Page 99 of Nothing to This

“That’s it?”an unimpressed, almost deadpan, male asked from the hallway.

“Yes.What a good Boy Scout you are.What a good boy,” Roux said as though talking to a puppy, and reached up, maybe to ruffle his hair.“You’re dismissed.”

As Roux backed off, a hand appeared to grab her back.“Oh no, you don’t get off that easy, Babycakes,” the guy said and yanked on Roux.“Good boys get treats.”

That’s when he came into view, locked in a passionate clinch with the teasing woman who couldn’t keep her feet on the floor.Out they went and the door closed.

“They’ll be a minute,” Lilya said.

“I have neighbors.”

Who wouldn’t appreciate walking in on, whatever that was, in the hallway.

“He pays them off,” Roxie said.“Always does.”

“It works for them.”

“I know, it’s tough to wrap our heads around how the rules change in this stratosphere.We come from a different world,” Roxie said like she’d read the script a hundred times.“Well, us minus Lilya.”

“I am not billionaire rich.”

“You come from money, old money.The traipsing around the world thing isn’t a big deal with means like that.”

“I traveled for work.”

“See.”Roxie gestured with her glass.“Like JD.”

Again, all eyes on her.“I told him we can never travel together.”

“What did he say?”

“That we could bring the kids.”

“Yeah, and you can tutor them on the road, if you get to that stage.”

“Is that a life for a child?They need stability, structure.Routine is important.”

“Your kids are important, no one can say otherwise.”

“She uses them as a shield,” Brenna said, bringing their attentions around to the hallway from where she emerged.“She’s totally in love with my brother.God knows why.”

“Are they asleep?”

Brenna came to join her in the armchair.“Both out like a light.We called Jamie.”

“To say goodnight?He’s adamant about not missing it.”

“I left my phone on video in there.”

“Aww,” Jane swooned, and the other women softened too.“He loves his babies.”

“One thing I don’t doubt.”

“Not anymore,” Brenna said.“You used to wonder when he didn’t show up.Now he shows up, what’s left not to love?”

And that was the crux of it.She had to stop looking at JD like her children’s father and instead as a man.Like the night they met.That man.Could heat like that be sustained?Maybe not.But in these last few weeks with him, their desire had mellowed to something richer and more vibrant.Something deeper?JD wasn’t just a lay, wouldn’t be if they jumped into a relationship.If they were together, one day, the kids would move out and they’d be on their own.Did she want him to only be a father to their children or the man she’d love until death they did part?

THIRTY-FIVE