Half-Hitched

by Isabel Sharpe

  “Hey, Addie, you ready for a refill on that punch?”

  She nodded emphatically. “Definitely. Thanks, Kevin.”

  “No problem. Hey, Sarah.” He shoved Addie’s glass toward her. “Addie wants more punch. Could you go get her some?”

  Small beat of silence at the table.

  “I’m kidding.” Kevin laughed; that loud warm laugh that could still make her fizzy, though this time mostly in relief. The rest of the table joined in. Probably not Derek, but Addie couldn’t bring herself to check. “I’m getting Addie some punch, do you want some? Carrie? Joe?”

  Kevin collected cups and walked off. Addie stared after him, noting the breadth of his shoulders, the elegant tapered line down to slender hips and wiry runner’s thighs. She’d have that body next to hers tonight.

  Fear and adrenaline hit her hard. She needed more punch. Now. Hurry, Kevin.

  “Addie.”

  Derek. She turned reluctantly, dreading what those brown eyes were going to do to her.

  Yup. They did.

  “What?” She sounded irritable. Because she was.

  “You don’t have to do this.”

  She froze, eyes open wide. How did he know about the seduction? Sarah didn’t...no, she couldn’t have. He couldn’t have any idea what he’d just said. She needed to calm down.

  “Don’t have to do what?”

  “Be with this guy if it doesn’t feel right.”

  “I know. I know that.” She sounded like a petulant child. “I do.”

  He pressed his lips together. That grim look again. She wanted to slap it off him. Or kiss—

  No.

  “Okay.” He picked up his plate and his beer. “But I think you’re making a big mistake.”

  “Who’s making a mistake?” Sarah turned rather sloppily to stare at Derek. “Addie? What’s she doing wrong?”

  Addie jerked her head toward where Kevin had gone.

  Sarah gasped. “You told him?”

  “Told her what, what’s this?” Carrie was perkily fascinated, “What’s goin’ on?”

  “Addie told me she wants to start a round of female naked cliff diving after dinner.” Derek shook his head somberly. “I told her she was making a mistake. We should wait until midnight. And it should be co-ed.”

  The table erupted into shouts of laughter, then into a cacophony of increasingly bad suggestions.

  Addie sent Derek a grateful look. He gave a curt nod and strode over to join Paul’s table, where he was immediately pounced on by a blonde big-boobed woman Paul worked with who was probably incredibly nice—any friend of Paul’s had to be—but at that moment Addie hated her. And then herself for caring at all when she had The One That Got Away waiting on her, hand and foot.

  “Here we go.” Kevin handed drinks around, then sat close to Addie, clinked his beer bottle with her glass and leaned forward to speak privately. “Here’s to finding you again, Addie. I think you’re a remarkable woman and I look forward to getting to know you again this weekend. I feel like I made a big mistake letting you out of my life.”

  Ooh. Serious melt. “Thank you, Kevin. That was really sweet. I’ve thought of you a lot over the years, too.”

  His grin would be able to charm a cobra. “Cheers.”

  She clinked with him and raised the glass to her lips, holding his eyes. Definite tingles that time. Big ones. She was transported right back to his car, eleven years earlier, and the way he kissed her, with such sweet reverence, again and again, until passion took them over and turned the kisses hot and breathless.

  Sorry, Derek. She’d made up her mind.

  Tonight she was climbing those stairs and finishing off eleven years of foreplay.

  5

  “BEDTIME, JOE.” Sarah pointed toward the stairs leading to the Bossons’ second floor. She, Joe and Addie were sitting in the living room in front of a fire crackling in the brick hearth, warding off the evening’s chill. Other guests were already in bed or on the beach stargazing. Kevin had just gone upstairs, kissing Addie’s cheek and smiling meaningfully—maybe?—as he left. Which meant he was probably now in bed. Which meant seduction was imminent.

  Addie was terrified.

  Joe didn’t even glance up from his book. “No way. This is getting good. I can’t light the kerosene lamp to read in my room or I’ll bother my roommate.”

