Free Somebody's Lover by Jasmine Haynes

then a comment on her dress.
    Liars and sneaks. They always came
to a bad end.
     
    * * * * *
     
    On Saturday, she took the boys
hiking in the county park.
    “Am I still in trouble at school,
Mom?”
    “No, Brian. Why would you think
that?” Taylor swung out the stick she’d found along the path, pushing up the
short hill while Jamey scampered ahead looking for arrowheads.
    “If I’m not in trouble, why’d you
have to meet my teacher?”
    Lord. She was a bad, bad mother.
She hadn’t told him the lie, couldn’t bear repeating it, but obviously Evelyn
had mentioned where she was going.
    “It was a checkup. You weren’t
worried, were you?” She put her hand on his head as they walked. “I’m sorry,
Bri.”
    “Was it Mr. Henderson?”
    “Yes.” For a split second, she
couldn’t remember a single name. Henderson was as good as any.
    “But I saw Mr. Henderson at school
on Friday. Nana said he was out of town, and that’s why you had to meet him so
late.”
    Brian wasn’t questioning her or
doubting her. But he was a brooder. And he’d been brooding over what his
teacher was going to tell her about him. She’d been very foolish. And selfish.
    She bent down, taking her son’s
arms. “He said you were a wonderful student. He wanted me to know how proud of
you he is.”
    He blinked sad, brown eyes. Sometimes
her little guy seemed much older and much younger than his ten years. “Truth?”
    “I wouldn’t lie about a thing like
that, Bri. Not ever.” She was filled with lies and ached with guilt. “Give me a
hug,” she whispered, almost crying when his arms went around her neck.
    Then suddenly all better, like
little boys could be in the blink of an eye, he rushed after his brother.
    Taylor told herself the lies were
over. But she couldn’t stop the rush of warmth that came with a sudden image of
Jace.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Later in the afternoon, Jace
stopped by to take the boys out for pizza. They’d climbed all over him like
monkeys, and he appeared to enjoy every minute of it. She’d always appreciated
how good he was with the boys. They missed their dad, but Jace did a good job
filling the void. Today, her heart ached watching them. She wanted to beg to go
along, but it was a guy thing. Moms weren’t allowed. That had never bothered
her before.
    After all the activity, the boys
had tumbled into bed almost as soon as they got home. Jace hadn’t even come
inside, simply watched them from his truck as they barreled into the house,
then he drove away. They hadn’t exchanged a word about last night.
    She went to bed at midnight, but
sleep wouldn’t come. Had Jace gone to Saddle-n-Spurs after he dropped off the
boys? Had he met a woman, taken her home?
    She was going crazy in the dark.
She had to stop thinking about him. Rolling over, she tucked the pillow beneath
her cheek. A dog barked in a neighbor’s yard. A car passed in the street. She rolled
again, this time lying flat on her back.
    When she closed her eyes, the soft
breeze through the window caressed her face like Jace’s fingers. She kicked the
covers off and imagined his touch between her legs. Oh God.
    The digital clock flipped to twelve-thirty.
The portable phone lay on the night table. She grabbed it and hugged it to her
chest. She wouldn’t call. It was over. It had to be over.
    She’d called him a hundred times.
For this and that. She’d never worried or hesitated before. Before, she didn’t
carry the memory of him inside her.
    She’d promised herself she wouldn’t
make love with him again. She’d promised she wouldn’t lie to her boys. And now
she was in danger of breaking that less-than-twelve-hour-old promise.
    When she pushed the talk button,
the numbers lit up. Biting her lip, she hesitated. She dialed the first three,
hung up. But she couldn’t put the phone back on the night-stand. This time she
dialed all the numbers and let it ring.
     
    * * * * *
     
    He jumped on the phone when it
rang, praying it was