Page 171 of Wicked Fantasies

Deborah shook her head. “No. Would you do me a favor and get that, dear? My sciatica’s been acting up all morning.”

Faith stood up, but didn’t move away from her mother. “I didn’t know you were hurting. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“It’s nothing, sweetheart. Just a part of getting older.” Her mother gestured to the front door. “Go on. Don’t worry about me.”

Faith walked to the front foyer and opened the door, surprised to find Troy waiting on the doorstep. He’d dropped her off at her mother’s house as soon as they rolled into town around noon, promising to return later this evening. He’d made plans to hit the golf course with his dad and a couple of buddies from high school. She glanced at her watch. Two o’clock. “That was the quickest eighteen holes in the history of the game. What happened?”

“Didn’t actually make it to the course. I had a few other errands to run.” He bent down to pick up a duffel bag by his feet. “Go upstairs and put this on. Throw your bathroom bag back in this duffel and meet me in the living room. Fifteen minutes,” he added with a wink. “Not a second longer or I’m coming up to get you.”

“What on earth are you?—”

“Oh, and no questions.” He handed her the bag, walking past her toward the living room. She watched him place a friendly kiss on her mother’s cheek. “Hiya, Deb. How are you doing?”

“Troy,” Faith said from the doorway, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Her husband never strayed from a schedule and he’d had this golf date set for weeks.

“Faith,” her mother said with a grin that let her know whatever was going on, Deborah was privy to it. “Go upstairs and change. You don’t have a lot of time.”

“Time for what?” Faith asked.

Troy turned to look at her. “What part ofno questionsare you struggling with?”

Faith narrowed her eyes, and then gave in, turning to climb the stairs. However, she made sure to mutter the word “smartass” loud enough for her husband to hear. His chuckle in response drifted to her on the stairs and her temper flashed briefly once more before curiosity took over. What the hell was he up to?

She walked into her former bedroom—now a guest room—and threw the duffel bag on the bed. Opening it, she was surprised to find Troy’s old letter jacket from high school, a pair of jeans, tennis shoes and a T-shirt that said Carlylse Panthers, their alma mater’s mascot. Her mind raced. Glancing at her watch, she recalled Troy’s comment about fifteen minutes.

Changing quickly, she went to the bathroom to grab her toiletry bag. Catching a glimpse of herself in the T-shirt and jacket, she was inundated with memories of getting ready for dates with Troy in this very room. Working on instinct, she picked up her hairbrush and quickly pulled her hair back in a high ponytail. Though her hair was shorter now, she could still manage to recreate the same look she’d sported her senior year. She grinned as she shook her head, the ponytail swinging from side to side. Picking up her toiletries, she made it back downstairs with five minutes to spare.

Troy smiled as she returned to the living room. “You always did look hot in my letter jacket.”

She giggled, twirling playfully and feeling very much like a teenager once more. “Where did you find it?”

“It’s been hanging way in the back of a hall closet at my folks’ place all these years. My mom found it a couple of months ago when she was spring cleaning. Called to see if I still wanted it.”

“Can I ask questions yet?” Faith’s earlier annoyance had dispersed completely and she was anxious to find out what her husband was up to.

He shook his head. “Not yet.” Turning, Troy said goodbye to her mother before gesturing to the door. “Your chariot awaits, my lady.”

As he opened the front door, he grasped her hand and led her to his truck.

She looked back toward the house as her mother waved to them from the porch. “You kids have fun.”

Troy surprised her by crossing to the passenger side and opening the car door for her, something he hadn’t done since they were dating. “Oh my,” she teased, “such a gentleman.”

He placed a quick kiss on her cheek. “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

As she put on her seatbelt, she spotted a wrapped present in the middle of the bucket seat. Troy hopped in the truck and started it without acknowledging the gift. Pulling out on to the road, Faith bit her tongue for nearly two minutes before her curiosity kicked in.

“What’s in the box?”

Troy laughed. “Surprised you were able to hold that question in so long. Must have been painful for you.”

“Very funny. Is it for me?”

“Yep,” he said.

Faith rolled her eyes. “Can I open it?”

“Nope.”

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