date?”
Laura shook her head, wondering what her daughter would say if Laura started going out with Bryan now. God knew she was tempted to take him up on that offer to fuck the hell out of each other. “We were just friends. Never anything romantic.”
“Was he that hot back in high school?”
Laura laughed. “He was cute, in a young boy way. He’s definitely gotten better looking over the years.”
Katie fell silent. Laura feared she’d pushed the conversation too far. “You just missed Meryl Streep on the red carpet.”
“Damn, how did she look?” Katie said, tucking her feet beneath her on the couch, making herself comfortable.
Katie had only started hanging out at Laura’s townhouse since the holidays, forced—probably by Kevin—to participate in the Boxing Day breakfast and gift exchange Laura had planned. Juggling the holidays had been tricky this year thanks to the divorce.
She’d given Mason Christmas Eve with the kids. Then Katie and Kevin had split Christmas Day attending get-togethers at both of their grandmother’s houses, so Laura had gotten to see them briefly on that day, but her mother’s house had been overflowing with aunts, uncles and cousins. Laura had counted no fewer than twelve children under the age of ten. The chaos of the large family get-together hadn’t given her much time to talk to her own kids.
So that had left Laura with December twenty-sixth to open presents with Kevin and Katie. It had been a nice day, low key and relaxed. It had also been the first time Katie had spent any real time at Laura’s house. Since then, her daughter had started dropping by a bit more, joining her for dinner a couple times.
The afternoon turned to evening as they watched the parade of stars, sharing comments about the dresses the actresses wore, laughing at the tacky powder-blue tux a comedian had chosen to sport, and eating way too much. It was like old times.
Several times, Laura allowed her mind to drift back to Bryan’s kisses. When they’d been in the heat of the moment, she’d been swept away by the sensations and ready to invite him to stick around for more.
Thank God Katie had shown up. If there was one thing Laura knew for sure, it was that she wasn’t looking for a serious relationship. Companionship, friendship, a little harmless flirting and kissing with Bryan were all well and good. Anything beyond that and Laura could be in trouble.
Big trouble.
Because a large part of her wanted more.
A lot more.
Chapter Three
Laura Sanders
Did you know in kickboxing in the United States, you’re only allowed to strike with your fists and feet? Isn’t that enough? Ouch.
Bryan put his fork down and leaned back. After another brief one-week stint out of town for work, he had called and invited her out to dinner. “That was delicious. I’m glad you recommended this place.”
She took a sip of her wine. “I love the food here, plus it’s quiet. I’m not sure why people like those sports-themed restaurants so much. The ones with TVs on every available flat surface.”
“I agree. I always leave those places feeling like I’m on system overload from too much stimulation. Flashing lights and loud noise. Drives me nuts.”
She agreed, then laughed, rolling her eyes. “Uh oh.”
Bryan understood her humor. “Yeah. I know. Remind me again, when did we get old?”
“I can’t speak for you, but I stopped being hip around nineteen when I got married and pregnant way too young.”
“I have to admit you seem to have held on to your coolness better than me if the clubbing and red-carpet feasts are anything to go by.”
Laura set her wineglass down and shook her head. “Oh, hell no. You’re just joining in after the second-chance goal. You should have seen me last year. The only things I was missing were the reading glasses on a chain around my neck and orthopedic shoes.”
“Second-chance goal?”
Laura put her fork and knife on her plate as the waiter came to clear
Laura shook her head, wondering what her daughter would say if Laura started going out with Bryan now. God knew she was tempted to take him up on that offer to fuck the hell out of each other. “We were just friends. Never anything romantic.”
“Was he that hot back in high school?”
Laura laughed. “He was cute, in a young boy way. He’s definitely gotten better looking over the years.”
Katie fell silent. Laura feared she’d pushed the conversation too far. “You just missed Meryl Streep on the red carpet.”
“Damn, how did she look?” Katie said, tucking her feet beneath her on the couch, making herself comfortable.
Katie had only started hanging out at Laura’s townhouse since the holidays, forced—probably by Kevin—to participate in the Boxing Day breakfast and gift exchange Laura had planned. Juggling the holidays had been tricky this year thanks to the divorce.
She’d given Mason Christmas Eve with the kids. Then Katie and Kevin had split Christmas Day attending get-togethers at both of their grandmother’s houses, so Laura had gotten to see them briefly on that day, but her mother’s house had been overflowing with aunts, uncles and cousins. Laura had counted no fewer than twelve children under the age of ten. The chaos of the large family get-together hadn’t given her much time to talk to her own kids.
So that had left Laura with December twenty-sixth to open presents with Kevin and Katie. It had been a nice day, low key and relaxed. It had also been the first time Katie had spent any real time at Laura’s house. Since then, her daughter had started dropping by a bit more, joining her for dinner a couple times.
The afternoon turned to evening as they watched the parade of stars, sharing comments about the dresses the actresses wore, laughing at the tacky powder-blue tux a comedian had chosen to sport, and eating way too much. It was like old times.
Several times, Laura allowed her mind to drift back to Bryan’s kisses. When they’d been in the heat of the moment, she’d been swept away by the sensations and ready to invite him to stick around for more.
Thank God Katie had shown up. If there was one thing Laura knew for sure, it was that she wasn’t looking for a serious relationship. Companionship, friendship, a little harmless flirting and kissing with Bryan were all well and good. Anything beyond that and Laura could be in trouble.
Big trouble.
Because a large part of her wanted more.
A lot more.
Chapter Three
Laura Sanders
Did you know in kickboxing in the United States, you’re only allowed to strike with your fists and feet? Isn’t that enough? Ouch.
Bryan put his fork down and leaned back. After another brief one-week stint out of town for work, he had called and invited her out to dinner. “That was delicious. I’m glad you recommended this place.”
She took a sip of her wine. “I love the food here, plus it’s quiet. I’m not sure why people like those sports-themed restaurants so much. The ones with TVs on every available flat surface.”
“I agree. I always leave those places feeling like I’m on system overload from too much stimulation. Flashing lights and loud noise. Drives me nuts.”
She agreed, then laughed, rolling her eyes. “Uh oh.”
Bryan understood her humor. “Yeah. I know. Remind me again, when did we get old?”
“I can’t speak for you, but I stopped being hip around nineteen when I got married and pregnant way too young.”
“I have to admit you seem to have held on to your coolness better than me if the clubbing and red-carpet feasts are anything to go by.”
Laura set her wineglass down and shook her head. “Oh, hell no. You’re just joining in after the second-chance goal. You should have seen me last year. The only things I was missing were the reading glasses on a chain around my neck and orthopedic shoes.”
“Second-chance goal?”
Laura put her fork and knife on her plate as the waiter came to clear
Similar Books
