‘Oh, poor thing,’ the woman said. Reaching into her smock, she pulled out a set of keys. ‘We had a cancellation for the weekend, so it’ll be a hundred and twenty dollars up front. Firewood is in back. Feel free to light a bonfire in the fire pit. Row boat’s on the dock. Life jackets are in the shed. No loud music after ten o’clock, but you can stay out as late as you want.’
‘Sounds perfect. Thank you,’ Ethan said. She unlocked the side door and handed him the keys. Ted pulled out his wallet and gave the woman sixty dollars for him and Susan. Alexis reached into her camera bag and handed the woman thirty. She blinked in surprise, looking from Ethan to Alexis and then back again. Ethan handed her thirty as well. She took their money and left.
‘It looks like my grandma’s house,’ Susan said, laughing. ‘Look at all this stuff. It has to be from the fifties.’
From the side door they could walk straight into the kitchen, down the basement steps, or into a small bedroom. The home was completely furnished. In the kitchen, an old floral vinyl tablecloth matched the pale-yellow chairs. A corded, rotary dial phone hung on the wall. The cupboards were stocked with a hotchpotch of dinnerware – from green glass bowls to pottery-spun coffee mugs to shot glasses. The refrigerator was empty and there was no food in the house.
Beyond the kitchen was a living room. Old photographs hung on the wall next to giant plastic butterflies. The burnt-orange couch had doilies over the arms and the avocado chairs matched the avocado carpet. The carpet was faded where the light shone in the large bay window.
Alexis stepped closer to the window, setting her camera down on a chair. The back yard overlooked the bay. She could just make out the faint outline of a lighthouse across the water. ‘Wow.’
‘Great view,’ Susan agreed. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she said, ‘So, um, Ethan, remind me again. When exactly did you and Lexy here get engaged?’
‘Tressa told her grandma that on the phone,’ Ted answered. ‘She said the woman would hassle us less if we were serious couples on vacation and not just drifters.’
Alexis didn’t say a word. She felt Ethan’s eyes on her and wondered at it.
‘Mm, well, I kind of like the idea of playing house for a few days.’ Susan wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. ‘I saw some stairs. Want to see if that leads to another bedroom?’
Ted groaned. ‘Yeah, let’s go check that out.’
‘I think they just claimed the upstairs,’ Ethan said.
‘I’m going to go get my stuff,’ Alexis answered. ‘Can I have the keys to the trunk?’
‘I’ll come with you.’ Ethan led the way back outside. He popped the trunk.
‘There are three bedrooms!’ Susan called, waving from a second-storey window.
‘Great!’ Ethan yelled back. To Alexis, he said, ‘You should be happy. You get your own room.’
‘Do you have to tattoo the girl now?’ she asked, wondering again at the jealousy.
‘Actually, no, she said her parents would kill her.’ Ethan laughed as if at his own private joke. ‘I figured if everyone wants to, we could go out tonight. I might be able to scrounge up some business that way.’
‘Did you really get us jobs cleaning yachts?’ Alexis asked, her tone a little sharper than she’d have liked. She wrinkled her nose in distaste. ‘I think I’ll have to pass.’
‘What?’ His tone mocked her. ‘Afraid to get your hands dirty?’
‘No. I just don’t feel like being someone’s maid.’
‘Tell me then, Ms Grant, how exactly do you plan on making any extra cash on this trip?’ Ethan asked.
‘I’ll . . .’
‘Yes?’
‘I’ll think of something. It won’t be cleaning yachts.’
‘You know what your problem is? I mean, don’t get me wrong, you got a lot of them, doll. But one of your main problems is that you’re just too . . . prissy.’
Alexis gasped. ‘I am not prissy.’
‘Yes, doll, you are. You’re like a little ornament someone stuck up on a mantlepiece for twenty years.’ Ethan slung a bag over his shoulder before reaching to grab a second one. ‘I’ll bet you’ve never actually been dirty a day in your life.’
Alexis grabbed her bags and followed him inside. His words stung. ‘What does getting dirty have to do with anything?’
Ethan stopped, turning on his heels so fast she almost ran into his chest. Looking down at her, he grinned. ‘Ah, trust me, some of the best activities in life come with getting dirty.’
‘You’re a pig.’
