“He loves you, Lea. I’ve never heard him talk about a woman the way he did about you. With one word, you could break his heart. I can’t bear to watch my son go through that. I know what’s going on may not be my business, but, as your friend, I wish you would’ve come to me. I might not have approved, but at least we wouldn’t have the lie between us. I feel like a fool for not seeing it. That evening at the softball game, thinking back, I should’ve known. He looked right at you and asked you to go to dinner. It was if he’d done it a thousand times.”
“Stacey, I can’t take back what I did, but I can be honest from here forward. I want you to know, if he’d take me back, I’d never break his heart again. I want many more dinners with him. I want to see him every day, to love him every morning and comfort him after a stressful day at work.”
Tears glistened in Stacey’s eyes. “He’s my baby, Lea.”
Lea wiped the tears streaking her own cheeks. “I understand.”
Stacey nodded and leaned over to pull her into a tight hug. “I missed you. I don’t want to let you go either. Please be patient with me.”
Lea laughed. “Please be patient with me, too.”
They sat back, both relaxing their bodies against the swing. “I’ll need your help tomorrow. I’m selling some of Dave’s crap and I’m afraid he’s not going to let the stuff go. I need someone on my side.”
“No problem,” Lea said. “I’ll always be your wing man. Well, wing woman.”
Stacey laughed as she stood and tugged on Lea’s hand to bring her in for another hug. “I got to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Lea nodded. “I look forward to it.”
As Stacey pulled out of the driveway, she gave a wave, and Lea waved back.
Lea ran upstairs and riffled through her closet. Charlie danced in circles as dresses were tossed on the bed. “Ah,” she said and pulled out the red knee-length wrap dress. “Perfect.” She gathered the black heels and headed for the bathroom.
Turning on the shower, she studied her reflection in the mirror and grinned. She wasn’t old. Hell no. Rosy cheeks, tight skin, plump arms—she was a newly blossomed daisy. Her laughter was a welcome surprise. “Charlie, it’s time to bring our man home.”
*****
Colin shuffled out of the precinct, dead tired from the long runs he and Hernandez had been on. All he wanted to do was go home, stand in a hot shower, and slide into bed next to Lea, but the way things were looking that might never ever happen again. His phone vibrated. He pulled it out and stopped in front of his truck.
Hungry?
God, he was so fucking hungry for her touch. Starving.
Then come home and eat.
Colin couldn’t text fast enough. Be there in twenty minutes. Shit, twenty minutes could’ve been two days the way his heart raced to get home.
Be careful.
Always.
He unlocked the truck and tossed his phone onto the passenger seat. His woman was waiting for him at home. Jesus, his dick was hard thinking about her silky skin. By the time he got home, the stars were shining in the cloudless sky. He knocked on the door while stepping through. The house was dark except for the soft light casting a glow from the dining room.
He walked around the corner and the sight almost brought him to his knees. “I missed you,” she said.
“Jesus Christ, baby, you’re so fucking hot.” His jaw tightened and his hand twitched to run all over her sexy body.
Her ass was planted on the table, knees spread, with her feet resting on the chair. The red dress just enough to drive him insane, but the angle she held her body and the candlelight cast shadows of the treasure between those luscious thighs.
“Hungry?”
God, he was on her in two strides. “Fuck yeah.” He scooted the chair aside locking her legs around his waist and lying on her so her back went to the table. He thought she might have laughed, but so overcome with the emotions he’d been holding in, nothing registered but the way her hips cradled his cock.
She ran her fingers through his short hair to trail down the back of his neck. “This is for you, Colin. I want you, always.” She leaned up and pressed a hesitant kiss against his lips. “Will you...will you have me?”
He cradled the back of her head and tilted his to caress her lips. Hesitating to open his mouth, he waited for her lead. When she opened and he slipped his tongue inside. He pulled back to take a shaky breath. “I’ve wanted you all this time and I’m not about to let you go.”
Even through the shadowed candlelight he could see her sweet lips part in a smile. She peppered kisses along his neck as she fumbled with the buttons on his shirt. “Here,” he said and rose up to unfasten them and unbuckle his belt. He laid the belt on the floor and tossed his shirt somewhere beside it.