New Beginnings (6 page)

6

Scarlet

“I have an evil idea.” I got into bed beside Sean.

“Oooh…I want to hear it.” His hand moved up my hip, his eyes sinister. This probably wasn’t the best time to have this conversation.

“It’s about your parents.”

He flinched. “You always think about my parents before we have sex?”

I rolled my eyes. “Let’s invite your mom to dinner tomorrow night along with Mike and Cassandra. We can have dinner as a family. Maybe that will get your dad to see your mom differently.”

“Sure. Whatever.” His lips moved to my neck and sucked the skin.

I pushed him off. “Do you think it will work?”

“Baby, I’m not even listening to you right now.”

“Can you just stop thinking about sex for a second?”

“Can we just have this conversation after we have sex?”

“God, you’re annoying.”

He moved on top of me and then found my entrance immediately. He had a radar built inside that head of his. The sex was slow and gentle. Sean took his time, dragging it out as long as possible. He was doing a good job so I didn’t mind.

“I’m not stopping until you come twice.”

“What?” We hardly talked during sex.

“When a woman has an orgasm, she increases her chance of fertilization. So, if I can give you more orgasms, you are more likely to get pregnant.”

I don’t know where he heard that but I didn’t question it. If he wanted to make my toes curl twice, then go ahead. I wouldn’t stop him.

He made love to me in a sensual way. It was the easiest way to get me off. He kissed me passionately, making love to my lips while he moved inside me. Every touch was just for me. One hand was between my legs, rubbing my clitoris. Now I didn’t want to get pregnant so we could do this every time. He did all the work, rocking into me from above. I lay back and enjoyed it.

He made me hit the first orgasm quickly. I moaned quietly, enjoying the slow burn before it ignited into an inferno. My hands moved into his hair while I enjoyed it, knowing I’d get another one very soon. When it passed, he got back to work and brought me to the edge again. He was panting and grunting, trying to hold back.

“Let me know when you’re there…” Sweat formed on his chest. I wrapped my arms around his neck while he kept up his amazing work.

“Right there…”

He rubbed my clitoris harder and pushed me over the edge. Then he came inside me at the same time, his breath falling on my face. I moaned as the tenderness spread through my body.

Sean pulled out then lay beside me, exhausted.

I caught my breath and let my high disappear before I thought about my plan again. “I’ll invite them over tomorrow but we won’t tell your dad. It’ll be a surprise, and it will make Andrew want to be a family again.”

Sean snored.

I looked over and saw him fast asleep. I rolled my eyes then set his alarm.

I made tacos for dinner and set the table. Andrew sat in the living room and watched TV. He was nice company around the house. We played games and watched TV together when I was sick of reading manuscripts. And since he was exceptionally tall, he always grabbed things out of my reach.

“I’m excited,” Andrew said from the couch. “We haven’t done
anything fun in a while.”

“It will be fun.” I hadn’t told him about Diane. I’ll just let that be a surprise.

Sean came home with Mike and Cassandra behind him. “Hey, baby.”

I came to him and gave him a big kiss, a bigger one than I usually did. When people were around, I wasn’t this affectionate. I kept my distance and tried to keep my hands to myself, but after he made me feel so good the night before, I was excited to see him.

Sean immediately got hard through his slacks. I felt it against my leg when he kissed me. When the kiss went on long enough, I pulled away.

He stared down at me. “That was a nice greeting from my lovely wife.”

“I missed you.”

Mike winked. “Looks like Sean did something right for once.” His arm was around Cassandra’s waist.

“No,” Sean said as he wrinkled his eyebrow. “I’m always messing shit up.”

Mike laughed. “At least you admit it.”

I pulled his face close to mine. “You really rocked my world last night.”

He smirked. “You liked that…
?”

“Let’s just say I hope we don’t get pregnant for while…”

His eyes darkened. “I’ll do that every night if you greet me like this every day.”

“Deal.”

“Cassandra and I aren’t deaf, just so you know,” Mike said sarcastically.

“Leave them alone,” she said. “They’re cute.”

“Am I cute?” He gave her a cocky grin.

“Most of the time.”

Andrew came to Mike and hugged him tightly. “I’m so glad you brought a lovely date.”

“I guess you talked some sense into me.” He patted his back and pulled away.

Andrew immediately hugged Cassandra. “I’m so happy you’re here.” The happiness was in his voice.

“Thank you,” she said.

Mike pulled her away. “Don’t get any ideas, Dad. She’s mine.”

“I could steal her if I really want
ed to, son. Just be happy I don’t.”

“Ooh,” Mike said. “My old man is threatening me.”

“I’m always threatening you,” he teased.

“I’m starving,” Sean said. “I hit the gym pretty hard today.”

I squeezed his arms. “Nice.”

His eyes widened. “You’re being really nice to me today…”

“Because you’re being nice to me.”

Mike pulled Cassandra away. “Let’s get out of here before they start going at it on the floor.”

“Please,” Andrew said. “You don’t live with those two. A hallway and two bedrooms stand between us and I can still hear everything.”

I cringed. “We’re moving our bedroom downstairs.”

“Or we’re moving his,” Sean said. “Let’s eat before this gets any weirder.

Everyone sat at the table but I didn’t serve dinner. I was still waiting for the last guest.

The doorbell rang right at six and I dashed to the door.

Diane held a homemade pie. “Hello.”

“Hi.” I hugged her tightly and led her inside. “Thanks for coming.”

“Well, thanks for inviting me.”

We came to the table, and Andrew’s eyes flashed in surprise at her appearance.

