Evolve Series Box Set

by Hall, S. E.

  “Sure, whatever. You two have fun.” He waves and leads Bennett, who also waves goodbye, out the door.

  Now that we’re alone, I take one small, slow step at a time across the room to him. I see his Adam’s apple bob in his throat as I draw near and he eyes me skeptically.

  I run one finger from under his chin down his throat. “Shame about Tate’s back,” I say throatily. “You really need to insist he go see a chiropractor.”

  “My brother is a shit actor,” he concedes quickly, blurting it out on a sigh.

  Now I do laugh, because yes, Tate is the complete opposite of his beautiful girlfriend—that was some of the worst acting in the history of the craft.

  “You know what this means, don’t you?”

  “I don’t, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.” His hands slide around my waist, just under my shirt so he feels my bare skin, pulling me against him. “Do your worst, baby,” he says with a kiss to my forehead.

  “If you really want a hot tub back there, go for it. But,” I tap the end of his nose with my finger, “you are going to garage sales with me all day Saturday. And you will smile the whole time, not one frown or grumble.”

  He smiles, his handsome face lighting up and sending shivers through me, much like every time. “I can do that.”

  “Good. Now let’s go to your house. I’m about to fall asleep on my feet.”

  CHAPTER 7

  ***Laney***

  After a night of “making up” in the hot tub and falling into bed completely drained, I wake in his big bed, alone. I’m not surprised, it doesn’t take much to wake up before me, so I throw on a robe in case Helen is here and make my way downstairs to the kitchen.

  No Helen in sight, but a beautiful surprise.

  Dane has struck again.

  On the counter sits a large vase filled with roses in every shade of pink. I can’t wait to see what the card says.

  Baby,

  The opinions vary, and there seems to be no consensus on what color rose really means forgiveness. All that’s certain is that 15 of them, any color, mean forgive me. So I went with 15 in pinks. One for the color of your sweet lips, another shade to match your cheeks when I make you blush for me, and last, the perfect pink that always reminds me of you and I together. I’ll let you figure out what I mean.

  I’m sorry for being so headstrong about the hot tub, and I’m sorry I had to run to the office this morning. I should be back by lunch.

  I love you and I love doing things for you, so be a good girl, forgive me and open the box.

  Always for you,

  XOXO D

  Punch drunk, I rip off the bow and paper, then throw off the lid. Nestled in the tissue paper is a light pink string bikini. And a note.

  Seeing you in this…worth the battle. Love, Your Caveman

  His thoughtfulness, the creative and fun ways he gets his way…only a fool wouldn’t cave. Besides, he could be always begging me to forgive bad acts. Is it really such a big deal to let good acts slide?

  Didn’t think so.

  ***

  BYOB. When a guy says this, one knows they mean bring your own beer. When a ladies only party invitation says it, and you’re gonna want to remember this, it means bring your own batteries. Why would you need batteries, you ask? Oh, that’s simple…because Kiki, your showstress for the evening, wants to make sure everyone can test the intensity of the vibrators, dildos and other devices she’s passing around the circle on their hands.

  I mean, who doesn’t know that?

  To say this party is interesting would be the understatement of the year. Bennett is trying to go with the flow, laughing nervously but complying when handed the warming gel and instructed to go try a sample in the bathroom. But me? Well I’m sitting here spinning—what the—oh Jesus, I’m spinning the Ben Wah balls nervously in my hand, contemplating suicide. I drop them on the ground and look around, hoping no one noticed.

  Did I mention I won the door prize? Sure enough, I am now the proud owner of the Backdoor Buddy, a huge, purple anal dildo. I may cry. Seriously.

  “Laney?” Showstress Kiki reads my nametag. “Would you mind helping with this demonstration?”

  “W-what?” I choke on my tongue. “No, I mean, yes, I would mind. I’m good right here, just, ya know, sitting.”

  “Are you sure? You haven’t participated yet, and I’d like to show everyone how to wear this particular strap-on. Don’t worry, we’ll slide it right on over your clothes.”