  Sarah huffed. “Addie and I have to talk.”

  “Yeah?” That got his attention. “About what?”

  “Girl stuff. Kevin left for bed, your turn now.”

  Joe snorted. “Kevin was in bed right here. Even my dad doesn’t snore that loudly.”

  Addie cringed. He had been loud. Mouth wide-open, drool glistening in the firelight—not particularly sexually alluring.

  “So?” Sarah glanced at Addie then bounced up to stand an inch from Joe’s knees, hands on her hips. “You never snore? The guy traveled today, he had to get up practically in the middle of the night to catch a plane. Now go.”

  “Okay, okay. I’ll go.” Joe picked up a bookmark, closed the book and stood, nearly bumping noses with Sarah, who faltered but stood her ground. Addie smiled. Go, Joe. He should throw her over his shoulder and take her somewhere private. “But you owe me, Sarah Bosson.”

  “I do not.” She took a step back, wrapping her long black sweater tightly around herself. “Git.”

  Joe took hold of her arms and planted a lingering kiss on her forehead, waved goodbye to Addie and left, grinning and shaking his head. Addie sighed after him. What she wouldn’t give for her own personal Joe. “He’s the greatest, Sarah.”

  Sarah snapped over to look at Addie from where she’d been staring after Joe. “What?”

  “Joe.” Addie smirked at her. “The best.”

  “Oh, yeah, he’s great.” She rubbed her hands briskly together. “So now, Sweet Addie-lide, or should I say, ‘Addie-laid,’ we have plans to make!”

  The bottom dropped out of Addie’s stomach. “I don’t know, Sarah.”

  Sarah’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean you don’t know?”

  “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

  Sarah threw up her hands. “I knew you’d chicken out.”

  “I am not.” She’d been so sure during dinner. Kevin had been so sweet, so attentive, so obviously interested. But it was one thing being on the receiving end of a flirtation and quite another to barge into his room his first night here and demand sex. “I just think...maybe it’s bad timing.”

  “Uh-huh.” Sarah tapped her foot, fists planted at her waist. “Try again.”

  “I’m...having my period.”

  “Are not.”

  “I’ve got a raging case of...whatever.”

  “Sor-ry,” Sarah sang. “You’re go-ing.”

  Addie flopped back on the couch and stared up at the planks of the ceiling. “I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel right.”

  “You’re chicken.”

  “I’m not—” She lifted her head defiantly then scrunched her face at Sarah’s skeptical expression. “Okay, yes, I am, a little. But it’s not just that.”

  “Of course it’s just that. How can wild beast seduction feel right if you’ve never done it before? You have nothing to compare it to. Now.” She started pacing the room, braided rug to pine boards to braided rug, thud thud thud, tap tap. “You’ll want to get in the mood. Obviously sitting here talking to me isn’t going to do it. We need to picture the whole thing.”

  Addie groaned, thinking Sarah was probably right. Jitters were perfectly natural, and this weekend was about throwing off her fears and reaching past her comfort zones.

  “I’ve got it.” Sarah went around turning off gas lamps until the room was in semidarkness, lit only by the flickering fire. “That’s bette
r. Now close your eyes and think of—”

  “England?”

  “Kevin.”

  Addie did close her eyes, but only after rolling them in exasperation. “Okay.”

  “Now imagine him completely naked.” Her voice lowered to a seductive drone. “In bed, waiting for you.”

  She did. Kevin. Naked. Top to bottom, bottom to toes. Hmm, that wasn’t bad. Not at all. “That actually helps.”

  “Of course it does. Now imagine he has gold skin and just enough body hair to be manly, stopping well short of gorilla.”

  “I should hope so.” She formed a vivid picture. Definitely helping.

  “Minimal body fat. Well-defined muscles. Bologna-size schlong.”

  Addie burst out laughing. “That does not help.”

  “Eyes closed.” Sarah waved at her impatiently. “Now imagine yourself naked sliding into bed next to him. Imagine him waking up and touching you everywhere with really good warm hands, kissing you, murmuring incredibly sweet things.”

