Carolina Rain by Rick Murcer Page B

windbreaker over his shoulders as he looked into the mirror. The jacket sagged ever so slightly. He’d lost a little weight , and the dark circles under his eyes confirmed it. But his hair wasn’t gray, he still had muscle tone, and his blue eyes were still his.
    “Three out of four ain’t bad,” he said, zipping the jacket halfway up.
    Turning away from the mirror, he was startled to see one of the three most important women in his life standing in the doorway, wearing a smile that said she’d been there long enough.
    He did a double-take, not from surprise, but from how she looked. She was wearing a low-cut, emerald blouse and a skirt that was a little shorter than usual . Her eyes were sparkling, setting off the color of her outfit. Chloe’s red hair seemed a little longer and her lips a little redder. She’d always been hot to him so he could already feel Mr. Mojo rising . No woman should look that good. She entertained the type of look that other men turned to stare at, even if their woman was beside them . . . and she was his wife.
    “Nice little move there. I didn’t know you could wiggle like that,” said Chloe.
    “Ahh, well, we’ve not had the opportunity to go to a disco or anything,” he said, not hiding the sheepish smile.
    “We’ll have to do that. And what are ya staring at? Never seen a hot Irish lass before?”
    “Oh, I’ve seen one or two, but not like you. Is it getting warm in here?”
    She moved across the room at just the right speed, put her arms around his neck, and kissed him. It wasn’t just a kiss; it was the joining of a woman and her man, and Manny knew the difference. Without thinking, he put his hands on her backside and pulled her closer.
    “Why, Agent Williams, whatever do you have in mind?”
    “I think I heard that line in San Juan,” whispered Manny.
    “Yeah , well, you need to refresh my memory on what happens next. We were rather rudely interrupted . I’m still waiting for you to finish what you promised, and soon.”
    “Damn it. I can’t leave you two alone for a minute without you playing grab-ass and kissy-face. You’d think you were newlyweds or some shit.”
    They turned to the door and Sophie stood, legs apart, hands on her hips, wearing the biggest smile Manny had seen from her in years.
    “Here’s fifty bucks. Leave and come back in fifteen minutes,” said Chloe. “I want to make sure he’s ready for action.”
    “I could use the money for a new pair of shoes except I’ d bet that’s not a good idea. I heard the nurses record stuff that happens in the rooms and put it out on the Internet. Something about real-life porn. Not that I’ve ever seen any of it, mind you, but let’s not take a chance. Not to mention the scarring a potential sighting by Jen might do to the poor child. Good thing she’s down in the truck, waiting to drive you home.”
    “Since when did you worry about affecting Jen’s psyche?” asked Manny.
    “Hey. There’s a difference between teaching her things that only a woman like me can and thinking about your dad having sex in a hospital room and then having the whole world be able to see it. Even I get that,” said Sophie.
    “She may have a point,” giggled Chloe. “We’ll have to get this party started in a more secluded place. Do you think there’d be room in the back of your SUV?”
    “That’s the spirit . . . uh, wait . . . you mean on the way home? Oh, hell no. That ain’t going to happen.” The look on Sophie’s face made Manny laugh.
    “I think she just April Fooled you , Sophie .”
    Rolling her eyes, Sophie crossed her arms. “What the hell is this, high school? B esides, you can’t trust a horny woman. I do know a little about that.”
    “Wait. Who said I was fooling?” asked Chloe, her laugh giving her away.
    “Umm. Okay then. So how about those Tigers? I think they can win it all.”
    “Cute, Williams. Trying to change the subject doesn’t change the subject . W e’ll let you off the hook,