‘Yeah, probably, but the ladies must like it because I do get laid a lot.’
Unable to stop the words, she said, ‘What? I’m not the first sleeping woman you’ve attacked with a dry hump?’
Ethan frowned. ‘I can’t figure something out. Are you mad that I made you come? Or are you mad that I’m never going to do it again? Or is it you’re mad at yourself for liking these scummy tattoo artist’s hands on your little debutante body?’
Alexis felt the blood drain from her features. ‘I did not like it.’
‘Methinks you protest too much,’ Ethan mocked, walking to the side bedroom. He tossed his bags on the bed.
‘Now listen here, Sir Stupid.’ Alexis followed him. ‘I am not protesting.’
‘I’ll take this room. Wouldn’t want any of my late-night guests keeping you all awake.’
‘Well, maybe it’ll be my late-night guests that keep you awake,’ Alexis said.
‘Doll, the men you sleep with probably can’t stay up past ten.’
‘What is that supposed to mean?’ She put her hands on her hips.
‘It means, that you wouldn’t be able to handle anything more than a stuffy, uptight, anal retentive, briefcase-carrying snob who has more interest in pleasing himself and his greed than the woman in bed with him. The kind of man who wouldn’t be capable of showing you a knock-down, drag-out good time in the sack because he’s too worried about what everyone else thinks. Just. Like. You.’ As he said the last word, he shut the bedroom door in her face.
‘That’s not true,’ Alexis yelled, stomping away from him. She marched into the bathroom and threw her bags on the floor. She knew that Ted and Susan were probably having sex upstairs and the last thing she wanted was to have to listen to them.
Bright-pink tile lined the walls. There was a cluttered décor to the house that she didn’t like. Knick-knacks were everywhere, stuffed onto every little nook and cranny, from figurines to decorative tins cans to little toy soldiers. The bathroom was no different. The pink towels were edged with lace and embroidered with large roses. The yellow shower curtain matched the kitchen more than it did the bathroom.
Alexis studied herself in the mirror, surrounded by the pink gaudiness. What was she doing here? How had her life come to this? And why in the world was thinking of Ethan having sex with other women driving her mad?
Suddenly, Alexis smiled. So, he thought the only type of man she could get was anal retentive. He thought she didn’t know how to have a good time. She turned to dig through her bags. Pulling out a slip of a dress, she grinned. She’d show him she knew how to have a good time. Then, when he was begging her to sleep with him, she’d deny him. Oh, yeah. Tonight was going to be fun.
‘Mm, nice.’ Susan eyed Ted from her place on the bed. Stretching her arms above her head, she smiled. The bedroom was filled with lace and doilies. The old wooden dresser had to be an antique, as was the vase on top of it. The bed creaked as she moved. It was old as well.
Ted threw off his polo shirt, revealing his muscled chest. Then, slowly, he undid his fly, one slow button at a time. Susan wiggled with anticipation, her body ready for him. She wore a pink stretched lace cami and matching thong. A thin ribbon formed a bow between her breasts. She toyed with the ribbon, wrapping it around her index finger.
‘I forgot to tell you something,’ she said, suddenly remembering Alexis’s words. ‘Alexis said Ethan might have come onto her.’
‘You�
�re kidding, right?’ Ted laughed, as he pushed his pants off his legs. Standing in his red boxers, he grinned and crawled onto the bed. Susan pointed her foot at him. He kissed it, lightly working his way up her ankle and calf. Between kisses, he said, ‘Ethan can barely stand her.’
‘Mm, yeah, she’d probably just misread something he’s done. He’s not really the type of man she’s used to.’ Susan sighed, jerking slightly as Ted’s lips reached her knee. His tongue flicked, sending goosebumps over her body. She loved it when he kissed the tender flesh on the inside of her knee. ‘I hate to admit it, but I think it’s funny how he handles her. And it was so sweet how he got her to take pictures. I know she’s been dying to get that camera out of her case. She’s just always scared people are going to hate her work.’
‘Mm,’ Ted answered.
‘Are you listening to me?’
‘No, I’m trying not to,’ Ted said. Susan gasped. He groaned, grabbed her leg and pulled it to the side. He began licking and nibbling her inner thigh. ‘I really don’t want to think about Alexis right now, honey. You keep saying her name and Little Ted is likely to lose his hard on.’
