by Gina Watson
The women peered out the window to watch Everett emerge from the cab. Fiona sighed. “I love him. So does Ryder. In the end, we’d move to Boston.”
Maura turned to her friend. “You just keep those thoughts to yourself. He needs to move back home, and that’s precisely what we’re going to get him to do.”
Fiona left the sisters to go and greet Everett at the front door. As soon as he stepped onto the porch, Fiona opened the door and jumped into his arms, causing him to drop his bags.
“Fiona—God, how I’ve missed you.”
Her lips went down on his and they connected in a heated embrace. “You look tired, baby.”
“I’m exhausted. Will you take a nap with me?”
“I can think of nothing I want to do more.” Fiona slid her leg down his body to disengage, aware of his growing erection. She bent to grab one of his bags as he took the other and they led one another up the stairs to his bedroom.
“How about a shower?” Fiona asked.
“Will you be joining me?”
“Of course.”
“Then yes.”
Fiona turned on the water and let it heat, and then she went to Everett in his bedroom. As he flipped through emails on his phone, she pulled off his tie. Next she began to unbutton his shirt, but his hands still held his phone. His face demonstrated a scowl as he read an email.
Fiona delicately reached for the phone and he acquiesced, letting her remove it from his hand. “That’s enough of that. Let me take care of you.”
He stood as still as an oak as she peeled his clothes from his body. He watched as she started in on her own. Wanting to be sexy and provocative for him, she made a grand show out of slowly unbuttoning her sundress. Standing in her bra and panties she turned her back to him to let him appreciate the view. His groan told her it was a success. Unclasping her bra, she bent at the waist to let gravity do its job in removing her bra, but mostly to give him an unobstructed view of her backside.
His hands on her hips gripped with need. Using his thumbs, he slid the lacy material from her body, and then caressed her outer thigh. His fingers found her wetness and, at his heavy breathing in her ear, she moaned in delight.
“You’ve missed me.”
“Yes.”
“I need you now.”
“You have me.” She turned in his arms and he led her to the shower.
He sat on the built-in bench, sighing and closing his eyes, letting the hot water rain down on his head and body. The sight of his erection standing tall and proud against his muscular physic made her mouth water. He opened his eyes and his lips formed a sexy smirk. He patted his lap and she wasted no time climbing aboard to straddle him. She placed her hands on his shoulders as he guided her hips into position. He could barely keep his eyes open, but she was determined to give him pleasure before their nap so she used the leverage she had against the bench to pull him into her.
His eyes went wide as she took him deep and fast. In this position it was possible for her to take all of him and it wasn’t long before he was ready for release. As tired as he was, his determination told her he wasn’t about to finish and not give her what her body desired. His fingers massaged the bundle of nerves between her thighs, the addition of water making her hyper sensitive.
They came together and then his head thudded against the tile at the back wall. His eyes still closed, she thought she heard his breathing increase. The constant flying and moving around was taking a toll on him. This relationship was putting stress on everyone involved. A solution was needed before the strain broke them apart.
She disengaged from his lap and soaped a poof with bath gel that was the same fragrance as his cologne. She washed herself quickly and then she rinsed the poof and soaped it once again.
After soaping him from head to toe she then shampooed his head, massaging with her fingertips until he was moaning in appreciation and pleasure. Once his cleaning was complete she grasped his hands in hers and pulled him under the rainspout. They rinsed, and then she turned off the water.
After she dried him off he collapsed on the bed and was sound asleep in a matter of seconds. The poor man had been up until one o’clock the night before talking to her on the phone. She covered his naked form with a sheet and proceeded to dress herself. As soon as she had her dress on there was a light tap at the door. She knew that knock. Opening the door she exited and lightly closed it behind her.
“Is Everett in there?”
“He is baby, but he’s asleep.”
“Asleep?”
Fiona whispered as she led Ryder away from the door. “Yes, he’s extremely exhausted from work and travel and staying up nights talking to me on the phone, so he’s got to get a little nap in.”
Ryder frowned, “Oh.”
“How’s the crawfish boil coming along?”
