I hide my stunned expression behind sipping my drink. “That’s very... interesting. What happened to Jim?”
“He was run over by the town drunk many years ago. It was a shock, but at least it was quick. He never knew what hit him, poor man.” She sighs.
“I’m so sorry,” I say, horrified. Some days I just can’t keep my foot out of my mouth.
“Oh, it’s alright, dear. It was many, many years ago. He was a good man. Strict and firm, but a good man. And boy, did he know how to tan an ass.” She grins broadly at what apparently are some very good memories for her, disturbing as that seems.
“He sounds like he was...” I was a bit at a loss for words. “An interesting man to live with.”
She titters. “That he was. He was my first, you know? First everything. I was only seventeen when we married, but we were together for over twenty years before his accident. He put four children in me, boom, boom, boom, right in a row. Virile as a bull.”
I want to say it’s all the sun that’s making my face all red, but it wouldn’t be the truth. She certainly doesn’t hold back.
“Hang on to your first one, Marie. They’re always special. Just you wait and see.” There’s a certainty in her voice that makes me wonder. “Anyway...” She braces against her deck chair and stands. “I should get Mabel upstairs so we can get ready. It takes a while when you get to be our age, and she needs a little extra help.”
Nodding, I get up to offer a hand. Together, we get Mabel on her feet, then Joyce leads her towards the elevators. Mabel mentions something about a lunch buffet, which makes Joyce smile. “Yes, Mabel. Soon. But first we’re getting ready.”
Shaking my head with a grin, I watch them until they’re out of sight. She’s something else. I return to my chair and read for a while before I feel my eyelids get heavy. Putting my book down, I roll over and shift my chair to be flat. I cross my arms so I can rest my head on them and it’s not long before I doze off in the shade.
Chapter 19: Angie
I wake up to strong hands rubbing my back. Hard, powerful hands, firmly massaging lotion into my skin. I close my eyes, enjoying the sensation, his touch hot even under the sun bearing down on us. God, that feels good.
My eyes shoot open. Wait a minute. Who the hell is it? I roll off the deck chair with a yelp, landing in an awkward crouch and looking up. Gavin. I should’ve guessed.
He’s got his hands out in a “Who? Me?” gesture, mouth turned up in that infuriating smirk that drives me nuts. “What? You were starting to burn. Just a little sunblock.”
The sun’s moved while I was sleeping. I probably would have turned into a tomato, but still... “You could’ve asked first.”
“How do you know I didn’t? You were asleep.”
“You can’t just start rubbing people in their sleep!”
“Pretty sure I just did.”
“You know what I mean!” So much for peace and quiet.
He shrugs. “Fine. As you wish.” He bends and picks something up from the deck chair. Something white, which he balls up and carries with him. “You have fantastic tits, by the way.”
My mouth drops open as I realize he’s holding my top. Oh shit. He must’ve untied it while he was putting on the lotion. I was so mad I didn’t notice, and now he’s taking off with it. “Come back with that!” Clutching an arm across my chest, I chase after him.
He laughs out loud and takes off, running just fast enough to keep ahead of me. “I’m sorry, are you missing something?” he calls out over his shoulder.
“Stop being an ass, Gavin.” I stop, scowling at his back. He turns around and waves my top in the air. There’s no point in chasing him. I refuse to stoop to his level and play that game. “You’ve had your fun. Come on, give it here before someone sees me.”
He shakes it teasingly. “Giving up already?”
“Oh, cut it out. Hand it over.” I glance around to see if anyone’s watching, but this part of the deck is deserted except for us. At least there’s that.
As I stalk forwards with one arm covering my breasts, he stays put, lifting his arm to keep my top just barely out of reach. “I want to see you jump for it.” He grins broadly, his cheeks dimpling. How did I never notice those dimples before?
I glare at him, up at the annoying slip of white cloth and then back at him. There’s no way I’m giving him the satisfaction of watching me bounce around topless. I need a different plan. Work smarter, not harder.
Stepping right up close, I put my free hand softly onto his tight abs, tracing each ridge with my fingertips as I slide upwards to his chest. My breath catches, and I have to remember why I’m doing this. I’m trying to distract him, but that’s not going to help if I can’t focus. “You know, maybe you’re right.”