Sweet Indulgences 3 Read online

  Sweet Indulgences 3—Summary

  by Susan Fox

  This is the second volume of Sweet Indulgences. These sweet short stories are designed for the busy woman who deserves a few minutes of self-indulgence—on the bus or train to work, during coffee or lunch break, while waiting to pick the kids up, sitting in the doctor or dentist’s waiting room, sinking into a bubble bath before bed, or . . . well, I’m sure you get the picture.

  Volume 3 contains three stories.

  In Cruise Into Spring, Theresa’s holiday plans go awry—which turns out to be the very best thing that ever could have happened.

  In Gender Benders, Tim finds love—and the courage to commit even when times are tough.

  When photographer Nick has Belinda In the Frame, he helps her overcome her camera-shyness—and proves his own date-worthiness.

  Earlier versions of many of the stories in the Sweet Indulgences series were published by The Wild Rose Press, by Freya’s Bower, and in the magazines Woman’s World, The People’s Friend, New Love Stories, Woman’s Weekly, and Woman’s Day.

  Praise for Susan’s Writing

  “I loved this book. It’s the perfect sweep-you-away story—smart, sexy, funny and touching…Susan Fox delivers an unforgettable read.”

  Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author, on Home on the Range

  “Emotionally compelling, sexy contemporary romance.”

  Publishers Weekly on Love, Unexpectedly

  “Fox delivers a contemporary love story sure to make readers go weak in the knees.”

  Publishers Weekly on His, Unexpectedly

  “This series is a must read for the great characters, sweet romance, explosive passion and thought-provoking view on life.”

  The Romance Reviews on the Wild Ride to Love series

  “You can’t go wrong picking up a Susan Fox book.”

  Romance Reviews Today on Yours, Unexpectedly

  Sweet Indulgences 3

  by Susan Fox

  Published by Susan Lyons Books

  ISBN 978-0-992020149

  Copyright 2014 Susan Lyons

  All rights reserved

  Cover photograph by Susan Lyons

  Cover design by Book Graphics

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the author, excepting brief quotes used in reviews. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Discover other titles by this author.

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  Table of Contents

  Sweet Indulgences 3—Summary

  Praise for Susan’s Writing

  Sweet Indulgences 3

  Table of Contents

  Cruise Into Spring

  Gender Benders

  In the Frame

  Author Bio

  Other Titles by Susan

  Cruise Into Spring

  Theresa’s mouth fell open. “Me? Are you sure? I’ve never won anything in my life!”

  The woman on the other end of the phone line chuckled. “This is a great place to start. And yes, I’m absolutely sure. You’re the lucky winner of our Cruise into Spring contest, and you’re going on a dream vacation.”

  A dream vacation, Theresa thought as she hung up the phone a few minutes later. With months’ worth of dingy winter snow still littering the March streets, she’d won a spring solstice cruise to the sunny Caribbean.

  The only problem was, it was a cruise for two. Not only was it a dream vacation, it was a romantic dream vacation.

  And she was now one, not half of a twosome.

  George had been with her when she’d bought the ticket in the middle of an icy-cold January. In fact, that ticket had been the beginning of their end.

  “When I win,” she’d joked, knowing it would never happen, “I’ll take you with me—if you treat me nice.”

  They’d only been dating a month—had, in fact, met at a mutual friend’s pre-Christmas party—but she was hooked on his blond good looks and infectious laugh.

  He had laughed at her comment. “No thanks!” He’d held up his hands in mock horror. “I can’t think of anything worse than one of those luxury boats with gourmet buffets, three dozen bars, and every activity organized for you.”

  “But…it sounds so relaxing,” she protested.

  “Self-indulgent.”

  “Well, yes.” And what on earth was wrong with a little self-indulgence? To the busy secretary of a demanding lawyer, it sounded like sheer bliss. Especially when it was so damned cold outside that she had to bundle up in a puffy coat, scarf, hat, boots, and gloves to scurry the block from her apartment to the subway station. The idea of sprawling in the sunshine in only a bikini was too tantalizing for words.

  But, although Theresa loved the idea of a week’s worth of pampering, George’s vision of a dream holiday was hiking into the back of beyond carrying a week’s worth of supplies on his back.

  When he’d eagerly suggested they go winter camping, she’d burst into near-hysterical laughter. They had parted ruefully, but amicably. And now Theresa had won her week of self-indulgence, but had no one to share it with.

  Wait a minute. Her older sister Katie had always been her best friend, and Katie was forever complaining about how the twins ran her ragged.

  Surely her husband Mark and the kids’ grandparents could handle childcare, freeing Katie to have a relaxing holiday. If anyone truly deserved pampering, it was a young mom with twins.

  Theresa dialed Katie’s number. “Hey, sis, want a free ticket on a Caribbean cruise?”

  When Katie stopped yelling in her ear, Theresa said, “Yes, it’s true. I won two tickets and I’m happy to give you one.”

  “It sounds fabulous,” Katie said. “God, I’d love to get away. It’s the time of year when I think winter will never quit. Give me the info then I’ll talk to Mark and call you back as soon as I can confirm.”

