Lie, Lie Again(57)
Once inside the bedroom, she eased her hands under the elastic band of his boxers and stroked him. He reciprocated, though she felt nothing. Well, maybe a hint of disgust, but she had a job to do. Pushing him onto the bed, she peppered kisses down his chest while he worked his fingers on her.
With a couple of well-timed moans and a yelp of pleasure, she had him just where she wanted him. “Condom,” she whispered, reaching for the one she’d stashed on the nightstand moments ago. She tore it open before sliding it onto him.
He plowed into her, pumping furiously while she stared at the ceiling and uttered fake purrs of pleasure. With any luck, it wouldn’t take long. Ticktock, ticktock. She arched her back and groaned. That earned her a hearty grunt from Hugh. She knew the end was near, and he moved faster before slumping onto her, panting like a dog. Finally.
“Good thing you wore a condom,” she murmured in his ear. “You wouldn’t want me to get pregnant, would you, Hugh? Two babies would be one too many.” She grazed her teeth across his tender earlobe before adding, “Your wife would hate that.”
As though he’d been poked with a hot cattle prod, he sprang from her and slammed his back to the headboard. “What the fuck, Sylvia! I don’t have a baby! What are you saying?”
She sighed heavily and eased toward him, gently dragging her nails along his arm. “But you do. And maybe a second on the way. The condoms we’ve been using are long expired.” Her voice was a throaty whisper. Pressing a hand to his shoulder, she leaned close to his ear. “There could’ve been holes in them. But don’t worry.” She pinned him with her gaze. “We’ll know if they worked or if they failed very soon. I’m already five days late.”
He rolled off the bed and landed on his feet as though he were a ninja escaping the bad guy, though he was far less graceful. “You’re pregnant? What the fuck!” He began popping around the room, causing his parts to flap, flap, flap. “I think you’re making shit up! You’re just angry that I didn’t call you all weekend. I told you, I lost my phone!”
Sylvia held in her laughter. “Oh, Hugh. I’m not making things up. But you are. We both know Hunter is a baby, not a Pomeranian.”
His face grew so red, she wondered if a blood vessel might burst. “How do you know that?”
She raised a brow and smirked before whisking past him to get her discarded clothing. What a pathetic creature he’d turned out to be. Pulling up the zipper of her dress, she considered what to say next.
He slunk out of the bedroom, a robe cinched at his waist. “Where are you getting all these ideas?”
She sneered at him. “Do you think I’m stupid, Hugh Pacheco?”
His eyes sprang wide at the mention of his real name, but he ran a hand across his mouth, presumably stifling the need to shout. “You’re crazy. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She fluffed her hair and laughed. “Okay.”
“Okay?” he asked, losing bluster.
“Sure. I’ll play the crazy one, and you can be you,” she said with a too-wide smile. “That can be your story. Give my best to Lily. Sammy, too, when you talk to him. Remember, if at first you don’t succeed, lie, lie again.”
He lurched toward her, his face rapidly growing darker. He looked like a fat summer plum with bulging eyes. Not a pretty sight. She opened the door and quietly stepped outside.
A crash sounded behind her, but she didn’t bother turning to see what he’d thrown. Poor Hugh. He’d messed with the wrong woman.
With any luck, Lily would show him the earthenware elephant tonight. Would hearing it was from Sylvia send him over the edge? Maybe he would break down and confess everything to his unsuspecting wife. Sylvia closed her eyes and imagined Lily hurling the elephant at his head. Huh. Maybe her gift would be a smashing success.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Wednesday, March 15
Embry pushed her jogging stroller along the winding path that led into the neighborhood park. Carson was strapped to her body in the baby carrier. Before she knew it, the new baby would take his place, and he’d move to the jogger while Kylie would have to walk.
The sun was gentle, casting a hazy glow through the filmy clouds. Spring was just around the corner. She smiled to herself. Not that it mattered much. Southern California didn’t seem to recognize seasons. The rain they’d had over the weekend was the most weather she’d seen all year. “Okay, Kylie bear. We’re here. Hop out.”
“You bring my scooter, Mama?”
Embry clicked the brake into place and stepped around to help Kylie unbuckle. “Not today. You didn’t want to bring it. Remember?” As she said the words, she chastised herself for not packing it anyway. One of the wonderful things about this park was the meandering path that looped up and around the perimeter. “Let’s go play on the slide,” she said with an enthusiasm she didn’t feel.
Kylie pressed her hands to the seat and stiffened. “No, Mama! I want my scooter.”
Touching a hand to Carson’s little body so he didn’t topple as she leaned over, she reached an arm to help Kylie out. “Come on, sweetie.”
Kylie kicked her feet. “No! I no go!”
Carson wailed as though his sister had kicked him, not the air, and Embry took a breath. Kylie burst into tears. I’ll look back and laugh at this, she reminded herself. This is just a tiny moment in time. But goodness! Another mom rolled up with an infant stroller, and Embry wheeled to the side of the path to allow her some room. Of course, her baby was sleeping peacefully.