The only seat available was the one next to Andrew, which is exactly where she sat.

“Hey, Mom.” Mike came to her side of the table and hugged her. “You look nice.”

“Thanks.” She tucked her hair behind her ear then looked at Cassandra. Her eyes filled with emotion. “I’m so relieved you two worked it out.”

“You think I’d let a fox like her get away?” Mike winked at her.

Cassandra came to her and hugged her. “It’s nice to see you again, Mrs. Preston. I mean, Diane.” The awkwardness spread on her face at the mishap.

“It’s okay,” Diane said gracefully. “I may be divorced but I haven’t changed my name and I never will. But I do prefer Diane.”

Sean hugged her next then sat down. “It’s nice to have dinner as a family.” He shot a look at his dad.

Andrew cleared this throat then turned to Diane. She was wearing a white blouse with pearls. For an older woman, she looked very pretty. The last time I visited her, she looked like a wreck. I’m glad she cleaned up. She looked just as elegant as she did before their marriage fell apart.

“It’s nice to see you,” Andrew said.

“Come on,” Sean said. “Don’t be stiff and hug her.”

Andrew gave him a firm look but didn’t touch her. “I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

“I’m doing the best I can,” she said simply. There was no sadness in her eyes.

He turned away and looked at the bottle of wine on the table

I served the food and popped open the wine. “Cassandra, I got this from a vineyard here in Connecticut. It’s so good. I can’t have any, but take a bottle home.” I poured her a glass and she watched the liquid fill the cup.

“Thank you,
” she said.

I sat down and waited for her to drink it. “Try it. It’s good.”

She eyed the cup but didn’t reach for it.

Mike snatched it then downed it in one gulp. “Damn, that is good.”

Cassandra smirked but didn’t say anything.

“That was for your girlfriend,” I said pointedly.

“What’s mine is hers.”

“But what’s hers is hers,” I jabbed.

“How’s the editing going?” Mike asked.

The sudden change of subject made me suspicious. “You never ask me about my job.”

“Because Sean talks about it. But he hasn’t brought it up lately since he’s been obsessed with getting you pregnant.”

That alleviated some of my doubt.

Sean turned to his mom. “How’s it going?”

“Good. Charlie loves running on the beach.”

“What the fuck?” Mike snapped. “Who the hell is Charlie? You’re already with someone else after you just divorced Dad?”

“Calm the hell down,” Sean snapped.

“It’s my dog,” she explained.

“Oh.” Mike actually had the grace to look embarrassed. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she said. “I’m glad you’re protective of your father.”

“Girls have been throwing themselves at Dad,” Mike said. “It’s unbelievable. When we went out for drinks last month, two chicks threw their numbers at him—and they were twenty-five.”

Sean glared at him. Andrew’s face reddened in embarrassment. And Diane looked like she might throw up.

“Dad is a stud,” Mike continued. “I didn’t get as much tail as he did when
I was single, and he’s twice my—ouch!” The table shook and Mike glared at Sean. “Stop kicking me!”

Sean kicked him again. “Just stop talking.”

“What?” he snapped.

Mike was a sweetheart, but he could sure be dense sometimes.

Andrew looked uncomfortable. “Just to clarify, I never went out with any of these women. They may have given me their number, but I threw them away.”

Diane nodded. “I know you well enough to make the assumption, Andrew.”

Phew. I’m glad that didn’t end badly.

“I’m glad.”

Silence fell on the table. We dug into our meal but it was still awkward.

“So, how did you guys get back together?” I asked. “You never told us.”

Mike chewed a big bite before he spoke. “We just talked it out and that was it.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Mike, you were insane. You wouldn’t listen to any
one and see reason. And you just changed your mind? Like that?”

“Cassandra is a sweet talker when she wants to be.” He winked.

This wasn’t adding up. Mike seemed determined to move on without her. He was a completely different person, dark and broken. And overnight, he was back to normal. I couldn’t imagine Cassandra saying everything she already said and suddenly changing his mind. “You aren’t telling me something.”

His joking demeanor disappeared. He gave me a hard look. “You’re right. I’m not telling you something. But it’s private and I don’t want to share it with anyone. So back off.”

Wow, he meant business.

Sean gave him a fierce look. “Talk to my wife like that again and I’ll beat the shit out of you in front of your entire family.” The threat was genuine. It was clear in his eyes.

Mike opened his mouth to argue but Andrew cut him off. “Apologize.”

Mike’s mouth closed then he turned back to me. “I didn’t mean to be rude. I just know how you are. You’ll keep pushing until you get what you want.”

“I accept your apology.”

“I’m still punching you in the arm after dinner,” Sean threatened. “Be ready for it.”

“Your wife is going to miss your dick because I’m going to break it,” Mike countered.

“Boys,” Andrew said. “Knock it off.”

They both looked away from each other.

Andrew turned to Diane. “How’s the house?”

“Empty.”

He nodded. “What have you been doing?”

“Volunteering and stuff.” She shrugged. “Nothing too interesting. Alice and I have been seeing each other.”

Alice was her sister. I was glad she was spending time with her family. It was a good support system.

“How about you?” she asked.

“I’ve been putting up with the boys.” He gave them each a glare.

‘They are good boys,” she said. “Leave them be.”

He raised an eyebrow.

Even I was surprised by the comment. She usually berated them for being childish.

We made small talk for the rest of the dinner. Andrew made a joke and Diane laughed loudly. When I wa
tched them together, I saw the natural chemistry come to life. They bickered so much before their divorce and it was nice to see their happiness for once.