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“Oh my God, just like you,” the younger guy who’d outted her in the meeting laughed like it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard.

I waited for Lillian to meet my eye.

“Lillian, I don’t have a wife. I mean, I did have a wife, but she ditched us several years ago. My sister Maria, the one you saw at the party, she lives with me to help out with the kids. It was her stuff you saw.”

“The woman in the picture was a redhead,” she said suspiciously. “Your sister had dark hair.”

“Maria changes her hair color every few months,” I explained. “Seriously, look.”

I pulled out my phone, opening my photo app and shoving it in her direction. “Look through my phone, you’ll see the pictures.”

She thumbed through the pictures at a quick pace, eyes coasting over pictures of my sister and my kids while the hulk guy stared over her shoulder suspiciously. Finally Lillian handed the phone back to me, her expression less angry and more uncertain.

“How do I know you’re not making all this up?” she asked. “I never talked to that woman you said was your sister. You guys could be swingers or something.”

“You think I have time to be a swinger with three kids and a full-time job?” I asked incredulously.

“He makes a good point,” the older guy noted. “You’re always tellin’ us that you’re too busy to comb your own hair let alone date. I don’t see you havin’ time to be a swinger either.”

She rolled her eyes. “Thanks, Leo.”

“No problem. Now are you gonna hear this here fella out, or what?”

Lillian

Ignoring Leo’s smart comments, I stared hungrily at Martin. God, he looked good. He was wearing a navy suit with a white shirt that was open at the collar, revealing a triangle of skin just below his neck that I knew tasted delicious.

Could I have misunderstood what I saw at his house? And more importantly, did our time together mean as much to him as it had to me? Because I, for one, could not stop thinking about it. I’d damn near worn out my vibrator the last few weeks replaying it in my mind.

Then I remembered that I was a middle-aged single mom and I didn’t have time for romance. My midnight temptation was a one-time thing. Even if I wanted to spend more time with Martin, my life was much too crazy to date.

“Why are you waitin’ for me?” I asked gruffly.

“Can we go somewhere and talk?” he asked softly. “I’ll buy you a drink.”

I was tempted to mention that the last time he got me a drink I’d wound up face down over his bed while he pounded into me from behind, but I wasn’t about to bring that particular image up in front of our audience.

“I have to get home for my kids,” I lied.

“Your kids aren’t home yet, Lillian,” Leo said in his disappointed father voice. “And them being home ain’t never stopped you from getting’ a drink with us.”

I turned and gave him a glare that would have hobbled a lesser man before returning my attention to Martin.

“I guess I might could have a quick drink,” I said grudgingly.

The wide smile on his face was gratifying.

“There’s a bar about a mile up the road called LJ’s, I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”

“Sounds good. Thanks.”

As soon as he walked away, Jimmy and Leo were on me with questions, while George just looked on, as was his way. He was as nosy as the rest of them, but he wasn’t one to be obvious about his prying.

I held up my hand to forestall the deluge of questions.

“Y’all remember my friend Becky?”

They all nodded since everyone knew everyone in this town.