“They’re alive! Julian and Parker taught me how to purge them in salt water. It’s disgusting, but necessary, unless you want to eat lots of poop.”
“Well who wants to eat that?”
“Not me! I’m going to help clean the corn and potatoes.”
“Cool. I’m going to take a nap with Everett. We’ll be down a little later.”
Fiona rolled onto the bed and snuggled up behind Everett. His even breaths soothed her until she was lost in a dream.
Ryder J. David. Beside her, Everett’s family stood, whistling and cheering as she watched her little boy cross the stage and receive his diploma. She couldn’t contain her tears as he lifted the sleeve of his gown and pointed to his newly acquired tattoo: I love Mom.
Everett reached for her, but between them was a dark haired, gray-eyed angel.
“Hey, you’re squishing me.” Everett tousled the boy’s thick hair. “I can’t see.” The looked of frustration on the little one’s face broke Fiona’s heart, but as soon as he was on Everett’s shoulders, he was all smiles. “There’s my brother. Ryder!” He called. Ryder waved and smiled when he heard his brother’s calls.
“Fiona?”
The little boy’s head was starting to get sweaty the longer they stood out in the sun. On his short-clad thigh he sported a Spider-Man tattoo.
Fiona felt the warmth through her dress before she awoke to large hands massaging her back. “You were talking in your sleep.” Everett’s hand gripped her exposed shoulder, and then his lips kissed the top.
“What was I saying?”
“Can’t tell you.”
“That’s not fair. Tell me.”
“I’ll tell you one day.”
Fiona huffed. “What time is it?”
“Almost seven.”
“We slept for over two hours!” Fiona sat up in the bed. A growl emerged from the area of Everett’s stomach and they laughed.
“You worked up my appetite.”
“Well let’s get you dressed and downstairs for some crawfish.”
“Let’s.”
***
Everett was in love with a capitol L. It was something he’d never experienced before and now that he had, he found it harder and harder to go without Fiona and Ryder. He’d obsessively been checking his email for a response from his firm regarding his transfer request. He’d tried to transfer to the Atlanta, Baton Rouge, or Houston offices—anything closer than Boston. He feared his request was going unfulfilled. He’d lain low since the Ashton incident, but he knew the senior partners were keeping their eyes on him. Now that it was spring, Everett was hopeful he could convince Fiona to relocate over the summer. He was so confident in his ability to charm her into relocating he’d purchased a little something to entice her.
Downstairs everyone had convened on the patio. The tables were covered with newspaper and large citronella candles. Two crawfish steamers were heating and Ryder and Ari were in the pool.
“I’m going to get a tat right across here to commemorate the event.” Ryder announced as he pointed out to Ari the very spot where his arm had been broken several months back.
“What’s the tat gon
na be?”
“Playbuoy because that was the name of the boat I fell out of.”
Ari frowned. “Oh, that’s unfortunate.
“Mom won’t let me get a tattoo until I’m eighteen. She thinks she’ll get arrested.”
“Hmm, maybe rethink that forearm tattoo. I don’t think it will be too popular with the ladies.”
“Why not?”
“A woman doesn’t want to be with a playbuoy. She wants to be with someone who’s only got eyes for her. Your tattoo may send the wrong message.”
Ryder’s forehead crinkled, as he was deep in thought. “I hadn’t thought of that. I don’t wanna send the wrong message to the ladies.”
“It’s a worry.” Ari nodded.
Everett chuckled at their dialogue. He caught Fiona’s gaze. “You have a very precocious son.”
“Tell me about it. On the way over here he asked if you and I would be skinny dipping in the pool later tonight.”
“Oh? What did you tell him?”
“No, of course not.”
“Too bad.”
“Everett, can you give me a hand with the baskets?” Parker asked.
Everett donned a pair of heat-resistant gloves and lifted a basketful of crawfish from the boiler.
Ryder had emerged from the pool to assist at his side. “Whoa! That’s a lot of mudbugs.”
“Look out, the steam is hot.” Ryder stepped back while Everett let the bugs drain. “Put on that pair of gloves and you can help me spread them out on the table.” Everett gestured with a head nod at the gloves. Ryder complied. “Ready?”
