“I miss you, mommy”

Scarlet smiled and blinked back her tears as she looked on at her son’s smiling face. She had set up a video chat with her sister and Logan.

“Hi, darling.” She cooed as she looked at his face which had a few paint splotches all over. If she knew her sister, they would be painting on canvas all day.

“When are you coming back?” he asked with his bright eyes flashing between her and what she presumed was his favorite cartoon.

“I’ll be back in a few days.” She responded, “how’s your sleepover with your aunt?”

“It’s the bestest.” He replied, “we painted some pictures for you.”

Scarlet cringed and only hoped that her apartment would still be liveable when they were finished with it.

“I hope you guys haven’t painted the walls.” She said,

“No, we laid out newspapers because aunty Cecile said you’d throw a fit if we messed up the floors” he replied proudly,

She smiled and shook her head. At least her sister was doing a good job to protect her apartment.

“Let me talk to Cecile please,” she said

A bit too eager, Logan handed the phone to her sister who was busy texting.

“Hey, sis.” She said

“Nice to see you two aren’t getting bored.” Scarlet replied, “how are things?”

“Things are great,” Cecile said, “we got a lot done today.”

“I bet.” She replied

“What’s going on with you and Lucas?” her sister asked

“Why do you think anything would be happening?” Scarlet asked a bit too defensively

Cecile looked at her with a raised brow and shook her head in disapproval.

“I knew you two couldn’t be in the same place and keep your hands to yourself,” she said

“I’m offended.” Scarlett replied, ”nothing has happened between us.”

“Is that so?” Cecile replied, “then why do you look so guilty?”

Scarlet shrugged but she knew it was useless to try and hide what had happened from her sister.

“We kissed.” She said silently

“Wait, what!” Cecile exclaimed, “you two did not kiss”

“It happened so fast I didn’t even see it coming,” Scarlet said in her defense.

“Wow, he kissed you?” her sister asked

“Yeah,” she replied, “it surprised me too.”

There was a sudden thud outside her door

“Hold on, I think someone may be at my door.” She said

She went to the door and flung it open. To her dismay, she wished she had checked the peephole. There was a messenger at the door across from her room and standing there with water dripping from his body was Lucas clad only in the skimpy towel that hung at his hips. Her traitorous mouth began watering instantly and she had no power to stop the sudden rush of desire that filled her. He turned and looked at her standing in the doorway and she thought he must have realized she was ogling him and then he smiled. Stepping back into her room, she slammed the door and pressed her back against it as if trying to force the wanton thoughts that had filled her from her mind.

“What is it?” Cecile asked, “you look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

“A ghost of sorts” Scarlet replied,

“What does that even mean?” she asked

“I just saw Lucas in nothing but a towel” she replied, “his body is so perfect.”

“Wow, if that’s what seeing his body does to you, you may as well… you know” her sister said flashing her a wink.”

“Are you crazy?” Scarlet said as she crossed the room back to the couch where she had been sitting before. “I couldn’t ever let that man back into my life.”

“You two are many different people now,” Cecile said,

“I don’t think you even understand what you’re telling me to do,” Scarlet said,

“I’m not telling you to fall in love with him Scarlet” Cecile replied, “I’m telling you that you should show him the best night of his life, get it out of your system so that maybe you could move on.”

Scarlet was quiet. She hadn’t had many lovers since Lucas and the only word she could use to describe them was adequate. The fire she had once felt for Lucas was never there and she was eager to feel something like that again. If her sister was right, maybe the key was getting Lucas out of her system. It was a ridiculous idea and she could count the many different ways it would backfire.

“That’s still a crazy idea,” Scarlet said, “I can’t sleep with him now or ever.”

“Think of it this way, you would get to be the one who ends it this time around,” Cecile said,

Scarlet’s mind lit up at the thoughts. She would be the one to end it. It was such a powerful thought and yet she didn’t understand why she yearned so much to be in that position of power. Lucas had left her but she could return the favor this time around. It was clear that he felt something for her, she could get what she wanted and leave; give him a taste of his own medicine.

“You really think it could work like that?” she asked

“Hey, it works for me,” he sister said with a cheeky wink.

“How is it that you’re the more experienced one?” she asked

“Well aside from Lucas, you’ve always been a saint” Cecile replied, “so I didn’t have much to live up to rebellion wise..”

Scarlet laughed, she had always been the saint of her parent’s two children. It was her desire to please them that had separated her from them all those years ago and the reason they had turned their backs on her when they found out about Logan. She was still saddened that her son would never know his grandparents, but she had come to terms with it long ago. She had her sister to lean on and Cecile had always been there for her. She may even eventually marry and then she could extend her family. She longed to feel that connection again.

Her mind wandered right back to Lucas. She needed to get him out of her system and if her sister was right, sleeping with him would be the best way. She would get it done, then she would move on.

“I’m going to do it.” She said

“That’s my girl!” her sister cheered, “you do still know how to do it right? Should I give you some pointers?”

Scarlet laughed and ended the call before her sister could begin ranting about sex in front of her son. The day ahead was going to be a long one. The team was scheduled for a cruise and she had carefully chosen long white pants and a pink top for it. As she looked at the outfit, she decided to opt for teal shorts and a billowy white top that clung to her body when wet. She had no knowledge of seduction, but she knew what men liked and she would test her knowledge out today at Lucas’ expense to see how he would react.