Invisibility Cloak by Jill Elaine Prim

the son they never had―since Amanda was the only child―they cherished their relationship with him. She really thought her and Wayne would be just like her parents, happily married and growing old together. But life sure had a way of twisting and turning one’s ideals. At least she got two wonderful little people out of the union.
    “Mmm, I’m glad, sweetie.” Amanda plopped back onto her pillow, still in an afterglow of being with Ryder. The intensity of their physical attraction was something she’d never felt with Wayne. But maybe she did and just never recalled it because it was so long ago?
    All she remembered now was the betrayal. When Wayne started messing around and partying all night, well, maybe shocked was more the word to describe her emotions way back then. But she was so young. Wayne was the first man she ever did . . .
    She swallowed. Wayne was the first in so many things.
    He swept her off her feet when she first met him and she was a virgin. It still hurt her heart to think of the way his life ended because for all he did, he really didn’t deserve that.
    Okay enough.
    It was late and she had to get ready for bed. Pushing away the covers, she padded into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wipe off her make-up. Sammie snuck underneath the covers as soon as she left the bed. Looking back at her daughter, she asked, “Hey, do you want to sleep with me tonight?”
    “Yeah, maybe.” Her daughter’s blond head snuggled up against one of her pillows as she tugged the comforter up over her shoulders.
    It would be kind of nice to have her daughter cuddled up beside her, especially since she stopped snuggling years ago. Who knows when her plucky thirteen-year-old would ever want to cuddle again; she had to grab these moments when they surfaced, sporadic as they were.
    Turning back into her bathroom, her eyes caught an image in her mirror that spanned across the double sinks. Ah! Was that her? Amanda stopped dead in her tracks. Gone was the reserved, sedate scientist and in her place was a flushed, wild-haired woman looking back at her in the mirror. Her green eyes sparkled with an excitement she hadn’t known for years; if ever at all. A feminine grin slowly stole across her face. Grabbing a washcloth, she cleaned her make-up off and envisioned the tall, dark man she’d just passed a few hours with.
    His attentiveness to her caught her slightly off guard. He always seemed to be right there beside her so she wouldn’t trip. The few men that she was around after her car accident which caused her foot drop actually seemed put-off to have to extend an arm in case she needed some help. He was really good with her kids too, and teenagers can be rough to be around.
    Get a grip. So I spent a few hours with him. Amanda picked up her toothbrush and splatted some paste on it. I’ll probably never see him again.
    So, what caused such a startled look from him as he waited at the top of the basement stairs for her to get the phone?
    She turned on the water faucet with her left hand and see-sawed away at her mouth with the other. Was it because he really saw her for who she really was? The Amanda Harris with the limp and weak left foot and was turned off? A lump formed in her throat.
    Maybe he didn’t realize the extent of her physical limitations earlier in the evening and thought she just had a hurt leg or foot. Her eyes filled with tears and she shut off the water faucet.
    I’m such a fool.
    He was a little too good to be true. Well, she could probably kiss seeing Ryder good-bye in the future. Her heart ached at the thought of him being that shallow. Her train of thought took another direction when she grabbed her hand towel and slowly wiped her mouth.
    Aha! Maybe Ryder knew it was Jeffrey Smeth on the other end of the phone line? She snorted at her reflection in the mirror. Yeah, right . Who would have ever thought she’d have two guys chasing after her at the same time. Amanda smirked at her