Tymber Dalton - It’s a Sweet Life

“Do I get extra points for difficulty for going after gay men, or do I get a handicap for my score?” Libbie snarked back.

Mandaline let out a sigh. “What I wish I had was something to fix your self-confidence.” She hugged Libbie. “Just this once would you please go with it and don’t fight it? I wouldn’t lie to you and send you out in something I didn’t think flattered your figure.”

Libbie blinked away the tears that wanted to flow as she hugged her friend. “Thanks,” she said. “I appreciate this. I’m sorry I’m sounding so ungrateful.”

“You’re not ungrateful. Your ex and this damn fibro have just done a number on your head is all. That rat bastard is lucky I’m not into throwing hexes.” She held Libbie’s hands as she stared into her eyes. “So what if your thighs and butt aren’t model-perfect? Guess what? Neither are mine. Most guys like their women to be real and not stick figures. You have beautiful curves. Any guy not willing to take you the way you are isn’t worth your time. But trust me, these guys are worth your time.”

Libbie decided Mandaline’s overall message was valid, even if she disagreed with her friend on the most salient point about whether or not the men were gay. “Thank you. And I appreciate this, really.”

“You’ll wear it?”

Libbie sensed how much this meant to Mandaline. The least she could do was be gracious. “Yes, I will.”

Mandaline let out a pleased little squeal that brought a smile to Libbie’s face. “Great! I also have a black crocheted shawl I’ll loan It’s a Sweet Life 103

you, too, just in case you need it. It’ll look perfect with the outfit. I’ll dig it out of my closet while you’re changing back.”

By the time Libbie reemerged from the bathroom with the costume in hand, Mandaline had found the shawl as well as a cloth Publix bag to stash everything in. She took the clothes from Libbie, handing her a zip-top baggy for the jewelry, which was then added to the bag. Mandaline proudly presented it to her. “There you go. One sexalicious Gypsy-in-a-bag, ready to wear.”

“I really do appreciate this. I’m sorry I’m being so snarky.”

“Sweetie, I understand. No, I don’t know what it’s like being in pain all the time. Frankly, I don’t see how you manage to do everything you do. I don’t know if I could function as well under the circumstances. But you’re my friend and I know I’ve been remiss in saying this to you, but I appreciate all the love and support you gave me after Julie…”

She sniffled and pasted a smile on her face that Libbie knew all too well from her own experience. “Julie really loved you as a friend, and I know you loved her back. I just feel blessed to have you in my life.”

They hugged again, the last of Libbie’s reluctance to dress up dissolving in a wave of gratitude. “Thanks, Mandaline.”

“I mean it. Anytime you need an ear, come see me. Please?”

Libbie nodded as she stepped back and shouldered the bag. “I will. I promise.”

“Good.”

Libbie made it back to the bakery a few minutes later. As she walked through the kitchen, Grover, Ruth, Jenny, and Charles all turned her way. “What’s in the bag?” Grover asked.

Libbie smiled. “Mandaline fixed me up with a costume.”

“Ooh, what is it?” Charles asked.

“Nope. It’s a secret.” She smiled. “Y’all will just have to wait and see.”

“Well,” Grover said, “since you’re going to have Charles and Ken 104 Tymber Dalton

here to help you out Halloween night, you mind I don’t come?

Louanne asked if I’d come over and go trick-or-treating with them for the twins.”

“Of course I don’t mind, as long as you bring those little girls in for cookies.”

He grinned. Next to Libbie, Grover’s twin four-year-old granddaughters were the center of his life. “We can do that.”

Libbie went upstairs to stash the bag in her bedroom. Galileo, disturbed by her arrival, followed her into the bedroom and jumped onto the bed, his tail in the air.

“Mwrao.”

“Mwrao yourself, buddy. You’ve got a whole bowlful of chow in there.”

He settled onto the blanket, kneading it with his front paws, his loud purr filling the room. She reached out and stroked his head.

“Maybe I should get you a Halloween outfit.” She let out a laugh at that thought.

Likely, he’d pee on her bed in retaliation over the indignity.

It’s a Sweet Life

105

Libbie examined the trays of treats laid out on the work tables after they closed the shop on Halloween afternoon. With Charles and Ken helping, they had the cookies decorated, bagged, and each one tagged with an It’s a Sweet Life business card tied to each little bag with an orange ribbon in plenty of time. She took a deep breath and realized she could relax, unlike the previous year, where she’d nearly been in frantic tears and still decorating cookies on Halloween morning.

They’ve been a huge help.

She went upstairs to take a hot shower and change clothes. The men had remained mum about their costumes, as had she. It amazed her how, in just a little over two weeks, the men had become such a large part of her life. They ate together almost every night, either in her apartment or theirs.

Not to mention Galileo had taken to Ken as well as he had to Charles.

Definitely another point in their favor.

Mandaline had eased up a little on her teasing over the past few days, but she still left Libbie’s shop every morning after reminding her to wish big and dream hard.

Libbie closed her eyes as the hot water sluiced over her body.

Fortunately, the weather had warmed up, which did help somewhat with her pain levels. Unfortunately, the change in barometric pressure negated some of those gains.

Come on, April. The weather would be consistently warm then, making her life much more comfortable.

106 Tymber

Dalton

Still, as he pictured the men in her mind, she saw no harm in wishing. I wish those two men were big and hard in my bed. Hell, even if it was only in her vibratory fantasies, she’d take it.