“Ready!”
Everett carried the basket to the table and dumped the contents onto the newspaper. Hundreds of bright red crawfish steamed in heaping piles, along with corn and potatoes. Everett pushed crawfish to evenly distribute piles down the table. “Just give ‘em a good push.”
“This is fun!”
“Ryder, do you eat crawfish?” Courtney asked.
“No I never have, but I’m gonna.”
Bailey brought beer and soda to the table while Maura carried trays. Dad turned on ESPN and everybody took a seat around the table.
“Look what we have here. It’s so great having you all home at the same time,” Mom announced before taking her seat by Dad.
Everett sat between Fiona and Ryder. “Let me show you how to peel them.” He held a crawfish in his left hand, and then lifted a couple of scales from the tail, following it around the critter. “A pinch and a squeeze.” Then he lifted the tail to his mouth and pulled the meat out with his teeth. “All there is to it.”
Ryder struggled at first, but after a couple more lessons, he was peeling at a good pace.
“Fiona, it’s your turn.” Julian pointed.
Everett noticed she’d only pulled corn and potatoes into a pile before her so he pushed a few crawfish over to her side. “You’ve gotta try at least.”
She bit her lip and nodded, a look of sheer terror on her face.
“Mmm, they’re good, Mom. You’ll like them.” Ryder slurped juice from one of the crawfish heads, having been taught to do so by Everett.
“Eww.” Fiona cringed as she watched her son.
Everett smiled sweetly at her plight. “How about I peel you a few and you just try the tail meat?” He watched her swallow the knot in her throat, but she nodded her consent.
He held the meat up to her mouth. “It’s good and clean, I promise. Almost tastes like chicken.” Her lips parted and he placed the meat inside her mouth. She tentatively chewed as he watched her expression change from apprehension to delight.
“It’s not bad.” She licked her lips. He must remember to forgo the pleasure of watching her taste new foods and wines when dining in front of his family. “It’s good even. I like the seasoning.”
“Of course you like the seasoning. That’s my girl’s new spice rub.” Bailey and Parker high-fived without missing a beat.
Julian cleared his throat and stood. “I heard a new joke this week.”
Courtney held up her hand. “I haven’t consumed quite enough beer to listen to that.”
“Let’s hear it,” Dad hollered.
“So this old lady calls the cops and Boudreaux’s on patrol. He’s called to Mrs. Duplechan’s house, his former Sunday school teacher. When he gets there she’s very upset and carrying on about a naked man in the neighbor’s yard. Boudreaux says, ‘Mrs. Duplechan, I checked and der is no naked man in the neighbor’s yard.’ To which she replies, ‘Oh yes der is, come inside and I’ll show ya.’ Boudreaux walks in the house and looks through the window into the neighbor’s yard. ‘Mrs. Duplechan, der is no naked man in da yard.’ Mrs. Duplechan pulled Boudreaux to the bathroom where he proceeds to look out the window. ‘I’m telling ya, der’s no naked man in da yard.’ Mrs. Duplechan puts the toilet seat down and says, ‘You hafta stand on da toilet to get a good look at him.’
The crowd broke out in peals of laughter, including Everett who for the first time ever, appreciated the humor in one of Julian’s jokes.
“Maura, do you ever get tired of hearing Julian’s jokes?” Mom asked.
“No ma’am. I could listen to him all day.” She cooed lovingly at the man in question while Courtney mimed gagging herself.
“I think my grandbaby will need to carry on Julian’s legacy.”
“So do I! I think his first joke should be the leech joke. I can’t get Julian to tell it to me.”
“I already told you Maura, count your blessings. The leech joke is the dumbest one.” Courtney snorted derisively.
After dinner the men resigned to stay on the porch drinking beer and watching ESPN while Mom announced she was retiring for the night. The girls accompanied Bailey to the living room to discuss wedding plans and left the men to their game.
