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  After climbing out of her car, Meg pondered whether to take the hold-all or leave her worldly goods in the car until Laura got used to the idea. Deciding to leave the bag behind, she made her way to the front door and leaned heavily on the bell. Laura could sleep through a freight train driving through her bedroom. The tune from her favorite TV jingle for hemorrhoid cream would never raise a response unless the stupid five note ditty played long enough to get annoying.

  Finally, the front door opened a crack and a bleary eye peered out at her.

  “Meg? Do you know the time?”

  “Yeah, a little after eight. Can I come in?”

  Laura sighed and stepped back, letting the door swing open. “Sure, why not. It’s not like we’re sleeping.”

  We? Oh heavens, she had interrupted something. This had been a bad idea. Being interrupted when she had a man in her bed got Laura in a worse mood than being woken up early. “I can go and come back later.”

  “No, come in. Something important must have got you up and to my house before sunrise dressed like an escapee from Willie Wonka’s bed.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely, to be honest I could use a break. That man is like the energizer bunny. I hardly slept all night.”

  Meg stepped inside and glanced down the hallway to Laura’s bedroom. The door stood ajar but other than a broad expanse of back she couldn’t see enough of Laura’s companion to tell who he was. Giving up on trying to work out who her friend had dragged home from the bar, Meg followed a scantily clad Laura to the kitchen.

  “Coffee?”

  Meg nodded. “Sure.” Even with just a skimpy teddy on, Laura appeared more sophisticated and together than Meg did after a two hour makeover. She tugged at the toffee stuck to her hair and offered a silent prayer of thanks when Laura reached up for the mugs, revealing a pair of lace panties. She wasn’t in the mood for an eyeful of toned bare arse, so Laura putting on undies before answering the door was a blessing.

  She glanced up and met Laura’s gaze.

  Laura shook her head. “You know, I think toffee is out this season.”

  “Very funny.”

  “What’s not funny is you leaving me alone in a strip joint. You want to tell me why you ran out of the club last night? And why you think sunshine yellow running shoes, a crumpled lavender frock, and chocolate hair decorations is the current rage?”

  Laura poured the boiling water in two cups, stirred, then hand one to Meg. Taking a seat at the dining room table, Meg gathered her thoughts. How much did she want to tell Laura about her arrangement with Sam?

  “Didn’t Michael tell you why I left?”

  “He said you weren’t feeling well. Something about being light headed because you hadn’t eaten. Why, what happened?”

  “I passed out and he took me to his office. When I came round he made a pass at me and I stormed out.”

  Laura sipped her coffee and shrugged. “Sounds like Michael. The man thinks he’s irresistible, and why wouldn’t he. Apparently he’s a wonder between the sheets.”

  “He does? And he is?”

  “You want me to answer that?”

  Meg glanced toward the bedroom and Laura chuckled. “Don’t worry, it’s not him. My latest lovers are Chad and Roger.”

  “But you did sleep with Michael?”

  “Someone had to check he was in working order before we hired him, and it seemed you weren’t up to the job. Anyway, stop changing the subject. You didn’t tell me why you’re dressed like a hobo and hiding out in my kitchen.”

  “I’m not hiding.”

  Laura shook her head. “No one in their right mind leaves their house looking like that unless they are hiding from someone. So, is it Sam? Did he make a pass at you as well?”

  “He was still asleep when I left. The thing is—I think I’m a nymphomaniac like my great aunt Maud. It could be a family disease. Remember I told you my grandpa died of a heart attack when I was nine, well it was odd, he died in the middle of the day. When I asked why he had a big bulge in his pants at the viewing my mum told me it was rigor mortis. Now I think about it I am sure he was at it with Grandma when he died. He always seemed really tired when we went to visit, and none of us were allowed to drop in and see them without calling first. After Grandpa died Grandma seemed to have a never ending parade of men at her house mending things. Maybe it’s hereditary, it could have skipped over my mum and been passed to me and Sian. I need some space away from men to get my shit together. I have to get over my addiction before I join a convent.”

