Oh my God, I could have kissed Anthony. And not because he was so good-looking. This bathtub was freaking amazing, that’s why. I’d passed out last night, sleeping like the dead and doing the pee pee dance all the way to the bathroom, only to spot the most amazing bathtub I’d ever seen in my life.
It was huge and when I say huge it was big enough for me to sprawl out and it still completely covered every inch of my body, even my bowling ball belly. Every woman knew how special and rare a bathtub was that completely submerged your body in water. And this one did. It even had jets. I was in heaven.
I spent longer than I should have in the tub, refilling it twice with hot water and still lounging about when I heard what I thought was a woman’s voice from the other room.
I froze, not daring to move for fear of making a splashing sound.
“Hellooooo,” I heard called out from the other room, and my eyes immediately zeroed in on the bathroom doorknob, which I hadn’t bothered to lock because I somehow thought that locking the front door was good enough. Silly me.
I jumped out of the bathtub as quickly as possible, which wasn’t very fast at all, leaving a trail of what felt like three gallons of water behind me. I grabbed a towel from the vanity and wrapped it around me just in the nick of time. The door flew open and there stood a perfectly coifed middle-aged woman in a startling and superb red dress suit that made me somehow feel underdressed when in truth I was as naked as a jay bird.
“Lucille?” I squeaked out.
She smiled. “Yes, dear, but you can call me Lucy.”
She just stood there in the doorway, taking me in like we were standing in the middle of the living room and I was fully clothed, which definitely wasn’t the case.
She walked toward me and my body locked tight. She reached out and ran a hand through the side of my wet hair, lovingly. Creepily as hell, too. “Well, you’re quite lovely, aren’t you, sweets?”
What in the hell was happening?
“I’m naked,” I finally said, not knowing what else to say.
“Well, I can see that, honey. But you don’t have anything I haven’t seen a million times in a million different ways.”
And I almost laughed because I in no way wanted to know how many different million times or ways Lucille had seen naked girlie bits.
She turned and looked at herself in the mirror, patting her blond-gray hair into place and wiping the red lipstick from the corners of her mouth like she hadn’t interrupted the most amazing bath of my life, like I wasn’t stark-ass naked wrapped in a white towel that did not cover my baby bump.
“Go on and get dressed so you can help me put away the groceries, would you?” she clipped before turning on black heels with red soles and leaving the bathroom the way she’d entered. Very quickly. And I wondered how the hell a woman who worked as a receptionist at a doctor’s office could afford those heels and that perfectly fitted red suit.
And more importantly, how the hell she’d gotten into the apartment even though it was locked.
So I just stood here and stared for no less than a full two minutes before the clattering of cabinets being slammed snapped me out of my daze.
I hustled my ass into some panties, black yoga pants, and a tank top. I skipped the bra because let’s be honest, she’d almost seen me buck ass naked anyway, so what did it matter at this point.
I walked to the kitchen, not quite understanding what was happening. Grocery bags littered every available surface of the kitchen and the fridge and cabinets were wide-open. “What are you doing, Lucille?”
“Lucy,” she immediately corrected me as she placed a loaf of bread in a stainless-steel bread box on the counter.
I nodded. “Okay, Lucy. What the hell is going on?”
“I brought groceries.”
Oh, hell no. I was winning today. And letting Anthony buy me groceries was not winning. It was losing. And I wasn’t losing anymore. I’d written that off yesterday after I’d pigged out over the meal he’d sent me. I was done with his handouts.
“No, no, no. I don’t want Anthony’s groceries. Pack them up and take them down two floors to his place. Come on, I’ll help you.”
I picked up a couple of bags and started toward the front door.
“Oh, no, Anthony didn’t send me over with these. I just thought you might need them and since I was coming over to pick up your intake papers, I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone.”
Oh, no. It was the sting of my nose that told me what was going to happen before it started. The burn in my eyes was the next indication, and I immediately sat the bags down back in the kitchen and tried to suck back the tears that threatened. Why was everyone being so nice to me? Why were they helping me? It just didn’t make sense! And it was overwhelming. It was making me feel too much. Sad that I couldn’t help myself but most of all I felt relieved, and I didn’t even realize it until that moment standing here in the kitchen with gorgeous, perfectly groomed Lucille in her red suit and red-soled shoes, looking like she’d stepped off the pages of a fashion catalogue and me looking like a drowned, pregnant, braless rat. I was so relieved.
