Page 87 of His Brown-Eyed Girl

Addy picked up the dishes and followed Lucas down the stairs. She found him in the kitchen rinsing out the wine glasses. Silent, thoughtful, and not so charming anymore. The sound of children laughing and doors slamming met her ears.

“They’re home,” he said.

“Yeah,” she said, setting the tray on the counter.

Reality wasn’t nearly as fun as hiding away with Lucas and making love beneath her percale sheets.

But reality was part of life.

And it had just knocked on an ending she hadn’t wanted for the afternoon.

Addy pushed open the back door to the sound of Chris jabbering about Charlotte making faces at the sea lions.

“Yeah, and you should have seen Chris’s face when that elephant took a dump,” Michael said, hauling Charlotte on his hip. “That was right before Miss Flora got lost.”

“Lost?” Addy cast a glance at her aunt who looked thoroughly bushed after a day spent with the children. A flash of guilt hit Addy. She hadn’t actually thought about the wear and tear on Flora… she’d been more concerned with playing sheriff and the buttoned-up school marm with Lucas.

Aunt Flora waved Addy’s concern away. “Not lost. I just forgot where the entrance was. No big deal.”

“But she cried,” Chris said, wiggling a rubber snake toward Charlotte who screamed as expected.

“I didn’t cry. I just got mad at myself.” Flora crossed her arms and gave Chris the look. Her aunt must have worked out a story with the kids, but Michael had squealed. “Nothing to worry about.”

Addy wasn’t so sure, but she was glad to see the kids home in one piece. “Where’s your friend?”

“She dropped us off. Had to get her grandson home because they had a dinner to attend or something like that. We all had fun.”

“And I was good,” Charlotte said, looking up at Lucas. “I didn’t call that kid weird or nothing.”

“Good girl,” Lucas said, giving her a high five before looking at the boys. “Well, what do you say to Mrs. DeMarco?”

“Thank you!” came the chorus as the kids turned toward the door and clamored back outside.

Lucas turned to her. “Well, I suppose I’m off to fix dinner. Thanks for lunch. Best fried chicken I’ve ever had.”

Addy tried not to blush but didn’t quite succeed. “You’re welcome. It was a nice afternoon.”

“Just nice?” he mouthed where Flora couldn’t see him.

Addy’s face grew warmer. “Very nice.”

Lucas poked his head back inside. “Thanks for taking the kids, Flora. Very decent of you to give me and Addy some time to hang out. I know the kids were probably glad to get away from me, too.”

Aunt Flora fawned like a schoolgirl under Lucas’s compliment. “Oh, heck, I enjoyed it, and you’d be surprised how much they talked about you. You’ve won over some kids.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Hmm, I’ll try and remember that when Chris is arguing with me on what to have for dinner.”

Turning to Addy, he asked, “A kiss before I go?”

She brushed a soft kiss against his lips, still feeling conflicted about his comments about love and lust, even as she was crystal clear on being glad about what occurred between them. No take backs. “Night.”

“Night, Addy girl.”

And then she closed the door, something inside her sinking as the click of the lock finalized her return to being the same Addy she’d been for the past fifteen years. Or sort of the same Addy.

“I didn’t get lost,” Flora said, petulance shading her voice. Addy’s aunt crossed her arms and assumed a defensive face that would scare the New Orleans Saints’ offense. Addy could see the woman craved the ensuing battle over her fading memory. And usually Addy would comply, but not tonight. Not after saying goodbye to what she’d had with Lucas… something she may never get again.

“You know, everything went fine, Auntie dearest. Let’s not overanalyze.”

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