“My daughter takes such good care of me,” my father said, grinning at me. “That’s what you need, Mo. A good woman to take care of you.”
Mo flinched, and I felt bad. I agreed with my father’s assessment, but I knew it couldn’t be easy to be dumped, even by an evil bitch like Shelley.
“It seems you got all the good women, Frank, between Laura and your daughter. You’ve been blessed.”
“Ah, Laura. My angel.” My father turned his glassy eyes on me. “You’re just like her, Brooke. Beautiful. Sweet. I’m so proud of you, baby.”
I smiled. I’d seen pictures of my mom, and while I didn’t think I was ugly, my mom was gorgeous. Had she left Salvation and gone to New York or Los Angeles, she’d probably have become a model or movie star. I had her blonde hair and blue eyes, but I was rounder than she had been. The freshman fifteen I’d gained in college meant I had even more curves.
“Thank you, Dad. You get some rest now.”
“What about the dishes?” my father asked.
“Don’t worry about them,” I assured him.
“I’ll help her, Frank. Get some rest.”
“You’re a good friend, Mo.”
Mo looked at me and smiled, amused by my father. Me? Seeing Mo smile like that made all my girlie parts light up.
As we left my father in his room, I wondered if maybe I could convince Mo that I wasn’t his friend’s little girl. I was a woman now. A woman with needs. A need for Mo to touch me most intimately.
“I haven’t had a chance to ask you about school,” Mo said as we set to work on the kitchen.
“It’s fine.”
“Are you enjoying your classes?” He dunked his hands into the soapy water to wash some of the trays.
“For the most part. It’s all gen ed now. I can’t wait until I can focus on a specific area of study.”
“What will that be?” he asked, setting a tray on the dish drain.
“I haven’t decided if I want to study hospitality or public administration.”
Mo laughed. “Coddling people or bossing them around?”
“I guess so.” I took a chance and set my hand on his forearm. “I was sorry to hear about Shelley.”
He stiffened slightly and then sighed. “It was only a matter of time. I should have known in the beginning, my life goals were too small for her.”
“Any woman who doesn’t appreciate you is an idiot.”
He laughed. “You’re an authority on men, now? Did you learn that in college, too?”
I shrugged and pulled out a towel to dry the pans. “I know you. You’re a good person. She’s the one lacking, not you.”
He smiled at me, and again my insides twisted in all sorts of ways. “You’re a sweet girl, Brooke.”
Girl? I frowned. “I’m not a child, Mo. I’m all grown up.”
His gaze inventoried my body, and I swore to God, I saw a flash of appreciation in his eyes. It was a wonder I didn’t spontaneously orgasm at the way his eyes lingered on my body.
He gave his head a quick shake and went back to the dishes. “I guess you are.”
We finished cleaning up, and he started to leave.