  “Yes.” Addie smiled dreamily, imagining her little heart out. “That’s working.”

  “Repeat after me, ‘I am a sexual goddess.’”

  Addie snorted laughter. “I’m who now?”

  “Ahem. This will only work if you cooperate.”

  “Okay, okay.” She suppressed a giggle, still enjoying her private naked picture of Kevin. “I’m that, a sexual goddess, whatever.”

  “With feeling.”

  “I am a sex-ual god-dess!” She ended the phrase with a ridiculous squeal.

  Sarah collapsed onto the couch next to her and folded her arms over her chest. “That’s it. You’re hopeless.”

  “Am not.”

  “Are, too.” Sarah punched her shoulder. “You can do this, you know.”

  “Yeah?” Addie turned and looked at her friend, thoughts spinning around a confusing maze of yes-I-will and no-I-won’t. Kevin was attracted to her, he obviously wanted her and he might even be harboring feelings for her. So what was the problem?

  Maybe she was just chicken. Or maybe she was experiencing a wise instinct warning her away. How could you tell the difference?

  One concept kept her from ditching the idea entirely. One very important concept. If she went back to New York without trying to do this, she’d spend forever wondering what would have happened if she had. She’d never get out of her rut if she never took that first big step. Better do it tonight. Get it out of the way so she’d be able to enjoy him and not spend tomorrow nervous all over again.

  “Okay.” She squeezed her eyes tight shut, then opened one to peek at Sarah. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

  Sarah’s head lifted off the couch. “Really?”

  Addie nodded, spirits starting to bubble with excitement. “Yes. Really. I’ll do it. Now, before I lose my nerve.”

  “Yay!” Sarah applauded silently. “So what will you do exactly?”

  Addie’s brave expression slipped. “Exactly?”

  “Well, no, not exactly, but I mean, like, for example, are you going to go into his room naked?”

  “Sarah!” The outrage was automatic, but she did have a point.

  “Come on, you have to work out these details.”

  “You’re right.” Addie jumped up to start pacing herself. Thud thud thud, tap tap. Repeat. “I can’t be naked because someone might see me out in the hall.”

  Sarah got up and started pacing opposite her, doubling the thuds and taps. “So strip in his bedroom, then?”

  “He might wake up prematurely.”

  “Get in bed with clothes on?”

  “That’s no fun.”

  They both stopped and stared at each other in dismay.

  “Oh!” Sarah started taking off her sweater. “This is perfect. Go up there naked with this wrapped around you. If someone sees you, you’re covered, but once you’re in Kevin’s room, all you have to do is drop it and voilà, birthday suit.”

  “That might work.”

  “Plus you get to feel like Venus on the half shell.” She posed, Venus-like, voice high and dreamy, and let the sweater fall. “Letting your garment drop and po-o-ol around your feet.”

  “Sheer poetry.” Addie giggled on her way to their bedroom, already taking off her clothes, nervous and excited—not really in a sexual mood, but that would come later, when the nerves had subsided and she could relax in Kevin’s arms.

  “Here.” Sarah handed the sweater through the door.

  Addie finished undressing and draped it around herself then emerged back in the living room and struck what she hoped was a practiced seductress pose. “How do I look?”

  “Perfect.” Sarah clasped her hands together, beaming. “International woman of mystery. I’m practically hot for you myself.”

  “Yeah, I wouldn’t bother with that.”

  “Go look.” She pointed toward the bathroom they shared.

  Addie floated in and peered at herself in the old mirror hanging over the white sink. She did look really good. Her cheeks were flushed, which kept the black material from washing out her complexion. But the dark color made a wonderful sexy contrast to the pale skin of her neck and chest, and plunged dangerously between her breasts.

  Her courage rose. She looked like a seductress. No, she was a seductress. Not a woman staring at thirty from the bottom of her rut.

  She emerged triumphant from the bathroom. “I’m ready.”

