"And emeralds." Carrie said loftily as she continued to eat her salad one-handed. "Look but don't touch. My guy said the sex is the best he ever had. I showed off more than a little and had him breathing like a fire engine. This was the reward."
"It's stunning and expensive."
"Now tell me about your reward."
"I'm thinking I should be the one handing that out." Taking one last look, she dropped her friend's hand.
Carrie stared at her with raised brows. "He's that good? Of course he is. The guy is hot and young. Tell me everything."
"It would take more than my half hour lunch to tell you." She smiled slightly. "He wants to take me to Paris."
"And you say yes of course. Paris means shopping, shopping, shopping."
"I intend to." Melanie sighed and reached for her water. "I told Grams about it."
"Why?"
"Because she's my grandmother and we never had secrets from each other and because I'm leaving David with her more oftenthan before." She shrugged. "And I feel damn guilty. I more than like him."
"I more than like my guy too."
Melanie looked over at her. "Have you told him the truth?"
"Nope." Carrie dug into the crisp salad. "He's a snob. He has always had money and never knew what it's like to lack. We were passing through downtown the other day where they have all those homeless people wandering around and I asked him to stop so I could give one of them leftovers I had and he refused to."
"Said that's what was making this country of ours so pedestrian. That's the word he used. Said he writes a check to give to the local charities because that's what is expected of him, but those people should get up off their ass and do something productive to help to build the country. I wanted to slap him upside the head."
"Sounds like a jerk. I don't think Rodney is like that." She toyed with the salad, her appetite disappearing.
"But you're not certain." Carrie shrugged. "After what my guy said, I'm more determined to wring him dry."
"Doesn't it bother you?" Picking up her glass of water, she took a sip. "It kinda sounds as if we're pimping out ourselves."
"Nope." Her friend responded promptly. "We're having fun and reaping the bennies. Nothing wrong with that."
*****
"That's my boy! You go baby!" Rising to her feet, she pumped her fists in the air and jiggled her butt as David rammed the ball into the net, kicking his team up to first place.
"Cute kid."
She had been unaware of the man seated next to her on the stand and did not realize she had spilled popcorn all over him.
"Oh goodness! I'm sorry. Let me--"
"No." He grinned at her, white teeth flashing as he brushed it off. "I appreciate your enthusiasm. Name is Joey Watkins." He stretched out a hand and she took it.
"My nephew is the one with the crazy hair." He pointed to the child jumping up and down. The stand was not really full, which was due to the stinging weather of fall, but she had left work and rushed home to change into jeans and sweater and a jacket and barely made it in time to witness the starting of the game.
"Melanie Foster. Son's name is David."
"How about you come with us for ice cream and pizza?"
"I just want to go home. I promised David I would treat him to some homemade vanilla ice cream."
The man nodded, light blue eyes twinkling. "And for all you know, I could be a serial rapist."
"That's possible." She smiled back. "Besides, I don't get to spend a lot of time with him and want to celebrate this victory with just us."
