Before We Kiss (Fool's Gold #14)

“Having Kenny and Jack around helped,” Lark added. “They’re good friends. They took care of one another. The world of professional sports can be difficult. Not just the physical requirements, but the media attention. Now with so much accessibility through the internet, there’s nowhere to hide. But Sam navigated his transition with grace.”


She, like Reggie, sounded like an extremely proud parent. Dellina didn’t understand what Sam was complaining about. From what she’d seen, his family was lovely.

He caught her gaze and shook his head, as if telling her to wait. It was all going to get worse.

“When did you start writing?” she asked Lark as they moved to the table and took their seats.

The other woman frowned delicately. “About fifteen years ago. I’d always been interested in the link between sexuality and marriage. As the children got older, I started to study the subject more rigorously. I ended up starting a women’s support group and we exchanged information. My first book grew from that.”

Dellina waited, but Lark only smiled. Just as she’d thought—the outrageousness had been highly exaggerated. She relaxed in her chair and explained about the menu for dinner.

“We’ll have tasting portions,” she said. “Three different entrees but only a small amount of each. I really do need your honest opinions. We’re going to give our guests options on a limited menu.”

Lark leaned toward Sam. “Was the party your idea?”

“We thought it was a good way to bring our clients together,” he said, his voice a little stiff. “To thank them for all their business.”

“It’s a good way to bond with the town, too,” Lark said. “From what I’ve seen, Fool’s Gold is charming and lovely, but small. You want to stay on everyone’s good side. The party allows you to pump money into the local economy, but in a subtle way.”

“Thanks,” he mumbled, then reached for his wine.

Dellina wanted to grab him by the arm and drag him out of the room for a private conversation. She sensed Sam’s tension and was sure his parents felt it, too. And for what? Lark and Reggie were a charming, loving couple. So they touched a lot. Wasn’t that a testament to their happy marriage? In an era where so many couples were getting divorced, their love for each other should be celebrated.

She wondered if his failed marriage with Simone had made him so wary of seeing someone else in love. Taryn had mentioned there had been other failed relationships. Had he grown unnecessarily cynical?

The servers brought out the first course. There were three soups and two salads. Dellina studied each offer, then made a few notes.

Lark tasted the first soup. “Delicious,” she said. “How long have you and Sam been lovers?”

Dellina swallowed and choked. When she could breathe again, she wiped her eyes, then sipped some water.

“Excuse me?” she asked, her voice a croak.

“You and Sam,” Lark said. “You’re sexually involved.”

Dellina’s cheeks burned with heat. “Um, no. We’re working together. That’s all.”

She didn’t dare look at Sam. No doubt he was ready to mouth “I told you so” and she didn’t want to hear it. Or see it.

Lark shook her head. “Then you were sexually intimate at one time. I can sense the connection between you. What caused the problem? I doubt it was Sam’s ability in bed. Although he wouldn’t allow me to instruct him, I know he and his father had many conversations on technique. So many men are lost when it comes to pleasing a woman.”

Dellina sipped more water and decided she was going to let the others decide the best first course.

Lark looked across the table at her son. “Simone called me the other day. She admitted that while she doesn’t regret the marriage ending, she does miss you in bed.” Her expression brightened with pride. “She said it was more than the number of orgasms. It was the intensity of her satisfaction that she misses.”

Reggie nodded knowingly. “That would be difficult to get over. Self-stimulation only gets you so far. A skilled, caring partner adds that indefinable element.”

Dellina wondered if her makeup was enough to hide the intense blush on her cheeks. This wasn’t happening. These perfectly nice middle-aged people were not discussing sex or orgasms at the dinner table. They couldn’t be.

“I talked to her about self-stimulation,” Lark said as she pulled one of the tiny salads closer. “You know that squeezing pressure I like so much?”

“Mom,” Sam said sharply. “That’s enough.”

His mother paused. “Well, all right. My point is Simone misses you in bed.”

* * *