Oh no.I recognize the voice and groan when I see who’s headed our way, hands waving in the air like she’s flagging down a taxi.
“Who’s that?”Nick asks.
“That’s the busybody, Miriam.”Her name says it all.
“Steel door.I thought she would be rustier, from your description.”He sticks his bottom lip out and shakes his head.“Not premium grade, a generic brand of K-Y jelly will do.Slide those thighs wide open.”
I smack my head down on his chest, a smile splitting my face in two, and try to stifle a laugh before she gets to us.Hilarious, that’s all I have to say.
“I came over to congratulate you.I heard about the baby, you know how news travels,” she says out of breath from the mad dash over here, her attention focused on Nick.“And who do we have here?Is this the father?If you don’t mind me asking—I don’t mean to pry.”
Then why the hell are you over here in my business?I look at Nick and he smiles at me and takes Miriam’s hand when he sees I don’t want to introduce her to him.
“Hi, Miriam, it’s nice to meet you.I’m Nicholas Alexander, and yes, I am the father-to-be.I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Oh no.I hope he doesn’t say anything to insult her.I have to work with her for another month.
“I hope it was all good things.”She smiles at Nick, looking into his eyes like a lovesick puppy.
He gives her a full-on charm-your-panties-off smile.“Mostly.”
I’m not sure she heard what he said, she’s busy staring at him.In the four months I’ve known Miriam, she’s never smiled this much, not a real smile.She always seems so unhappy and miserable underneath the phony smiles and helpfulness.You know the type, eager to volunteer to help without anyone asking for their help.Always smiling, and as soon as they hear something’s going good for someone else, the facade slips and you can see the real them for that second.If things in your life aren’t good, then you’re on the same page with them.Then they’re all in there for you, rubbing your back, offering up tissue and advice to fix your problem instead of theirs.That’s Miriam.She’s one of those people.If something good is not happening for her, she can’t be happy for you.
A bit flustered, she says, “I’m sorry I’m staring, but you have the most unusual eyes.”
“Do I?”Nick says, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Miriam is almost speechless.“Yes.”
God, I have to break this up before she snaps out of the trance of Nick’s eyes and reverts to being herself again.“I’m sorry, Miriam, but we have to go.We have an important appointment we’re going to be late for.”
“I’m sorry I’m being so rude.I don’t know what has come over me.”
My man and your lack of one.“Bye, Miriam,” I say flatly.Nick tells her goodbye with a smile and more emotion than I care for, holding her hands before he opens the door for me.I can practically hear her sigh when he unnecessarily touches her hand again before getting into the car.
“All you had to do was get in the car.You don’t have to be extra.”
He starts the car with the push of a button and grins at me.“I thought I would give her a thrill.She looks like she hasn’t had one in a while.That was my good deed for the day; don’t be jealous, I’m all yours.”
“Remember that while you’re away.”
“What, you don’t trust me?”
“I trust you.”I really do, but I would be a fool not to wonder with a man like him sometimes.
“Trust is a good thing.I won’t let you down.”
He says it with such sincerity.“Good, let’s prove them wrong.”
“Them who?”
“All the doubters.Specifically my family, once they find out about us.”
He takes my hand and kisses the back, licking my middle knuckle with the tip of his tongue.“I can think of a thousand better ways to spend my last three hours with you than talking about your family.”A smile tilts the corner of my mouth and he asks, “What do you want to do before I leave?”
He looks at me with smoky eyes, and I know there’s only one thing he’s thinking about doing.I’m going to burst his bubble for a while.I lean into him and lick my lips, his eyes watching my mouth I slowly say, “I want to do the BBG.”
His forehead creases in question.“What’s the BBG?”
