Summer Kisses (46 page)

“You can’t tell me what to do. You’re not my mother,” Mandy said. It was more a challenge than a rant.

“You are absolutely right, I’m not your mother.” Lucky remained calm. “But I won’t teach you how to drive unless that snotty mouth goes away.”

“I don’t care … what…?” There was a flicker of interest in Mandy’s otherwise bored expression. “Teach me to drive?”

Mama sat up all interested. “Lucky is an awesome driving instructor. She taught me this evasive maneuver thing so that when someone’s chasing me, I can tap their car and make them crash. It’s awesome. I’ve used it four times, and it worked every time.”

“Who better to teach you to drive than a former demolition derby champion.” Lucky smiled proudly.

“I’d forgotten you drove in the derby in high school. What did they call you?” Mama Cherie sat back in her chair. “Wrecking Ball. That’s what they called you. Good times.”

“I know. Maybe I’ll get back into it.” Spicewood, the next town over, had a demolition derby. She’d given it up because Ricky hadn’t wanted her to do it. Screw him. She smiled to herself. Lots of people had. That should have made her mad, but now it bordered on funny. Maybe they should revisit the app idea with the Angry Bird Bimbos flying through the windows.

“Let’s do it together. We could have a cool name like The Busty Babes or Two Hot Mamas.” Mama Cherie’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’ll design our uniforms. I’m thinking something in hot pink leather with purple sequins and lots of feathers.”

A mental image of a Vegas Showgirl who’d been rolled in Pepto Bismol and peacock feathers popped into Lucky’s head. She shot Will a help-me look, but he only smiled. “Um … okay.”

“Oh, wait.” Mama was getting all revved up now. “We could be the Mad Marilyns. You could wear your white dress and Marilyn Monroe wig, and I’ll do the same.”

Mama was referring to the group Lucky and her two best friends had formed in high school, The Marilyns. Occasionally they all dressed as Marilyn Monroe and raised some hell.

“Sorry, no can do. The Marilyns wouldn’t approve of using their namesake as a demolition derby princess. Try again.”

Mama opened her mouth, but Will cut her off. “Back to the family meeting. I agree that the younger members of the family shouldn’t be on camera.”

“Hey.” Viviane jumped to her feet. “That’s not fair.”

“I propose we give it a three-month trial period. If we find that the show isn’t intrusive, we’ll revisit the issue at that time.” His tone was final.

Viviane folded her arms and seethed, but she didn’t say another word.

“Dawnie, do you agree?”

“Can Cuddles be on TV?” Her tone was all shrewd businesswoman.

“Absolutely,” said Will.

“Okay.” Dawnie finger-combed Cuddles’s fur.

As long as the puppy was on TV, the world was a wonderful place.

Will pulled out the gavel and held it poised to bang on the table. “Do I have a motion to approve the three-month waiting period?”

“Seriously? Parliamentary procedure? Don’t you think they’re a little young?” Lucky knew he was uptight and formal, but this was over-the-top.

“I think he’s such a tight ass on account of the tighty-whities he wears.” Mama sucked on the inside of her cheek and then clicked her tongue. “You should try boxers. They let stuff move around.”

“Stop talking.” Mandy clapped her hands over her ears.

“I’m gonna throw up.” Viviane made some gagging noises, but her arms stayed crossed.

Dawnie continued to finger-comb Cuddles’s hair.

Will banged the gavel. “We need a motion for the three-month waiting period.” The gavel hung in midair like the ball in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. It was more power than any one man deserved.

Quick as a snake striking, Lucky grabbed the gavel, broke the handle off, and put it behind her back. “Moving on.”

“Wait a minute.” Will’s eye went huge. “You can’t do that.”

“Just did.” Lucky smiled. “Too late.”

“Wow.” Viviane forgot she was pissed and dropped her arms. “That was cool.”

“I have my moments.” Lucky leaned forward and traced the front door on the house plans. “On to camera placement.”

Will leaned forward too. “It was kinda cool.”

His eyes landed on her cleavage showing in the V of her tee shirt. She stuck them out just to be sure he was looking. He cleared his throat, shook his head, and murmured something that sounded like counting—one, two, three. His eyes moved to the blueprints.

So he was interested? The tiniest bit of nervous excitement hiccupped through her system. Will as a lover? What would that be like? He’d take his time, slow and thorough—meticulous to the end. He was a details man, and when he did something, he made sure it was perfect. Heat bloomed in her cheeks.

