The sun caressed her flesh as she laid on the sand, the sound of the waves below her mixed with Clint's daughter's squeals. Karla loved the beach. She just didn't love the people who came to the beach. Unless it was men gawking at her body, she much preferred a lonely beach. She could go topless then without worrying about being turned in for indecency.She could feel Aimee's eyes glaring at her, but she didn't care. She was over her sister and her pious attitude. Who was she to judge Karla when she was playing around with two men? Miss Morality finally had men paying her attention and suddenly everything she had preached before was out the window. It was fun to watch."Hey, Karla. How are you doing today?" Clint reached down and grabbed a towel, dripping cold water all over Aimee who screamed as she tried to jerk out of the way."Living life to the fullest. How is Mr. Mom doing?"He just laughed as he stood and finished toweling himself off. "Covered in sand and salt water on a Sunday
"Could you have been any more annoying today?" Aimee tossed her towels toward the washroom, missing the open door and hitting the wall, instead. She couldn't believe her sister behaved the way she did in front of Clint, but even more so in front of Abigail. It was beyond inappropriate. "Oh please. Pull your bathing suit out of your ass and relax. I didn't say anything a three-year-old was going to catch. And besides, your Mr. Mom seemed to like the teasing." Karla opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. She stood by the counter as she took a deep swallow, her body covered in sweat and sun tan oil. Aimee would be envious of her sister's size six if she wasn't so pissed off at the moment.Aimee turned and faced her sister, her hands on her hips. "Why are you being such a bitch? You ignored the way I wanted to handle the car repair. You're being rude to Clint. You're doing everything you can to dictate my life to be the way you want it to be and not what I want. Why?""I'm
Aimee picked out a simple red pullover and a beige pair of shorts. She had enough sun today and didn't need to get burnt any more. Granted, the sun would be down in just over an hour, but why chance it? As she slipped into her deck shoes, her cell phone trilled. Mitch.She took a deep breath before sliding the lock to accept the call. "This is Aimee.""Oh, so serious. You working on a Sunday?""Sorry. No, it's just the habit I got into back in college and have never changed it. How's it going?""Nervous?" He laughed as he said it. She must have sounded off. It wouldn't surprise her. She felt off. She wasn't expecting him to call her. Luckily, he didn't wait for her to answer him. "I just wanted to call and see how you were doing, and to tell you again that I was glad you made it out last night. I was hoping we could see each other again this week."Another date? "That sounds nice. I'll have to see what my week looks like.""Dance card all filled up, huh?""Well you know, a girl has to
Aimee watched as Karla left them and walked over to where Abigail played with her dolls. "And who are these lovely ladies?" Karla sat down as she pointed to the dolls on the table.Clint glanced at Aimee, a smile decorating his face. "You okay?" He whispered it in order not to draw Karla's attention. Aimee was glad for that.She nodded. "Yeah. Thanks." She forced a smile upon her face as she stepped closer to him. She couldn't explain what was going on, so she pushed it aside. "How are we doing here?"He stared at her a moment, and she knew she hadn't fooled him. Yet, he wasn't going to push. "We're ready to light it up. Ribeyes for the adults and a hot dog for the little one who hasn't developed taste buds yet.""What can I do to help?"There wasn't much for her to do. Clint prepared everything ahead of time—corn on the cob wrapped in foil and seasoned, potato salad and even beans in a pot ready to be heated on the grill when the steaks were ready. A bottle of wine sat on the table al
Karla hated to admit it, but she actually had a good time last night. She went with the intention of stealing her sister's love interest but wound up enjoying just being there in everyone's company, instead. She even enjoyed little Abigail, and Karla wasn't overly fond of children. It wasn't that she really hated children. She just didn't like having to watch everything she said or how she behaved. She never knew what would come out of her mouth and quite often it spewed forth before she could think better of saying it. Most often, it was some off-color comment or a slutty remark she thought was funny as it bounced around in her head. It was funny when it came out, too, but it wasn't always appropriate for those under a certain age. She preferred being uncensored.Of course, the fact that she had a good time last night meant that she woke up that morning feeling somewhat guilty for her motives and behavior. She felt the need to make it up to her sister and she knew just the way to do i
Aimee stretched her arm out and took the manila folder that Ginny passed to her. "I need these filed, and copies sent over to the courthouse.""You got it," Aimee said back to her. "And Bryan needs a consult on a case he's working on. He's in his office."Ginny nodded. "Any fun plans for lunch?""Not unless you think a cold turkey sandwich is fun. I think I'm just going to sit in the break room and catch up on some reading. My life has had too much drama in it lately."Ginny propped her elbows up on Aimee's counter. "You still fighting with your sister?""I didn't think I was, but then she pulled something last night that left me wondering what the hell was going on. She's pissed at me for going out with Mitch, and so in order to get even, she's trying to go out with Clint.""Maybe you two should double date and then halfway through the night switch partners. See who likes who better. Might be a fun way to end the evening. Give a whole new twist to the bonding twins' thing."Aimee laug
