Page 40 of Nothing to This

“To… to go, ma’am?”

“Is that a problem?”

The server glanced around like he was being pranked.“I’ll speak to my manager.”

“You do that,” JD said with booming authority.“While you’re asking questions, I’ll be making calls to ensure this restaurant is out of business in under a month.This woman gets whatever she wants.It’s my job to keep her happy.Don’t keep her waiting.”

“I apologize.He’s not himself.I’ve had to let him down gently,” she said and reached over the table to take JD’s hand from his wineglass.“He spoils me every chance I give him.But I have to keep telling him over and over again, this is sex, that’s it.That’s all I want from him.Raw, animalistic, sweaty sex.I won’t leave my husband for him.My children would never forgive me for hurting their father.”

Both men stared at her.She picked up her wine and gulped some down while still holding JD’s hand.

“Pack up that dessert for us,” JD said.“Clearly you can see you’re interrupting me stealing a woman away from another man.”

The server stumbled in his retreat from the table.

A moment later, she laughed and let go of JD’s hand.“He’s having a memorable night.”

“I’m confused.Am I the father of the kids you’re hurting, or do they belong to your imaginary husband?”

“Don’t think it matters,” she said on a shrug.

He raised his brows.“Do you think sweaty is a requirement of good sex?”

“Yes,” she said and drank more wine.“If you’re not sweating, you’re not exerting enough energy.”

“That’s right,” he said.“I forgot you like it hard.”

Sinking back in her seat, she drew a fingertip down the side of her glass.“I’d make slow love with my husband.It’s my extramarital lover’s job to overwhelm me with his passion.”

His smile widened before it disappeared behind his glass.“I’ll remember that.”

She glanced at her watch.“Brenna will have the kids home already and we haven’t even talked about anything.”

“Is that why you wanted your dessert to go?”

Shaking her head, she touched her wine-damp lip.“Kye’s on a cheesecake kick at the moment.He’ll adore you if you bring him back some… and Sky enjoys licking the mousse from a spoon… she’s always loved the bubbles.”

“The kids and I are going to the zoo tomorrow,” he said.“We’re going to my mom’s for lunch after.Will you join us?”

“I don’t want to intrude.”She shook her head.“Your time with the kids is precious.”

“You let me intrude on you guys last weekend,” he said.“They like it when they have both of us at their beck and call.”

They sure did.Their kids loved having the attention of both their parents and their extended family as often as possible.“That is true.”

“Was Barry okay with postponing your meal?”

“Baxter,” she said.“He was okay with it.He wanted to know why, I told him I’d explain at dinner tomorrow.I’m sure he’ll understand I want to talk to the kids first.”

“Are you worried about telling him?”

“No,” she said, twisting the stem of her glass between her fingertips.“Should I be?”

“Some men find me intimidating.”

The swagger in his tone betrayed his tease.Though, no doubt, there was some truth in that.The glint in his eye provoked her dormant competitiveness and her own desire to play.

While being grown-ups around the kids and in the busy hierarchy practiced with rules and deference at the office, they had little time to think.The opportunities to relax as themselves, as they could in social situations like this, were few and far between.