“Will you feel like getting up in the morning?” Crystal tried.
“I’ll be fine. The school is having sports day tomorrow, and David’s going to a birthday party after that.”
“Did you remember to buy a present?”
“Of course I remembered to buy a present. Who the hell died and made you the lifestyle police?”
“Crystal,” Larry interrupted. “Didn’t you promise Jennifer you’d say good night?”
Crystal stared at him for a moment, as if she’d just remembered he was there. Then she gave a nod and rose from her chair. “I’ll be right back.”
Larry waited until Crystal disappeared down the hall. Then perched on the edge of the chair she had abandoned.
“I’m Larry,” he said, holding out his hand.
“Amber,” Amber responded, suspiciously.
Larry nodded, glancing around thoughtfully. “Struggling to hold it all together, are you?”
She shrugged. “Been busy lately.”
“With Zane?”
“Yes. With Zane.”
Larry nodded again.
“What?” she asked sharply.
Larry decided there was no percentage in beating around the bush. Crystal did enough of that for both of them. He was going for broke.
“You can do better than him.”
“Better than Zane?”
“A lot better. You have two kids to think about.”
“Zane’s their father.”
“That doesn’t mean he’s good for you.”
“How would you know? What makes you an expert on what’s right for my kids? Two parents getting back together, that’s what’s right for my kids.”
“Keeping you out three hours late isn’t right.”
“How do you know I didn’t keep him out?” She plunked a throw pillow into her lap. “Maybe I don’t want to be Mommy twenty-four seven. You have any kids?”
“I have a son.”
She glanced pointedly at her watch. “Where is he now?”
“He’s an adult.”
“Where’s his mother?”
Larry kept his voice even. This wasn’t about him. “She died.”
Crystal reappeared, and Amber glanced from Larry to Crystal and back again. “What’s the story with you two?”
Crystal looked startled. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, why are you together at one in the morning?”
“We were on a date,” said Larry.
“You don’t think he’s a little old?”
Amber gestured at Larry. “Well, he’s out here giving me a lecture on how I can do better than Zane. Maybe I think you can do better than Larry.”
“I’m quite sure she can,” Larry said quietly.
“I can’t,” said Crystal. “And I don’t want to. And how the hell did this get to be any of your business?”
“You’re in my house, talking about my relationship.”
Crystal took a deep breath. “You’ll get the kids to school tomorrow?”
Amber glared at her.
“Okay,” said Crystal, moving toward the door.
Larry rose to go with her.
“You and Zane are your own business,” Crystal conceded. “But if you go out with him again, you call me. I’ll babysit. Anytime.”
The anger went out of Amber’s expression. “Thanks, sis.”
“You’ll call?”
“Of course.” Her laughter tinkled lightly. “Why would I say no to free babysitting?”
Crystal glanced at Larry, knowing he was the one who had paid Lisa tonight. He gave her a subtle shake of his head. He had no desire to make an issue of it. Jennifer and David were great kids. He had no objection at all to kicking in for their care.
He and Crystal walked silently down the stairs and out onto the sidewalk where Rufus waited in the car.
“I really don’t know what to say,” she finally offered.
He hit the unlock button on the car, heading for the passenger side to open her door. “Neither do I,” he told her honestly. “The weekend didn’t exactly end the way I’d expected.”
She coughed out a laugh. “It didn’t turn out
Larry smiled in return as he opened the door.
She paused partway in. “Want to do it again sometime?”
“All of it?” he asked, not bothering to mask the hope in his voice.
“Any and all,” she replied.
“You busy next weekend?”
“Nope.”
“You busy tomorrow night?”
She shook her head.
“What about now? You busy right now?”
She squeezed her eyes shut for a second. “I really have to sleep.”
He smoothed back her hair. “Of course you do.” It was one o’clock. And there was no good place for them to sleep together. He didn’t want to take her to a motel.
Maybe he’d rearrange his house tomorrow, move his old bed into the guest room and buy a brand new one. He was single now, and it was time for him to make the space his own.
He shifted his hand so it was cupping her cheek, leaning down to give her a gentle kiss on the mouth. “Dinner at my place tomorrow?”
She drew back, giving him a questioning look.
“I want you to see it,” he told her.
There were so many things he wanted to show her, to tell her, to discuss with her. He knew his emotions were running way too hot, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. He was a revving engine, and she was nitrous oxide.
“Tomorrow,” he promised.
“Love it,” she responded with a smile.
CHAPTER NINE
AS CRYSTAL MUNCHED HER WAY through her morning cereal, she couldn’t decide which to put on the top of her worry list: her sister, her niece and nephew, or her burgeoning feelings for Larry.
She’d made love with him, and she’d have done it again had the date not ended abruptly. He was fun and funny, attractive and intelligent. And his sex appeal was off the charts. The men in her future were going to have one heck of a time measuring up.
If there
