Her knees literally wobbled at the warmth of his breath on her lips.
When she didn’t answer, he reached a hand out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his thumb lingering on her cheek for several heartbeats. Then he opened the door for her and gestured for her to climb in.
“Drive safe, Vivien.”
“I will.”
What was she doing? Where was this going? And what about…Peter?
Somehow she managed to start the car, watching him step back as she pulled out and drove away.
What was happening? She had no idea…but it was the most fun she’d had in a long time.
Vivien closedthe Summer House front door behind her, turning the knob to keep it from clicking shut too loudly, grateful they didn’t have an alarm set. Everything was still and hushed, dark except for the glow from the stovetop clock that read 12:17 a.m.
Vivien tiptoed barefoot through the kitchen, shoes dangling from her fingers, getting a punch of déjà vu from one hot summer night when she, Tessa, and Kate had snuck in late and walked right into Maggie.
She hadn’t meant to stay at Danny’s for so long. But she hadn’t wanted to leave and the time with him had flown by. Still thinking of his parting kiss, she grinned to herself as she climbed the stairs slowly, slipped into the main suite she shared with Lacey, and closed the door gently and, she hoped, silently.
The room was cool and smelled faintly of her lavender pillow spray and Lacey’s shampoo. The moonlight cast silvery streaksacross the comforter. Lacey was bundled beneath it, sound asleep.
Behind the bathroom door, Vivien changed quickly into her pajamas, washed her face, brushed her teeth, and did her level best not to make a sound when she slipped into bed.
“That was a really…long client meeting.”
Vivien sucked in a surprised breath. “You’re awake?”
Lacey turned on her side, but it was too dark to make out her expression. “Kind of hard not to be when you come tiptoeing in like a teenager who just made out in the back of a car.”
Vivien laughed, covering her mouth. “It wasn’t like that.”
“Mm…hmm.”
Vivien giggled, oddly giddy.
Lacey reached for her phone to check the time. “Mom. It’s after midnight.”
“I know. I lost track of time.”
“Is that what we’re calling it now?” Lacey teased. “Losing track of time with a very handsome, rich client who flirts like it’s a sport?”
“Says the girl dating a literal NFL player.” Vivien pulled the covers up and rolled toward her daughter, seeing a smile now. “Do not make me regret telling you things.”
“Did you kiss him?” she asked, a playful note in her voice.
“Kiss…are you…why would I…” At Lacey’s pretend scowl, she gave up the fight. “One teeny-tiny, barely worth mentioning, light as air but still really mind-blowing kiss.”
“Mom!” She shot up, throwing the covers off as if she simply had no words. “Youkissedhim?”
“To be perfectly accurate,hekissedme.” A beat passed, and then Vivien exhaled. “And, Lacey Knight, I freely admit I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“With Danny?” Lacey asked.
“With Danny. With Peter. With…my whole love life.” Vivien rubbed her forehead. “Not that I expected to have a love life a month after my divorce the year I turn fifty.”
“Well, apparently you do.” Lacey slid back under the covers and snuggled closer, like she did when she was a teenager and came home from a date that had to be hashed and re-hashed. “Tell me everything. I mean, I know he’s hot?—”
“Hot?”