I involuntarily choked out a sob I hadn’t felt coming. Damn hormones.
“Oh, honey.” Lucille came toward me and wrapped her arms around me, enveloping me in the scent of expensive perfume and hairspray. She was hugging me. She was freaking hugging me! I wasn’t a hugger. I hated hugs, but her hugs weren’t so bad, so I leaned into her a bit.
“Don’t be upset. I just thought I’d bring you some groceries since I knew there were none here. I didn’t want your little one getting hungry.” She patted my round stomach.
I’d learned quickly that I didn’t like strangers touching my stomach once it started to grow big and round. I felt weird and oddly violated, but I didn’t feel that way with Lucille. She seemed to genuinely care, and she’d brought me groceries out of the kindness of her heart. And I thought maybe she was just a little crazy, which for some reason I really liked.
And even though tears shone in the depths of my eyes, I backed away from her and smiled. I sucked back the wetness that threatened to fall. “Thank you, Lucille. Lucy,” I corrected myself.
She started putting groceries away again, and I helped her. It was silent for about five bags until she asked, “So you’ll accept my groceries but not Anthony’s?” She had a small smile playing at her lips.
I shook my head back and forth, exasperated. “That man. He’s a big tyrant in a tiny bow tie.”
She laughed and nodded. “Yes, and he’s so bossy.”
“I’ve been here less than two days and he has literally done nothing other than tell me what to do.”
“Oh, sweetness, he loves to be in charge. He lives for it.”
“How do you do it?” I asked and she raised her eyebrows questioningly. “Ya know? Work for him?”
She chuckled low. “I don’t know. Some days I want to murder him. He’s pushy and dictatorial.” She laughed again. “I’ve quit five thousand times and he’s probably tried to fire me five thousand more, but I’ve worked for him since he opened his practice.” She shrugged.
“Yeah, he’s a pushy bastard.”
“He is.”
“And he’s high-handed.”
“Mmmhmm,” she agreed.
“He’s sneaky, too.” He was. The man just brought me up here and was like here you go. Welcome home! “And he wears those ridiculous bow ties!” I continued.
She placed the cheese in the fridge and turned back to me with a small grin on her face. “But he does look handsome in them, doesn’t he?”
I narrowed my eyes at her before turning away and placing the chips in the pantry. “I guess,” I huffed out.
“He has really nice eyes, too,” she said softly.
I thought of Anthony’s nice eyes. They really were pretty. I’d adored them ten years ago and now they were just as pretty and a bit wiser.
I found myself nodding even though I didn’t want to agree with her. Because, damn, those eyes. What? I was pregnant, not dead!
“He works out every day, too, so he’s nice and fit.”
I got big eyes. Oh, God, I didn’t want to hear about how fit Anthony was, because I couldn’t think about that. I couldn’t think about the muscles and abs he was probably rocking underneath those sexy blazers that seemed to fit him like a glove. He’d been pretty damn fit ten years ago, too.
Before I knew what was happening, “Oh, I remember,” slipped past my lips.
I paused, putting away the groceries in shock I’d said that, but also praying like hell Lucille hadn’t heard me. I’d said it quietly, after all.
That woman didn’t miss a beat, though. I should have known.
She arched a perfectly drawn on eyebrow at me. “Oh, do tell, darling.”
I blushed under her scrutiny. She worked with the man. I couldn’t tell her we’d had dirty, mind-blowing sex one night ten years ago.
“From the flush of your cheeks, I’d say whatever it is you’re trying not to tell me is pretty juicy,” she sang out, and I laughed.
“Well, let’s just say ten years ago, before he was all of this”—I gestured around to the apartment even though it wasn’t his because he had an identical one right below me—“we had a little bit of fun.” I laughed because I felt ridiculous talking to this older woman about mine and her employer’s sexual escapades.
“And now he’ll be the one to save your baby’s life. Seems serendipitous to me.”
I sobered at the thought. Was it fate? Would Anthony be able to save my baby’s life?
