Page 111 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

The second while sitting.

While she didn’t mind variety, she was glad this time it would actually be in a bed. Most likely lying down.

The blood hummed through her veins in anticipation. For both the sex and finally getting to see the man naked from head to toe.

Her head jerked. That meant he’d get to see her completely naked, too.

She’d been aware of that when she invited him over for the night, but now it was actually hitting home as he leaned his rucksack against the dresser in her bedroom.

She was thirty-nine. She had given birth twice. She had stretch marks, cellulite and loose skin. Her breasts were heavy and the opposite of perky. Gravity had done a number on her ass, too.

She sure as hell hoped his expectations were realistic. If they weren’t, reality was about to smack him in the face.

She normally wasn’t self-conscious. She had accepted the changes having babies did to her body, as well as getting older. But, for some reason, she was worried she might disappoint Nox.

When she was young and not as wise, she worried about impressing men. As life went on, she stopped worrying. They either accepted her as she was, or they could hit the road if they didn’t like the way she looked, acted or her success.

However, she didn’t want the police officer currently standing in her bedroom hitting the road, or rushing to leave, because he was no longer attracted to her.

“No possibility of your father bringing your boys home early?” he asked with his broad back still turned to her.

“They’re with my mother, remember? And that would only happen if an emergency came up. Don’t worry, they’d call first.”

He turned and bent over to unlace his boots. “Your mother remarried?”

Liyah swore she mentioned that fact previously but maybe he was a bit distracted with what was about to happen. “She’s on her third husband.”

“Damn,” he whispered, setting his boots aside and tucking his socks inside.

“She said third time’s the charm. I agree with that since my current stepfather is great. He’s also lasted the longest.”

“He’s good with the boys?”

“He’s excellent with the boys. Another reason I hope this marriage sticks.”

“You said your father and her were really young when they had you.”

“In their teens.”

“That had to be difficult.”

She nodded. “Especially after they had my brother a year later.”

“Being overwhelmed with responsibilities broke them up?” he asked.

“It contributed to it, but the main reason was my mother wanted a better life for herself. She was tired of being poor and my father never being home because he was working hard to provide for his young family.”

“So, instead of working toward making their life better with your father, she kicked him to the curb?”

Damn, the man got it. “She did, then set out to find husband number two.”

“Did the second hubby have more money?”

“He did. But she quickly found out that money didn’t buy happiness or stability. However, she walked away with a nice divorce settlement, so she did benefit in the end.”

His expression turned troubled. “You said she wanted a better life for herself. You didn’t say she wanted a better life for you and your brother.”

She was impressed that the man picked up on that, too. “Because my mother was very selfish when she was young. It was all about what she wanted. Not what was good for her family.”

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