  Laura laughed, spluttering to catch her breath. She punched herself in the chest, until she finally stopped coughing and wheezed out, “You want to run that by me again?”

  Meg put her face in her hands. “I know it sounds stupid, but I’m horribly addicted to sex.”

  “If you are addicted why did you run out on Michael?”

  “I’m fighting the urge, going cold turkey, like you do in rehab.”

  “Meg, you told me a few days ago you weren’t having sex, so how can you be addicted? Other than Sam you never see men.” Laura leaned forward. “Or are you finally admitting you were fucking him when I was on the phone the other day?”

  Blood rushed to Meg’s cheeks. “Okay, so you got me. I’ve been sleeping with Sam, but it’s your fault.”

  Laura leaned back and grinned at her. “Happy to take the credit for waking up your sex drive, but I’m not sure how.”

  “You said I was sexually repressed and he offered to prove I wasn’t. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve done it in the last few days. Now he thinks I’m a slut and—I am.” Tears trickled down her cheeks. “I can’t live with him anymore. Can I stay with you for a few days?”

  Laura got up from her chair and walked around the table pulling Meg into a fierce hug. “Oh, baby, I’m sorry I laughed at you. I have no idea what’s going on in your head, but of course you can stay. I’m sure you’ve got things all wrong about Sam.”

  Meg’s sobs subsided and Laura tugged her face up to meet her gaze. “You look like shit. Go take a shower. Did you bring anything else to wear with you?”

  “I’ve got a bag in the car.”

  “I’ll go get it and how about I stash your car in Mr. Vaughan’s garage? He’s away for a few days and said I can use it. You can hide away from Sam until you’re ready to talk to him.”

  Meg nodded and wandered off to the bathroom, relieved to have found temporary refuge from the mess she had made of life.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Showered, dressed, and stuffed with waffles, Meg assured Laura she would be fine if they left her alone at the flat. This whole nun thing had grown on her. She loved the idea of eating anything she liked. There were only so many carrots a girl could eat in a lifetime. So, like Laura pointed out, it would be women only, no sex, which would also be a bonus right now, and lots of prayers. Some things were worth making a sacrifice for and food was definitely one of them.

  Chad stuck his head around the door and wished her a good morning before Laura shoved him outside. Laura hadn’t actually said where she planned to go, or when she’d be back. Never mind, she knew where Laura kept everything and she had a whole day to chill out and relax. Perhaps, she would try some meditation and chanting, like the Buddhist monks she’d seen on TV. Did nuns meditate and chant? She guessed she would find out. She’d research convents on the net later and make a few calls to see which one wanted her.

  After hunting out a bag of potato chips and snagging a can of soda, she flopped on the sofa, TV remote in hand. The sound of screaming coming from her bag grabbed her attention. Much to her dad’s amusement, she’d chosen the ring tone to warn the incoming call was from her mother. She knew why she was in trouble, but it didn’t make the prospect of answering any more appealing. Knowing it would only be a matter of time before her mother hunted her down, one way or another, she reached over, pulled out the phone and hit accept before holding it to her ear.

  “Mum. How
are you?”

  “Don’t try to soft soap me, Maggie Riley. I have just had coffee with Mrs. Ronson. She delighted in being able to inform me you made rude gestures at them in the mall parking lot first thing this morning. She also tells me you appeared disheveled and she guessed you’d been drinking or taking drugs. Have you got any idea how humiliated I am? I don’t think I can ever show my face at the lawn bowls club again.”

  A sigh escaped Meg before she managed to stop it. “You don’t even bowl, Mum.”

  “How can you be so heartless? The lady’s group relies on me to organize them. They would be lost without me. I won’t be able to go ever again once they find out my daughter is taking drugs.”

  Eyes rolling back in her head, Meg could only imagine the number of thank you cards that would appear in her mailbox if she succeeded in scaring her mother away from the lady’s group. They called her the bonneted battle axe behind her back. Meg loved her mum, but she understood people’s reactions to a woman born out of her decade railroading them.

