“Nothing,” we say simultaneously and then look at one another and burst into laughter.

“Girl talk?”

“Yeah. You could call it that.”

He twists the cap off his beer and tosses it into the trash. “I like girl talk.”

“You wouldn’t like hearing this. It’s not your flavor.”

“Try me.”

For a moment—like, a nanosecond—I consider telling him how supremely fuckable his sister finds Ben but then decide I can’t do it; I don’t want to sour his mood. “I love you too much to do that to you, cave man.”

14

I’m the only one who didn’t have a gift for Laurelyn at my parents’ house on Friday night but she understood since it wasn’t her actual birthday. However, today is. She’s going into town for lunch with Addison and that couldn’t work better for me since I’ll be picking up her gift and driving it home. I want her new Cayenne here, but hidden, when she comes back from her day out in Wagga Wagga.

She comes into the office to say goodbye. “Ooh, I haven’t seen Mr. good-looking suit in a while.”

She’s right. I haven’t worn a business suit in quite some time. “You like?”

“Oh yes. It reminds me of the way you looked when we first met. You’re still hotter than the devil’s ass.”

“I have a business meeting in town with a new client. He has two hundred storefronts. Not huge but this guy has established these businesses in a ridiculously small amount of time, so I’d expect him to double it within the year. I think it’s going to be big.” I’m not obsessed with work like my dad was but I’ll be pretty damn happy to score this account.

“That’s great news.”

I sort of need to know what her plan is for the day. “How long will you and Addison be out?”

“I’m not sure. We’re doing lunch at Alfredo’s and I’m hoping I can talk her into doing some shopping. She really needs a pick-me-up. Hiding the pregnancy from Zac is wearing her down.” That’s just like Laurelyn to take her special day and turn it into a way to cheer up her friend. Sometimes I get mad at her for always putting others ahead of herself, but it’s who she is.

Addison deserves to be worn down. It’s no small thing, what’s she’s doing. That baby is Zac’s too and he deserves to know it exists. “Maybe that should be a sign to her that she shouldn’t be doing this.”

“No argument there. You know I’m supporting her, not her decision, right?”

“I know. I guess I thought she’d come around in a day or two.”

“I’d hoped for that as well but Addison’s stubborn once she makes up her mind about something.”

That’s the pot calling the kettle black. “Sounds like someone else I know. Maybe you should take her vibrator shopping to get all this off her mind.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

Is she serious? “I was kidding, L.”

“I’m not. I think it would lift her spirits.”

This could work out well for me if Laurelyn buys something fun for us. “Well, if you do, I don’t want you coming home with one of those vagina pleasers that performs like a circus monkey.”

“A circus monkey vibrator?” she laughs. “Really, McLachlan?”

“They have them in performing rabbits and dolphins. Why wouldn’t they make a monkey?”

“Okay. Nothing in the form of an animal or anything that penetrates.”

Good. She remembers. “Because?”

“Nothing goes inside me but you. Got it.” She says it like a child reciting a rule to her teacher.

I roll my office chair toward her and reach out to grope her bum under her light denim dress. I pull her between my legs, my face level with her stomach. I kiss it atop her clothes. She’s wearing her boots. I haven’t seen her in those in a while. I wonder if I can talk her into wearing them tonight. “Mmm … now I’m a little excited about what you might bring home for us to try.”

“Any requests?”

“Mmm … choose something adventurous.”

She giggles—very much like a child instead of the mature woman she is—and it makes me smile. She looks so innocent when she laughs that way, especially while wearing this little country sweetheart outfit. But I know better. There’s very little this sweet girl enjoys more than a good ol’ hard fuck. “Adventurous. I can do that.”

She leans down and kisses my mouth. It’s brief, just a sweet goodbye not intended to make my dick stand up. “Don’t forget we have dinner reservations at seven thirty.”

“You never told me where you’re taking me.”

“And I’m still not.” I want to see the surprise on her face when we return to Ash and sit at the same table where I propositioned her fourteen months ago. I wish I could’ve taken her there for the one-year anniversary but it wasn’t possible, considering we were at Avalon becoming husband and wife. Our lives have been a little crazy since so this has been my first chance to get her back there.

“I’ll be sure to return in time. Should I dress casually?”

“I have something in mind for you to wear so I’ll have it laid out for you.”

“You choosing my clothes is a little weird.”

“It’s not weird.” Okay. It is strange but there’s a reason. I want her in the dress she wore that night—the floral one with only one shoulder. I hope I’m able to find it. “It’s something I haven’t seen you wear in a while and I like the way you look in it.”

“Now you have me wondering if you’re a closet cross-dresser. Am I going to come in and find you wearing my lace panties one day?”

“I’m choosing something for you to wear, L, not me.”

“Okay. I gotta go. Thanks for letting me drive the bullet.”

She calls my Sunset that since it’s so fast. She says it gets away from her because it’s such a smooth drive. “Please be careful. And don’t speed.”

I stand at the window and watch her disappear down the drive before I phone Daniel. “She’s gone. I’ll be ready to leave in fifteen minutes.”

I’m finishing some last-minute details on a new order when Bianca comes into my office, without knocking. She’s traded her short skirt for short khaki shorts and her low-cut dress shirt for a thin, tight white T-shirt with a deep V neckline. I’m glad L isn’t here to see this because she wouldn’t like it at all. In fact, it makes me a little uncomfortable after the things she brought to my attention on the day she met Bianca. In light of that, I think it’s best if I finish the paperwork later. “I’m going into town for a little while but I’m expecting a delivery and I’d really like it if you could take care of it for me.”