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“What friend? Your only friend there is Harper and if you meant Harper, you would have just said Harper.”
“Digger’s sister, Moira.”
“The one from the diner?”
“Yes, that Moira.”
“Is she single?”
“Why? Are you thinking of switching teams?” I ask. I know I’m being a bit of an ass, but honestly, there’s only so much prying a man can take.
With a big sigh, Mom says, “I can see you’re in a mood, which frankly, I don’t appreciate. Not after what you put me through today.”
“I’m fine, Mom. I haven’t been mauled by a bear, I’m not dead in a ditch. I simply was out for most of the afternoon and evening. Okay?”
“Fine,” she says quietly. “But is she?”
I know exactly what she means, but I intend to make her meddling as painful as possible. “Is who what?”
“Is this Moira person single? And if so, does she want to have children?” she asks, her voice rising.
“She is single, and she has three children. I have no idea if she wants any more of them,” I tell her, walking upstairs to the bedroom. “Why don’t I have her call you so you can ask her yourself?”
“Don’t get snippy, mister,” Mom says.
“I’m sorry, Mom, but I just get kind of sick of you assuming you know what I want better than I do.”
Her voice softens. “Maybe I do. When it comes to love, anyway.”
“Not everyone needs to fall in love to have a fulfilling life,” I tell her.
“I’m not talking about anyone. I’m talking about my son, who I know better than anyone. I know you would be happier if you found your soulmate,” she says. “You may balk at that idea, but it’s true. You’re not enjoying your career, you’re alone too much, and you need more.”
I think about her words. Being with Moira and the kids would definitely be more. But I’m not about to even think about that. And I’m certainly not going to leave any hint for her that anything could happen. “You’re forgetting how intense my career is. It’s twenty-four-seven, Mom. Non-stop. It’s not exactly conducive to having a healthy work-life balance.”
“Andyou’reforgetting that I had a pretty intense career myself,” she answers. “And I still raised you and made a wonderful life with your father that was completely separate from my work. Someday, when you’re retired, you’ll need people in your life, Ethan. And your dad and I won’t be here then.”
“Sure you will,” I say lightly.
“Joke all you want, but at the end of the day, life is about who we love and how we love them.”
Damn. She’s got me there, doesn’t she? “Okay, Mom. I promise to think about what you’ve said. But I need you to promise to back off.”
“That really doesn’t come naturally for me.” She lets out a loud yawn. “Okay, I’ve got to go to bed. It’s late here.”
“Good night, Mom. Love you.”
“Good night, sweetie. I’m glad you’re not dead in a ditch.”
Chapter19
Moira
Filling up the bathtub with bubbles, I try to make sense out of what happened between me and Ethan tonight. Did we really decide to secretly date? What good could come from such a thing? I can’t seem to answer that question though, because my body is still humming from all the delicious kisses we shared. So, so yummy.
Slipping out of my robe, I step into the hot water while silently thanking Digger for the new heater. After slowly lowering myself until I’m fully submerged, I start a negotiation with both the angel and devil who have started once again barraging me with their opinions.
Angel: You can’t do this! You should never engage in this kind of intimacy without thinking of the long term.