  “Not quite.” Sarah brandished a kid’s glow stick and bent it to mix the chemicals. The plastic began to glow eerie green.

  “Where did you get that?”

  “My parents keep a supply in case someone needs a night-light. It’s going to be pitch-black in his room since there’s no moon tonight. You don’t want to trip over anything.”

  Addie cringed at the thought. Nothing would ruin a seduction faster than falling on your face. “You are brilliant, have I ever told you that?”

  “Not nearly often enough.” Sarah handed over the glow stick. “And it doubles as a great light saber if you want to do battle with random Jedi. You remember where his bedroom is? First on the right?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Good luck, Addie Baddie.” Sarah hugged her tightly. “This is the start of something really wonderful for you. I can just feel it.”

  A lump rose in Addie’s throat. Sarah suspected, but couldn’t know how important this was. A chance to change her life. A chance to redeem her mistake with Kevin that night so long ago. A chance to find romance that might really count.

  “Thanks, Sarah. I hope so.” She kissed her friend’s cheek and turned to walk up the stairs, leaving Sarah to sleep alone in the downstairs bedroom they shared.

  Kevin Ames.

  The wooden stairs creaked sharply a few times; her feet padded across the bare pine boards on the upstairs landing. First bedroom on the right.

  She stopped outside the door, closed with an iron latch like all the bedrooms.

  Eleven years later, she’d feel that wonderful mouth on hers again, would feel those strong arms around her, would feel his hand on her breast. And so much more.

  Another surge of that odd panic. She closed her eyes, fiercely ordering fear to stop ruining her life. Addie Sewell was going to do this. She deserved this. No matter what happened. Just walking through his door represented a victory—for her and for her future.

  Addie reached for the iron handle, pulled the door toward her so the latch would lift silently and walked into the room.

  Done!

  She closed the door carefully behind her, listening for any sign that Kevin had heard her.

  He was still, his breathing slow and even.

  She was in.

  For a few seconds Addie stood quietly, amazed that she’d actually done t
his, that she, Princess Rut, had snuck mostly naked into a man’s room in order to seduce him, when for years she’d been too scared to say hi to a guy in her elevator.

  A sudden calm came over her. This was right.

  She took the time to breathe deeply, inhaling Kevin’s masculine scent, surprisingly free of beer fumes. He’d had quite a few more than his share. But then this was a celebration weekend. She’d had one glass too many of punch herself.

  As silently as possible, she walked toward the bed, glow stick held behind her so it wouldn’t be bright enough to wake him. In the dim light she could see a swathe of naked back, his head bent, partly hidden by the pillow.

  A rush of tenderness. Kevin Ames.

  She gently laid the glow stick on the floor, let the sweater, yes, Sarah, pool at her feet, where it covered the stick and reduced the light to the barest glimmer. Addie left it like that. She knew what Kevin looked like. She wanted to feel her way around him, get to know him by touch.

  Totally naked now, heart pounding, she climbed onto the edge of the bed then slid down to spoon behind him. His body was warm against hers, his skin soft, his torso much broader than she’d expected. They fit together perfectly.

  She knew the instant he woke up, when his body tensed beside hers.

  “It’s Addie.”

  “Addie,” he whispered.

  Addie smiled. She would have thought after all he had to drink and how soundly he’d been passed out downstairs, that she might have trouble waking him.

  She drew her fingers down his powerful arm—bigger than she expected. “Do you mind that I’m here?”

  He chuckled, deep and low. Addie stilled. She’d never heard Kevin laugh like that.

  Before she could think further, his body heaved over and she was underneath him, his broad masculine body trapping her against the sheets. And before she could say anything, gasp or even breathe, he kissed her, a long, slow sweet kiss that made her feel like she was melting into the mattress.

  When he came up for air, she knew she’d have to do something. Say something.

  But then he was kissing her again. And this time her body caught fire without her permission. She made a funny helpless noise she’d never heard herself make before, and her mouth opened to his kisses and it was all she could do not to open her legs as well and let him inside her right then and there.