  Bennett comes out of the bathroom, her cheeks flushed slightly, and lays the tube on the table. I’m saved.

  “Bennett will do it,” I point at her with a trembling finger.

  I get more and more comfortable with my sexual side every day, but with Dane. Alone. This isn’t alone, this is a room full of brazen as hell women that I don’t even know. Maybe I’m a prude, because all the other girls are giggling, sharing way too much information about their personal lives, and happily testing every sample handed to them. I’m still sort of hoping the floor will swallow me.

  “Do what?” Bennett asks, slightly squirming, like she has to pee.

  “Are you okay, dear?” Kiki asks her.

  “Um…” Bennett leans in her head and whispers something, and Kiki takes her by the hand, leading her back to the bathroom.

  WTF????

  I get up and walk to the bathroom, checking what’s going on with my friend, thanking God we’ve adverted the strap-on demo. “What’s wrong with her?” I ask Kiki, who’s standing outside the closed door.

  “She just used a little too much of the hot tingle gel. I told her to wash it off. She’ll be fine. Now,” she places a hand on my shoulder, “let’s see if I can’t figure out the perfect item for you.”

  “No, no, that’s okay.” I shake my head, backing away from her with my hands out in front of me. “I don’t need anything. I have a Front Door Buddy and he does just fine, thank you.”

  Did I really just say that?

  “As soon as Bennett’s done in there, we have to go. I’m late for—for church.”

  She laughs loudly, tossing her head back, then looking at me once again. “No need to be embarrassed, sweetie. You’re young and that’s wonderful. One day, you’ll need this stuff. Look me up when you do.” She pats my cheek and walks away.

  “B!” I hiss through the door, knocking lightly. “B, open the door!”

  The door opens and Bennett tugs me in, slamming it quickly. “Oh my God, Laney! Cha Cha’s on fire! I think I may have done permanent damage.”

  I pull a hand slowly down my face, hardly believing this is really happening to me. “I can only assume Cha Cha is your vagina?” I ask.

  “Yes, Taterbe—”

  “Don’t say it!” I cup my hand over her mouth, teetering one toe over the edge of my limit. “I know what you call him, and now, like a Christmas miracle, I know what he calls your vag. Awesome. How much of that tingle stuff did you put on?” Judging by the fact that this whole damn bathroom smells like a Vick’s factory, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say too much.

  “I don’t know,” she whines as she dances from foot to foot, “but I washed it off like four times and it still burns like hell. What am I gonna do?”

  “I think we need to get you in a bathtub where you can soak it off. Go to the truck. I’ll grab our stuff and meet you there.”

  “Okay.” She nods, tears welling in her eyes.

  “And Bennett,” I turn back, one hand on the door knob, “if you ever even think about bringing me to a party like this again, I will hold you down and choke you with my Backdoor Buddy.”

  ***

  “Ladies,” Tate slurs slightly from the couch, one beer too many in his hand, “did you have fun?”

  I roll my eyes. “I’m not sure fun is the exact word I’d use. Um, a little help here?” I bark. How can they not see how obviously pained Bennett is? She has one arm draped around my neck and is yelping with every step we take.

  Both the boys ju
mp up now and rush over to help me with her. “What’s wrong, honey?” Tate asks worriedly.

  “She broke her See You Next Tuesday and can’t walk,” I answer for her.

  Dane whips his head to face me, the edge of his mouth twitching amongst a look of shock. “She what?”

  “Tingly gel is no bueno. Now help Tate get her to the bathroom. I’ll grab a change of clothes for her. Tate, lukewarm water in the tub, no bubbles or oils or anything.”

  Why is everyone just staring at me?

  “MOVE, people! STAT!!!”

  That’s more like it. Geez.

  They help Bennett hobble towards the bathroom while I go to their room and dig through her drawers, finding some loose PJ pants and a t-shirt. No panties today, I think. I open the bathroom door and set them on the counter, taking in what may be the funniest sight my eyes have ever beheld.

