Male Review by Lillian Grant Page A

was pointless once she had decided something, she took a tiny sip. She didn’t have a clue where to begin. Laura already knew about Maud. A chill crept up her spine.
    “Where’s Maud?”
    “I sent her out shopping for cleaning supplies.”
    “You did what? Oh shit.”
    Laura grabbed her arm. “Calm down, girlfriend. I’m not stupid enough to send her by herself.”
    “Who did she go with?”
    “Chad.” Laura chuckled. “She’s a pussycat in his hands.”
    Meg stared at her. Had Laura found a way to control the sex mad fiend? “What’s his secret?”
    Eyebrow raised, Laura pointed a red painted fingernail at her crotch.
    “Sorry?”
    “He’s promised to let her watch his first strip opening night from the front row if she behaves herself.”
    “If only I had a huge dick, maybe I could get her to behave as well.”
    “You could always try a strap on.” Laura laughed and shoved the glass back toward Meg. “So, come on, girlfriend, spill before the bar manager I hired arrives. We’ve got to at least look like we made some effort to get ready for Friday’s grand opening.”
    “What bar manager?”
    “You’ll see when he gets here. Stop trying to change the subject. What has you behaving like a lovesick puppy?”
    “My mother left my dad and moved in with us.”
    “I wondered what she was doing at your place last night. Cozy. Gees, Sam must be in heaven. Three generations of you to amuse him.”
    Meg punched her in the arm. “Behave. That’s disgusting. Besides, none of us are amusing him. He moved out.” She glanced at the clock on the wall behind the bar. “About an hour ago.”
    “What? Why? I thought you were still trying to break him.”
    “I was.” Meg felt a warm flush rise up her face at the memory of her man in action. She doubted he would be any more comfortable at his parents’ than she felt living with her mother. They were lovely people, and almost liberated, but not liberated enough for him to invite girls to his room, or for him to make out in usual loud and vigorous fashion with his right hand. It seemed they were both stuck in the land of chastity until the sex gods smiled upon them.
    “You two haven’t broken up, have you?”
    “Nope, he just couldn’t live with all of us. Apparently, two crazy relatives was beyond his limit. No man should have to suffer Maud and my mother.”
    “So, what’s the plan?”
    “Plan?”
    Laura rolled her eyes. “The plan to get your man back and on his back.”
    Before Meg could even begin to think of an answer, Laura slammed her drink down and let out a loud squeal before running around the bar.
    Chad must be back and that would mean Maud was in close proximity. With a groan Meg folded her arms on the bar and buried her face in the faint hope everything would go away and she would wake up to Sam shaking her and offering to take her through her paces.
    “Hey, Maggie Riley, as I live and breathe, is that you hiding over there?”
    Just when she thought life couldn’t get any worse, apparently it had. She would know that voice anywhere, and he was the last man on earth she wanted to see right now. Maybe if she kept hiding he would go away.
    A warm body wrapped itself around her, pinning her against the bar. A sharp tug on her hair followed the intimate embrace.
    “Go away!”
    “Oh, now is that any way to be treating the new boss man?”
    Meg lifted her head and turned her face toward the male currently pressed against her. “Fuck off. You are not serious?”
    She shoved him off and glared at Laura. “Tell me he’s kidding and this is some horrible nightmare.”
    “I never knew you wanted to dream about me. I’m flattered.”
    Meg shot him a fierce look and he chuckled.
    “Laura?”
    “Michael’s the new bar manager.”
    Even when she thought life had thrown all it could at her, it seemed there was more to come. Meg grabbed her handbag and marched toward the door.
    Laura followed behind. “Meg. What’s the big deal? He was out of