“Will he?” I swallowed hard, feeling like every bit of my fear and doubt was somehow lodged in my throat.
She cleared the last of the bags away and put them in the pantry and stood directly in front of me before taking my hands. “He’s a bossy bastard, but he’s good at what he does. He will. My boy won’t let you down.”
Her words eased the knot in my throat. If this brash, overly posh woman could believe in Anthony then I could, too.
“Well, then,” she said, letting go of my hands. “Why don’t I make us dinner? And I brought ice cream! We can watch a movie and eat and chat and get to know each other.”
She was adorable, and I instantly wanted to be good friends with her. But I had a very serious question first.
“I never turn away food, so yes, but first, how the hell did you get in here, Lucy?”
Her evil laugh had me shaking my head.
“I took the key off Anthony’s ring. At least we know he won’t be barging in here tonight.”
I laughed along with her and thought to myself that of course that butthole had an extra key to the place he’d shacked me up in. So he could sneak in and boss me whenever he wanted. Well, Lucy had shown him.
At least that’s what I thought. Until around 8:00 p.m. when there was a quiet knock at the door.
Lucy and I were curled up on opposite ends of the plush brown sofa in the living room under thick fleece blankets with bowls of ice cream in our laps. She’d long since ditched her heels and suit jacket. She’d told me she was single. She and her husband divorced nine years ago. She followed it by saying that some marriages just couldn’t handle when things got really tough. We talked for hours. We were thoroughly invested in the movie Sweet Home Alabama like we hadn’t seen it a billion times when we heard it.
We both stared at the door and then stared at each other and did it one more time.
“It’s the devil with dimples,” I whispered.
“What on earth?”
“That’s what my friends Ainsley and Miranda call him. That and thou who shall not be named.”
Lucy snickered. “Doesn’t surprise me.” She stood up and placed her bowl on the table before heading to the door. “It might not be him.”
“Oh, it’s him. I can feel him trying to telepathically tell me what to do through the door.”
She giggled, putting her face to the small hole in the door.
“It’s him,” she confirmed.
I placed my bowl next to hers. “Told ya.”
“Open the door, Ms. Potter.”
We gave each other big eyes and giggled behind our hands quietly.
“Now,” we heard barked out from the other side of the door.
“Shall I open the door and put him out of his misery?”
I shrugged and pulled the blanket farther up over my shoulders.
She gave me one final look before opening the door and doing a grand sweeping gesture with her hand that made me giggle again. “Please, do come in, Anthony.”
One step in and already he was frowning. He was going to ruin my ice cream and movie. I could see it coming a mile away.
“What are you doing here?” he questioned Lucille, and I got my hackles up.
“What are you doing here?” I interrupted. I wanted Lucille here. Him. Not so much.
His eyes cut to mine. “Just wanted to make sure you got settled.” He glanced over the blankets and bowls before eyeing the TV.
“We’re fine, as you can see,” I pointed out and his face was a mix of relief and disappointment. I couldn’t figure out for the life of me what he had to be disappointed about.
“I do see. Do you need anything at all?” he asked, shoving his hands into the pockets of his navy blue slacks and rocking up on his heels, and that’s when I noticed he’d ditched the tie and the blazer. The top two buttons of his white dress shirt were unbuttoned, revealing tan, taut skin at the top of his chest, and my mouth watered a little.
His hair wasn’t as neat as it had been this morning, and he’d obviously gone to his apartment before coming here to take off his jacket and tie. And then he’d come to check on me. I felt myself soften at the thought that he was worried about me needing anything.
“I’m good, Doc. Lucy brought me some groceries and we’ve spent the entire afternoon chatting.”
He turned his closed mouth smile to Lucille. “She did, did she?” He gave her a reprimanding look. “I was wondering where you disappeared to. Jackie was a mess on the front desk today.”
She shrugged. “I had more important things to do.”
He looked back at me and said, “I see that, and I’d like my keys back.” He held his hand out and my eyes shot to Lucille.
Don’t you dare, my brain screamed at her, but I stayed quiet, hoping she could read my panicked expression.
