Convincing Dane

Chapter 1“Have you ever thought about a threesome?” Dane Cloverfield was far too in control to have choked on the sip of wine he’d just taken. He was known for being unflappable under even the most flappable circumstances. He was seated across the table from Benjamin Upton, the husband of Dane’s former flame, Uriah “Urie” Upton. At an outside café. Dane glanced around at the others seated nearby, but he spotted no evidence anyone eavesdropped on their conversation. “I’m quite sure I misheard you, Ben.” Ben pushed a strand of his mulberry-colored curls behind his ear. He gave Dane a radiant smile. “You definitely didn’t.” Dane took another sip of his very fine cabernet sauvignon and considered the question and the situation. It was quite possible it was merely a casual inquiry. It seemed unlikely, though. It was only recently he once more came into contact with Urie. When they were particularly young men, just out of high school and beginning college, they’d had what used to be called a “torrid affair.” Dane wasn’t sure that was a term used much these days. They were both having fun with each other, though, so it had never been terribly serious. At least to Urie. When things ended between them, as Dane knew it inevitably would, Dane found himself dealing with heartache as he realized he had fallen in love with Urie, who clearly hadn’t felt the same as he’d been the one to end it. They’d both moved on, of course, and Dane had gotten over Urie, mostly. So he’d been surprised when more than ten years later he’d found that Uriah and Ben Upton, now lived in Sutter’s Bay where Dane, dentist extraordinaire, made his home. In fact, Dane had joked that Urie was stalking him or something by moving to the same city he had. When they’d known each other, they’d both been in San Diego. Of course Urie, now a lawyer, had been offered and taken a job at one of the local law firms in Sutter’s Bay. Since the months they’d reconnected, and Dane became close to Urie again, and got to know Ben, the three of them did a lot together. But that sort of togetherness took things a bit to the extreme. “Just where are you going with your question?” Ben sighed. “Just like you to come back with a question to a question.” “I have to admit, I’m a bit gobsmacked. Uh, Ben, are you…you aren’t asking me what I think you are, are you?” Dane really couldn’t blame Urie for choosing Ben as his husband. He was beautiful with bright green eyes and the most infectious smile and laugh. With Urie’s windswept blond hair and blueberry-colored eyes, they made a striking couple. Ben was an artist. Not a painter, but rather a sculptor. They’d set up a studio for him in the house they’d purchased in the Nob Hill part of Sutter’s Bay. Okay, it wasn’t really called Nob Hill, but apparently lawyers did a helluva lot better than dentists, Dane mused. He had a nice suburban house, all right, but it was nothing like the Blackberry Arches area where the Uptons had purchased. Ben picked up his glass of chardonnay and glanced toward the street. “Yes, I am.” “But—” “Dane.” He turned his gaze back to Dane. He always had a way of looking at someone like they were the only ones in the world. Dane couldn’t possibly say he was unaffected by it. By Ben. “Urie is very attracted to you. He loves you.” Dane blinked. “He…” He faltered, not knowing what to say to that. “He wants to get with you,” Ben said bluntly. He raised his chin. “And so do I.” It was getting a bit harder to be unflappable. “Now.” Ben dropped his voice. “I think that you want to get with us, too.” Dane pursed his lips. “If this is true, why didn’t Urie say anything?” “He’s working.” He laughed when Dane shot him a look of disbelief. “Okay, that’s not it. He was nervous to bring it up with you. He’s the one who ended your relationship before, right?” “Yeah.” “He was afraid you might…I guess not reject him, but things might be awkward with you. So we decided I’d be our spokesperson.” Ben put the hand that wasn’t holding his glass over Dane’s. “Isn’t it just a bit less weird coming from me?” Dane blew out a breath, then laughed. “Hell if I know. It’s kind of hard to believe you’re serious.” “We are. We’re both crazy about you, think you’re just fantastic, sexy. And we think you feel that way about us. But if you’re against polyamory— “No,” Dane said quickly. “I’m not. I’ve never tried it actually. I’ve got a pretty good dental practice here in Sutter’s Bay, though, and I don’t want anything to destroy that.” “It’s your private life. And Sutter’s Bay has a fairly thriving gay community these days. Anyway, it’s not like we’re going to advertise it.” “Is it a one-time thing then?” * * * * Maybe the story should back up a bit. To six months or so ago when Urie and Ben ended up at Dane’s dental office and started this all in motion. Dane had finished his last scheduled patient and glanced at the clock to see it was ten after six. The practice generally scheduled the last patient at five because everything seemed to take longer than expected. This day was definitely no exception. It had been a bit of an exhausting day after an even more exhausting weekend. That weekend, Dane had planned to go on a little wine-tasting trip with his then-boyfriend, Charles. They’d left on that little trip, all right, but Dane had come back to Sutter’s Bay alone. He and Charles were kaput. Sad, really, as Dane had begun to really think, maybe, Charles could be the one. The one what sort of escaped him now. They hadn’t been on the same page at all and Charles had planned the getaway as a last hoorah before he ended things with clueless Dane. “Doctor Cloverfield?” Dane was just about to pull off his white dental jacket in preparation for closing up to go home. He stopped mid tug. “Yes, Amy?” Amy Lester was one of his front desk receptionists. She worked part-time and went to the local college the rest of her time. “Sorry, sir. A patient just came in with an emergency. Doctor Weinstein’s already left for the day.” “Weinstein’s patient?” “No. A new one. Had an emergency and found us online.” Dane nodded. “What’s the emergency?” “Crown fell out and he’s in a lot of pain.” “All right. Have the patient set up in Exam Room Three. I’ll be right in.” A few minutes later, Dane had walked in to greet the patient, who was not alone. With him hovered what turned out to be his husband. “Uriah Upton?” Dane had exclaimed surprised. “Dane?” Urie was holding onto the left side of his jaw. “Dane Cloverfield?” And so, it had begun.