called gullible. Or laugh at him and have him prove that this is a true story. I never can tell when he’s making something up when it comes to Juniper Cove antics. I’ve met Phonse Whelan. He’s seventy if he’s a day. And as odd as they come. It’s possibly true.
“Better bring a roll of dimes in case someone else decides to give it a go.”
The third option, play along, seems to work. He’s laughing now and pulling me down onto the bed.
“I don’t want anyone parading around naked in front of me other than you. How about a private show before I go?”
“What, and ruin all Phonse’s practice?”
“You’re a bad girl, Professor Carew.”
“That makes you a lucky man, Mr. Sharp.”
“Don’t I know it.”
There are times when his kisses are soft and full of love. And other times, they are pure sex on the mouth. Like now. Rough, probing and with an intensity that leaves me breathless and demanding more. I have friends who complain about husbands and boyfriends who don’t kiss them enough. What an awful way to live. Don’t get me wrong. I want sex too. But kissing Evan is one of my greatest joys. Sometimes it leads to more. Okay. Eighty percent of the time it gets out of hand and leads to much, much more. But these kisses, the ones that have fingers tangled in hair, bodies pressed to the point of fusion, lips in total synthesis, these are the kisses that bring a fulfillment all of their own.
“Hello? Anyone home?”
I push Evan off of me and make a poor effort to straighten my shirt.
It’s not entirely surprising to hear people rummaging around our place. While we own our house, we rent out the rooms on the first floor to some of Evan’s friends. Total nerds, but fun to have around. However, this isn’t Cory or James.
“Mom?” What the hell is she doing here? In our house? Precariously close to our bedroom door, which is wide open.
“Your mother has a key.” Evan groans.
“No, she doesn’t. I didn’t give her one.”
“I did. Gave it to your father, actually. So he could keep an eye on the house while we’re on our honeymoon.”
“Evan? Are you still here?” That’s not a townie accent. That’s pure Juniper Cove patois.
“That’s not my mother. That’s your mother!”
I can hear both of them talking. My mother and Mary.
“Go to the bathroom before you come out of here,” I tell Evan, eying his pants. And then, just because I can’t resist, I touch the rigid rise in his jeans.
Sure enough, our two mothers are there, mine looking out the bay window that overlooks downtown St. John’s and Mary pouring fresh water into the kettle.
“Ah, you are home. Were you napping? In the afternoon?”
“No, I was helping Evan pack.” I must be more disheveled than I thought.
A blush creeps across Mom’s face. “Oh, we thought Evan would be gone already.”
“Going now,” he says, strolling out of the bathroom looking like the cat who swallowed the canary. Or in this case, my lips. “How was your drive in, Mom?”
He knew she was coming? This is news to me.
“Rodney drove too fast, as normal. I swear, how he hasn’t lost his license in tickets yet is beyond me. His poor mother must say a million prayers every time he gets behind the wheel.” She reaches up and smoothes Evan’s cheek.
If actions could speak, this one says, “Praise the Lord I have such a good son.”
“No worries about me driving too fast,” Evan says and plants a kiss on her cheek. Liar, liar. Evan might not be a speed demon, but he’s a firm believer in the ten over the speed limit is legal train of thought.
Enough of this. I want to know why I’ve been invaded by mothers for some unknown reason. And I know he knows that I’m wondering what’s happening.
“You ladies have a fun weekend and don’t do anything to get Jillian in too much trouble.”
There’s a smile in his eyes that speaks volumes. It’s saying, “I’m complicit in something and you’re going to hate me for it.”
I
1796-1874 Agnes Strickland, 1794-1875 Elizabeth Strickland, Rosalie Kaufman