Three Read Free Page A

have a couple days alone with her.” Xander said, mentally rubbing his hands together.
    “Be careful, Xander. You push too hard and she’ll run. Plus, she’s only here for a couple of weeks. And she may not even stay, and I’m so tired of these relationships not going anywhere.” Jackson warned.
    “Oh stop being a Debbie Downer. We haven’t gotten laid in months, and even then it was mediocre. I need some pus-“
    “Hey, Simone!” Jackson cut off Xander before he could finish his crude sentence, when Simone walked into the dining room of the lodge. “Ready for lunch?”
    “Yes, thank you.” Simone responded shyly.
    “Come sit with us. Can I get you a beer?” Xander stood up and pulled out a chair, thankful for Jackson’s interruption.
    “Uh, I’m not much of a drinker.” Simone said as she sat in the chair Xander pulled out for her.
    “That’s okay. We’ve got anything you want. Soda, tea, water, juice…anything.” Xander suggested.
    “You know what? I think I will have a beer.” Simone said taking a deep breath, obviously wanting to loosen up.
    Xander quickly strode into the kitchen to get her a beer. He hoped that it would relax her enough to make her a little more comfortable around them. Then maybe they could feel her out, see if she might be attracted to both of them as well and would be open to a relationship with both of them.
    He grabbed a beer and hightailed it back out to the dining room, not wanting to miss out on the initial bonding it took to get one woman to take on two men. But when he came out of the kitchen all was quiet at their table. Simone’s head was down looking at her hands and Jackson was just staring at her silently, like a predator observing his prey.
    Xander shook his head. And Jackson thinks I’d scare her away. His creepy serial killer stare will probably do more damage. Jesus, Charles Manson, lighten up!
    “Here ya go, Simone. Unfortunately we don’t have any light beer. But if you sip it, it should be fine.” Xander said handing her the ice cold brew.
    “Thank you.” Simone said softly as Xander sat down on the other side of her.
    Simone looked at the men on either side of her. Xander noticed her hand tremble as she reached for the beer bottle. She raised the bottle to her ridiculously full lips and instead of the sip he thought she would take, she chugged down at least a quarter of the beer before she brought it back down to the table. Wow, she really is nervous. Is it us, are we that intimidating, or does she act like this around all men?
    “So tell us about yourself, Simone.” Xander tried to open with.
    “Uh, there’s really not much to say.” Simone started self-consciously.
    “Sure there is. How about why exactly are you so interested in learning about the Tanana Tribe?” Xander asked, not willing to give up.
    “Well I guess it’s because that was my mother’s tribe.” Simone shrugged.
    “‘ Was your mother’s tribe?’” Jackson finally joined in.
    “I don’t have any family. Both of my parents are dead, I have no siblings and both my parents were only children, so no aunts and uncles. The only family on my dad’s side are distant relatives. So the only possible family I have left are those on my mother’s side. The Tanana Tribe.” Simone said sadly.
    “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up a painful subject.” Jackson apologized.
    Xander looked at Jackson. The look was one of reluctant excitement, sympathy for the obviously lonely woman sitting in between them, but excitement over the fact that she had no one to make her feel ashamed of a polyandry relationship. That was an issue they had had in the past. Women were attracted to them both and wanted them, but fear of what their parents or family would think, stopped them in their tracks.
    “It’s okay, I’ve pretty much gotten used to it.” Simone reassured him.
    “What do you do for a living?” Jackson asked, genuinely interested in the woman sitting between them.
    “I