by Tanya Kelly
“No problem.” Nora looked around the store. “What can I help with?”
“Nothing, just relax. Have a seat if you want on the chairs.”
Nora nodded and smiled at Reilly. “Will you join me?”
“Perhaps in a few minutes. I’m going to help Nikki load her stuff,” he replied.
“Oh great. Thank you, Reilly,” Nikki said.
They all began to clean up which was very little. They helped Nikki load her things in the van. Pretty much all the food was gone and most of the wine and beverages. They had gone through all the goodie bags, and tomorrow they would draw the winners of the prizes from the ballots of everyone who’d come this evening. Lacey had a quick look at the sales for the evening and was pleasantly surprised.
She shared with Kim how they had surpassed their expectations. All in all, it had been a great evening. Reilly came over as she shared her news with Kim. She threw her arms around him, kissing him fully on the lips. She was on cloud nine. Everything had gone perfectly and Reilly had been such a help.
“Thanks for all your help.” She gave him one last squeeze. “I’m going to head home tonight with my mom being in town.”
“You need a ride?”
“No, that’s okay. We’ll hop in with Kim.”
“Okay. I’ll call you tomorrow.” He put his hand on the side of her face and trailed his thumb down her cheek. “I’m going to miss you tonight,” he whispered and kissed her softly on the lips. “Night.”
“Good night.” She smiled back.
Reilly said bye to everyone and then they locked up the store and headed to Kim’s car. When they got home, Kim opened a bottle of champagne for celebration.
“Cheers to an exhausting but fantastic night,” she said.
“The store is beautiful,” Nora said. “I’m so proud of both of you.”
Lacey and Kim shared a smile and thanked her. Lacey was particularly puzzled. She appreciated the compliment, but her mother wasn’t usually one for dishing them out. They talked about the store and everything they had been doing for the last couple months. After Kim had finished her glass, she excused herself and went off to bed. She looked dead on her feet.
Lacey was exhausted as well and ready for bed. “I’m pretty tired, Mom. It’s been a long day.”
“Have one more small glass with me, honey. I’d like to chat with you more.”
Lacey’s hackles rose. Usually when her mother wanted to chat, it meant she was getting married again. She accepted a bit more champagne and waited for her mother to speak.
“Tom left me.” Her mother sat back down on the couch and lifted sad eyes to Lacey.
It took a second for Lacey to comprehend as she’d forgotten the name of her mother’s last boyfriend. Tom was the man she was, or had been dating. They had gone on a cruise after Tom proposed, which he’d done a few short months after meeting her mother. She wasn’t sure his exact age but he looked about Reilly’s. Lacey couldn’t say she was surprised it didn’t work out and was relieved her mother wasn’t marrying a man half her age.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Mom.” The lie slipped easily from her lips.
“Thanks, I’m pretty devastated. But enough about me. How long have you been dating Reilly?”
“Um, not long. A few weeks.” Lacey couldn’t help the wariness she felt when her mother mentioned Reilly’s name.
“Seems pretty serious for a few weeks,” her mother remarked.
“Not really.” Lacey took a sip of her champagne.
“I think Reilly begs to differ.”
Lacey spluttered her drink. “What are you talking about?”
“Some things Reilly said to me tonight and the way he looks at you. He’s in love with you. The question is…are you in love with him?”
“I don’t know mom. It’s too soon. We get along and have fun. Who knows what the future holds.” Lacey had never had a close relationship with her mother where they shared secrets and confidences. Part of Lacey did want to confide in her mom about her feelings for Reilly and his request for her to move in. She’d wanted to talk to someone about it, which normally would have been Kim, but they’d been too busy. However she couldn’t bring herself to open up to her mother.
“Well I hope for your sake it’s just fun for a short time.”
Lacey put down her glass and sat up. “Why would you hope that?”
“Honey, you and I both know I’ve got a bit of experience with men, especially younger ones.”