  “Would you like to explain yourself, young lady?”

  Meg tipped her head to the side and held the phone against her shoulder, freeing her hands up to open the soda and the chips. “Not at the moment.”

  “Let me put it another way. I called the doctor’s surgery and they have an appointment free at midday. If you can’t explain the situation, we’ll be over to collect you. Dr. Benson says they can recommend a lot of rehabilitation centers and I told him money would be no barrier to ensuring you get the care you need to return to sobriety.”

  She was sorely tempted to tell her mum she had been out all night drinking and partying and had never gone home. Despite her anger at Sam, having her mother turn up at their flat and interrogating him about her whereabouts and lifestyle seemed too large a punishment for his behavior.

  “Why do you always have to think the worst of me?”

  “Because you keep letting me down. I thought I brought up two well mannered young ladies. Instead, I find out from a neighbor you have a drug problem and don’t even get me started on Sian bringing that awful Michael Monaghan to our house.”

  No matter what explanation she came up with, it would be a waste of breath. “MUM! Listen to me, I don’t do drugs and I didn’t go out drinking all night. I spent the night at home, in bed, alone. I got up early to get some breakfast. Their snot nosed grandson deserved more than the bird after the way he stuck his tongue out at me. Now I need to go. I’ve got to book some appointments at convents. Did I mention I’m planning on becoming a nun?”

  Her mother’s voice was full of righteous indignation. “Maggie Riley, don’t joke about such things. Father Terry would be spinning in his grave if he heard you.”

  “Mum, he’s not dead.”

  “He would be if he heard a drug addict was joking about becoming a nun.”

  Meg pinched the bridge of her nose. She felt the first pangs of a headache. Not willing to risk death from brain hemorrhage, she cut off any further discussion. “Bye, Mum.”

  Before her mother could retort, Meg hit end and tossed the phone on the coffee table. Switching on the TV, she lay back on the sofa and flipped the channels, stifling a yawn with the back of her hand. Maybe she should have a little nap before planning for her new life.

  *

  Sam wiped his forehead and neck with a towel and plastered a forced smile on his face as Claudia stalked toward him. Now he remembered why he’d given up teaching aerobics and stuck with personal training. He could refuse to take her on as a client but he couldn’t stop her attending class. The woman had hounded him for months. She scared the crap out of him.

  “Sam. I am so happy to see you’re teaching again. Did you miss me?”

  She fluttered her lashes at him. Some people would think he was crazy for not taking what was so clearly on offer. Her body was toned, her face botoxed, hair immaculate, no one would ever guess how old she was. He only found out because he had checked the client database when she first started hassling him. Despite her great outward appearance, she had mental issues. The last trainer she dated had left and moved interstate to get away from her—clingy didn’t even begin to cover it.

  He untangled her arms from around his neck. “I’m just filling in for John for the week.”

  Movement at the door caught his attention. Salvation. “Excuse me, Claudia.”

  Walking toward the door, he grabbed hold of Laura and tugged her into his arms, whispering for her to play along. Determined to give Claudia a message she couldn’t ignore, he held Laura tight and kissed her long and slow.

  When he finally let her go, he glanced around the room, happy to see they were now alone.

  Laura planted her hands on his arse. “Sam, I had no idea you felt that way about me.”

  Sam scratched his head, wondering whether he had just jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. “Sorry, actually I don’t.”

  “So, the kiss was for the benefit of the lithe bodied woman wrapped around you when I walked in?”

  Relieved she understood, he grinned at her. “Sure. She has some issues and won’t leave me alone.”

  “I bet it’s annoying when people come on to you even when you let them know you’re not interested. I mean the way she manhandled you anyone would think you were some sex object or maybe even a slut.”

  Sam wrinkled his brow, not sure how she went from understanding Claudia was hounding him to assuming he porked every woman in sight. “What?”

  Laura crossed her arms and stared at him. “Did I mention Meg turned up at my place at the crack of dawn in a state of near hysteria and started talking about joining a convent?”