‘So, you’re saying it would only take –’ Susan gasped as Ted grabbed her thighs and jerked them further apart. In the same fluid motion, he pulled her sex to his mouth, boldly licking her through her lace panties. ‘Ah!’
‘Mm, that’s better,’ Ted said as she worked her body against his mouth. ‘You always taste so good.’
Susan forgot all about her friend as Ted kissed her. She liked watching his head between her thighs. When he grabbed her panties and worked them off her hips, she couldn’t help but squirm. Her hands clawed at her cami, pulling it down off her breasts.
‘Turn over, I want to watch,’ Ted said. He got off the bed and pulled off his boxers. Then, as Susan got on her hands and knees, he slid a condom over his cock. His hand instantly went to her butt, caressing it.
Susan felt him come up behind her, felt the heat of his body along her sex. She loved that first touch of his body to hers as he readied himself to enter, the slight, involuntary tensing inside her pussy as she awaited his thrust. She relished the first moment of anticipation and longing, the uncertainty of the moment. Would he take her hard? Soft? Fast? Deep?
‘You’re gorgeous, you know it,’ Ted said, his voice soft. He was always saying things like that to her.
His body worked against her, as he took her with slow, shallow thrusts, the kind that drove her to the point of madness. She tried to push back, wanting more, but he held her away, knowing how to stir her passions. His finger slipped around to find the pearl buried in her moist folds. He stroked her clit, thrusting deeper at the same time until he filled her completely.
‘You’re so sexy. I’ve been thinking about having my way with you all day.’ Ted thrust again, working his hips in little circles as he stayed deep. ‘Mm, I love you, Susan.’
‘I love you,’ she said, her words breathy as she neared her climax. Ted pushed her swollen clit, massaging it harder the closer she got. Her breasts ached to be touched and she moved one hand to grab them, pulling at her nipples. Ted kept the stimulation going, the jolts of his movements thrusting her along his warm hand. Her cream made his fingers glide over her sex. When she came, the climax washed over her in a tender, slow wave.
Ted kept moving, even as her climax slowed, until finally his body jerked his release. Groaning softly, he fell on the bed next to her. Running his hand over her butt, he gave it a playful squeeze. ‘I wonder if this town has a lingerie shop. I’d love to get you some black leather.’
Susan giggled and looked around the bedroom. ‘I don’t think this is a black leather kind of place.’
‘Mm, too bad.’ He pulled her into his arms. ‘I guess I’ll just have to settle with covering you in cherry wine.’
7
Smoke filled the small bar as they made their way to a corner booth. The locals looked at her like she was nuts. Could she really blame them? She looked better suited to a trendy New York club than in a bar filled with fanatical football fans in their green T-shirts and beer-company banners.
Alexis definitely felt overdressed for the occasion. In fact, she was so overdressed she was scared of sitting in her white halter dress for fear of staining it. The cotton pique material was embroidered with little blue and yellow daisies. The deep V-neckline dipped low between her breasts, so low she couldn’t wear a bra with it. Several times she caught men staring at her chest. She just took it for granted in New York that everyone dressed like her. Here, they seemed a little more conservative – at least from what she could tell from the women. Even the females wore the state’s green and yellow football colours proudly.
Now, Ethan fitted right in. He wasn’t wearing sport-team paraphernalia, but a faded grey T-shirt and old blue jeans. He walked confident and relaxed. To her shame, she actually caught herself checking out his butt.
Alexis eyed the booth before sliding in. She looked expectantly for a waitress. There wasn’t one. Then, frowning, she lifted her arm to wave the bartender over. Ethan grabbed her hand, laughing. His warm palm closed around her wrist, drawing her fingers to the table. ‘I’ll get the drinks.’
‘I’ll come with you.’ Ted winked at Susan.
‘I’ll have a Manhattan,’ Alexis said as the men walked away.
‘You look nice, Lexy,’ Susan said.
‘I’m overdressed.’ Alexis glanced down, feeling out of place. When Ethan said they were going out, she never imagined it would be to a place like this. She’d seen the town. It was pretty. Surely they had something a little swankier.
‘You’re beautiful.’ Susan grinned, slipping next to her in the booth. ‘Don’t worry about it. Now quick, because I’ve been dying to know, tell me what’s going on between you and Ethan.’