Lacey barely held back a snort as her mother continued, “Younger men fall hard for older women. I’m not sure if it’s the whole cougar thing. I swear all young men fantasize about dating a more mature, sexy older woman. And when they do, they think it’s love and they can’t live without us.”
Lacey sat stunned, staring at her mother. She tried not to cringe at the image of cougar and young man. Her mother sure knew where to strike.
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt, honey. God knows I’ve learned some tough lessons you don’t have to repeat. It all seems great and you feel beautiful and sexy having this hot young guy fawning all over you. But it always ends, and usually not well. After a while, the fantasy wears thin and he starts noticing all the pretty young things more his age with perky tits and tight butts. And you start nagging him about being out or not picking up his mess. Soon you’re sounding like his mother and it’s not long after that before he’s running for the hills.”
Lacey took a deep breath. “Mom, Reilly isn’t like that and no offense, but I’m not you either. We don’t think about the age thing.” As much anymore, she added silently to herself.
Nora fixed her gaze on Lacey. “Really? It doesn’t bother you that you’ll be celebrating your fortieth birthday soon while your boyfriend is still in his twenties?”
Lacey narrowed her eyes. “Not at all,” she bluffed while cringing inwardly at the mental image of Reilly attending an over the hill fortieth birthday bash for his girlfriend.
Was she crazy? Thinking she could be with a man more than a decade younger?
Nora put a hand on her arm in a sympathetic motion which only fired Lacey up more. “Don’t pretend it doesn’t bother you,” Nora continued in a patronizing tone.
“Fine, it bothers me,” she grumbled defensively. “But I’m trying to get over it. A lot of people have successful relationships with much larger age gaps. Everything else in our relationship is great. Why throw it all away because of my own hang-ups.”
“It’s not just your own hang ups. Everyone is fine with the older man and younger woman thing. But most of society still looks down on the older woman and younger man scenario. It can get pretty tiring always defending yourself or putting up with snide remarks.”
“I have thick skin,” Lacey replied.
“Really?” Her mother raised an eyebrow. “It seemed to me you spend your entire life avoiding doing anything society doesn’t deem acceptable.” Her mother used air quotes on the word acceptable.
“Where is this going, Mother?” Lacey demanded irritably. “You suddenly swear off men younger than you?”
“Heck, no.” Nora laughed. “But I know I’m a fool and I’m too old to change. But I wanted better for you. I didn’t want my daughter to be a fool like me.”
Lacey stood up and put her glass on the kitchen island. “Wow, I’m a fool for dating Reilly. News flash, Mother. I am not a fool and while Reilly may be younger, we are nothing like the relationships you’ve been in. Thank you for your advice, but you can just butt out.”
Nora stood as well and took a step toward Lacey. “Honey, I’m not trying to upset you, and maybe I’m wrong and you both deeply love one another. Which brings its own set of challenges. Age differences may not show much now but in another ten years, it sure can. Also, did you know Reilly wants kids?”
Lacey’s mouth fell open. They’d never discussed children.
“He does. Three, in fact. At least that’s what he told me. You want three kids? A bit late at your ag
e to start a family.”
Lacey held onto the counter for support. Her chest felt heavy and her breathing shallow. She heard her mother approach and take her hand.
“I know you’re embarrassed by me and have spent your entire life trying to be the opposite of me. I’m not trying to hurt you, Lacey. I want to spare you from getting hurt or making the same mistakes I did.”
Lacey pulled her hand away and stared coldly at her mother. “Thank you for your concern. I’m going to bed. Your room is the first door on the right. There are towels and extra blankets in the closet. Make yourself at home. Good night.”
She turned and walked down the hallway without another word. Once in her room, she curled up on her bed and let the tears flow.
Damn her. Why was she trying to destroy Lacey’s chance at happiness? Her heart felt broken into a million pieces. But the worst part was her mother had just vocalized all her worse fears. And now they had been spoken out loud and she felt like it was only a matter of time before those fears became a reality.
Chapter Thirteen
Missed you last night. Can’t wait to see you.
