“Thanks. Great looking sandwich. What’s the secret in your iced tea?” he asked.
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret,” Thea said, smiling genuinely at him for the first time.
His heartbeat sped up, and Morgan could actually feel his blood pumping through his body—all of his body. Morgan noticed her earrings for the first time. She was wearing tiny feathers, several different colors. And not a bit of makeup. None. Her skin was smooth and clear.
The lines at her eyes crinkled in laughter as she looked adoringly at his father. She slid his father’s plate in front of him, and bent to kiss his cheek as if it was just part of what his father had ordered.
“Here you go, handsome,” she said sweetly.
Gerald turned his face up and patted hers in response to the kiss. Morgan’s envy was so intense in that moment that he would have done anything to get Althea Carmichael to treat him with even a fraction of that same genuine affection.
Morgan narrowed his gaze on her.
“I’ll pay you a thousand dollars to tell me your secrets,” he offered, watching his father shake his head from side to side. “Including the one for the iced tea. I’ll split the profits with you on gross sales after we take over the market for it.”
“Morgan has always been fixated on money,” Gerald told Thea. “He assumes everyone had ulterior motives and that there is a price for everything.”
“I’d say that view is right more often than not,” Thea conceded, her direct gaze meeting Morgan’s. “But in this case, the iced tea recipe doesn’t have a price tag. It was my husband’s, and we never even told our children. It will be my deathbed confession if I don’t take it with me.”
“You got something wonderful here. I could definitely see getting addicted and having to have it on regular basis,” Morgan told her, knowing his gaze was inferring interest in more than just the iced tea.
When he saw the flash in her eyes, Morgan smiled. His father wasn’t the only one with charm in the family. It was both a boost to his ego and helpful to his plan that Althea Carmichael was at least a little interested back.
“I assure you there’s nothing addictive in the iced tea,” she said, laughing at his obvious flirting that wasn’t nearly as polished as Gerald’s. “Enjoy your lunch, guys. Let me know if you need anything else.”
Instead of answering, Morgan raised his eyebrows and just smiled again, amusement in his gaze making her roll her eyes as she walked away laughing. He watched her rear until it was no longer visible and bit into a French fry to keep from sighing.
“I swear there’s nothing better than making a woman laugh,” Morgan said.
Gerald stopped eating and studied his son. “That’s the first smart thing you’ve said in days. There just might be some hope for you after all.”
Morgan smiled at his father and dug into his lunch with more enthusiasm than he’d had for food or anything else in a long time.
*** *** ***
“So how was Delilah doing this morning?” Lydia Roberts asked, bringing the coffee pot to the table to refill Gerald’s cup. “It’s decaf. You can have a refill.”
“Have I mentioned how much I like you?” Gerald asked.
“Maybe once or twice,” Lydia said, laughing. “I like you, too. I could easily fall in love with you, but I’m waiting for a better time.”
Gerald tilted his head. “Waiting?”
“I’m not going to come between you and Delilah Carmichael. If she were to get well today, I would bow out of the picture faster than either of you could blink. You’re a good man, Gerald, but sleeping with you is the closest to being a floozy I ever intend to get,” Lydia told him on a laugh. “It took me six months to learn to ignore all the gossip, but I finally did get to the point where I don’t care what people think.”
“Delilah’s slipping away, and nothing is going to stop that. It would be a lot harder to bear without you in my life,” Gerald told her, his heart turning over when Lydia’s hand covered his in comfort.
Unfailing support was what this generous woman always offered. Lydia’s friendship was true, her lovemaking uninhibited, and her affection as bright as the Arizona sun.
“I know, Gerald. I see Delilah’s loss carving new lines in your face. I feel your desperation when you’re making love to me. I don’t mind that. I am happy—very, very happy to be the woman who comforts you. If any man could love more than one woman truly well, you are the one,” Lydia said, lifting his hand to her mouth for a kiss.
She stood then and walked back to put the coffee carafe on the counter, leaning a hip against the sink. Her hair was solid white now and nothing she’d done was slowing the wrinkles. But thanks to a faithful yoga practice, her legs were still strong and her body still supple.
Lydia crossed her arms and studied Gerald, who hadn’t taken his gaze away from her. She smiled at him and lifted her chin.
“Now if I find out you’re sleeping with Doris Alderman too, I’ll have to kick both your asses and permanently injure you to make sure you never do it again,” Lydia teased, or at least she thought it was mostly teasing.
She was rewarded by a wicked smile from Gerald and a look that set her heart to beating hard.
Sure, she knew Gerald and Doris didn’t have that kind of relationship. The woman had asked Lydia time and again how she had lured Gerald into her bed. The thing was—she hadn’t. Gerald had just shown up at her door one day and she had let him in to talk.
The next time he’d come to visit, she let him into more than just her home. The only talking they’d done that day was about what they liked in bed.
“Doris and I are just friends. She was never my type for a tumble,” Gerald said easily. “There’s only you in that way. Do you believe me?”
She smiled at his earnest expression.
“Yes, honey. I do. You’re a lot of things—including an outrageous flirt—but being a real player isn’t one of your faults.” Lydia’s gaze twinkled.
“Lydia, you know damn well you’re woman enough to satisfy several men. I still can’t figure out why you never gave any of those other guys vying for you a shot,” Gerald said, not caring how earnest he sounded.
Lydia laughed. “Yeah, well, one day you might understand, but I’m happy enough for it to be a mystery for now.”
“Hell, woman, the helper pill I take always wears off before I can wear you out. Why would I ever look elsewhere? You offer more variety than most men ever get from their women,” Gerald told her, watching her blush with the same fascination he always had about it.
The woman was a she-cat in bed, but blushed like a virgin if you mentioned it.
