Page 45 of Burned

“I don’t mind. It’s not like you can do it yourself with one arm. Anyway, this brings back memories of when we were kids and we used to play beauty shop. I was the pedicurist, Rose the hair stylist and Daisy manicurist.”

“And I was the client. You three made me look all kinds of funky. Rose would have my hair in all these crazy styles. Daisy swore she could draw designs on my nails. They always ended up looking like something Jackson Pollack did.” She giggled. “You were the only one who did a halfway decent job.”

Lily smiled as though remembering those days as well. “I did a damn fine job, thank you very much. I think I missed my calling in life. I should have done pedicures for a living.”

“You would have been bored within a week. You love your job too much for something so mundane.”

Lily snorted. “I used to love my job. Do you know what that asshole said to me the other day?”

Sadie had learned that when Lily referred to “the asshole” she was talking about Colin Edwards. She didn’t really need a reminder about anyone in the Edward’s clan, but Lily had always listened to Sadie’s problems, so it was her turn to lend an ear to her sister. “What did he say?”

“He told me that I needed to get laid and maybe I’d loosen up. Can you fucking believe that shit?”

“Isn’t that sexual harassment?”

“Among other things. He’s angry because I turned him down. I don’t know why he doesn’t leave me alone? He has a bevy of office bimbos throwing themselves at him.”

“Maybe he’s just the kind of guy who appreciates a challenge.”

“He can drop dead for all I care. He thinks because he has broad shoulders, a killer smile and a head of dark waves a girl wants to run her fingers through, he thinks he’s irresistible.”

Sadie suspected her sister wasn’t as immune to the older Edward’s charm as she led on but Sadie knew better than to say it. “Imagine that.”

“I can’t wait until he goes back to Wales.”

“I thought he was going to make your office his home base.”

“Unfortunately. I hate that I have to report to him as much as I do. I never had to with my last boss. It’s as if he doesn’t trust me to do my job.”

“Or maybe he wants to see more of you.”

“As if I’d give him the time of day. After the way his brother treated you, what makes him think he’d have a snowball's chance in hell with me.” Lily looked up from her task the minute the words were out of her mouth. “I’m sorry Sadie. I know we agreed we wouldn’t mention the R-word tonight.”

Sadie sighed. “I guess it’s a subject that’s bound to be brought up when I have a couple of reminders.” She touched her belly fleetingly, feeling a wave of sadness brush over her. Her child would be raised in a single parent home. It’s not what she’d envisioned for her life, but she had to do what she had to do to protect her baby. Maybe she and Rhys could have worked out some kind of supervised visitation, but his reaction to her pregnancy didn’t bode well for that happening.

She reached over to the end table and picked up a slender metal rod and eased it inside her cast to relieve an itch that had been irritating her for the last several minutes. She couldn’t wait to get this thing off and regain full mobility.

“So, have you heard from him recently?”

“He called, I but haven’t returned any of his calls. I just can’t do this right now. I’m not in the right frame of mind, ya know? I’m still smarting over our last confrontation, which made me realize, I have to take care of me and this baby. His needs and wants are the furthest things on my mind right now.”

“Good idea. But what will you do if he decides to show up? You two work on the same campus. You’re bound to run into one another at some point.”

“I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”

“I admire how well you’re handling this, little sister.”

“What choice do I have?” She hastily wiped away a tear that escaped her eyes. Oh hell, she thought she was done crying.

Lily rubbed her knee. “Oh, hon, it will be alright. You’re not alone. You know Daisy, Rose and I have your back and we’ll support you in whatever.”

“I appreciate that. I only hope I’m a better mother than I am at relationships. I sure can pick them can’t I?” Sadie laughed without humor.

“You’ll be a great mother. I don’t know anyone as loving as you. You’ll certainly be ten times better than that she-beast who calls herself our mother. Speaking of her, is she still leaving you harassing messages?”

“Unfortunately. She still wants me to come back to DC.”

“You’re not considering it, are you?”

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