If she read it, she didn’t care because she marched over to her expensive black bag on the counter in the kitchen and pulled out a set of two keys. She walked back over and held them out, but as soon as Anthony’s hand made to grab them, she snatched them back with a smile.
“Uh uh uh. Not until you lay one on me, darling,” she said, tapping her right cheek with her index finger.
And me, I sat here stunned. What in the hell was going on?
He rolled his eyes and let out a long, “Oh, Mother.”
Mother?! Did he just call her mother? What in the hell was happening? Lucy was my friend. Oh my God. I’d been duped. She was a sneaky devil, just like her devastatingly handsome son. I’d been had. All. Damn. Day. I’d told the woman I’d had sex with her son! What in the ever-loving hell? Embarrassment set my face on fire.
“Come on, then. You know you aren’t getting these keys without giving your momma a kiss.”
“You’re insufferable,” he said, but his eyes told a different story. They were sparkling with affection and filled with a bit of teasing before he leaned over and wrapped his arms around her waist, dipping her low and laying a smack on her cheek, I’m sure the neighbors in the next apartment could hear.
Lucy giggled, and I smiled even though I was supposed to be mad as hell. They were sweet and adorable.
Anthony stepped back with the keys dangling from his index finger. “Time for you to head home, Lucille.”
She let out a long breath and looked over at me before acquiescing. “I suppose so. I do have work in the morning.”
She collected her jacket, shoes, and purse while Anthony stared at me intently from his spot still next to the door.
A blur of red blocked my view of him, and Lucy’s face leaned into mine, fully blocking my view. “I hope you’re not upset with me, sweets.” She rubbed her hand along the side of my face. “I was going to tell you, but we were having such a fun day and I didn’t want to ruin it. I want us to be friends. Okay?”
She was so genuine, so sweet, I couldn’t help but lean my face into her hand and whisper back, “Okay.”
One final brush of her thumb over the apple of my cheek and she was gone, throwing a knowing smile over her shoulder at me but talking to Anthony.
“You behave yourself, young man.”
“I always do.”
She gave him a look that said she knew different.
Anthony closed the door behind him and stared at me for a beat before toeing his shoes off and making his way to the couch.
I watched him like a hawk. Because what in God’s name was he doing?
I eyed him as he pulled the blanket back and sat in Lucy’s spot on the couch.
“Hit play, yeah?”
“Huh?”
“Hit. Play.”
I’d had enough. He’d chased off Lucy and now was bossing me again. “Does everyone always do what you say, Dr. Jackson?” I was being a snarky bitch, but I didn’t care.
He gave me a pointed look. “Anyone who has any sense does.”
Dick.
He picked Lucy’s half-eaten bowl of ice cream up and scooped some into his mouth. Were we watching a movie and eating ice cream together? Did I miss an email or memo or phone call or something because I was confused as hell.
Since I was sitting here stunned and annoyed, Anthony reached around me and grabbed the remote from the arm of the couch on the other side of me.
He watched the movie and I watched him. What in the hell was he doing here? He finished Lucy’s ice cream and then reached for my uneaten bowl.
“You gonna eat that?” He raised his eyebrows at me.
I shook my head, and he started in on my bowl of deliciousness. I shouldn’t have watched him eat it. It was a huge mistake. He made ice cream look sexy as hell.
Still, I continued to stare at him until he finally finished eating and placed the second bowl next to the first on the table.
He turned his big body toward me on the couch and he took up way more of the space than I did. He was long where I was short, burly where I was petite, and I took in his long, slacked legs with my eyes.
His socked foot nudged my thigh and my eyes snapped to his.
“She didn’t tell you, huh?”
“Hmm?” I couldn’t concentrate on anything but his body so close to mine.
“Lucille.” He smiled. “She didn’t tell you?”
I smiled despite myself. Because I was pissed that she hadn’t told me. I’d shared with her that I’d had sex with her son, and she’d just smiled and acted like it was just an average day. The woman was crazy.
“Your mom’s a nut.”
His head snapped back and a deep, booming laugh filled the room and I was a goner. That laugh ghosted over my skin like the sun on a cold day, lighting me up, setting my blood aflame. It was over. I was done for. And in that moment, I knew I’d never win again against Anthony Jackson.