She paced back and forth in the tiny room. What would Jimmy think? What would everyone else think? Was this too soon? Did this make her a bad person? She liked Adam and knew he liked her, too. She knew Jimmy wouldn’t want her to die alone, but what about having sex with someone else?
Her body was saying yes. Hell yes, actually. Adam was the first man she’d been attracted to since Jimmy, and her treacherous lady parts were all for moving on. But her mind said, not yet, it’s too soon, you’re not ready. And her indecisive heart just kept flip-flopping from side to side, not prepared to break the tie.
Sitting on the edge of the tub, head in her hands, with her brain and body fighting it out, her mind suddenly cleared of all but one thought—one vivid voice.
Jenny, I sent Adam to you. I sent Adamforyou. He’ll take care of you and the boys and I’m okay with it. All of it. Pleasedon’t let me hold you back. I love you.
It startled her at first. The voice came from nowhere, but the words were accompanied by a calming, serene feeling that soothed her aching heart. A peace settled over her like she’d never felt before.
All of it.Jimmy was telling her it was okay to start a relationship with Adam, and that included sleeping with him. He’d sent Adam to her and for her. It seemed exactly like something Jimmy would do. All at once, the guilt was gone. The feelings of shame, no longer an issue. Jimmy’s love had set her free.
When Adam finally came to check on her, she was crying silently, still sitting on the tub, whispering to herself. “Thank you, baby. I love you. Always.”
She’d left the door ajar, and he pushed it open slowly, giving her time to object. She looked up, knowing her mascara was smudged around red, puffy eyes.
He sat next to her and took her hand gently in his. “It’s too soon. That’s okay. I meant what I said. I’ll wait, Jenny, as long as I have to. We’ll just keep going on like before, with the boys and baseball and dinners. We’ll take it day by day and see what happens.”
She stood and pulled on his hand to get him to follow. “Come on.” Leading him into the bedroom, she pushed him into a sitting position on the side of the bed. She pulled her shirt off over her head, revealing a lacy, pink bra with a rhinestone in the middle above the clasp. She smiled to let him know she was done crying and now had other things on her mind.
“Holy shit.” Adam’s mouth was hanging open, and he was staring openly at her breasts. “My God, you are beautiful.”
Gaining confidence from his reaction, she climbed up to straddle him and kissed him full on the mouth. Not wasting any time wondering what she wanted next, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in tight, kissing away anylingering doubts.
He had her worked up in no time, and when he flipped her over onto her back, she arched up to get closer. She reached to take his shirt off but was struggling with it, so he took care of it himself.
He worked out religiously, and it showed. Placing a hand on either side of her head and holding himself in a half push-up position, she could see the delineation of each muscle in his shoulder and chest.
“Wow,” she muttered as she felt along each bulge and hollow.
She’d thought that being intimate with another man would be uncomfortable, but Adam made her ache to be touched. His hands were gentle, and he knew just where and how to touch her. She had her first orgasm before they’d even undressed.
They made love on and off all night, sleeping in each other’s arms in between. He made her breakfast in the morning and left before the boys came home. He agreed to come back later for dinner.
***
Maggie took Jenny’s call the next morning, anxious to hear how things had gone.
“It. Was. A-freaking-mazing, Mags,” she gushed. Maggie listened as Jenny rehashed the evening. She told her about having doubts and about what Jimmy had said.
“It was like he was sitting next to me. His voice was as clear as a bell. He told me he’d sent Adam and that he was okay with it. I felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders and then just jumped on Adam.”
The story gave her chills. “Jen, I’m so happy for you. I have a good feeling about you two.”
“Oh, and the sex. Oh my God, Mags, the sex. I won’t kiss and tell, but he is unbelievably great. It completely blew mymind.”
“Wait, what? No details?” She laughed. “Give a celibate girl a break!”
Jenny’s laugh was cut short. “Oh shit, the boys are home. I gotta go. We’ll find you someone, Mags. Someone fantastic. Someone worth the wait. Love you,” she said as she ended the call.
Maggie looked at the phone. Fantastic and worth the wait? Mitch seemed far from either, but even so, he was who popped into her head. His handsome, rugged face, the woeful, sea-green eyes, and that smile. Seen rarely, but when it was genuine, it melted her heart. And don’t get her started on that body. Ever since their run-in at the shop, when he promised they would finish what they’d started, she’d been fantasizing about when and where and how.
Her cell phone vibrated. Speak of the devil. As if she’d conjured him with her thoughts, he was calling her now. She knew exactly what this was about.
“Hey, Mitch, how’s it going?”
“I’m going to kill you.” He wasted no time with pleasantries.
She laughed. “What’s the matter?”
