“It’s not. Brady came by last night in the middle of it and brought me to his place because a big old tree was blocking my path out.”
As usual, Mom totally ignored the part about me being trapped and possibly in danger and instead focused on the man. She hummed, eyes sparkling. “Brady, huh? That’s weird… I could’ve sworn that was the name of the sheriff. You know…the one who keeps arresting you.”
“Kept. He hasn’t arrested me in at least a week.”
Mom laughed outright at that. “I take it you worked out all your differences, then?”
Flashes of last night blinked through my mind—how intense it’d been. Heated and passionate and full of whatever crazy chemistry constantly zinged between us—and I had to squash down the memories, willing my cheeks not to redden. “Hardly. We’re still at each other’s throats.”
Mom grinned. “Well, that can be very fun, too. You know how much your father and I are opposites…”
“Okay, Mom, that’s enough,” I said with barely restrained laughter.
My mom was my best friend and someone who didn’t know the meaning of personal boundaries. That meant I knew far more about her sex life than I ever,everwanted to, and she thought it was perfectly normal to ship me a “cool new vibrator” she’d heard about because “very few men actually know what they’re doing, and sometimes you just need a helping hand.” She’d raised me under the notion that sex was never a dirty word. It was just another beautiful thing in life, like dancing in the rain or swimming in the ocean, and she had no qualms slipping it casually into any and all conversations. Had no qualms grilling me about the status of my sex life, either.
Mom laughed. “I’m just saying, a little animosity never hurt anyone in the bedroom.”
“Who said anything about the bedroom?”
“Oh, my sweet girl. I know you don’t think I’m that naive. You’ve been on birth control since you were sixteen.”
I heaved out a sigh. “Let’s talk about something else, shall we?”
Mom smirked, her eyes sparkling, but she let me change the subject. “Fine. Since you’re…enjoying yourself…with the sheriff, can I assume things have smoothed out on the development front?”
The mention of it made my stomach clench with unease. The complications of trying to put a stop to something that was very obviously at odds with what Brady and his family were trying to accomplish muddied my convictions. I didn’t want to hurt them, and that was the problem. It was why I didn’t get involved with men who didn’t share my views or my passion for activism, and I certainly didn’t get involved with those on the other side of the law. It was just begging for trouble.
And yet there I was, in Brady’s home, wearing his shirt, smelling like him, and still tender from how he’d taken me last night, practically on my knees for it.
I blew out a heavy sigh. “Not even a little. A motion for discovery has been filed—Brady fast-tracked it in exchange for me staying out of their hair while a journalist sniffs around the resort—so it’s just a waiting game right now.”
“And what’s your plan when the findings come back?”
Plan? I didn’t do plans. I flew by the seat of my pants, took things as they came, so I’d figure that out when the time arrived.
“Pretty sure you know the answer to that.”
“Right, no plan. Well, your dad’s looking into it, too, after he saw that Live where you chained yourself to the tree. Good work, sweetie, but we both thought you caved awfully quick. Since when is food enough to get you to give in?”
I huffed, knowing she was right. I’d fucked up that morning by not packing my essentials, but I wasn’t one to look back in regret. Whatever happened, happened, and I moved on from it. “It wasn’t just the food. It was raining, too, so they were going to have to pack it in for the day anyway.” Then I recalled the deliciousness that was the Luna Special and sighed. “Plus, you’ve never had this omelet.”
“Hmm… Maybe I will. Your dad and I were just talking about taking a weekend trip somewhere, so why not there?”
“Sure.” I shrugged, knowing damn well my parents weren’t coming up here. My mom’s whims were wilder than mine, and she rarely, if ever, followed through on what she said she would. I’d learned that lesson at a very young age. Until I saw their car pulling up in front of me, I’d assume she was blowing smoke up my ass.
“Maybe then I could meet this mysterious sheriff. Where is he now, by the way? And, more importantly, can I assume he’s the reason for that beard burn on your neck?”
“Oh my God, Mom.” I groaned, tugging up the neckline of Brady’s shirt, as if that would do anything now.
“What? I’m just happy to know my baby has an active, fulfilling sex life. Itisfulfilling, isn’t it? There’s nothing worse than a dead fish in the sack. Does he know how to, you know,get you there? If not, there’s nothing wrong with moving things along yourself. That vibrator I sent you would be perfect for that. It stimulates oral sex, and—”
“Oh Jesus,” I muttered under my breath. “Mom, please. I’m begging you. It’s too early for your brand of girl talk. Where’s Dad? At least his presence would keep you from interrogating me about my sex life.”
“You know it wouldn’t. He’d just stalk off in a huff, muttering how he didn’t want to hear it.”
“As a parent should.”
She harrumphed. “Well, you don’t have to worry about him overhearing. He’s at the office, working on an important case. And anyway, I’m not interrogating you. I just want to know where the man who very clearly ravished you is at seven thirty in the morning.”
