“And Montgomery’s the other part.”
“Yep.” She joined Mari at the table.
“He kissed you.”
“Nope. He’s been a perfect gentleman.”
“You kissed him?”
“I did not.”
“But you wanted to.”
“So many times. But I can’t.”
“Because you’ve forgotten how? I would almost believe that after?—”
“Stop it, Mar. You know why I can’t. Tex is at a very impressionable age. He already has a crush going on. Monty doesn’t want to become a father figure, but if he and I start hanging out together, Tex could start thinking of him that way.”
Mari cradled her mug and took a sip, her gaze thoughtful. “So don’t hang out together.”
“That’s my plan, too. I’m going to the party on Saturday, but after that, I won’t have much reason to see him. I don’t even have to be here when he comes to check on little Monty.”
“Little Monty? Is that what you plan to call Speckles’ baby?”
“It just came out. Maybe.”
“So you’ll have Little Monty and Big Monty?”
“Oh, good Lord, no.” She laughed. “That’s terrible.”
“I kinda like it. He is tall, and he probably has a good-sized?—”
“Watch it, sis.”
“Don’t tell me that hasn’t been on your mind. Looks to me like Big Monty’s the whole package, if you get my meaning.”
“I guess we’ll never know, since I won’t be ‘hanging out’ with him.” She added air quotes.
“You might get the answer if you made a nighttime visit to his house.” She took a hefty swallow and put down her mug.
“His house? What the hell?”
“Look at it this way.” She wrapped her hands around the mug. “You’ve been celibate for going on four years now. But you don’t want to risk another bad marriage and I get that. Big Monty doesn’t want to settle down, either, so he’s the perfect?—”
“Stop calling him that.” Her words came out breathy. Mari’s outrageous suggestion had gained traction in her fevered brain. But how could it work? She couldn’t just?—
“If you want to keep it from Uncle Graham and Tex, you’ll have to sneak over there on my nights off so I can cover for you if need be. It just so happens I’m off tomorrow night.” She glanced at the kitchen clock on the wall. “Or I should say tonight, since it’s one o’clock already.”
“I couldn’t do it, Mar. That’s not my style.” Meanwhile her deprived libido loudly contradicted that statement.
“Oh, well, then. Forget it. I wouldn’t want to interrupt this cloistered life you’ve chosen just for a delicious romp in the hay with Big Monty.” Picking up her mug, she took another drink.
“He strikes me as a straightforward guy. He might not go for something like this.”
“Are you kidding me Zinnia Dawn Harrison? Men throw themselves at you! If you show up at his door he’ll think he’s died and gone to heaven. Oh, but maybe you don’t know which door is his. I understand there are multiple dwellings over there.”
“I know which one.” She gulped. “But I’m not doing it.”
