STAY THE NIGHT (The Phillips Family Book 1) Read Free Page A

and called them Hamlets?  What an ass, but not bad in the sack.  Anyway, Dr. Andersson, spelled with two s's is the talk of the campus.  Kids, especially of the male gender, sign up for her class just to ogle her.  She's called the Norse ice goddess.  Did you get to first base with her? ”
        “ She's a doctor? ”
        “ Is that the only thing you got from my diatribe?  She hangs out with some pretty influential people in the city, so I'm told.  Ambassadors, consulate heads, those kind of people. ”
        “ She's got her Ph.D., ” Cray said astounded. “ She's only thirty-five. ”
        “ Backup, Cray.  Give me the lowdown on her. ”
        “ She loves raunchy, dirty jokes. ”
        “ How the fuck do you know that or should I ask? ”
        “ I told her I'd marry her if only to hear her laugh for the rest of our lives.  She agreed if I kept her supplied with a mess of dirty jokes every day because that's what makes her laugh. ”
        “ I hope no one is recording this conversation.  It doesn't make sense to me and I'm on the receiving end of it. ”
        “ Mona, she's not an ice maiden.  She's warm and funny.  We're going to dinner tonight. ”
        “ Shall I alert the parents and our siblings, put an announcement in the paper that you're no longer an eligible man-about-town? ”
        “ No, hold off a bit.  As far as I'm concerned you could, but I don't want to scare her. ”
        “ I called the wrong number, didn't I? ”
        In a teasing voice, he said, “ No, Mona, we talk almost every day.  You must recognize my voice by now. ”
        “ You're hysterical, Cray.  Okay, when do I get to meet this paragon of womanhood? ”
        “ I want to warn her about you, first, so it could be awhile. ”
        “ That's mean; I'm harmless. ”
        “ You'll give her a running play of my history and I'm not sure our relationship can handle that. ”
        “ Hey, it's your history. ”
        “ Yes, if I could retain it and keep it under wraps it'd be okay, but that's not the way it works with you.  You blab everything you can to women I dated. ”
        “ That's not fair.  I tell the creepy crawlers that slither around you the sordid details of your life. ”
        “ You tell every woman I ever dated horrific tales. ”
        “ Can I help it if every woman you date is a creepy crawler? ”
        “ I'll introduce you to her on our first wedding anniversary. ”
         Mona laughed. “ What are you going to do, ban me from our family get together on the holidays? ”
        “ No, I'll tell her that you're released from an insane asylum on special occasions and to discount your babbling because you're demented and crazy as a loon. ”
        Mona laughed so hard through the phone that Cray pulled the phone away from his ear.  When she quieted, she said, “ If you love her that much, I'll be good and keep your lurid secrets.  Are you in love with her? ”
        “ I've never been in love, but what I'm feeling is different from any emotion I ever had so if it's not love, I need a shrink. ”
        Mona's voice grew soft when she said, “ Ah, Cray, I'm happy for you and I hope it works out the way you want. ”
        “ Thanks, Mona.  You're the only one I'd ever confide in this early. ”
        “ I love you, big brother. ”
        “ I love you, little sister. ”
        “ So where are you taking her for dinner tonight? ”
        “ Do you really think you're not transparent?  If I tell you, you'll show up and ruin everything. ”
        “ You cut me to the bone, Cray.  Give me a hint. ”
        “ It's a restaurant in the city. ”
        “ Thanks a hell of a lot.  What are there, a million restaurants here? ”
        “ Close. ”
        “ Narrow it for me. ”
        He grinned to himself and said, “ She likes sushi. ”
        “ Oh, hell, it's that new sushi