“Jesus, Carmen,” I said loud enough for her to hear me over the partition as we showered in the stalls next to each other. “If you don’t ask Bran out, I’m going to slip him a note and pretend I’m you.”
“Shut up,” she replied with a laugh.
“I’m serious,” I said as I peeked my head around the corner and into her stall. “The two of you are pepperoni and cheese. Terrific on your own, but together? Magic in your mouth.”
“There was something there, right?” Carmen asked, her eyes wide. “It wasn’t just me?”
“No, it wasn’t just you,” I replied. “You two would have hot, sweaty sex together.”
“But, do you think we’d have more than that? I’m not really looking for great sex as much as I’m looking for a guy that I can have a real relationship with. I’m not getting any younger…”
I reached over to turn off my water, then wrapped my towel around my waist and answered, “I don’t think that’s all he’d be after. And, I’m your witness, it is possible to have out-of-this-world sex and a real relationship. Cade asked me and the kids to go with him to Hawaii to meet his family.”
“Shut the front door!” Carmen yelled as she shut her water off and stepped out next to me. “That’s so amazing.”
“I know,” I replied, happily. “I can’t believe it. I mean, meeting the MC was a huge deal, but flying out to meet his family? With the kids? That’s huge.”
“When are you guys going to go?” she asked as she rang out her hair, then walked to her locker.
I wished I was comfortable enough in my own skin to walk around the locker room naked, but I was not. I couldn’t blame Carmen though, her body was banging. Bran would definitely approve.
“The end of the month.”
“Wow, that’s soon.”
“I know,” I said as I pulled out my clothes and began to dress. “I was going to ask if you’d mind manning the phones for the PI firm while I’m away. I won’t book any new clients for during that time, but you could let people know when I’ll be back, or point them towards the cops if needed.”
“Really?” Carmen asked, her face lighting up. “I’d totally love that.”
“Thanks, it would really take a load off of my mind. I’m just getting established, and I feel kind of bad taking time off already, you know?”
“Don’t, you and the kids deserve this. I’m happy to help.”
“Awesome,” I stated, then once we were both dressed, I asked, “Want to stop by Amy May’s?”
Carmen laughed and said, “After spending an hour wrestling around on a mat with a hot lawyer, I’d say we deserve some cupcakes and coffee. I’d love to.”
“My kind of woman,” I said with a laugh.
Once we were settled down at the counter at Amy May’s bakery, steaming cups of coffee on one side of us and delicious treats on the other, I caught Amy May up on the news.
“No luck on Sledge’s case, but Cade is in for tubing this weekend, he’s taking me and the twins to Hawaii at the end of the month to meet his family, and Carmen has the hots for Branson Braswell. They practically had sex in front of me at the gym this morning.”
“We did not,” Carmen sputtered, as she was about to take a bite of her creamy, fruit torte.
“Well, they would have if she’d actually talk to the guy,” I joked.
Carmen sighed and said, “He’s just so tall … and good looking … and those eyes … I’m just not myself when I’m around him. I don’t know what to say.”
“I’m just messing with you, you know that, right?” I asked before diving into a delectable mint chocolate chip cupcake.
Carmen smiled and replied happily, “I know, and I don’t mind. It makes me feel like part of the group.”
“You are part of our group,” Amy May assured her as she topped off our coffee. “You should come tubing with us this weekend. Bea and Shannon can’t go, but it’s always a lot of fun.”
“Maybe we can invite Bran,” I suggested, and Amy May nodded in agreement.
“I don’t know…”