  Dane has his eyes closed and face turned away, all while trying to hold Bennett up. Tate is on his knees helping her get undressed while Bennett is screaming, “blow on it, blow on it!”

  “Clothes are on the counter, B.” I can’t help but snicker. “You gonna be okay?”

  “Surely it’ll go away in a minute, right?” She looks at me helplessly, eyes doubtful and worried. “I mean, they wouldn’t see it if it really was flesh-eating poison, right?”

  “Right.” I nod. “Get in the water, you’ll be fine.”

  “Like in how long,” Tate questions, “would you say, if you were guessing?”

  “It’s a snuggle and talk about your feelings night, bro,” Dane surmises. “Just get it out of your head right now.”

  “Oh my God, Tate, is that what you’re worried about?” Bennett, completely naked now, glares down at him, scowling as he turns the knob beside him completely to cold.

  “No, honey, I—no. Shut up, Dane!”

  “All right, she looks ready to get in. Dane and I are gonna leave. Love you, B!”

  “Love you,” she whimpers over the sound of the running bath water. “Thank you.”

  Dane’s still smirking when we get back to the living room, picking up for them before we leave. “So, tell me more about this party…”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “Oh, but I do,” he assures me, taking me in his arms. “Did you try anything out?”

  “God no,” I push at him, “I did win a door prize, though.”

  He groans, letting his head fall forward. “Please tell me it’s not one of those supersonic clit flicker things.”

  “What one of those what? And how the hell do you know anything about female sex toys?” I back away, looking into his guilty face.

  “I don’t!” He shakes his head frantically. “I’ve just heard.”

  “Heard what? From who?”

  “Stuff,” he rubs the back of his neck, “and, um, Sawyer.”

  “If you want me to believe you, lose the um next time. It’s okay, I don’t need to know.” I grab his hand and open the door. “Let’s just go home. It’s been a long night.”

  “You didn’t, though, right?” He lifts our linked hands and kisses mine, then opens my car door for me. “Try any whizzing, flicking things?”

  I look up at him from the seat and give him the stink eye, so he hurriedly shuts the door and climbs in his side. “No,” I speak up as we pull out of the driveway, “I didn’t sample masturbatory items in a stranger’s bathroom. And I’m wondering if you hit your head while I was gone, since you even had to ask.”

  “Thank God,” he mumbles, finding my hand once again and squeezing. “Those toys aren’t fair to guys.”

  “How so?” I ask, curious as to exactly where he’s going with this.

  “They set us up for failure. My tongue and fingers will never be able to move as fast as a couple AA batteries. If you get used to that, I’ll pale in comparison.”

  I can’t help laughing; my eyes actually watering. “Good to know. I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Seriously, baby, it’d be like me sticking a vacuum hose on my dick, right?”

  “I’m starting to think you really did have this conversation with Sawyer. That’s something he’d say.”

  “It was, and for once, I agreed with him. So we’re agreed, no flickers for you and no vacuums for me.”

  I wipe the tears out of my eyes and agree, but just can’t resist the idea that hits me as we drive. Waiting until we pull in his garage, I decide to have some fun. “Yeah, no flickers for me tonight.” I feign a casual yawn, getting out and walking to the door. “I did try on some chastity belt thing, though, and we couldn’t find the key. I’m locked up; no telling how long it will take Kiki to find it.”

  “Laney?” he asks worriedly, trying to catch up since I’d just walked in the house nonchalantly. “Baby? Baby, you’re kidding right? Those things don’t really exist, do they, Laney?”

  “Don’t worry, babe, I brought you home a buddy for you!” I call behind me on my way to the bedroom.

  Sawyer told him my ass…that’ll teach him to bring up his past to me.

  CHAPTER 8

  ***Dane***

  Garage sales…where to begin. Laney has exactly $210 with her, and with that small amount, she plans to outfit her duplex in decent furniture. I call bullshit, no way is she pulling that off; she said “watch me.” One thing we’ve both agreed on, thank God, is no used mattresses. That’s just disgusting.