“You okay?” Will’s dark eyes squinted with concern.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I think we start there.” She pointed to the coat closet. “Camera one goes here.”

Will laughed. “It’s Texas. We don’t use the coat closet.”

Lucky nodded. “Exactly. I intend to place cameras where nobody goes. Like the garage at ground level.”

“So all they see are feet and tires.” Will’s eyes crinkled at the corners.

“While on camera, I plan for this to be the most boring show in the history of reality TV. We’ll watch grass grow and paint dry and nap for hours on end. Then there’s the occasional thumb war and the staring off into space.”

Mama Cherie clapped her hands. “Can I be on the show? I’m the shadow puppet queen.” She linked her fingers together and made a three-legged bird. “See?” The shadow of the bird flap-hobbled across the back wall. “And then there’s the split ends. I could spend hours going hair by hair searching for them.”

“Excellent idea.” Lucky glanced at Will. “Are you in?”

“I’d forgotten how vindictive you can be. I’ve been on the wrong side of your temper, and I’m happy we’re friends again.” He held out his hand. “Of course I’m in, and with the iron-clad out clause, they can fire you and you still get to keep the money. That was genius.”

“I know.” Lucky took it. “I’ve had it in mind since
Rock-My World
hit the air. I believe it was you who told me to never sign anything that I couldn’t get out of.”

“Glad to know you finally listened.” He held her gaze. She could pick out the gold flecks without even trying.

“I always listen to you. Sometimes I choose to ignore.”

“What?” He cocked an ear her way. “I was ignoring you.”

“Very funny.” Lucky would have shot him that one-eyebrow-up thing, but she’d never perfected it.

“I know. It’s a burden. Compared to most of my fellow lawyers, I’m a stand-up comedian.” He kept smiling into her eyes, and she couldn’t look away. No, didn’t want to look away. He had been the calm voice of reason in her once-turbulent marriage.

Being with Will was comforting and homey in a way she’d never remembered feeling with Ricky. “That’s because to the rest of them—”

“Get a room.” Mama Cherie sighed dramatically. “There are children present.”

Lucky glanced around. She’d forgotten they weren’t alone. “Sorry.”

The slightest blush tinted Will’s cheeks. Apparently, he even blushed conservatively. Lucky watched him. He wouldn’t meet her eyes. So, talking about his underwear didn’t make him blush, but the mere mention of him alone in a bedroom with her did? Perhaps Mama wasn’t so crazy? She cut her eyes to Mama, who was still making shadow puppets. Yeah, and maybe the Queen of England’s diamonds were fake.

“What about a camera outside? We could point it up at heaven, that way they could see Daddy and Mommy.” Dawn scratched Cuddles behind the ears.

The room went silent, and Lucky could feel all eyes snap to her. “That’s a great idea. We have a wonderful hill country view. It would be a shame to waste it.”

“I think you should put one at the top of the wall and shine it up so all you see is ceiling.” Mama was getting excited.

“Nice.” Lucky was grateful that Mama had kept them on task instead of continuing down the Ricky road. “As for the cameramen, do I have control over who they hire?”

“Yes, ma’am. They get to send you candidates, and you can send some to them, but you have the last word.” The blush was gone from Will’s cheeks. The collar of his starched white button-down was open, and he’d gotten rid of his tie. He rolled up his left cuff and then the right. His tanned forearms were toned, and his large hands were clean and almost manicured. Her own hands, by comparison, were raggedy-nailed and oil stained.

“What?” He’d caught her staring.

Lucky’s phone buzzed. Mama had texted: Stop mentally undressing him. And stop staring at his crotch.

“I did not,” she whispered to herself and then glanced at his crotch. Now she couldn’t look away. She stood. “Who’s thirsty?”

“I’ll take a glass of wine,” Mandy said with as much nonchalance as she could muster.

“One water it is.” She knew Mandy was testing her, but this was ridiculous.

Lucky strode to the bar at the back of the room, opened the mini fridge, pulled out two bottles of water, and tossed a bottle to Mandy.

She leaned against the bar and cast her eyes around the room, looking at anything but Will. Her gaze landed on a small framed photo sitting on the bar top. She didn’t remember a picture here before. Leaning over, she picked up the picture. The breath caught in her chest. It was Ricky and
her
kissing on a beach in front of a sunset, their bodies making a lopsided heart. Her hands started shaking.