***
Fiona listened as Bailey discussed the wedding reception plans. “The David family is pretty extensive, but I think the country club can fit everybody nicely. Courtney, I received RSVPs from all the Davids except Ashton. Is he not coming to the wedding or what?”
“Oh.” Courtney’s eyes grew large. “There’s a story there.” She removed her shoes, tucking her feet beneath her on the couch to get comfortable. “Ashton has crippling social anxiety.”
“Oh, that’s terrible.” Maura said.
“He didn’t always. It happened after the incident with his mother and father. I’m sketchy on the details, but he lost his parents when he was in high school. I doubt he’ll venture out for the wedding.”
“But Parker said he lives next door.”
“I know but even still, we hadn’t seen him in years until Everett became his lawyer.”
Fiona bit her lip to keep from speaking as she recalled the troubles he’d caused Everett. If it weren’t for Ashton, he’d still be working in Baton Rouge. Lights beamed through the window and washed the room in a haphazard glow. Courtney got up and walked to peek from the open shutters. She shrugged, and then took up her seat on the couch.
“So anyway, you can scratch Ashton David off your guest list.”
Maura drew one line through the name on the list in her lap. “That will free up some much needed table space.”
Bailey frowned. “It’s too bad. I really wanted to meet all of Parker’s family.”
“Don’t worry Bailey—you won’t be at a loss for Davids. Although you may wish you were.”
Bailey paced the room while Maura spoke of her bridesmaid’s dress that could not yet be ordered due to her expanding size. “I told Parker we planned the wedding too close to Adrian’s birth. There’s not going to be enough time to get you fitted.”
“It’s going to be fine. We’ll make everything work out. I don’t want you to get all worked up.”
Bailey nodded, but resumed her pacing.
“Mom is an excellent seamstress. Any last minute adjustments that need to be made can be done by her.” Courtney added.
“Wonderful!” Maura smiled.
“Who’s t
hat woman talking with Everett out by the fountain?” All eyes turned to Bailey, who was now peering out the window.
Looking through the slats, Fiona saw a very attractive woman with long legs that looked shapely and sophisticated in a pencil skirt and silk blouse. She stood next to the fountain—too close to Everett for Fiona’s liking. In her heeled dress shoes, her height was equal to Everett’s and Fiona wondered if he found that desirable. Even in four-inch heels she only came to his shoulders.
“Do you know who that is?” Fiona asked of the room.
“I’ve never seen her before.” Maura answered.
Courtney leaned in to get a closer look. “I think that’s Clarissa Girouard. Everett used to date her when he was at LSU. Although date is a stretch. Mostly I think they just”—
“That explanation will suffice, we don’t need any more.” Maura interrupted.
“Oh, sorry. Everett’s never really had a steady girlfriend until Fiona.”
“Thanks, but that’s not really making me feel better at the moment.” Fiona watched their body language through the window, as did the other women. Everett and Clarissa were now seated on the fountain, the glow and trickling water adding a romantic backdrop to their escapade. Clarissa. Fiona thought the name to be very fancy. It was the kind of name a woman with style and social standing would have. Clarissa. She imagined Everett’s release of her name from his lips during heightened passion and her stomach rolled.
It could be stated that Fiona never liked her name. In fact, she’d been teased at school. Some people even thought it was okay to nickname her Fifi without asking. While she hated her name, she hated the nicknames even more. Then the dreaded Disney movie released and upon every new introduction for the next three years she was likened to Princess Fiona, the ogre.
Fiona watched the former lovers with a jealous eye. They sat close, shoulders touching. Everett was relaxed. She even thought she’d seen him throw a dazzling smile at Clarissa. “Do you have any idea what she’s doing here?”
“No. I can’t imagine Everett’s too happy about it though. I always suspected she was the reason he escaped to Boston.”
Escaped?
Downtrodden, Fiona moved from the window to the table where Ryder had left his homework laid out. She picked up his Spider-Man backpack and began to load it with his textbooks and folders. Her vision blurred at some point during the task, which was silly she thought, since it wasn’t a crime for Everett to speak with a former girlfriend. She didn’t want to be that woman, but still, she couldn’t deny it hurt a little.