“Well, I was never like this with anyone else. Sometimes I even feel guilty about how uninspired I was in my marriage,” she said softly, her sincerity unavoidable.
Lydia had no problems speaking the truth of her feelings. What did she have to lose in being vulnerable with Gerald? It was likely at her age that there would never be anyone else for her. She had fallen so hard in love with him a year ago that her emotions were still riding high from it.
If Gerald grew to love her one day, fine. If not, well Lydia had decided the first time she’d let him inside her that she would just take what she could of Gerald Reed. Life was too short to do anything else anyway. Since Gerald gave a woman more attention and affection than most men ever risked giving, it was hard to be jealous that another woman held a piece of his generous heart.
Lydia figured she was extremely lucky because she had a life that suited her, and a good man to share part of it, which was more than most women her age had.
“I find you inspiring, too. You’re probably the best lover I have ever had,” Gerald told her, smiling at her arched eyebrow.
“
Probably?
” Lydia asked sharply, laughing and walking back to sit across from him again.
Gerald was the biggest flatterer in the world. Despite the sincerity in his tone, Lydia never knew what was truth or not. Most of the time it didn’t matter because it was simply nice to hear regardless.
“Well, it may take me a few more years to be certain,” Gerald said, teasing. “If you don’t get tired of me and decide to trade me in for a younger model.”
“Why would I do that? I’m a smart woman. I know they don’t make men better than you,” Lydia told him. “You keep coming around, and I’ll keep letting you in.”
“Baby, you’re the kind of woman a man can’t help coming back to,” Gerald told her sincerely, pulling her over the table and kissing her thoroughly to prove his point. “In fact, I have another pill in my pocket. I came prepared for an encore this time.”
“Save it for Thursday,” Lydia said, laughing again. “If you go see Doris in the hospital looking too happy tomorrow, I’ll never hear the end of it. She may not be your type, but you sure are hers. But then, you’re every woman’s type. Even Thea thinks you hung the moon.”
Gerald sighed as he stood. “Yeah, I took my son Morgan to meet Thea. I hope I don’t regret that one day.”
Lydia rose too, took his hand, and walked to the door with him.
“Thea needs to be shaken up a bit. There hasn’t been a man in her life since Angus. I don’t know what she’s been waiting for. Angus was a good man, but he certainly wasn’t perfect.”
“No man is,” Gerald said. “God knows Morgan isn’t. I worry he’s going to mess with her and break her heart.”
“Well, stop worrying about that,” Lydia said on a laugh. “It might just work the other way. Thea might mess with him and break his heart.”
“I don’t know if she’ll be able to find a heart in that hardened man,” Gerald said sadly. “Morgan is pretty jaded about life. Some jobs do that to you.”
Lydia took his face between her hands.
“Your blood runs through his veins, and his heart beats because of you,” Lydia told him. “And I know for a fact that my niece can be very inspiring. Angus never even so much as looked at another woman in all their years together.”
“Yeah. I’m starting see how that might be possible with the women in your family. After a year with you, I’m already starting to forget what other women were like in bed,” Gerald told her.
When Lydia blushed again, it was all Gerald could do not to drag her back to her bedroom and celebrate the lust that was like a living thing between them.
“Sorry. I’ll try to tone it down some for a while,” Lydia told him, her voice breaking with embarrassment, heat climbing her cheeks. “I promised myself I wouldn’t steal your heart from Delilah, but all bets are off on making you forget what she was like in bed. I like that idea too much, and I’m not as nice as you think I am.”
Gerald backed Lydia into the door jam, just as he did every time he left her. This time there was an extra surprise.
“Feel that,” he asked softly, pressing a half mast erection against her belly. “The pill wore off two hours ago. This is just because of you. It wouldn’t take much to coax it the rest of the way.”
“Damn it, Gerald. Leave before I don’t let you,” Lydia said, choking on the words as her face turned several shades darker.
Gerald leaned hard into her body and kissed her with a fervor that continued to surprise him even though they had been lovers for over a year. She kissed him back just as ardently.
He laughed as he pulled away. He was going to have a damn uncomfortable bike ride back home, but as always, kissing Lydia Roberts was worth it.
Chapter 4
Whether it was pushing his luck or not, Morgan went back to the restaurant the next day. He waited until the lunch rush had passed and found that the place was virtually empty at one thirty in the afternoon.
Unfortunately, luck wasn’t with him because Althea was nowhere in sight.
Morgan took a seat at the bar and gave the young waitress from the day before his order.
“So what’s in the iced tea?” he asked her as she set his burger and fries in front of him.
Amy smiled. “I have no idea. Thea makes it before the staff comes in. We’re not allowed to watch.”
“Seems like a lot of secrecy around something as simple as iced tea,” Morgan stated, not able to hold back the smile the idea of secret iced tea making brought.
“Well, you came back today, didn’t you?” Amy asked, her voice joking, her gaze daring him to deny it.
“It wasn’t for the tea,” Morgan denied, looking down at his food. “Is your boss around?”
“Thea’s been at the accountant’s all morning. It’s not like her to miss the lunch crowd, but she may have gone to lunch with Tom,” Amy told him.
“Tom? She dates her accountant?” Morgan asked, trying to sound as casual as he could. The tension in his stomach from thinking she was involved with someone kept him from enjoying the food as much as he had the day before.
“Date? No, I don’t think so. As far as I know, they’re just business associates and friends. Why? You interested in Thea?” Amy asked, not a bit shy about fishing for the information.
Amy hadn’t seen Thea really date anyone in the four years she’d worked for her. She’d also never had a man so blatantly show an interest in her boss. It was a novelty and broke up the boredom nicely.
Morgan took a deep breath and a sip of tea before answering. “Yeah, I think I am,” he said finally. “What are my chances?’