talked about Brian nonstop when you were going through the divorce.”
“I did?” she asked, filling her mother’s coffee cup up again. The puppies were taking a nap for the moment after having gone for a walk earlier and then running around when her mother arrived. Thankfully they tired out quickly.
“You had more nice things to say about your lawyer in that short period of time than you did your husband during your dating period and then marriage.”
Robin thought back and realized that might be the case. Hadn’t she said that she’d been taken with Brian all along?
Was it possible that she was looking at him as her savior? No, that was icky. And there was nothing icky about what she felt for him.
She was attracted. She enjoyed his company. She wanted to learn more about him.
Yeah. No ick factor there!
It was more like a hot factor.
She had to resist the urge to put her hand to her face to stop a giggle when she thought that. It’d just raise more questions from her mother.
“He’s a nice guy. And after the house closing I was trying to think of ways to see him again.”
“So you asked him out?” her mother interrupted.
“No. Yes. I’m not sure. Two days after the closing he came over with a housewarming gift. That plant over there next to the one my neighbors in the back gave me. Wine and chocolate.”
“Wine and chocolate?” her mother asked. “Sounds more like a date than a housewarming gift.”
“I’ve given people wine before for a housewarming gift,” she argued.
“Fine. I’m just nervous for you. I’m worried about you. And Rick might fly home the minute he finds out.”
“So don’t tell him,” she said. “I’m a grown woman. Give me a break. I bought this house and take care of it. I’ve got two puppies in my care now too. I’ve got a good job and if I can’t fix or handle something, I don’t call my parents or brother to do it for me. I can pay someone to do it if I can’t figure it out on my own.”
As much as she went to her brother for advice or a shoulder, she was still going to take care of herself. Needing advice wasn’t the same as having someone grill you over the man you wanted to see naked.
“You are all those things,” her mother said. “You’ve always been independent. That isn’t what this is about.”
“Then what is it about?”
“You’re soft. Gentle. Maybe he thinks you are easy pickings.”
“Again, you’re being mean and there is no reason to be.” She decided to be a little bold and see if she could shock her mother. “He’s been here for dinner twice and we went out last night. We’ve shared a lot of hot kisses.”
“Just kisses?” her mother asked, grinning at her.
“Yes. And I wanted him to come in. I wanted him to take me to bed. It’s been a long time since I’ve been with a man and it’d be nice to be with one that really wants me. Not just for sex. Not for an image. But me.”
Her mother reached her hand over and laid it on hers. “I know, honey. It will happen. So what happened if that is what you wanted?”
“I couldn’t ask him. I didn’t want to sound desperate. I was throwing hints out and didn’t think he was getting them. Then when he dropped me off he finally made a comment that he knew what I was asking but it wasn’t right yet. That I’d know when the time was right and it wasn’t last night. That’s not a guy that is after me because I’m easy picking.”
“No. It’s not. I can already see you’re falling for him in a few short dates. Just don’t get ahead of yourself like last time.”
“That’s the thing,” she said. “I wasn’t ahead of myself with Alex. He pursued me. He had to win me over.”
“Because you didn’t think you were good enough,” her mother said, knowing one of the many talks the two of them had.
“And I wasn’t when it came down to it. Not for what he wanted or was looking for. I was a means to an end for him. I fit the role he was looking for to get his parents off his back.”
“What I’m worried about is your self-confidence. It’s been ten months since you’ve been with anyone. Since you walked out on Alex. Brian is your first.”
“He’s not a rebound if that is what you