  She told her sister the dates and the name of the cruise line and ship, then crossed her fingers that Katie’s husband would agree.

  Half an hour later, Katie phoned. “I’m so excited! This is working out perfectly. I called the cruise lines, and the ship isn’t full so they were really reasonable about the upgrade fee.”

  “Upgrade fee?”

  “You know, to swap one ticket for a cabin for Mark and me and the kids.”

  “M...Mark and—”

  But Katie didn’t hear her, she was rushing on. “I’m hoping you’ll be able to look after Chase and Andrea sometimes? Mark and I are really looking forward to some time alone, and I know how you love the twins.”

  “I do, but—”

  “Thanks so much, Theresa! If you hadn’t offered me the free ticket, I might not have survived winter. Mark and I’d never have got ourselves organized to plan a holiday.”

  Theresa’s mouth was still hanging open in shock when Katie hung up. Slowly she put the receiver down. Yes, she adored her niece and nephew, but how could she tell her sister that babysitting two kids wasn’t at all what she’d had in mind?

  She couldn’t.

  ****

  And so, on the first day aboard the Caribbean Dream, after she and her sister’s family had shared a delicious lunch, she found herself leading two cute little freckled children along to the kiddie pool. Katie and Mark were “taking a nap, wink, wink,” as Katie had termed it.

  Theresa sighed, and
then she smiled at Chase and Andrea. They really were adorable, even if not exactly the company she’d had in mind.

  She fitted the kids with fluorescent water wings, her fingers remembering what to do from the weekend days last summer when she’d taken them to swimming lessons.

  Ah well, this might not be the holiday she’d planned, but the sunshine was delicious and it felt absolutely sinful to be wandering around in a bikini when her friends back home were slogging away in the snow. Yes, this was what spring was supposed to be like. She straightened from fastening Andrea’s wings and gave the kids a big smile.

  “No, Daddy, it goes like this!” An impatient girlish voice drew her attention.

  While she’d been getting the twins set up, a man had arrived with his daughter, who looked to be about Chase and Andrea’s age. Theresa glanced at his fumbling fingers. “Excuse me for interrupting,” she said tentatively, “but I think your daughter’s right.” She hoped he wouldn’t be offended, but safety came first.

  He looked up, and clear gray eyes met hers. A lock of dark brown hair flopped over his brow, and he shook it back and smiled. His rueful and utterly charming smile made her heart skip. “Thanks,” he said. “This is my first time.”

  “Listen to me, Daddy,” the girl said firmly. “I know how to do it.”

  He tousled her mop of honey blonde curls. “Okay, sweetheart, I believe you.”

  When she was fastened in securely, the little girl turned to the twins and said confidently, “I’m Bree. Who are you?”

  Soon the three children were splashing happily in the pool.

  Theresa turned to the man, who’d straightened to reveal a nicely toned, if winter-white, body in swim trunks. She felt a little self-conscious, the two of them standing there close to naked. Yes, the sun was shining, and they were beside a swimming pool, but up until yesterday she’d been used to seeing everyone in winter layers. Or maybe it was more the fact that she was super-aware of how hot he looked.

  Telling herself it was silly to feel attracted when he was so clearly married, she said politely, “Hello, Bree’s dad. I’m Theresa.”

  “Patrick.” He was keeping his gaze on her face, not checking out her bikini-clad body. “Thanks for helping out.”

  “You got childcare duties too, did you?” she asked, wondering if his wife was in the spa or perhaps shopping in one of the many enticing gift stores.

  He gave her a big, contented grin. “I have childcare duties all week.”

  “Oh?”

  “Bree’s mother and I are divorced, and we share custody. This is my week.”

  Ah, ha. Not married after all. Now she was free to enjoy his warm smile, dark-lashed gray eyes, and sexy body. Unfortunately, he didn’t seem to be gazing back with anything more than platonic interest. How depressing that the first attractive man she’d met on vacation didn’t find her the tiniest bit appealing.

  “And you decided to bring Bree on a cruise?” she asked, thinking it was an unusual holiday for a father with a young child.

  He shrugged. “I’m in marketing, and won this trip as a reward for high achievement. Who else was I going to bring?”

  Theresa shrugged back, wondering if this meant he didn’t have a girlfriend. She’d almost hoped he had, because that would explain his lack of interest in her.

  Oh well, even if he wasn’t attracted to her, there was no reason they couldn’t chat. He seemed like a nice guy, and a loving dad.

  As they talked—they discovered they lived only a few miles apart, and both preferred sun to snow—she and Patrick glanced often at the pool. The three children seemed perfectly safe and were having fun together. “They get along well,” he commented. “I’m so glad there are other kids for her to play with.”

  “Yes, that’s one thing about twins, they never lack for company.”

  “Bree’s almost five. How old are Andrea and Chase?”

  “Four and a half.”

  “Were you surprised when you found out there were two of them?”

  “A bit. They don’t run in our family. But they do in Mark’s, so it wasn’t a total shock.”

  “Where is your husband anyhow?”

  She glanced at him in surprise. “I’m not married.”

