Page 50 of Deserving Maddie

"I actually ordered one while you were out doing the horizontal tango with your boy toy. It'll be delivered as soon as I get back home."

"He's not my boy toy." She shook her head and went to the counter for a cup of coffee. "And really? The horizontal tango? You couldn't come up with anything better?"

Maddie let the dark brew travel down her throat. One sip and her whole body woke up. By the fourth one, her mind was running on all cylinders once again.

"I know." Kat dropped her head into her hands. "It was horrible, but it was the first thing that came to mind. I cringed as soon as it left my mouth."

"But you were too far into the verbal barb to admit how bad it was, so you figured I would let it slide."

"Yup." Kat popped the word out.

"Sorry, my dear. I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't call you out on such horrible things."

She continued to watch her best friend over the rim of her coffee mug. It helped hide the smirk she couldn't keep from her face.

"So be a good friend now and tell me all about your night of debauchery. Let me live vicariously through you before the kids wake up and we're forced to act like grown-ups again."

Heat crept up her neck and stained her cheeks. There was no way her mug could hide all of that.

"It was amazing," she finally admitted. "No, better than that. And I don't just mean the sex." God, the sex. Her entire body heated up just thinking about it. "Even though that's pretty damn incredible, too. We talked. Ray actually listened. He asked questions. We connected on a level that was deeper than I ever had with Anthony."

Kat's expression softened. It was rare that her best friend gave her that look.

"Oh, honey. I'm so happy for you. Ray sounds amazing, and I can't wait to officially meet him. But promise me something before I go. Stop comparing him to Anthony. He doesn't deserve the honor."

Her friend was right. Her dead husband didn't deserve to even be mentioned in the same sentence as Ray. He was everything Anthony could never be.

"I better go get ready before my children realize I didn't sleep here last night."

Maddie rinsed her cup out in the sink and headed upstairs. She managed to make it as far as her en suite bathroom before her bedroom door crashed open.

"Hey, Mom." Charley rushed in. "Have you seen my . . ."

Maddie froze, and so did her daughter. The two of them were locked in identical positions. Charley was a miniature version of herself in every way.

"I was just getting ready to jump in the shower."

She regretted the words the moment they left her mouth. Still in the same sundress from the night before, she realized how damning it looked.

"So, the sundress . . ."

"Would you believe me if I told you I wore it to bed last night because I love it that much?"

The same green eyes stared back at her. They didn't believe a word she was saying.

"Not really, Mom, because you call that your casual nice dress."

Shit. She did call it that. Charley liked to borrow her clothes even though they were still a bit too big. Last summer, when her daughter asked to wear the dress, she had to come up with a good excuse to say no. Something other than because it showed just a little too much cleavage for Maddie's liking.

"Did you have a date last night?" Charlie quizzed.

"Would you be mad if I did?"

Maddie moved over so she could sit on her still-made bed. She tapped the comforter next to her until Charley joined her.

"No. I think you deserve to date someone. I think it would make you happy."

"Aw, sweetheart. Iamhappy. You and your brother make me very happy. I don't need to date a man for that to happen."

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