The day was over, finally. Aimee felt like the last three hours just dragged. All she wanted to do was get home to a hot shower and perhaps hitting the Jacuzzi. Hopefully, no one else had the same idea and she could have the whole place to herself. She needed the retreat, although she wasn't sure why. She just felt anxious. It was weird. A knot in her stomach kept getting pulled tighter and tighter, and it felt as if it was about to snap, leaving her with a nasty mess to clean up. She had enough messes, lately.She was still confused by Karla's generosity with the tickets. Part of her wanted to take her sister at face value and think she really did want bygones to be bygones. Yet, then there was yesterday when Karla said she was ready to screw the rules and go with the flow, only to wear her sexy sundress down to the pool area, hoping to entice Clint. Aimee had been fooled then. She was worried she was being fooled again and the tickets were merely a diversion. That was the problem wit
For a Monday night, Sand Dune was busier than Karla expected it to be, people doing their best to drown their Monday blues or looking for that pick up that would put a little spark into their weekday. There was no band or DJ tonight, Paul choosing to play music through the stereo system, instead. The lights were still dim as people huddled around tables, nursing their drinks as they shared their weekend exploits with their friends. Paul flirted with her all night long, playing grab ass as she maneuvered around him behind the bar. She would just smile and push her ass into his hand as she dared him to do more in front of the customers. Of course, they didn't care. They watched and cheered him on to greater displays of sexual harassment in the workplace with the new girl. Paul was happy to oblige. That is, he was until Mitch walked into Sand Dune and took a seat at the bar. Then Paul's mood took a drastic turn for the worse."Looks like you're enjoying your new job," Mitch said, as she s
They were the last ones to arrive at the park, the others already choosing a spot and Marvin Asher firing up the grill. Karla wore a skirt that actually covered everything it should and had her breasts tucked conservatively out of sight. Aimee was shocked but glad. Clint's parents would get to know all about her sister soon enough. Aimee didn't need the first meeting to be a shocker for them.Abby ran to the Ashers first, giving them each a hug and squealing when her grandfather picked her up and threatened to throw her in the air. Then, to Aimee's surprise and delight, the little girl ran to Aimee's mother and hugged her as well. She offered the others a quick hello and then darted for the playground, Clint's mother following just to keep a nervous eye on her. Paul and Mitch stood beside the picnic table, Karla clinging to Mitch's side, as Aimee's mother sat in front of them, all talking and laughing. Aimee stood still a moment, soaking in this perfect scene. They were one big happy f
Aimee stretched, her arms extending out to her side only to come up short as her hand hit another body. Rolling over, she gently ran a hand over Clint's face, a smile dancing across her own. The Saturday morning light peeked through his curtains, calling them to rise and shine, but Aimee ignored it, as she had tried to do every morning since Monday night. Every night she fell asleep beside him, and every morning she woke up wrapped around him, her arms exploring his naked chest. No matter how tired they were when they went to bed, the two of them decided, for Abby's sake, they'd make sure they wore pajamas before falling asleep. A young girl still had moments of nightmares, after all, and needed her Daddy in the middle of the night. Monday night everything changed. Bonnie was no longer his wife. Oh, he still had to stand before the judge next week and make it official, but for all intents and purposes, it was a done deal. Nothing stood in the way of their happiness now.She ran a fing
When the kiss broke, he grinned down at her. "Just tell me we can do some more photo shoots."She laughed again, harder, freer. "Clint Asher, I'll do whatever you want. All you have to do is name it." She kissed him again, this time softer, with less urgency, but just as much passion.When the kiss was over, she slid back into her seat, scooping up her wine glass as she did. "So tell me about today."He did, sharing with her how Bonnie wasn't planning on signing the papers in the beginning. First, he told her Bonnie's revelation of a need for family and why she returned. Then, he explained how he convinced her how signing the papers was the only way for the two of them to get on with their lives, that she could be the best mother to Abby she could be, but she would never again be his wife. He told Bonnie that she needed to respect Aimee and make the transition as smooth as possible. They were Abby's parents, but they would never be friends.When he finished, Aimee told him about Bonnie
