Page 6 of Double Obsession

“Yeah,” he agreed, even though he wasn’t sure he had secrets.

Chapter Four

Aerobics class with Stacie usually lifted Jenna’s spirits, and most of the time, exercise prevented writer’s block. Unfortunately, for the past few months, nothing had worked. Shades of gray and black had replaced all of the colors bleached from her life. Creativity had abandoned her, and her words had dried up.

Jenna slid her cool-down mat onto the pile just as Stacie asked, “Smoothie?”

A treat meant chatting in The Healthy Cafe with her sister. God, did she need to talk. She could spare the time since Lisa was in KidCare and Ethan and Kylie were at school. Besides, staring at a blank computer screen made her want to blow her brains out, so procrastination had become her new norm. “Sure,” she said.

She slid a sweatshirt over her damp T-shirt, then followed her sister. They passed by a few seniors in sweatsuits and a half-dozen waving men to place their order. The men’s gawks were most definitely aimed at Stacie’s overflowing cleavage and swinging ass—unless they appreciated pint-sized moms with disheveled blonde ponytails?

“I’ll have The Elvis with protein powder,” she said to the perky girl behind the counter. Movement hadn’t worked, and Stacie’s goofball antics in class hadn’t made her crack a smile, but perhaps chocolate, peanut butter, and banana would be the ticket to happiness.

Stacie held up two fingers. “The same for me.”

“Great class,” Jenna said to pass the time as her smoothie mixed. It probably wasn’t a lie since the instructor had been on point. Even so, she was miserable.

“Hi, Stacie,” the sweat-soaked guy waiting behind them said.

“Hey, Josh.” Stacie caught him in the beam of her genuine smile. “Lookin’ good.”

“You too.” He stared at his contracted bicep, then his voice dropped an octave. “Hi, Jenna. How are you doin’?”

Jenna focused her gaze on her concoction in the making. There was something comforting about the way the ingredients combined. It took forever for the blades to catch the banana in their clutches. Unfortunately, after the fruit was mashed, her problem reappeared. If she ignored this guy, she’d never hear the end of it from her meddling sister. “Hi, Josh.”

Stacie jutted her in the side with a not-so-inconspicuous elbow.

Jenna ignored the jab and the conversation between her sister and the bodybuilder to concentrate on her liquid meal sliding into the foam cup. “Put them on my tab,” she told the barista before making her way to the back corner of the empty sitting area. She plopped into a chair and set her keys and vibrating cell phone on a wrought-iron table.

She waited until the call went to voicemail, then held the phone to her ear.

“Hi, Jenna. I haven’t heard from you, and I’m getting worried. McMurry is asking where the book is. Dear, it’s two months late. You’re in violation of your contract with Holmes-Colson. I’ve asked for an extension, but you have to get in touch with me. Call me back as soon as you get this message.”

Her heartbeat tripled in speed. Would the soul-eating guilt over her failure to produce the book end if she returned the check? Why had they entrusted her with the advance in the first place? It was too much pressure.

A carefree Stacie, cup in hand, sauntered over and sat beside her. “You know Josh is into you, and he’s hot.”

Jenna sighed. “I’m not ready to date.”

Stacie grabbed her sister’s hand and forced her to make eye contact. “Look, Matt fucked around on you, and you need to get over him. You aren’t ever going to work things out. Christ, now he’s trying to take the kids away. You’re only thirty-eight, and you’re acting like you’re seventy. Give Josh a chance.” She nudged Jenna’s forearm. “He’ll make you see stars when he goes down on you.”

Jenna balked. “You didn’t.”

“I did. And he’s amazing. He keeps at it until you orgasm. Takes care of you before he spills his load.” Stacie’s grin was lecherous. “Don’t worry. We’re just friends. I won’t mess around with him again if you’re interested. But hell, if you’re not…” Stacie wriggled her bottom on the chair as she licked her lips.

Jenna cringed. “I don’t want to give Matt any more ammunition for taking the kids. Besides, I’ve got a lot on my mind.” She stabbed her straw into her drink and swirled it in search of liquid. “You know we’re paying seven dollars a pop for a cup of freaking ice.”

“Damn. You’re especially uptight lately. Are you worried about Dad’s surgery?” Stacie asked.

Jenna nodded. “Yes.” Her father’s job as a vice cop scared her to death. Especially since he’d recently been shot in the line of duty. “I always worry about Dad.”

“Hmm. True,” Stacie said with a lifted eyebrow. “So, something else is going on with you. Pony up.”

Without hesitation, she blurted, “My agent keeps calling. My book was due two months ago, and I only have twelve hundred words written.”

“Yikes. Aren’t your books like ninety thousand words?”

Although her sister wasn’t a reader and had no interest in Jenna’s books, she seemed to understand the dilemma.