22
Secret Affairs
Their evenings were filled with each other, exploring, and learning with passion. If they weren’t at his apartment they were at hers. Somehow at work they managed to hide their feelings. He was much better at it than her, apart from sneaking glances and secret kisses when they could go unnoticed, he hid his feelings well. Two weeks of blissful contentment passed uneventfully. Their case went cold just like all the others and Lucas’ obsessive studying of the files ceased now he spent all his free time with his partner in and out of bed. Thanks to her, his nightmares didn’t continue after having returned with the familiar murders. It appeared having Maggie in his bed scared away the dreams.
They were lying in his bed one evening, feeding each other dinner, gazing at each other satisfied and pleasured, when Maggie finally spoke after hours of compatible silence.
“You know you won’t be able to hide our sordid affair much longer.”
“Impossible, I can hide everything.”
“Not when you’re eyes glow so wonderfully like they are now. They always go that beautiful shade of amber when you’re ... satisfied, mostly, but a couple of times at work, when I’ve caught you staring at me, well it’s a bit like you are right now, all golden and intense.”
He stiffened a little. The last person to tell him this was Olivia and look where that had gotten him.
“Like you said, it’s when I’m satisfied or horny or both. I wouldn’t read into it.”
“I’m not reading anything into it. Can you keep your ego in check for a moment? I’m just letting you know, if we don’t want anyone to find out, you have to stop looking at me like that in public.”
He relaxed slightly.
“It doesn’t actually mean anything.”
“I know, Lucas, anyone would think I asked you to move in with me or something, relax.”
“Yeah, well, don’t get any ideas.”
“I’m not,” she replied a little hurt by his affront. “I just thought you would want to know that sometimes you look at me that way out of the bedroom and you can’t be doing that.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Doesn’t mean I want you to stop all together, I like it. Why are you so defensive about it anyway?”
He sighed. “Every girl who has made me happy ... unless I really try to hide it, my eyes tend to give me away. When we’re here like this together I don’t want or need to hide. I don’t want to get serious, as you well know, but every girl has taken this as a show of feelings and as permission to move things forward. I don’t want what we have to end but I don’t want you to read into anything either.”
She laughed. “You honestly think I would get all ga-ga because I make you happy, even for now, and that I would read into it as some type of sign. You really don’t know me that well do you?”
“Sorry, automatic defence response.”
“You don’t have to do that with me. I know what we have and where it stands and I’m happy with it. So are you it would seem. If I can make you happy, even just for a short while then ... this is a good thing.”
“You’re definitely making life much more tolerable.”
“Well, thanks, I think. Lucas, as much as I like where we are right now, if you wanted to change it I would welcome it –”
“Mags ...” he cut in.
“Let me finish, please. If it meant that in the long run we couldn’t be friends or partners then I wouldn’t want take what we have to the next level. I would choose friendship, partnership and no sex, over sex and a relationship that you didn’t want to be in. What we have now suits me fine too. We’re friends and partners with fringe benefits.”
“Thanks, Maggie, and you are making me happy.”
“I know.”
“Hmm, anyway, I’ve had enough,” he told her taking the food away.
“I haven’t.” He went to retrieve the food. “I wasn’t talking about the food.”
He groaned and kissed her. As they began to enjoy each other again the phone rang.
“Ignore it,” he told her between kisses. “It’s probably my sister. If it’s work they’ll ring you.”
The phone stopped and they continued to drive each other to new levels of passion.
Maggie had been right, he was happy and content with their status just the way it was. Knowing she didn’t want it to change and would choose friendship over something with strings eased his mind. He could sit back and enjoy her without having guilt or worry over hurting her feelings. Things couldn’t have been better. He would also be willing to let her go too, albeit reluctantly, if she met someone else, someone she wanted permanently. He would miss their time together but wouldn’t hold her back from future happiness either.
Deciding he should visit his family, he dragged himself away from the sexy Maggie and told her he would catch up with her later. Maggie being Maggie understood his need to go alone and he respected her even more for this.
Mabel and Tommy were growing so fast, now four and two they were full of energy and unconditional love. His excitement grew as he drove to his sister’s.
“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” Carrie said after answering the door.
“Hi, Carrie, I’ve missed you. Sorry I haven’t seen you for a while.”
She eyed his suspiciously and then he knew his traitorous eyes had given him away. His charm hadn’t helped him get passed her scrutiny.
“So, who is she?”
“Why does there have to be a girl, Carrie.”
“What else makes a man happy?”
“Um, job fulfilment and sex.”
“Okay well it isn’t your job because it hasn’t made you this happy before, so it must be the second. When do I meet her then?”
“You don’t.”
“Why not? She’s obviously making you happy.”
“Yeah and I want to leave things as they are.”
“There’s nothing wrong with falling in love, Lucas.”
“Can you just be happy that life is going good for me at the moment?”
“I suppose, for now.” She frowned as she studied him. “You need a haircut.”
With a sigh he reluctantly let her. This would encourage her to ask more questions, as she always did when cutting his hair, but he let her do it anyway.
“So how’s it going with your new partner?”
“Maggie’s great. She has the traits, like compassion and sympathy, which I lack so we make a good team.”
“Hmm, I see. You don’t lack those traits, Lucas, you just think you do. Is she cute?”
“Yeah I suppose, she’s my partner, Carrie. Stop digging.”
“Well you only go to work and maybe the gym. Where else would you meet her?”
“There’s nothing to tell. If I had anything I wanted you to know, I would tell you.”
“Exactly, you only tell me what you want, which is nothing.”
“Carrie, can you just be happy I’m happy, nightmare free and not alone.”
“Yeah, for now.”
“So where are Nath and the kids?”
“At the park, he’s been working long hours and hasn’t been able to spend any time with them lately.”
“Would you like me to take them for a couple of hours tomorrow?”
“That would be great. Nathan and I need some time too.”
The front door banged at that moment and a squeal resonated down the hall.
“Uncle Luuccaas,” Mabel cried and threw herself at him. “You’re here.”
“Yes, Mabe Babe, I’m here, I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
“Uncwe Wucus,” said a small voice below him. He looked down to find Tommy attached to his leg. “Up.” With Mabel in one arm, he picked up Tommy with the other.
“How would you two like to go to the zoo tomorrow?”
“Yay,” they cried in unison, clapping their hands gleefully.
“Hey,” Nathan said as he wondered in. “You look happy.”
“That’s what I said but he won’t tell me who it is.”
“Why does it have to be about a woman, Carrie?” Nathan said.
“That’s what I told her.” The men exchanged a knowing smile.
“Okay, be difficult both of you but I want to meet her if things become serious.”
“Well I guess you won’t meet her then will you.”