Just an Ordinary Family

and a couple of us bought some other toys.” She tapped her reusable cloth bag. “In a piece of perfect timing, I just picked up my box from the post office. Once Leo’s asleep, I’m putting on my silky negligee, lighting a candle, and opening a bottle of sparkling pinot for a date with the purple rabbit. Pure indulgence and orgasm guaranteed.”
“Actually, that’s a really good idea. I could FaceTime, Rob.” Michelle grinned. “Or not.”
“Exactly! There’s nothing wrong with enjoying an orgasm all on your own,” Jess said.
“At least you know you’ll get one,” Kelly grumbled.
“You’ve got time between the kids’ bedtime and the end of cricket training.”
“I’d feel guilty.”
“Never feel guilty about taking something for yourself. You work hard and you deserve it.” Jess stood up. “And talking about work, I better get going. Can’t have the Kurnai Bay Medical Practice out for blood if their pay’s late.”
Libby kissed Nick in stunned delight. “Wow! This is a first. Not only did you remember it was Valentine’s Day, you bought champagne, red roses and chocolates. The only thing missing is silky lingerie.”
Nick grinned. “I did go onto the Victoria’s Secret website—”
“And gotten distracted,” she teased.
“There was that.” His eyes twinkled at her the way they always had until their lucky lives had smashed headlong into the harsh reality of human existence. “But there were so many decisions. Color, size—it was overwhelming. I was going to ask Alice, but that seemed thoughtless, given it’s her first Valentine’s Day on her own in a while.”
“You should have asked Jess.”
He looked askance. “That would have been weird.”
“Why? She helped you choose the dress you gave me for Christmas.”
“Is that what she told you? It was more like she bought it for herself, changed her mind, told me you’d love it and then sold it to me. You know Jess. She doesn’t like to waste money.”
A ripple of annoyance spread through Libby. “She doesn’t have money to waste. It’s why she should be doing the Pirelli books.”
“Not this again. I’ve explained that by the time you mentioned it, I’d already offered the job to Enza’s niece and she’d accepted. I couldn’t go back on my word.”
“Not even for family?”
“Enza’s as much family as Jess is.”
Except Enza was a Pirelli friend and Libby didn’t have quite the same allegiance. “Yes, but—”
Nick put two fingers against her lips. “Why are we talking about this now when it’s Valentine’s Day and the girls are asleep?”
“Fair call.” She took his hand and kissed him before backing him down the hall to their bedroom. Feeling sexier than she had in weeks, she pushed him onto the bed, straddled him and whipped up his work polo shirt. Pressing her lips to his chest, she used her hands to release the waistband of his shorts. She smiled when she heard him groan. Then his fingers were tugging at her T-shirt before expertly releasing her bra and they wriggled out of the rest of their clothes. They rolled together, their mouths melding and skin touching glorious bare skin.
Later, as they rolled apart, panting, lightning lit up the room. A loud crack of thunder followed and they jumped. Libby laughed. “We started a storm. I hope it doesn’t wake the girls.”
“We were pretty good.” Nick squeezed her hand. “You were on fire.”
“I was, wasn’t I?” She kissed him. “Who knew all it took was Chinese takeout, champers, chocolate and roses. Still, I feel a bit like I’ve let the sisterhood down by being such an easy lay.”
“If I’d known that was all it took, I’d have done it years ago.”
She propped herself on her elbow and studied him, his face as familiar to her as her own. “You’ve always said Valentine’s Day’s not only a rip-off, it’s an insult.” She deepened her voice to mimic his. “‘If a bloke has to buy roses and chocolates to get into a woman’s pants he’s not working hard enough inside the house.’ What changed your mind this year?”
“I thought it might be a fun surprise. You know, something we should do at least once. I’d planned to take you out to dinner too, but I left it too late to book.” Nick brushed strands of hair off her cheek. “Sorry. Who knew Kurnai Bay had such a romantic streak?”
“Listening to this rain, staying in was a wise move. But I appreciate the thought.” She covered his hand with hers. “Given how I leaped on you, I’m fertile. Hopefully we just made a baby.”
A troubled look crossed Nick’s face. “I thought you’d stopped tracking your cycle.”
“I have. I promise I haven’t been taking my temperature or peeing on ovulation sticks or even thinking about getting pregnant, but I know my body. When I get horny in a heartbeat, I know I’m ovulating.”
“Don’t go protecting my ego, bella. Here I was thinking that you were hot for me.”
She laughed. “Always.”
The word hung between them, not exactly false, because Nick was the love of her life and her best friend. But during the last twenty-four months, her sex drive had been hit and miss, and for a large part of that time she’d been focused on sex to make a baby rather than a way to increase intimacy or to have fun. Not that her priority had paid off the way she desperately wanted.
Three months earlier, when her period arrived yet again, Nick had come in late from a coast guard meeting to find her sorting clean laundry and with tears streaming down her face.
“I can’t do this anymore,” she’d said, blowing her nose on a tea-towel.
“Fold laundry?” Nick quietly removed the basket from in front of her and steered her to the couch.
“No! Try … and g-get p-pregnant.”
“Stop then!”
His harsh and unexpected words shocked her so much, she’d stopped crying. Blinking rapidly, she peered at him through blurry eyes, trying to bring his face into focus. “But we want a baby. We want another little boy.”
Nick’s hands fisted in his lap. “Not if trying makes you