Page 43 of One More Time
‘Okay, okay,’ he said through a chuckle.
Nicky hauled himself off the mattress with a groan – completely naked except for about a million tattoos.
Lucy opened the door to the closet and flipped on the light switch. It was a walk-in so she didn’t feel too guilty about it when she hurried him in with a single poke to his perfect ass.
He laughed as he stumbled in and Lucy closed the door behind him.
‘Mom?’ Chloe said, as the door to the bedroom opened.
‘Hi,’ Lucy replied.
Act. Casual.
She tugged at the shirt to try to cover more front … and back bits.
‘Uh, hi?’ Chloe said, looking her mother over with blatant curiosity.
Chloe was dressed and ready for the day in a pale pink romper. Her silky brown hair was curled; makeup perfect.
‘You look nice,’ Lucy said. ‘Going somewhere special? Did you, um, stay here last night?’
‘Not going anywhere,’ Chloe answered. ‘It’s just eleven-thirty so …dressed. I stayed with Chandler last night.’ She was talking to Lucy, but she was not looking at her.
Lucy tried to scuttle into her field of view.
Nope. No dice.
Chloe’s eyes were focused on the things scattered around on the bedroom floor.
‘Mom?’ Chloe asked, a grin slowly spreading across her face like the damn Joker. ‘Is there amanin here?’
‘Whaaaat?’ Lucy spluttered. ‘No!’
Chloe stepped further into the room and picked up asingle black Vans sneaker by the laces. It dangled from her fingers as a single eyebrow arched. ‘When did you start wearing size twelve Vans?’
‘Busted,’ came a deep voice from the closet.
Chloe’s jaw dropped, her eyes glistening with a ridiculous combination of smugness and delight. The shoe clunked to the floor and Chloe crossed to the closet, yanking the door open.
‘Ho-ly shit!’ Chloe laughed, in that impish everyday-is-Christmas-morning way that was her signature.
Chloe stepped back andbam. There was Nicky Broome wearing a single white sock and a pair of tight black boxer briefs that left absolutely nothing to the imagination.
Nicky smiled that irritating smile of his, oozing charm and sex appeal (and just plain sex) all over the place.
‘Hi,’ he said and gave a sheepish wave.
Chloe looked from Nicky to Lucy and back again, her mouth absolutely agape. Obviously stunned and amused in equal measure.
‘It’s not what it looks like,’ Lucy blurted.
‘Mom? Did you get it on with a rock star in your Las Vegas hotel room?’
So, maybe it’s exactly what it looks like.
‘Oh, I like her,’ Nicky said cheerily to Lucy. He turned to Chloe, extending a hand. ‘I’m Nick Broome. Good to finally meet you.’
Chloe absentmindedly slipped her hand in Nicky’s and shook it. All the while she stared at Lucy with something like admiration.
