Free Fun With Rick and Jade by Kelli Scott Page A

Here’s the little one. Coral.”
    Jade extended her hand as best she could with her arms full of baby and smiled pleasantly. He hadn’t seen her do much of anything pleasantly, so Rick was pleasantly surprised, to say the least. She dressed conservatively in flat sandals, capri pants, and a stylish blouse that flattered her, but didn’t advertise Jade was a hot mama. For that moment in time, he had a feeling they might be able to pull off this marriage charade.
    “Get you something to drink?” When the Honeycutts declined, she said, “Why don’t you help Dave with the luggage, sweetie?”
    Rick glanced in both directions for this sweetie person she addressed. Process of elimination told him he was the sweetie. He pointed his you-are-so-brilliant-I-don’t-know-what-I’d-do-without-you finger at her. “Yes. Right.” His finger swung around to Dave. “Let’s get you settled.”
    “This is really too kind of you,” Trudy said to Jade. “I could have called some hotels.” But then he and Dave were out the door and the exchange between the two women faded from his hearing.
    He had a sense of impending doom, fearing Jade would say something sexually, morally, or God forbid, religiously inappropriate in his absence. A more likely scenario would be Rick, himself, letting something slip. A lie. An oath. The truth on the heels of a lie. So many possibilities loomed close to keep him on edge.
    “Your wife is beautiful.” Dave hefted a bag out of the rental car. “I’ll bet Trudy’s drooling over that baby. She wants one of those something fierce.”
    “They are life-changing.” See, you can say stuff without tripping over your lies . “Wives and babies. Life changing.” Time to stop, Rick . “Mortgages and car payments.” Whoa, before you go too far . “Do you have any idea how much those fake nails cost?” Shut up! “Don’t even get me started on diapers.” What am I talking about? He wasn’t even paying for a mortgage, car payment, or diapers. Yet. He’d been motoring around in Bob’s SUV, hiding his crappy car in the garage next to Jade’s flashy convertible.
    Dave patted him on the shoulder. “Wait until you get the college tuition bill.”
    He started hoping Coral would get a full academic scholarship under his tutelage, but suddenly remembered she wasn’t his kid. He doubted Jade would keep him around long enough to get to the bottom of the diaper box. “Thanks. I didn’t need to hear that.” They both chuckled.
    “For a guy your age,” he looked up at the two-story house, “you seem like you’re doing okay.”
    Luckily Dave didn’t know Rick’s brother, Bob, was the one doing okay for a guy his age. He doubted he’d approve of how his brother had come by his money or his wife. Or Rick’s wife, for that matter.
    Rick relaxed a bit and they bantered on the way up to the guest room. Looking around, he decided it resembled a nice guest room. No evidence of Jade or a baby remained, only the faint scent of baby powder, which wasn’t altogether unpleasant. Dave appeared satisfied with the accommodations.
    After stowing the luggage, they all settled in the living room with drinks Jade had apparently forced on them. Trudy cradled Coral like a treasured brick of gold, cooing and petting and bouncing her while Jade played bartender. She gingerly handed over a dirty martini to Rick. I’d rather have a beer . He took a sip and nearly choked. She winked at him.
    Trudy ignored her drink. “She’s an angel.”
    He waited for Jade to mention something unseemly, like Coral’s ability to out-belch Uncle Bob. Instead she tilted her head and said, “She’s a blessing.”
    “Aren’t you going to have a drink?” Dave asked her.
    “She’s breastfeeding.” Rick froze, and then slowly glanced around the room. “I’m sorry. That’s probably too much information.”
    Dave waved his hand. “It’s perfectly natural. I should have realized.”
    “That must be why you’re so robust and