"So last night?"
"I know." He shrugs, looking disappointed. "We should talk about that." Our eyes meet, locking together and desperate for sweet fulfillment. "But first . . ." He takes a step closer. My legs feel even weaker as his hand moves around my torso. I stare at his cocoa eyes, and my lips yearn to be touched.
He grasps me tight, pulling my body towards his. The tingles return, surrounding my chest. A hand moves through my caramel locks and finally he kisses me. Our lips press firmly together and I close my eyes - drifting to the place I fantasized about. The foyer is silent aside from the faint moan that escapes my mouth. My chest burns as his hand wanders. I don't want him to stop. I want him to pull me to the nearest sofa and undo the zipper on my side.
"Haha! You're hilarious Helen!" My entire face flinches and the fire in my chest is drenched with ice water. That laugh. No!
"Mum?" Rex seems just as startled as me.
"Wooley!" She pulls Rex in for a hug.
"Wooley?" I whisper.
"I was a bit husky in primary school. That's all I'm going to say."
"I was just having a lovely chat with your friend here," she laughs. My stomach feels nauseous as Holly smiles.
"Hi," she says in her upbeat hostess voice, acting as if we'd never met. "I'm Holly." I stare at her beaming face. It was like being stung by that one annoying mosquito beneath layers of clothes. As Rex politely asks his mother what on earth she's doing in San Francisco, I feel a pinch on my arm.
"Payback is a bitch," Holly mutters through her teeth. Her sting was worse than her buzz. And with Rex's mom in Holly's favor, I was on the verge of losing it all.
"Oh deary," Helen coos, placing a hand on Rex's cheek. "I haven't seen you in ages."
"Yes mum," Rex replies. "I told you to give me ring."
"I thought a proper visit was better." Helen looked how I expected. Her sleek, brunette hairdo was the same shade of brown. Her royal blue blouse and matching skirt was nothing short of posh. "And who is this?" I break my gaze away from Holly's ridiculous ensemble. Not that her outfit was trashy. It was ultra conservative compared to mine. So not her. It went all the way up to her collar. If Holly's plan was to make me feel like a hooker, she'd succeeded.
"Mum, this is . . ." Rex stumbles over his words. Was I just a friend, a lover, a coworker? I was even confused.
"I'm Kat," I answer for him.
"Oh nice to meet you." As I shake Helen's hand she studies my dress. That was one for Holly, zero for me. Holly puts her arm around Helen as if they're old friends. It's apparent the two of them had been drinking. I can smell the faint scent of alcohol in the hall, but Helen seems to carry herself well. Something her and Holly had in common. "How about the four of us go for a delightful meal?"
"That sounds like a fabulous idea," Holly encourages her. I sneak a glance at the horrified look on Rex's face.
"Charles!" Helen shouts down the hall until Charles appears. "Get the car!"
"Rex," Holly steps in front of me and kisses him on the cheek. My organs practically liquidate and melt down my sides. "I hope you don't mind. I recognized her from that photo you showed me last night." My hand shook. I wanted to slap her.
"How did-" Rex attempts to avoid eye contact.
"I spotted her walking around The Four Seasons and thought I'd introduce myself." What the hell was she doing at The Four Seasons. That should have been my next line but I was still waiting to wake up on my couch in a pile of drool. This didn't seem real.
"Oh." Holly pulls out her innocent look. "I hope I'm not interrupting."
"Actually-"
Holly glares at me the instant I open my mouth.
"Cocktail time," Helen chimes down the hall.
"Mother," Rex yawns. "I'm actually pretty knackered."
"Oh nonsense," Helen shakes her
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