Free Male Review by Lillian Grant

boy.”
    What lifestyle issues? Before Meg had a chance to open her mouth and tell her mother she was being unreasonable making someone leave their own home, Sam interrupted. “Can we talk for a minute, Meg?”
    “Sure.” She had a horrible feeling her mother might have found out about her little run in with the cops. It had only been a matter of time. But that didn’t explain what leaving her dad had to do with it. Happy to escape whatever grilling her mother planned, Meg got to her feet. “I won’t be long, Mum.”
    She followed Sam to the front door before whispering. “Coward, where are you going?”
    “I figured we should divide and conquer.”
    “What?”
    “I heard her say she left your dad. I’m going to speak to him. Maybe if we work on both of them we can get them back together.”
    Meg batted her eyelids at him. “Aw, I never knew you cared so much about my parents’ relationship.”
    He grinned and she leaned closer whispering, “Or are you just worried she may stay forever and you’ll never get me alone again?”
    Nuzzling her neck, he growled. “And you’re not worried about never getting to watch my stallion going through his paces?”
    Her breath caught in her throat. God, was she ever. She turned her face and met his fierce kiss, devouring him like a large bowl of chocolate chip ice cream.
    Her mother’s voice floated through from the kitchen, breaking into the moment. “Meg?”
    She pulled away, panting for air. “God, and I didn’t even have my mouth anywhere near your winky.”
    Sam chuckled and dropped a kiss on her cheek before letting himself out the front door.

Chapter Fifteen
    The doorbell chimed the national anthem. Sam didn’t know whether he should sing Advance Australia Fair or salute. Coming to visit Meg’s dad seemed like a good idea twenty minutes ago, but on reflection, he wasn’t sure of the reception he would get. They hadn’t spoken since Mr. Riley’s birthday party, when he had foolishly seduced Meg in her parents’ kitchen. Her father had caught them and seemed to take their newfound sexual relationship in his stride, but things might have changed. Anyway, who was he to try and convince the man to take back the one woman in the world who scared Sam shitless?
    Before Sam had finished convincing himself to flee, the door swung open.
    “Sam. I guess you found my wife. You’d better come in.”
    Mr. Riley disappeared inside and Sam followed. The house looked the same as usual. Nothing out of place. All lace doilies, knick-knacks, and expensive china accounted for. No sign of dust or destruction. Whatever had gone on between husband and wife, Meg’s mother obviously hadn’t resorted to beating the poor man with her designer handbag.
    “Drink?”
    Sam shrugged. “Sure. Tea would be good.”
    “Son, you need to live a little. I thought a nice drop of scotch would hit the spot. I might even switch on the TV and watch a bit of footie. Hell, I might phone and get a pizza delivered and eat it straight from the box with the boys while we play a hand of poker.”
    “Do you think that would be wise, Mr. Riley. Mrs. Riley might not like it.”
    “Robert. Call me Robert, and it seems to me Mrs. Riley has made her decision, and I know better than to try and change that woman’s mind.”
    Sam sank into an armchair and waited as Robert filled two glasses almost to the brim with scotch, and then placed them on the coffee table without a coaster. The man was playing with fire. Something serious must be going on.
    He watched as Robert took a slug of his drink, lay back in his chair and put his feet on the table. Sam was as much of a slob as the next bloke, but he genuinely feared for Robert’s life. Even though he knew Mrs. Riley wasn’t home he couldn’t quite believe she wouldn’t burst through the door any second and start berating the poor man for desecrating her furniture.
    “Sit back. Relax.” Robert chuckled. “She has no plans to come home. Apparently I’m