  At the first sale, I get out of her truck and tentatively follow her up the driveway. A garage sale virgin, I’m simply following her lead. I stand behind her and try not to interfere or laugh as she haggles with an old man over a kitchen table and chairs. It’s like watching a professional auction, the two of them going back and forth so fast all you hear is “haynanamanababa.”

  I certainly didn’t hear them reach an agreement, but they shake hands and Laney rips the $60 price tag off the table and hands it, along with $25 in cash, to him, grinning from ear to ear.

  “Grab that side,” she tells me as she lifts her own, and soon, the four chairs are also loaded and we’re on our way. I just stare over at her in amazement, my sassy girl driving her pickup truck, seemingly unimpressed with her own keen negotiation skills. I think it’s hot as hell and I can’t decide which I want to do more—demand she pull over and attack her or offer her a job.

  “You talked him down $35, baby. That was more than you even paid.”

  “Yeah?” She looks at me with a smirk then back to the road. “So?”

  “So, you’re quite the haggler, Miss Walker. Where’d you learn to do that?”

  “Growing up with my dad and all his friends, you know. With poker night and guitar night, you pick up two kinds of talking, shit and fast.”

  I shake my head and grin. My girl sure is something.

  The next sale we pass, according to Laney, doesn’t even warrant stopping so we pull a drive-by.

  “What exactly does one look for in determining the stop-worthiness of a sale?” I ask, trying not to laugh.

  “Big ticket items. That was just a bunch of boxes to dig through.”

  Big ticket items? Oh dear God, she’s serious.

  “What about this one?” I point to a yard full of stuff coming up on the right. “I see a bike. And a lamp.”

  “And end tables! Good eye, babe!” She pulls onto the curb and jumps out, making a beeline for the end tables.

  Again, I was being a smartass, whereas she thinks we struck gold. I’m gonna try and be a good sport, though. She really seems to enjoy this, so I take a new attitude and begin to peruse some items thrown on a table. Newer baseball cards, junk. Old VHS movies, crap. Fish tank, no thank you. Books, never…wait a damn minute! For some reason, out of the whole pile, my eyes zero in on the title Winnie the Pooh. There it sits, a dusty old book with an ugly green cover, and I know just the person who will love it. I pick it up and open it. It’s not a first edition or anything, but old, with that distinct scent of aged literature. I flip it over, looking for a price tag, but there’s not one
, so I wander over to the woman that I’d seen taking money from other people.

  “How much is this book?” I ask her.

  “Fifty cents.”

  I dig my money clip out of my pocket and hand her a five, glancing around for Laney. She’s in a heated debate with yet another older man, this time over the end tables. “Do you have a bag? I kinda want to hide it.”

  “Sure,” the elderly woman smiles at me and hands me my change, then digs out a blue plastic bag, “here you go.”

  “Thank you,” I say and hide the book in the bag as I walk over to Laney.

  “This is highway robbery! If you want those prices, open a store!” she spouts at him, one hand on her hip.

  “Those are Queen Anne legs on those tables, young’un,” the man argues, then turns his head and spits.

  “You ready, baby?” I reach out and touch her arm, trying to stop her from verbally accosting the nice old man any further.

  She turns and notices the bag in my hand. “You bought something?” Her voice goes up a pitch excitedly. “See, fun, right?”

  “Yeah,” I chuckle.

  “See,” she turns back to the poor guy, “we already bought one thing, so that makes us paying customers. Since you made my stuffy ol’ boyfriend here happy, I’ll go $20 for both. Final offer.”

  “Deal.” The man’s shoulders relax and he wipes his brow, taking the money from Laney’s hand quickly, then backing away. “Good luck, son,” he says to me.

  “What’d you get, babe?” she asks me, unfazed by her scuffle.

  I give her lips a light kiss because she’s just too fucking adorable not to. “It’s a surprise. What’d you buy, hardass?”

  “These two tables! You grab one, I’ll grab the other. And be careful with the legs, they’re antique.”

  “Laney,” I mock disgust, one hand to my chest, “did you just swindle that dear sweet grandpa out of his antiques?”