Lacey ran her fingers over the text message from Reilly. She tried to shake the melancholy she’d been feeling since last night. It was past noon and she was tired as hell having barely slept after the conversation with her mother. She put some bras away from the fitting room, intent on staying busy. It was their first official day open after the grand opening and the morning had been busy.
Her mom had left after a quick breakfast. Nora had given Lacey a hug good-bye. “I know I haven’t been mother of the year but I do love you, sweetheart. I only want what is best for you. I’m proud of you and that you’re the opposite of me. You probably have a passionate relationship with Reilly but remember, that fades and what are you left with when it’s gone?”
Lacey had hugged her back and said she’d keep in touch better. She’d learnt long ago it was futile arguing with her mother. So she just nodded and watched her leave.
But she hadn’t been able to shake her mother’s words all day. Part of her wished Nora had never spoken the words of her deepest fears but she knew she had to face the hard truth. In the cold light of day, she realized everything Nora said was true. She loved her mother but she’d hated the life Nora lived. Hated seeing her mother act like a fool. Lacey wasn’t going to end up on the same path. She’d always be conscious of the age gap and it would play on her insecurities.
Nor was she about to start a family at her age therefore she couldn’t pretend this thing between them was forever and deny Reilly children of his own one day. How many times had she seen her mother’s many boyfriends or husbands grow bored and leave? Maybe she and Reilly would last two or five years or even more. But the same would eventually happen. He’d leave her either for someone younger or someone who would give him a family. Then she’d be even older, and single again.
Tears stung her eyes again and she blinked furiously. She’d done enough crying last night. This was her own damn fault. Lacey had known all this from the start but had let her feelings for Reilly cloud her judgment and make her decisions. It was time to put her emotions on the back burner and think rationally. She needed to rectify things before she got in too deep. Sadly, she realized she’d already waited too long.
The door chimed indicating another customer and Lacey pasted a smile to her face. Her smile faltered as she recognized the young woman who entered. It was Sophie, the gorgeous blonde she’d met at Nick’s party who worked at the pub with Reilly. The one who’d been throwing herself at him.
“Hello, Sophie,” Lacey greeted professionally.
Sophie looked around the store with a tight smile. “Hello,” she finally said. “I could use a new bra and decided to come and see your little store.” Lacey did not fail to notice her sneer over the word little. She bit her tongue and forced another smile.
“Great. Anything in particular you are looking for?”
“Something sexy and young,” Sophie replied with a smug smile.
“We have lots of fashionable designer items that are sexy.” Although Lacey was pretty sure Sophie would make a sports bra look sexy. She took her around the store and showed her some bras she thought Sophie would like. She agreed to try on a few, even though her enthusiasm was nonexistent.
Why hadn’t she gone out and grabbed lunch and Kim could have dealt with Sophie. She would have professionally but coolly put the spiteful bitch in her place. Lacey waited as Sophie tried the items on in the fitting room.
“I think this one is a bit small,” Sophie said from behind the curtain.
“May I come in and have a look to get you fitted?” Lacey asked.
“Sure,” Sophie replied and pulled the curtain open. Lacey tried not to stare openly at the young girl clad in her jeans and the teal push up bra. Damn, the woman had curves in all the right places. Sophie was maybe a size two with a tiny waist and flat stomach but was well endowed in the chest. Her creamy breasts spilled out of the bra.
Lacey cleared her throat and began to review the fit. “It seems to fit well everywhere except the cup size. I think we need to try one cup size up. I’ll be right back.”
She returned with a different size and passed it over the curtain to Sophie. “Here you go.” A few minutes later, Sophie pulled the curtain open again.
“That’s better.” She moved from side to side to check out the bra in the mirror. Lacey knew she had a great body as well but this girl was the kind of stuff teenage boys and grown men fantasized about. The kind of girl her mother warned her would eventually steal Reilly’s attention.
“I like it. Got a matching thong with it?”
Lacey nodded and went to fetch one. She didn’t ask Sophie’s size, certain it would be extra small.