Knowing Ricky had cheated was one thing, but seeing it was another. This picture was tangible proof that she’d been a failure as a wife, that her husband had wanted someone other than her, and that she’d been a fool for loving him. Her first impulse was to hurl it against the wall, but that would show the world that she cared about Ricky, and the only way to keep her head held high was to pretend he didn’t matter.

It took all the inner strength she had to put it back where it was. Glancing up, she found Mandy watching with a smug look on her face. Lucky grinned and winked like it absolutely didn’t matter. All the smugness drained from her
face, as Lucky’s heart broke just a little bit more. She shoved her shoulders back, stuck her chin out, and soldiered on.

“I think that’s enough for today.” Will was up and by her side. “Meeting adjourned.”

“Adjourned?” Lucky blew out a long breath. “Really?”

“Structure. We all need it.” Will put his hand in the small of her back and guided her to the back doors that led out to the pool. It was a casual, friendly gesture, but it was the first time he’d ever done it to her.

“How about gavels? Do we all need those too?” Lucky allowed him to lead her out. It felt good having a man lead her anywhere. He smelled like sandalwood and lemons. “New cologne. It’s nice.” She leaned closer and sniffed. “Really nice.”

“Aftershave.” Will opened the back door for her.

“Time for bed,” he called over his shoulder. “Dawnie, brush your teeth, and Viviane will tell you a story. Mandy, homework. Do it now. I want to see it before I go to bed.”

This was a cross section of family life that she’d never thought to experience firsthand. She had to admit, family made this house homey. There were Barbies and book bags and shoes by the back door. It wasn’t messy, precisely, just lived in. She’d never really had a life that was lived in. She’d gone from an abusive father to boarding school to being married. In all that time, she’d lived in many places, but none of them was ever lived in.

Will led her into the inky, humid October night. Summer still had a hold on central Texas, keeping the temperatures in the seventies at night. He led her to the same lounge chair where she’d held Dawnie.

“I saw you holding that picture.” Will waited for her to sit and then sat next to her, his thigh bumping hers. He laced his fingers through hers. Since the other day, when he’d started touching her, it was like he needed to, whenever she was near. She had to admit that it felt good. “I’m so sorry.”

Lucky shook her head and opened her mouth to say that it was nothing … meant nothing, but she’d been lying to herself for too long. “He had another life … a whole other life with
her
. How could I not have known? I’m so mad … at him and
her
… and me for not knowing. That’s the hardest part. I had no idea.” She traced his knuckles with her thumb. “I feel so stupid.”

“You’re not stupid.” Will unlaced his fingers from hers and pulled her into an awkward sideways hug. “I’ll remove all of the pictures and anything else that might upset you.”

He was taking care of her. It was sweet. Ricky had been sweet … at first.

“I almost smashed that picture or threw it in the trash, but I can’t. If I let the world know that it bothers me, then Ricky and
she
win. I can’t.” Admitting it was easier than she’d thought it would be. She rested her head on his shoulder. “And for a less selfish reason, those are the girls’ parents, and the girls should have pictures of their family.”

She was the only one with no family. She was the lone wolf in a house full of hens—she didn’t belong and would do more damage than good.

And in six months when this farce was at an end, she’d give them the house. The girls needed it more than she did—they needed a real home, and the home needed them. It needed life.

“Showing weakness doesn’t mean that you’re weak. Vulnerability isn’t bad, it makes you human.” He twined and untwined a lock of her hair. “If it helps, you’re the strongest person I know. You always rise above the situation and make the best out of what you have. That’s a gift.”

“Thanks for the pep talk.” She rubbed her cheek against his soft shirt. “How could Ricky have fathered such great kids? Did
she
have any redeeming qualities other than a functioning uterus? Based on what I’ve heard, nothing is jumping out at me.”

“You got me. I never got their relationship. And I don’t think Ricky did either. Every time he tried to end it, she’d end up pregnant again. Speaking of pregnant…” He kissed the top of her head. “Have you ever done the math?”

“Huh?” From Ricky to calculus. What was next?

“I know you don’t like to think about Ricky and Rosie, but do the math. The girls’ birthday is coming up. Dawnie’s almost six, Viviane is almost twelve, and Mandy is almost seventeen.” His voice implied that she should understand what he was trying to tell her.