Craved Mate: Cybermates by Ayers, Candace (good short books .txt) 📕

and light. I was a little dizzy. I recognized the symptoms and knew I needed to check my blood sugar. For a diabetic, a stressful situation could trigger a hypoglycemic episode.

Slowly, I backed away. “Well… Um, thanks again.”

My feet managed to trip over themselves, as if the whole tree incident wasn’t humiliating enough. I righted myself, turned, and raced off.

My pace was a brisk walk for half a block and then, horrified and desperate to be away from the scene of my humiliation, I all-out ran.

I cut down the first side street, heading straight for the beach. My small crossbody bag held my Flexpen and glucose monitor, which I retrieved as soon as I found a semi-secluded spot.

My sugar level was too low due to exertion, so I popped a couple of glucose tablets before I called Ingrid on her work line.

“Moro Insurance, this is Ingrid speaking. How may I help you?”

“Oh my god, Ingrid. I just had the most humiliating experience.”

She gasped. “Tell me everything, but make it fast. Norman and Mommy Bates will be back from a meeting at any moment.”

My brain froze and I made a few stuttered sounds that weren’t actually words. Adam! Holy shit, I hadn’t even thought about him when I was ass-to-pelvis with the firefighter. I’d forgotten I’d even had a boyfriend.

“Mel? What is it? Out with it.”

I swore. “I forgot I have a boyfriend.”

She made a fart sound. “’Bout time. Keep up the good work.”

“That’s awful of me! I was stuck in a tree and this hot—and I do mean scorching—firefighter came to rescue me. He was… and he… I mean…” I blew out a breath and shook my head just remembering how it felt to be flush against the hard planes of the firefighter’s hot bod and feel the bulge of the firefighter’s hot rod.

My cheeks heated again. The man was able to make me blush when I so much as thought about him. That was a first. “And, Ingrid, next to him I felt dainty.”

“Stuck in a tree? You were stuck in a tree? Like a pussycat?”

I groaned. “Don’t joke! It was mortifying. I flashed my undies to the entire island fire department.”

She squealed. “Sounds juicy. I have questions. First, why a tree? Second, what’s his name? Third, when will you see him again?”

I gave her the CliffsNotes of the incident but went easy on the sizzling attraction and my smutty carnal fantasies.

“I didn’t get his name, and I hope I never see him again. Did you hear the part about the whole group of firefighters getting a peep show of my butt cheeks?”

“Oh, I certainly did. I’m fanning myself. Girl, you lived out one of my wildest fantasies!”

“Ingrid!”

“I’m serious. That’s on my bucket list. In writing. And why didn’t you get his number? Just because he saw your arse? That’s a terrible reason. Besides, that can be a plus.”

“A plus? I fail to see—”

“Look at it this way, the tense, fidgety part of getting naked with someone for the first time is practically over. You don’t have to fret about what he’ll think of your cellulite dimples or lack of a consistent workout routine. He’s already seen your bum.”

“Are you saying my ass is fat and flabby?”

“What? No!” She laughed. “Of course not, but we’re no spring chickens anymore, are we? Actually, I think that was a little transference I did just then. I keep wondering if Pierce is ignoring me because I’m no longer a toned twenty-year-old.”

“Neither is he! Besides, I’m not getting naked with the firefighter. I’m never seeing him again. Even if I do see him, it won’t matter. I’m with Adam.”

“You’re with Adam like some people are with chlamydia. Get rid of it! There’s a treatment for that. It’s called a vacation fling with a sexy firefighter who makes you feel dainty.”

I shook my head. “I don’t cheat.”

“Yay! Brilliant! Even better. Then end it with Adam!”

“I’m ending this conversation.” I started back toward the bed and breakfast. “I just thought you’d enjoy the fact that I’d completely demeaned, demoralized, and degraded myself.”

“Oh, I enjoyed it. Thoroughly. Especially the part about the hulking fireman.” She lowered her voice and swore. “Bugger. Cruella and Carlos De Vil are back. I hate my life.”

“Love you!”

“Love you too. Do me a favor, though, shag a firefighter so I can live vicariously through you. Please. I’m on my knees here!” Before the line disconnected, I overheard Ingrid switch to the saccharine sweetness of her professional voice. “Why, hello, Mrs. Moro. I trust your meeting went well?”

I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t breaking up with Adam. And I definitely wasn’t sleeping with a firefighter. Not that a firefighter offered. Which was good!

That two-by-four in his pants was probably from adrenaline, the thrill of rescuing someone. Some men were like that.

Weren’t they?

6

Mac

“Jenny, it is too much for them. You can’t just dump your daughter off on them whenever you feel like it.” I scowled and leveled her with my most sinister evil eye. “Your father’s much too ill right now and your mother has enough on her plate. She doesn’t need the added stress. You’re a mother now yourself. You need to step up and take responsibility for raising your child.”

My spoiled niece glared at me. “First of all, don’t mom-shame me. Second of all, I’m a grown-ass woman and you are not my dad.”

“I’m not trying to shame you. I’m trying to get you to understand that the world doesn’t revolve around you. Your mother is going through an unimaginably difficult time. I hope you never have to deal with anything like that yourself, but she’s always been there for you when you needed help. It’s your turn to be there for her. And she needs your help now.”

“My mother is fine. You’re the only one getting in my face and making a big stink about it.”

“Heather doesn’t have the strength to argue with you, Jenny. She’s too exhausted. If you can’t see that, you’re even