  “Sorry, I just assumed you and Mark…”

  “Oh!” And suddenly she realized exactly what he’d assumed. How could she have been so stupid? Well, she’d have to remedy her error immediately. She gestured toward the splashing twins. “They’re my sister’s. I’m babysitting so she and her husband can spend some time alone together.”

  “Oh,” he said slowly, and now those gray eyes sparkled with the interest that had been lacking before. “Well, now. That’s very nice to know.”

  Theresa could pretend not to understand what he meant, but she didn’t believe in playing games. Instead she smiled at him and said, “I’m glad you think so.”

  As they stood there grinning at each other, she thought that this was what spring was truly about. Yes, sunshine was wonderful, but the true essence of spring was new beginnings. And maybe she’d just found hers.

  ****

  The next morning, after breakfast, Katie said, “Well, Theresa, I guess you’d like some time for yourself. Mark and I will take the kids.”

  Theresa shook her head. “Andrea and Chase and I already have plans. Why don’t you and Mark relax and enjoy each other’s company today?”

  Katie gaped at her. “Theresa, that’s so sweet of you, but it’s not fair. You’re the one who won this trip. We can’t possibly accept.”

  “Sure you can.”

  Katie and Mark exchanged glances, and it was obvious they were dying to take her up on her offer.

  “Theresa, are you sure?” her brother-in-law asked.

  “Absolutely.”

  “You are the most generous, unselfish, wonderful sister a girl could ever have,” Katie gushed. “I don’t know what I did to deserve—”

  Theresa didn’t hear the rest of what her sister was saying because, over by the door, she’d caught sight of Patrick and Bree waving.

  “Our playmates are here,” she said to the twins.

  They let out shrieks of delight and dashed over to Bree.

  Katie’s gaze followed them, and her eyes widened. She stared back at her sister, her eyes gleaming. “Theresa! Now I see why you’re so happy to kid-sit.”

  Theresa leaned down to kiss her cheek. “You owe me, sis. Enjoy your day, and maybe you’d be willing to look after three children tonight.”

  Laughing, her sister said, “I think that could be arranged.”

  “Seems like a fair trade to me,” Mark said, standing and tugging Katie up beside him. “Now come on, wife, let’s take advantage of our twinless time.”

  When he wrapped an arm around her waist, Katie grinned at Theresa. “Don’t you just love spring?”

  Across the room, Patrick was smiling at her.

  She smiled back. “It’s my favorite season.”

  Gender Benders

  “Tim,” the voice on the phone says, “it’s your old man.”

  As if I wouldn’t recognize his voice.

  “Hi, Dad, what’s up?” That’s my way of clicking his “on” switch.

  He natters about his activities, interests, plans. I shove the tumble of clean laundry aside, sprawl in a sun-patch on the bed, and admire the play of autumn light on Gina’s watercolor abstract of a male lion. The painting she says is a portrait of me.

  I worried about Dad during Mom’s year-long battle with cancer, and after her death six months ago, but I should have known better. He’s one of those practical folks, a straightforward guy who forges through life without reflection—and so without second-guessing, regret, or sorrow.

  When I say this kind of thing to Gina she says I’m being too harsh. Perhaps she’s right, but the fact remains that I’ve always been my mother’s son.

  Even though we lived in different cities, Mom and I talked nearly every day. Dad and I speak rarely. Perhaps
that’s why he feels the need to announce his identity.

  Mom, on the phone with me, would say, “Your Dad says hello.” Then, calling into the distance, “Tim says hi, Bill. Bill, did you hear me? It’s Tim on the phone.” Then, to me, “I don’t know where the man’s gotten to.” Fine by me. I had no desire to talk to him either.

  Now Dad and I, out of convention I suppose, make stilted calls every couple of weeks. His solution to our awkwardness is a new-found garrulousness I’m only now getting used to. He talks about work, golf, trips he’s taken or is planning, local politics. My interest is taken for granted, or irrelevant.

  When he winds down he invariably says, “So what’s new in your life, Tim?”

  Depending on my mood, I either give a one-minute synopsis or say, “Not much, Dad.” Which is what I do today.

  “Still seeing that girl, the pretty one with the long legs?”

  I wince. Her name is Gina; “seeing” each other evolved into living together almost a year ago; she is most definitely not a girl and abhors the term, as do I; and the word “pretty” is an affront to a beauty that beguiles not just my eyes but my spirit. She does have long legs.

  “Yeah,” I say. I reach a hand toward the lemon-scented pile of clothes and stroke the soft cotton of Gina’s black turtleneck.

  There’s a hum of phone-line silence then Dad asks an atypical question, in an atypically tentative voice. “Are you okay, son? You’ve sounded a little odd the last couple of times we’ve talked. You’re not still moping over your mother’s death?”

  I bite down on an angry retort. Moping. I never moped. I mourned, like you’re supposed to after you watch someone you’ve loved all your life die so slowly and agonizingly that finally her pain overcomes your selfishness—the selfishness that makes you want to hang on to her for every moment that can be begged, borrowed, or stolen from death—and finally you make yourself choke out the words, “It’s okay, Mom. It’s okay to let go now. You’ll always be with me, in my heart.”