“Sorry, baby, my hands are rather full,” he told her before his hand, now full of lubricated duo balls, disappeared between her legs where he parted her lips and gently inserted the balls one at a time. “All done.” He moved to the wash basin and lathered his hands.
“So what do I do now?” She felt suddenly naïve as she wondered if there was a do and don’t list of rules.
“Nothing, just do whatever you were planning on doing.” He dried his hands and turned to face a flushed Tasha.
“Should I put my pants back on?” Ridiculousness had now joined naivety because she really did feel ridiculous and was clueless as to whether she sounded as ridiculous as she felt.
“Yes, definitely. Always put your panties on when you go out without me.” He smirked.
She walked back towards the bedroom. After a few steps she stopped dead in her tracks. “That’s quite unusual. Can you hear them?” she asked warily then heard him laugh behind her.
“You may want to avoid the running commentary for your dinner companions and no I can’t hear them. Who exactly are you meeting with?” The details had been sparse and that always made him suspicious.
“You know; Sara, Abby, Amanda and that’s it I believe,” she replied nervously, she hadn’t told him about Sara and Amanda together and she knew he wouldn’t like it.
“So, you’re telling me you’re having dinner with not one, but two of my five living former wives and you think I’ll be okay about it?” He was obviously angry now.
“I suppose I am, but I did tell you, before,” she replied.
“You did not tell me they would both be there together,” he argued. “I would have remembered those details.”
“Maybe that slipped my mind,” she said stupidly, hoping to ease the tension if not amuse.
He stared at her wildly. “Be very careful, Natasha. You are back on seriously thin ice.”
She nodded, but said nothing, allowing him to continue as she put her underwear back on.
“This is not an opportunity for you to compare notes. Do you understand that?”
“Yes, of course,” she replied, but actually thought that even if that’s what they chose to do he would never know anyway.
“Good. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, I would find out if you did decide to discuss me and us.”
How did he manage to do that mind reading or prediction thing, whatever it was?
“How?” she asked curiously as they watched each other in the mirror.
“Amanda is very easy to read, especially when she’s guilty or lying, Abby is very indiscreet when she talks to Bobby and you would tell me.” Confidence oozed from him.
“Two out three is pretty good.” She grinned, but quickly stopped when she saw a dark expression cloud his face.
“Very, very thin ice now, Natasha.” His words were almost a threat, not that she was actually fearful. He turned away to head towards the bedroom door. “At least let me drive you. I’ve already said I will drop the kids at the movies before coming home to an empty and lonely house.”
“Sara is going to pick me up.”
“Then call her and tell her she doesn’t need to and you’ll meet her there.”
He was serious and seemed ready to add what would undoubtedly be convincing arguments to back up his suggestion when the doorbell rang.
“I think it may be a little late to call her now,” said Tasha. “Are you sure you can’t hear them? I’m certain I can hear them chiming.”
Laughing with her Jim shook his head. “No noise, definitely no chiming. Keep your phone with you,” he said and left her alone.
****
They were all eating their main courses and as Tasha was obviously enjoying her fillet steak, Sara asked, “You’re over the diet thing then?”
Tasha nodded. “How did you know?”
