”

      “I need to ask you something.”

      Isabel smiled. “Honestly, I can’t think of a thing I would know that you don’t already, but go ahead. I’ll give it my best shot.”

      “You grew up here. I thought you’d have insight.”

      Isabel nodded. “Sure. Is this a town thing?”

      Consuelo shifted her weight, then glanced around as if making sure they were alone. “Not exactly.”

      Stranger and stranger, Isabel thought.

      “I’m interested in someone,” Consuelo admitted.

      “I’m surprised.” Isabel shook her head. “Okay, that came out wrong. I don’t mean I’m surprised you like someone. I guess I’m surprised that you think you need advice.”

      “I know I’m attractive.” Consuelo glanced down. “I work out. I have all the right parts.”

      “I think you’re selling yourself a little short. You’re stunning and sexy and you move like a panther.” She didn’t need a PhD in sex to understand that Consuelo had something that left other women looking as exciting as fence posts.

      Maybe that was her problem, she thought. She wasn’t sexy enough. If she acted sexier, maybe she’d be sexier. Something to consider later.

      “The panther thing might be the problem. I want to be seen as a woman, not a predator.” She made a fist, then relaxed her hand. “This is stupid. I can’t change who I am. When someone annoys me, I punch him out. Who am I kidding? I’m not going to be nice and normal. It’ll never work. Thanks for listening.” She started to turn away.

      Isabel grabbed her arm. “Hey, wait. You can’t give up, just like that. I don’t believe you simply punch people out. I’ve been