Unsuitable

She laughed and he let her go, watched her run into the house. They’d survived their first fight. He didn’t need propellers, he had wings.

20: Past Lives

What was she supposed to wear on a date? Audrey stood in front of her wardrobe while Mia played on the bed behind her. Drinks, dinner and dancing Reece said. But that’s it, no other clues. He’d kept himself out of her way all morning. No kiss, no hug, just dark, intense, possessive looks that’d probably give her ingrown toenails they knotted her up so much.

She was still not entirely straightened out after seeing him loose his cool over the nanny cam. Mia had been shy with him when he’d arrived too, though he was his regular sunny self again. But his anger had been such a palpable force, a black and red engine of titanium hard steel, coming at you with the speed to hurt, it was impossible to forget.

Yesterday, her instinct had been to get out of his way, but he’d had destruction in his eyes and fear he’d do something dumb overrode her natural caution.

But he’d already done something dumb and that’s what was behind the rage. She’d lain awake thinking about what that might’ve been. He’d spoken so bitterly about it. He’d said it was stupid and hurtful and she couldn’t help but think sex tape. Youthful and embarrassing, and an unfortunate turn-on when she probably should’ve been outraged, especially on the part of the woman involved. Or the man. Oh God.

Her brain kept painting Reece in glossy pixels, in ripples of muscle and cords of tension. All that fine calibre, controlled strength rhythmically moving; predatory and greedy, generous and provocative, over the body of a partner. Had he been in the house with her, she’d have been all over him, just at the thought of him exposed like that. It was a shock to feel that way. But then everything about Reece was a shock to her system; unexpected, unsuitable, undeniable. She was desperate to ask him about it, but not sure her reaction would be appropriate. He was obviously mortified and yet she found it erotically enticing.

“You spilled the milk in the lounge room. Don’t be angry. I’m not angry. Yes, you are. That’s not terrible. Yes, it is. No, its not.”

Mia had the giraffe and a bear and a penguin and the conversation between them was much like the conversations heard around the house the last few days. Audrey turned from the open wardrobe in time to catch Mia make the bear and the giraffe kiss. As long as she didn’t bend one of them over the kitchen counter and have the other do unspeakable things to it, it was probably all right.

Oh dear God, her infatuation with Reece was doing bad things to her good parenting capabilities. Should she really be leaving Mia with two of his sisters tonight? She should be focused on going back to work on Monday, about Barrett being in town, about the email from Cameron that was so cheery it emphasised the devastation she felt about her engagement being off and coming home again. Instead she was agonising over having a wardrobe full of designer clothes and nothing to wear on a Friday night date.

“I don’t know where we’re going, that’s the problem,” she said to Mia. She sighed. It wasn’t only a problem for tonight. What did this affair with Reece mean? She couldn’t imagine being without him. She could imagine giving up her independence and proposing to him. It scared her witless.

“Where are we going, Mum?”

“You’re not going anywhere. You’re going to stay with Etta and Flip and it will fun.”

“Why don’t I have my own sisters?”

“You have friends instead.”

“But not one sister or brother.”

“Not everyone has them. I don’t have a sister or a brother either.”

“Oh. But I don’t have a dad either.”

Audrey sat on the bed. “Yes, you do. Remember?” Mia knew about Barrett. She’d seen photos. She knew he was her father but he didn’t live with them.

“Reece is not my dad.”

“No, Marvellous, he’s not. Barrett is your dad.”

“But he doesn’t take me swimming. He doesn’t give me good morning kisses or make my dinner.”

And as far as Audrey was concerned he never would. That was the deal, though she knew she’d have to relent to his request to see Mia again while he was in town. It was entirely reasonable and she’d have been offended if he hadn’t asked.

“No, but not all fathers do that. Remember Cameron did those things too.”

“I remember Cameron. She was nice.”

“She was nice. We love her, don’t we?” Mia nodded. “We might have a visit with her soon. Would you like that? She’d like to see your new haircut.”

Mia picked up the giraffe. “You need a haircut and a shave,” she made it say to the bear. “We’re going to see Cameron,” the bear replied.

Audrey turned back to the wardrobe. She had two hours before Reece was back with Etta and Flip and not a thing to wear. She rang Les.

“What do you wear when you go out with Polly?” Les laughed and it was so bawdy Audrey should’ve known better than to say, “No, seriously.”

“Seriously, there’s not a lot of going out going down.”