Free Steamy Southern Nights by Nancy Warren

Claude’s voice was muffled with sleep.
    “Next door.”
    “You’re crazy.”
    “I don’t want – well, I want to talk about this with your mother first.”
    He chuckled sleepily. “That conversation I would love to hear.”
    “You won’t.” She walked over to the bed and kissed him. He tasted sleepy and rumpled and warm. “See you later.”
    He grabbed her butt and squeezed. “Count on it.”
    Dawn was beginning to streak the sky as she padded next door, hoping very much no early-rising neighbors were hanging out their windows drawing the obvious conclusion about her actions.
    Well, that was just one more development in her trip to Louisiana that wouldn’t be making it into the family newsletter.
     
    The smell of coffee and bacon had Lucy speeding down the stairs the next morning. It was eight. Late for her, but then she’d had a pretty active evening the night before.
    She felt a quick qualm of nerves. She wasn’t exactly sure what to say or how Beatrice was going to react. Her ‘Good Morning’ sounded a tad too cheery and carefree to her own ears. Lighten up, she scolded herself.
    He’s a grown up. His mother knows he has sex. But maybe not always with her house guests?
    But Beatrice looked as happy to see her guest as she appeared every morning. “You slept in,” she said, handing Lucy coffee.
    “Yes, I—“ She glanced up to find a broad grin on her hostess’s face.
    “God,” she said, dropping her face in her hands, knowing she was blushing like a fool. “This is so awkward.”
    “Honey, I could see the way you two looked at each other the first day what was in the wind.”
    “Well, I don’t know that it’s anything serious. I mean—um—“
    “Oh, I know. It is what it is. You all take sex a lot more casually than we used to.” She cracked eggs into a skillet and handed Lucy a plate of toast to butter. She shot Lucy a shrewd glance. “It’s not so very casual with you two, though, is it?”
    “I—I can’t say for Claude.”
    “I can. Not to scare you honey, but I’ve never seen him look at anybody the way he looks at you. First time I saw it? I’m big enough to admit I had a twinge of jealousy. Imagine. Thinking he could find a woman he’d love more than me.”
    “Oh, I’m sure it’s not—“
    “Maybe not. Don’t get yourself worked up. I’m his mother. What do I know? I think you’re feeling something too, though.”
    Lucy buttered every square inch of toast. It gave her something to do. The eggs sizzled and Beatrice bustled around the kitchen. “I don’t sleep with men casually, Beatrice. I gave myself all kinds of reasons why I wouldn’t sleep with Claude, but –“ she shrugged helplessly. “Some things you can’t help.”
    “I know, honey.” Beatrice laughed softly. “Don’t I know it.”
    “How was your evening?” Lucy asked, determined to change the subject.
    “Wonderful. I had a nice chat with – I forget her exact position – some big wig with Tulane. I told her all about you and your research and she said to tell you there’s a position opening up in the history faculty that you might want to apply for.”
    “Really? I hadn’t thought of…well. Maybe I will.”
    “It never hurts to look into every opportunity,” Beatrice said cheerily.
    “No,” said Lucy. “You’re right. It doesn’t.”
    In truth, she’d seen the position posted at the university and she’d been toying with the idea of applying.
    She was still thinking about it, but one thing she was sure of was that she couldn’t make a career decision based on a man. Still, she’d be foolish to impede her own career for the same reason. So, she was thinking about it.
    Since it was Saturday, she wasn’t going to the university. She was sitting outside with her laptop, writing her mother an email. She’d got as far as typing, “I think I’ve found the skeleton in the family closet,” when the skeleton said from behind her, “So, did you tell her?”
    Claude. Her heart