ice for my nose, Brandy.”
She stuck her tongue out.
A pea-shaped lump erupted on my forehead surrounded by a
purplish bruise. Slowly, painfully, I removed a staple from my skin. Like most
doctors, I was a baby when it came to even the most minor injury.
I tapped my fingers against the desk, playing imaginary
drums like Ringo Starr. It was one of those afternoons when the moon was
visible, a full moon. I lifted my throat like a wolf and warbled the lyrics to
the song Act Naturally .
“All I have to do is act naturally. Well, I bet you I'm
gonna be a big star, might win an Oscar you can never tell. The movie's gonna
make me a big star, cause I can play the part so well.”
Too bad for the women in my current life, there were rules
set up in Philly. I was not allowed to confide in Barbie and tell her this was
all a game that she and Ronni were mixed up in. I especially did not want
Vanessa in on my scheme. Vanessa, the other woman who believed she was my
girlfriend, was often a jinx. She was a ditzy broad with a Hooters chest
and owl eyes.
I should call my new best friend from the Philly conference
to see how things were developing on his end. Nah, I’ll call him later.
Instead, I popped open a bottle of champagne and toasted
myself, laughing hysterically.
The clap! Barbie believed it!
It was way too easy fooling the weaker-minded sex—kudos to
me.
Chapter 1 5
WIFE
For the Fourth of July, Brad bought sparklers and fireworks
for Traci. He lit a few black snakes on the sidewalk, and as the snakes began
to unwind, there was no longer any resemblance between the snakes and Brad. I
am having second thoughts about my husband and judged him too harshly,
punishing him unfairly this week for his past sins. Maybe, just maybe the phone
sex was a wrong number.
Brad is a changed man—he strolls into the house
carrying a stack of pizzas and whistling some old Beatles song about acting
naturally.
“Daddy brought pizza!” Traci squeals. She wraps her arms
around his legs, and the new Brad does not kick Traci for clinging to him.
He is clueless about pizza giving me heartburn, and I eat
two pieces because he went to so much trouble. It is as if Brad and I are
getting to know each other, newlyweds just returned from our honeymoon. We
actually spent our honeymoon opening wedding gifts.
It is too cute when your husband has no idea what kind of
pizza you like so he splurges on every type of pie. A spicy pepperoni shoved
down my throat and Brad pulling out a chair for me like
a gentleman, melts me like mozzarella.
A couple of glasses of red wine while watching Brad clean up
the kitchen fries me into hot wings.
The humane Brad gives me heartburn. I am falling for my
husband and there is no antacid to stop this yearning for his bed again.
And the horse he is building for Traci! Who knew that Brad
is so good with wood? There is nothing sexier than a man holding a saw and
wearing a tool belt. A sharp pair of scissors and a heavy hammer is such a turn
on. Sawdust does make me sneeze until my nose bleeds but then few marriages are
perfect.
Brad tucks Traci into bed and leans against the doorjamb of
my bedroom.
I smile softly at him, invitingly.
He whispers in my ear in a husky voice, “From the moment I came
from Philly, I wanted you, Ronni. I fought against passion, lust, desire, and
especially my conscience. I imagined what you would feel like, silk, satin, or
so rough you peel my skin off.”
I gasp, unable to catch my breath. My skin has so many nerve
endings, everywhere he touches, my skin cackles as though struck by lightning.
“What do you want?” he asks.
I shake my head, not knowing how to phrase it, but my body
is compelled to bang against him. I want…I want what you gave me in the
garage, the leather seat of the car sticking to my back, rough denim grinding
against my panties, your bulge circling, pushing into me…causing me to…
Brad pushes my knees open and shoves his head— there.
“I wondered
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