Allan stared in the mirror as he fussed with his outfit and made sure the lines were straight. “Are you almost ready?” he called out to Ben.

“Almost.”

He turned when Ben stepped into the bedroom doorway. “How do I look?” Ben asked.

Ben had refused help and settled on a generic black vampire cape from a discount store, along with fake plastic vampire fangs. Allan successfully held back the snort. He didn’t want to hurt Ben’s feelings, but Ben was the dorkiest non-sparkly vampire he’d ever seen.

More importantly, he didn’t want Ben to back out of helping Libbie. “You look great.”

“I feel stupid,” Ben rumbled. “I had enough of disguises working undercover.”

Allan gentled his tone. “You look fine. Let’s get downstairs and help before Libbie tries to set up on her own.”

“What are you, anyway?” Ben asked as he followed Allan to the front door. “That’s the weirdest-looking zebra getup I’ve ever seen.”

Allan had spent a day online searching for the zentai suit with vertical black and white stripes. He’d used one of their prepaid credit cards to order it, and had it shipped overnight to Many Blessings, where he picked it up. “I’m not a zebra. I’m the Doppler effect.”

Ben blinked. Allan watched as he tried to process that. “The what?”

“You don’t watch The Big Bang Theory, do you?” Allan asked.

Now he got the arched eyebrow. “The what?”

It’s a Sweet Life

107

“It’s a TV show. Never mind.” He opened the door and headed down the hall toward the stairs leading to the bakery.

All I care about is that Libbie will like it. If he was lucky, maybe it would make her smile and take the pain away from her sweet face for a few moments.

If he was really lucky, maybe she would laugh for him.

Libbie examined herself one more time in the downstairs bathroom mirror. This is stupid. I look ridiculous. Why did I let Mandaline talk me into wearing this?

The gauzy, short, low-cut peasant-style blouse emphasized the deep valley created with the help of the black sequined push-up bra underneath, giving her natural B-cups an artificial boost. The beautiful embroidered silk scarf in tones of turquoise and gold wrapped around her hair looked gorgeous.

Too gorgeous for me.

The layered, handkerchief skirt swirled around her ankles with every movement. At least it was warm out tonight, or she wouldn’t have been able to wear the skimpy outfit.

The large hoop earrings, jingling bells on her ankle bracelet, and flat, strappy sandals completed her gypsy fortune-teller costume.

She turned at a noise behind her to find Ken and Charles standing there. She wondered about the look of surprise that flitted across Ken’s face before he schooled it back to his usual stonewall expression.

Charles, on the other hand, looked delighted.

He gently grabbed her hands in his and held her arms out so he could get a better look at her. “You look beautiful, sweetheart.”

She felt the warm flush fill her face despite her best efforts to hold it back. “Thanks,” she mumbled before focusing on his costume.

“Nice! The Doppler effect. Where on earth did you manage to find 108 Tymber Dalton

that?”

“You like it?” Charles asked.

She nodded, grinning. “I love it. That’s great!”

He turned to Ken with a triumphant grin. “Ha! See? Told you she’d love it.”

If I didn’t know he was gay, I’d think Charles was trying to impress me. She ignored the painful little thump her heart made at the thought and pushed it away.

“What do you need us to do?” Ken asked.

“Well, the folding tables are in the back. If you want to set them up inside the doorway, then we can get the boxes of cookies moved out there.”

Ken nodded and headed off to do it.

Charles cocked his head at her. “You feeling okay?”

“I’m a little tired. That’s all.”

“How’s your pain?”

Her breath caught in her throat at his tone. Stupid, he’s just a concerned friend. “Maybe a six.”

He frowned. “Did you take a pill?”

“No. A six is okay. Not a bad day, actually.” She forced a smile.

The skintight outfit he wore showed off every etched muscle in his body. Too bad he’s wearing the running shorts over it. The loose black shorts concealed the muscle she’d most like to see outside of her hot, wet nighttime speculations.

“Just take it easy tonight,” he cautioned. “You’ve got us to help you. All you need to do is sit there and look cute.” He caught one of her hands again and brought it up to his lips, where he brushed them across her knuckles. “And you look damn cute. Let us be your brawn tonight.”

She nodded, her voice failing her. I wish!

It’s a Sweet Life

109

They were fifteen minutes past the official start time when Mandaline, dressed as a sexy, yet PG-13-rated zombie princess, bounded into the store with a Many Blessings bag in her hand. Ken and Charles were busy handing out cookies. Mandaline grabbed Libbie’s hand and pulled her around the counter.

She leaned in close. “This is for you for tonight.”

Libbie took the bag, which was heavier than it looked, and peeked inside. A large bottle of homemade cider took up most of it. “What is this?”

“Sachi made a batch of her favorite Samhain beverage,”

Mandaline admitted with a giggle. “It’s strong, so don’t go driving after you’ve had some. And there’s a little something in there for you and hopefully those two hunks.”

Libbie felt deeper inside the bag, her face heating to supernova proportions when her fingers found the plastic strips of condom packages.

She jerked her hand out of the bag like she’d just been bitten.

“Thank you,” she mumbled. “I think the cider will get a lot more use than the…other stuff.”

Mandaline hugged her. With her lips pressed against Libbie’s ear, she gently scolded, “Don’t forget. Wish big, dream hard. Especially tonight of all nights when the veil is thinnest. The Universe will hear you, believe me.” After pressing a kiss to Libbie’s cheek, she bounded out of the store as fast as she’d entered after giving a wave of her fingers to the men.