Page 8 of Beat of Love
“Today was a shock. Give it time to settle.”
“He cheated on you, Mommy. That’s so wrong,” her precious Livvie whispered.
She dropped her forehead to Livvie’s. “I know, honey,” she replied. Her heart ached. Olivia had lost a part of her innocence today.
*
“Bastard,” Jackie muttered, topping up their wine glasses of the robust red she imported from South Africa.
“Hmm-mm,” Brandy hummed, lifting the glass to her lips. Her gaze moved beyond the small circle of light the fire provided. It was a new moon, the sky ablaze with stars, reflecting the glorious heavenly splendor on the still water of Buchanan Lake, and the symphony of frogs drowned out other night sounds. Well, except for the occasional blast from the cabin where her kids watched an action movie.
Brandy took another sip of the red nectar. So smooth.
Nothing beat an excellent wine. Not even sex.
Not that she’d had any sex in …
She did a quick calculation. Sixteen months since Richard the Unfaithful asked for a divorce. At least she had her trusty battery-operated friends to take the edge off her needs. They certainly did a better job than Dickless wonder ever had. They were loyal and always delivered on their promise. Except the one time, but that was her fault for not recharging the battery. Maybe it was time to expand her collection? Yes, siree, it was toys for her from now on. “I’m done with men.”
“I’m happy to nudge you over to my side, love,” her friend offered.
She gave Jackie a side-eye. “You ever contemplate switching back?”
The canvas creaked, and Jackie leaned forward to throw another log onto the fire. “There was this one man …” Jackie trailed off.
“Ooh, do tell.” Brandy settled back. Campfires, wine, and salacious stories. A soothing trifecta after a wholly crappy day.
Jackie picked up a bundle of sage and twisted her neck. “He was phenomenal.” She paused, a playful grin teased her lips, firelight dancing in her hazel eyes.
“Waiting …”
“The first time I ever orgasmed with a man. Repeatedly.” Facing the fire, she tossed the tied sprigs onto the flames. The musty, earthy aroma from the plant drifted around them.
“Ugh. Get on with the story.”
“You might not like the story.”
“Won’t know until you tell me.”
“It was in college. The early days of you and Sexy Sull.”
And Jackie paused again.
“Jackie!”
Her friend sniggered like a teenager. “Think broody, bad-boy biker …”
Brandy cast her mind back to that period. She and Sullivan had become a couple toward the end of their second year in college, but she couldn’t recall someone fitting that description hanging out with Jackie.
Unless …
Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. She almost toppled the camping chair as she swung to face Jackie. “No way.”
Jackie’s teeth gleamed. “Yes, way.”
“You did the horizontal mambo with Sullivan’sbrother?”
“And the vertical tango and shower salsa and—”