‘He’s a jerk. I can’t stand him,’ Alexis promptly answered. ‘He’s insufferable. Mean.’
‘I think he’s nice,’ Susan said.
‘He told me the only guy I could get was an unaware jerk with a briefcase who wouldn’t know how to have fun if it bit him.’
‘Well, it does kind of sound like the guys you usually date.’ Susan shook her head when Alexis started to protest. ‘Quit avoiding the topic. How’d he come onto you?’
‘He started fondling me in the bed. Nothing came of it. I threw him off me and told him to leave me alone.’ Alexis averted her gaze. It wasn’t necessarily the whole truth, but close enough. ‘He called me Cindy and said he was sleeping when it happened.’
‘So you’re not attracted to him?’ Susan asked.
‘Nope, not in the least,’ Alexis answered.
‘Then, you wouldn’t care if he went home with someone else tonight?’
‘Not at all. I welcome him to try.’
‘Oh, good, cos it doesn’t appear like he’s got to try. By the looks of it, he’s already scored.’
Alexis instantly turned to look at Ethan. Jealous anger reared its ugly head. She didn’t want him, but she didn’t want the two hussies at the bar to have him either. How was he going to suffer in his desire for her if he was with someone else?
The blonde, a tall skinny number, was already touching his arm, laughing dramatically at whatever he said. Alexis had spent many hours in the car with the man. He was not that funny. The redhead, a smaller woman with large breasts, cornered him from the other side. Ted excused himself, carrying two beers. He set one before Susan, as he slid into the seat. Alexis frowned. Ethan was still preoccupied at the bar and she had no drink.
‘Here, take mine,’ Ted offered.
‘No, I ordered a Manhattan.’ Alexis watched Ethan, willing the two women to leave him be.
Ted chuckled. ‘You’re going to get a beer.’
After several minutes, Ethan finally joined them. The redhead went to a jukebox and played a country song as her blonde friend went to the bathroom. Ethan glanced at where Susan sat with Alexis. Without having to be asked, she moved to sit by Ted. Ethan began to
sit, sliding a beer in front of Alexis.
‘Excuse me,’ Alexis said tartly. ‘I have to powder my nose.’
Ethan reversed directions, getting back out of the booth. As Alexis walked away, she heard Ethan, Ted and Susan laughing.
She stepped into the small bathroom, setting her purse on the one sink. The faucet leaked, but she ignored it. There were two stalls and Alexis pretended to fix her make-up as she waited for the blonde to come out of one.
The toilet flushed and, after a few moments, the blonde stepped out. Alexis met her eyes through the mirror. For a moment, the woman looked like a deer caught in headlights right before impact. Alexis smiled and the woman took a hesitant step forwards.
‘Hi,’ Alexis said, dotting lip gloss on her finger.
‘Hi,’ the woman answered, hesitating slightly as she moved to wash her hands. She had the same accent everyone around this part of the US seemed to – Belgian with a Canadian flare. Everything seemed to be pronounced with a long ‘o’ sound. In the harsh light of the bathroom she didn’t look as pretty. Her blonde hair was more the work of bleach than of nature. Her make-up was too dark and her clothes too tight.
‘You live here?’ Alexis asked.
‘Oh-yah.’
‘It’s very pretty.’
‘Uh-huh,’ the blonde hesitated, her mouth working for a moment. ‘Is that your boyfriend out there? He said he was single.’
Bingo! thought Alexis. That’s what she was waiting for.
Alexis forced a laugh. ‘Who, Ethan? Gosh, no. I mean, he’s charming when you first get to know him, but . . .’
‘But what?’ the woman prompted.
Alexis made a face and glanced over her shoulder to the door as if they’d be overheard. ‘Can you keep a secret?’
The woman nodded eagerly. ‘Oh-yah, I’m real trustworthy.’
‘Well, I mean he’s cute, right? Any woman would die to have him. But, I just can’t get over the fact that he’s . . . you know . . . diseased –’ Alexis pointed meaningfully down to the floor ‘– down there. I heard him telling Ted that it actually leaks green stuff when he pees. I mean he says it’s not contagious and that the burning isn’t so bad once he got used to it, but I don’t know.’
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