When Sophie came back out of the change room, she was wearing a sheer white T-shirt and the teal bra could be seen right through it. “Here’s the tag,” she said. “I’m going to wear it.”
“Sure.” Lacey knew it was the style for the younger girls to show their colorful bras through their clothing. She rang in her order and packaged the matching thong.
“Are you still um, seeing Reilly?” Sophie asked, and Lacey heard the disbelief in her voice. “I saw him at the pub the other day with another woman so I wasn’t sure.”
Lacey knew Sophie was full of shit since they’d been together every night except last night. But somehow the girl got under skin. “He’s free to see who he wants,” she countered.
“Oh, then you guys aren’t dating?”
“Not that it’s any of your business,” Lacey said, “but we’re friends and we hang out sometimes…” Her words trailed off as Sophie grabbed their meaning.
“I see. Well, gotta run.” With a wave, she grabbed her coat and dashed off.
“Bitch,” Lacey muttered under her breath. She went to the back room and blinked back more tears. She hadn’t been lying to Sophie. After tonight, he would be free to date who he wanted. It was better to get out now—first. It was breaking her heart, but at least she’d have her pride intact.
* * * *
Reilly cashed out and headed to the staff room to grab his stuff, anxious to get off and see Lacey. He’d worked the day shift at the pub and it was just after six. Lacey closed the store at six as well and she texted that she’d meet him at his house.
“Hi sexy,” Sophie greeted with a smile when he walked into the staff room. She stood with one leg on the bench as she zipped up her boots. She turned to face him and smiled, flinging her hair to the side.
“Hey.” He reached for his coat.
“What do you think?” she asked, forcing him to look back at her. Sophie was a beautiful girl but key word was girl. Immaturity was a big turn-off. And she was extremely immature.
“Of what?”
“My purchase from your friend, Lacey.” He heard the sarcastic emphasis on the word friend. Reilly looked at her and noticed the flash of color from her bra underneath the sheer T-shirt. “
She even set me up with a matching thong. Care to see?”
“No thanks,” he replied and looked away. He grabbed his bag and started heading out the door.
“You’re free to look, you know. She said that. He can see who he wants was Lacey’s exact words,” Sophie said to his back.
Reilly stopped and turned back around. “What are you talking about?”
She smiled, looking pleased as punch, and walked provocatively over to him. “I asked Lacey how things were going with you two and she said you were just friends who hung out sometimes. I’m pretty sure she meant fuck sometimes. Anyway, she said you weren’t exclusive and could see who you want.”
Sophie put her hand on his arm and stood close enough that he saw the thick lines of makeup on her face. “Feel free to look, or touch,” she whispered.
Reilly jerked his arm out of grasp. “Sorry, not interested.” He gave her a cold look before striding out of the room. He drove home impatiently, clenching the steering wheel. Would Lacey really have said that to Sophie? The troublemaker was probably making it all up. He took a couple deep breaths to calm down, pretty sure Sophie was just trying to make waves.
When he got home, he took a hot shower and then grabbed a beer as he waited for Lacey. He checked his phone and read her last text.
I’ll be by after work around 7.
No, I miss you, too, or can’t wait to see you either. Could Sophie be telling the truth? Was Lacey just having fun with him? His gut clenched painfully at the thought.
Reilly heard the front door open and looked up from the couch when she walked in. Lacey took off her boots and hung up her coat before coming in the living room.
“Hi,” she said, sounding exhausted.
“Hi.” He watched her as she rolled her shoulders. “Long day?”
She nodded and sat next to him on the couch. “Busy, too.”
Reilly drew in a deep breath, feeling sick to his stomach. She was distant.
“Yeah, I ran into one of your customers before I came home. Sophie told me she was at your store.”
Lacey looked up at him and he saw the flash of guilt in her eyes. “She showed me her new bra and offered to show me the matching thong.” He watched her closely as he spoke. “Said you could look all you wanted and see who you want—according to her.”
