Fool Me Once (First Wives #1)

She couldn’t remember the last time she went to the movies on a date. Dates for her had been dinner, talking, and deciding if the man was breakfast worthy. Reed offered a nice change.

She liked the man. He seemed genuinely interested in Trina’s health, and concerned the night before when they couldn’t find her. His chivalry came in the form of opening doors, listening without interruption, and remembering a blanket from the room. The fact that he was easy to look at was a bonus.

Lori wondered what he thought about her. She questioned what he saw in her that kept him coming back. It wasn’t like he was pushing to get her into bed. Maybe he was turned on by intelligent conversation. Although Lori had never considered herself in that pool, she was starting to change her mind. Then again, she’d done most of the talking, clearly attracting him, while he was doing the manly things that shot her pulse on high.

“I hope you like popcorn.” Reed walked up from behind her, a giant bucket in his hands. The smell alone had her mouth watering.

“Where’s yours?” she asked with a straight face.

He hesitated, and then smiled before handing her the big tub of salt, butter, and carbs. “Careful, I’m always up for a challenge.”

A wave of her hand encouraged him to sit. “Hot chocolate is coming.”

“Perfect.”

A jumbo screen was set up over the main pool, and the deck had been turned into an outside movie theater. The people around them were settling in, most had their eyes focused on the stars in the night sky. It reminded her of the Fourth of July right before the fireworks were due to blast off, and those who remembered the words belted out “The Star-Spangled Banner.” She fisted a handful of popcorn and handed the tub to Reed once he sat down. “This is a fabulous idea.”

“Inside your comfort zone?”

She nodded. “That doesn’t make it boring.”

“I imagine a lot of things with you would not be boring.”

Her eyes lingered on the expanse of his chest before taking their time moving back to his face. “I can be fun.”

“For an attorney?”

She moaned. Damn Shannon for letting that out of the bag. “It was much easier to convince you of my fun factor when I danced on a pole.”

Reed handed her the popcorn and unfolded the blanket he’d brought out as he spoke. “The imagery of a stripper tanks that of sitting behind a desk.”

“I wear heels,” she defended herself.

“Platforms?”

“Oh, please. I can’t walk into divorce court looking like a hooker.”

He spread the blanket over the both of them and moved close enough for her to feel the heat of his body on the double chaise lounge chair.

“Divorce attorney, eh? That fits, I suppose.”

“It does?”

“Sure. Shannon refers to you as the mother hen, seems to me like you’ve appointed yourself as the caregiver for the whole group.”

“I am, in a way.”

“Are they all your clients?”

She blinked a few times, felt a pull of responsibility for her client confidentiality. “They’re my friends.” Which was true.

“Nice diversion, Counselor.” He winked. “I get it. Not my business.”

The lights on the deck started to fade, and Reed skillfully placed his arm over her shoulders and tucked her into his personal space.

Her stomach twisted and her head felt light. When was the last time she’d been held while watching a movie? And why hadn’t she actively tried to find someone to do so? The truth was, she hadn’t met someone in a long time worthy of quiet movie moments.

He smelled fresh, his body was warm, and he kissed the side of her head once he settled. She could get used to this.

When the opening credits of the movie started to roll, she looked up at him. “Thanks for not pressing.”

He brushed her arm with the backs of his fingers and turned his attention to the movie.




The movie ended and all but a few stayed behind to enjoy the quiet night outside. The ship glided over the ocean with almost unnoticeable movement, the breeze picking up as the night grew on.

“I say we paraglide tomorrow.”

Lori had curled up on the lounger, Reed kept his arm around her and talked against her ear while they watched the stars.

“Jump off a cliff with a tent over my head?” she teased, but didn’t seem as dead against high adrenaline activities as she had when they first met.

“How about off the back of a boat?”

She seemed to contemplate that image. “Over the water?”

“I don’t think you can do it off a back of a boat that isn’t over water.”

She pushed at his feet with hers. “Smart-ass.”

“C’mon. Push yourself.”

“I can’t tell if you’re manipulating me or bullying me.”

He should have been insulted. “You haven’t said no.”

Her lips pushed together. “I’m thinking about it.”

“I bet Avery would do it.”

“Avery is younger than I am.”

“Oh, you’re so old.” His voice was rich with sarcasm.

“Plastic surgery and fillers. I do live in LA.”

For half a second he found himself searching for telltale scars.

“Now who’s gullible?”

“So I’ll book us in the morning.”

“I should ask the others if they want to join us.”

“Is that a yes?”

“It isn’t a firm no.”

That’s a start. “So you’re in LA.”

“Isn’t everyone?” she asked.

“Feels like it at three in the afternoon on the freeway.”

“I know, the traffic starts earlier and earlier.”

“I’m in Santa Monica,” he told her.

“House or condo?”

“Renting. I haven’t decided if I’m going to stick there.” Which wasn’t completely true. But since his business was run out of a cell phone and a post office box, it was easy to stay mobile.

“I have a condo downtown.”

“Loft space?”

“No, high-rise. I love it. Close to my office, close to the courts.” She snuggled deeper in his blanket.

“I’d like to see how you live.” While the line was one he’d used in the past to gather information, he said it now with an unwelcome wave of guilt. He pushed it aside.

She hesitated. “Do . . . do you think this can continue outside of a cruise ship?” she asked, tilting her head up to see his face.

“Honest answer?” he asked.

“Of course.”

“I don’t know. I haven’t completely figured out what this is. Have you?”

Lori settled back in the crook of his arms. “Well, we’re both adults.”

“We are that.” He held her closer, as if emphasizing their age.

“Neither of us are married or otherwise attached.”

“True.”

“It’s safe to say there is some chemistry.” She kept rattling off her list of obstacles they’d already overcome.

“I like the chemistry,” he said against the lobe of her ear.

“We live in the same general area of the world. Which is a coincidence I’d question if I were somewhere other than a cruise ship in the Mediterranean.”

“Maybe it’s fate.” He hoped she hadn’t noticed his hand pause during her last comment.

“I’m not a big believer in fate. In my world, things happen on purpose, not accident.”