The night dragged on, and Aimee could not shake her nervousness. Clint had asked her over to join them for dinner but still had not said anything about what he felt they needed to discuss. He hadn't even mentioned his meeting with Bonnie that afternoon, which made Aimee keep quiet about how the woman visited her. No need to bring up the subject if he was going to end it with her.Abby was a bundle of energy, bouncing on the couch and wanting to dominate the attention. After growing bored with that, she dragged Aimee to her room and played tea, while her father cooked dinner and music played from the front room. As Aimee played dolls with Abby, she wondered if the girl knew the extent of everything that was happening in the lives of the adults around her or if she was blissfully oblivious. For the little girl's sake, she hoped it was the latter."Dinner's ready," Clint called from the front room. Aimee had to admit he sounded happy since she arrived, not as if he was ready to send her o
A knock came at the door. Aimee glanced over her shoulder but didn't move to answer it. If it was Clint, she wanted to postpone the inevitable for as long as possible.Whoever it was knocked again. Karla stepped out of the hallway, glanced at Aimee, and then moved to answer the door. "You worry too much," Karla said over her shoulder.Aimee turned back to the ocean, the curling waves matching the churning in her stomach. She knew she was being dramatic, but she couldn't stop herself. She hated defeat."What the hell are you doing here?" Karla's voice snapped Aimee's attention around. Expecting to see Clint standing there, she was stunned when she noticed Bonnie, the woman ramrod straight, her neck stiff, and one white-knuckled hand gripping her purse strap close to her shoulder. Aimee could feel the confusion furrowing her brow, her eyes squinting, as if trying to make sure she saw what she actually saw. "Bonnie?""Again I ask, what are you doing here?" Karla stood in front of the oth
Something went wrong. While Aimee had no idea what that something was, she knew it had to be about Clint's divorce. Why else would he text her saying they needed to talk right after meeting with Bonnie? The waves barreled onto the shore, breaking upon the sand and rearranging the Atlantic Coast, just as Clint's text rearranged her security, sending her spinning in the riptide of the unknown. She stared at the white foam as the ocean sucked it back out into the deeper waters, reclaiming it as its own. Had Bonnie succeeded in the same thing with Clint? Had she won the fight and taken her husband back? Once again regaining her happy little family?She closed her eyes against the onslaught of scenarios that pummeled her mind, her head screaming against the intrusion. With everything she could muster, she tried to fight the battle within her, giving Clint the assurance he wanted that she believed him when he told her he would be here forever. Yet, it wasn't her experience. Men said whatev
Clint pulled into the local Starbucks, deciding it was the safest place to meet Bonnie to get her to sign the divorce papers. Hopefully, the opportunity for her to respond negatively would be greatly reduced by the public meeting. He had no doubt that meeting her in private would lead to her doing something detrimental to the proceeding. He just wanted to get her to sign the divorce papers and get the whole thing over with, so he could get on with the rest of his life, get on with his relationship with Aimee.He sighed. Hopefully, get Aimee to calm down and return to normal. It wasn't that all the adventures she came up with weren't hot as hell. They were, and he wouldn't mind doing them, but not if she only did them to compete with Bonnie. He wanted Aimee to be Aimee, the woman he fell in love with, the woman who sat on the couch with him and Abby and watched Disney movies, the woman who jumped into a flour fight in the kitchen, giggling and tossing the white powder everywhere. He did
Aimee stretched, her body screaming its protest at her, hating the fact that morning was already here, and she needed to rise and shine. Only one part of that would be possible until after coffee. She rolled over, her gaze drifting to the sliding glass doors at the east of her bedroom. The morning sun coaxed her, urging her to call into work and take the day off, to make a day of it at the beach, the sun's rays kissing her flesh. She grinned, scrunching down into her covers, her mind drifting to Clint's lips on hers, the passion in each one of his kisses, warming her insides like the sun would warm her outside. If she was going to call out of work, she wanted to spend the day in bed with Clint.Once they left his workshop, he went to pick up Abby and then met her at Charlie's for dinner. Abby was a chatty little girl, while she drew on her kid's menu, excited about being out with them. It was even pleasant to sit at a table, Clint's arm stretched across as he held her hand, Abby bounci
They spent the next hour moving things around in his workshop, setting up a photo shoot of the furniture he intended on selling, and making each piece look enticing. Aimee threw herself into the task at hand, examining the shadows cast by the lighting inside the workshop and making a small studio spot off to the side with nothing in the background, using some of his dark dropcloths as background drops. Clint helped her move things around, happy to be the manual labor to her vision for his photos.Outside, night started to fall, casting darker shadows on the ground as lamp posts popped on, offering only a slimmer of light to illuminate the world. Aimee finished taking her pictures: rocking chairs, tables, even a dresser Clint had crafted himself. They teased, laughing at each other when Aimee wasn't so focused on what she was doing. This was her passion, taking pictures, and she could get lost in the process for hours, inspecting angles and lighting, zooming in and out, carefully select