Lust & Lies Box Set-Sexual Awakenings, Excess, Predator & Prey

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied with a chuckle.

“Sorry to burden you on your night off,” I apologized sheepishly. “You can take tomorrow.”

“Oh, that’s all right. Wasn’t in the mood for a TIVOed marathon of Dancing with the Stars,” he said, letting me know I had saved him the trouble of arguing with his wife about what to watch.

“Married life, I remember that,” I said, recalling fondly just the simple act of watching TV with Ryan when we were first married. That seemed light years ago.

Maybe I should just get away from Charleston for a while. I had already been to every single bucket list destination I’d wanted to visit. I hadn’t exactly been a world explorer, but I had seen enough to be satisfied.

“If I may say, Miss, you seem…off,” he said.

“Carson, I’m so screwed up,” I conceded, “and it’s more than a beer or two. I don’t know what the hell to do. My old life disappeared, and my new one doesn’t suit me, either. I’m not sure where I belong anymore.” I didn’t know why I was confiding in Carson. Maybe I just needed to verbalize the truth.

He glanced over at me as if he understood, but stayed silent for several moments.

“Maybe I should take a trip,” I muttered absently.

“You’ll end up back home,” he said, making the turn into Wendy’s. I understood what he was trying to say: my issues would still be waiting for me when I got back. Instead of answering, I opted for clapping in excitement.

“The biggest, I mean biggest cheeseburger possible. Fries. Large, Carson.” I tapped on his shoulder excitedly. Why had I denied myself for so long? “And a big ass frosty! Yes! And whatever you want!” I couldn’t believe my excitement at ordering fast food. When we got to the window, I checked my pockets, realizing I had given Dave all my cash and that my credit cards were in my soon to be towed car.

Shit.

“This one is on me, Miss,” Carson said with humor as he grabbed the bag then handed the cashier a twenty.

Yep, it’s amazing what money could do.

“Everyday is a bank account, and time is our currency. No one is rich, no one is poor, we’ve got 24 hours each.”

? Christopher Rice

§§

I moaned, still buzzed, and completely fascinated with my cheeseburger. I groaned minutes later when my feast was finished. My phone rang as I walked into my house and I answered, not bothering to look at the caller ID in my carb stupor, then heard my mother’s voice.

“Hey, Ninabelle, how are you?”

“Mom, I’m tied up in a meeting, can I call you tomorrow?” I asked, feeling bad for my lie, and quickly adding, “Everything okay? Dad okay?”

“Yes, baby, we’re fine. We miss you,” she said sadly, tugging at my heart.

“Let’s do lunch on Friday. I’ll take you both,” I offered.

“Your father has a tee off time around lunch, but I can come.” I knew it was bullshit. She didn’t want him to come, plain and simple. I would have to make a point to spend time with him separately.

“Okay, I’ll pick you up, and call before I come,” I said, adding an I love you before hanging up. Drunk on the phone with Mom and lusting after a bar band, front man…what a day! I laughed as I undressed and crawled into bed in just my underwear, reveling in the ridiculously comfortable sheets.

My phone rang again from my bedside table, but this time I hit ignore, freezing in place when I looked at the screen.

MISSED CALL: Aiden.

Slick.

I couldn’t help the slow smile that graced my lips, or the quickening of my heart.

A text came through a few moments later.

Aiden: You ignored my call. That’s just wrong. You wouldn’t even have that phone if it wasn’t for me.