Page 133 of An Indecent Longing

“Yeah, I’m still here. I think I do, yes. Everything happened so fast. There was no time to process everything.”

“And you love to process, don’t you?”

Dorrie stuck out her tongue at the humor in her mom’s voice, even though she knew her mom couldn’t see her. “That’s who I am.”

“I know, honey. But…do these guys know that about you? Sweetheart, one man is all sorts of trouble just on his own. Two men… You really need to ask yourself if a three-way relationship—and I can’t believe I just said that to my daughter—is worth the hassle.”

“Is that why you and Dad don’t date publicly? Because it’s not worth the hassle?”

“No. We don’t date publicly because your father is a stubborn sonuvabitch who thinks he knows what’s right for everyone.”

“Wouldn’t you care what people said about you?”

“Honestly, I think I’m past caring what people think. I would rather spend my days being with him and shunned by everyone else than spend every day without him spending time with people I don’t love as much as I love him. But…”

“But what?”

“But,” she sighed, “we have to think about what’s best for you. And our relationship could adversely affect your career.”

“And if I date two men, that could adversely affect your career, too.”

“But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy— Well, damn. I should’ve realized when you went to medical school you would graduate smarter than me.”

“I don’t feel smart now. I feel stupid because I don’t know what to do.”

Her mom’s short huff of laughter made Dorrie smile. “Oh honey, if I knew the perfect answer here, I’d be making millions telling parents how to raise their kids right. I guess…what you really need to ask yourself is, if you never see them again, is the regret more painful than the possible heartache?”

Good question. “I love you, Mom.”

“Oh honey, I love you too. But the next time we need to have a conversation like this, could you please come to the house and bring a bottle of wine? I think this would’ve gone much better with a nice white Zin.”

They were both still laughing when Dorrie hung up a few minutes later.

* * * * *

Tuesday, Mary Alice walked into Ben’s office, an open box in her hand.

“Since it’s addressed to the office, I opened it but there’s a note inside addressed to you and Ian so I wasn’t sure where I should put it. Since you’re here…”

Frustration almost made him snap at Mary Alice but he reined it in, his attention still on the screen in front of him.

He’d been attempting to download surveillance footage from a recent robbery. The shop owners had hired them to find the thieves and there was a bonus if they found them before the cops solved the case and returned the merchandise. Apparently the thieves had gotten away with a few pieces they hadn’t wanted to declare.

“What is it?”

“A soccer ball. A beat-up soccer ball.”

His head snapped up, his full attention on their office manager. “What?”

Mary Alice’s grin was slightly bemused. “See for yourself.”

She held out the box, which he grabbed out of her hands.

“Guess I won’t ask if I should send it out to the bomb squad.” Mary Alice laughed. “Can I assume that’s from a certain doctor?”

Ben frowned. “How— Never mind. Stupid question. Adam has a big mouth.”

“Actually, I didn’t hear it from Adam. I heard it from Kat.”

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