Page 5

ChapterFive

S topping on the way at an all-night pharmacy, Lucy made it to Allison’s in half an hour.

Allison greeted her at the door with a very unhappy, and loudly screaming, babe in her arms. Lucy took the baby as she handed over the medicine, then followed Allison into the kitchen where Allison measured out a dose for little Davie and tipped it into his mouth.

Between the two of them, they managed to finally get Davie to stop crying and after three quarters of an hour, he fell into an exhausted sleep.

Lucy lay a hand on his forehead and, to her, he felt cooler than he had when she’d first arrived.

“Oh, Mum, I was so worried. I was about to wake Lizzie and Colin so I could take them all to the chemist.”

Lucy explained where she’d been and why. “I’m sorry I didn’t hear my phone. It was noisy where I was.”

“I’m sorry too, Mum. I didn’t think. I kind of panicked. Do you want to go back?”

“No, no, it’s fine. It’s late and anyway the place closes at two.” Lucy glanced at the clock. It was after one.

“Do you want a cuppa, Mum?”

“No, I’ll go now that Davie’s asleep. Ring me later in the morning and let me know how he is.”

“I will ... and thank you so much, Mum.”

Allison hugged her, and Lucy went back out to her car.

By the time Lucy unlocked her front door, it was two in the morning. It had been an emotional night, filled with highs and lows. Disappointment was foremost in her mind—not seeing the two sexy men before she left. But then perhaps it was a good thing.

On the way home, she’d persuaded herself they were only being polite and merely enjoying a great evening with a single woman. By the time she reached her house, she’d convinced herself there was really nothing in what they’d offered. They only said what she’d expected, or hoped, to hear.

“If only they’d meant what they’d said.” If only they’d really wanted to see her again . But then how on earth could I choose between them if they did want to see me? “Anyway, it’s completely immaterial. I’ll never see them again.”

Still, it had been a marvelous boost to her ego. Lucy crawled into bed with an enormous smile on her face, remembering the sexy dancing wedged between two very attractive men, the way those two got her so excited, and how, for a few minutes, she’d lost all inhibitions.

Mm, how good would it be to have two delicious hunks chasing me.

Her last thought before she fell asleep was wondering how it would feel to make love to two men at once.

****

T he ringing of her phone dragged Lucy from a delicious dream where Sebastian and Jack were both undressed and they were making her dance naked between them. She tried to ignore the ringing, but regretfully she reached out a hand and grabbed it.

“Hi, Mum. Just letting you know Davie’s back to his usual self, albeit with a runny nose.”

“That’s very good news, sweetheart. Hopefully, his cold clears up quickly. Not good to have a toothache and a cold at the same time.”

“Sorry you had to leave your party early last night.”

“It’s okay. I’m just glad Davie’s all right.”

They spoke for about ten minutes more. Then Lucy climbed out of bed, showered, and dressed in a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt.

She spent the morning doing all those household chores she’d put off through the week—like cleaning the house. But all the time, those two men weren’t far from her thoughts. She kept daydreaming they’d meant what they’d said, imagining they’d asked her out, and she’d see them again soon.

“Honestly, Lucy, you’re being silly. They were just being nice. Forget them.”

By two o’clock, she decided to put her feet up with a sandwich and a book.

Sandwich made, she grabbed the latest Laura McCluskey book off the table in the library where she’d thrown it the other day.

Taking book and lunch out onto her back paved deck area, she sat.

Even though it was hot in the sun, it was pleasant on the covered deck as well as being sheltered from the gusty, hot summer wind.

By four, a late afternoon thunderstorm, which had been brewing for the past few hours, finally erupted, sending Lucy inside.

Tomorrow, she’d remind the temp agency she was free again if they hadn’t rung her by lunchtime.

For now, she’d make a light meal and then relax in the family room with her book.