  Sam cringed, he could tell by the set of her chin and her pinched lips he was in trouble. He wasn’t sure what she had told Laura about their relationship but she appeared to blame him for Meg’s mental unraveling. He guessed she’d run off to Laura’s to avoid him and figured he would call round late afternoon once he finished work for the day, but Laura had got the jump on him.

  “I guessed she would be with you. What did she say?”

  “That you two have been sleeping together. I also understand this cozy arrangement comes with no strings attached. Great for you, I’d say. However, as you may have noticed, Meg comes with baggage. Not least of all, a huge problem with being seen to have loose morals, courtesy of her mother.”

  Her condescending tone and hostile body language was starting to piss him off, as was the small voice in the back of his head telling him he was a selfish dipshit. “You think I don’t know that?”

  Laura prodded him in the chest. “Not at all. I know you do, which is why I find it even more reprehensible you assumed she would screw around with Michael Monaghan when she’s already fucking you.”

  “I never said that. It’s just, he makes my blood boil. Why can’t he leave her alone?”

  “The fact he won’t leave her alone is not her problem, it’s yours. Just like that woman coming on to you whether you like her or not. Now put on your big boy panties and decide what you want from this relationship. You need to shape up or ship out. If you hurt Meg one more time I promise you you’ll be singing soprano the rest of your life. You got me, buster?”

  Sam nodded, taking a step back. The way her eyes drilled into his skull, and her fingers twitched, gave him every reason to believe she would go ahead and rip his balls off if he so much as squeaked the wrong thing.

  Without another word, Laura turned tail and stomped out of the room. She was right, she was absolutely right. He needed to get his shit together and sort out where things stood between him and Meg, once and for all.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Meg woke from a deep sleep to the sound of her phone vibrating and ringing as it slid across the tabletop. She must have dozed off watching TV, now her neck and shoulders ached.

  With a gruff, “For fuck’s sake, I’m coming,” she reached out and answered the phone. Happy the caller wasn’t her mother, she didn’t bother to check caller
ID.

  “Yeah.”

  A male voice whispered down the phone. “Meg, is that you?”

  Irish! The damn caller had an Irish accent. How the fuck did he get her number? And how dare he hound her when she had been considering a lifelong calling to chastity and prayer?

  “Michael. I don’t know how you got my number, but I don’t think novice nuns should be speaking to the likes of you.”

  “Don’t hang up please. I need your help, you have to save me.”

  Save him, her arse. Let him seduce her, more like. “I’m not playing your sick games today. Goodbye.”

  A plaintive wail reached her ear, “Jesus, don’t leave me here with her, please. If you have any Christian compassion in your soul, please come and get me before she comes back.”

  The tone of his voice scared the bejesus out of her. He sounded genuinely terrified, and anything that scared Michael Monaghan would sure as hell scare her.

  “I have no idea what’s going on but I can’t help you. Your issues are not my problem.”

  “Don’t go. Please hear me out. This is your problem. I tried to call Laura but she’s not answering. I can’t call anyone else. I’m doing a job for Male Order and a nut job has handcuffed me to the bed. You have to come and get me before she comes back and carries out her threat.”

  Had some crazed ex-lover finally caught up with him and now planned to whack off his wedding tackle with a machete? If that were the case, the lecherous man whore probably deserved it.

  “Still not my problem, you took the job.”

  “How about if I tell you the crazy is your Aunt Maud?”

  The phone fell from her fingers, a dark fog swirling in her head.

  “Meg, Meg, are you still there?”

  Why did the traffic only snarl when you were in a hurry? And why the hell did he have to be at a swanky downtown hotel? If he had booked into one of the dives that hired rooms by the hour there would be no chance of drawing attention to the situation. Instead, they had holed up on the third floor of a place she would usually be too scared to even visit, never mind stay at. The Plaza was the sort of place her mother loved, all marble tiles, gilded hand rails, and immaculately turned out doormen.