"Bonnie, what are you doing here?"Aimee just stared at the woman in the doorway. Bonnie Asher was beautiful, sultry even, as she stood there smiling at Clint, the swells of her breasts practically an invitation. Her legs were long, pale, and still inviting as she leaned against the doorframe, trying to tempt Clint into whatever made her stop by the condo. How did she even know where he lived? Clint moved in after she abandoned them. He never mentioned having contact with her, but then why would he tell Aimee if he had? She suddenly felt as if she was intruding."What? You didn't miss me? I missed you. And Abigail, of course. Aren't you going to invite the mother of your daughter in?"Aimee watched as Clint took a deep breath, just before he stepped to the side and motioned with a wave of his arm that she could enter. He closed the door behind her, staring at it a moment before turning around and walking back over to the kitchen counter as if he needed a barricade between him and Bonni
Karla left Sandy wrapped around Mitch in his bed at two that morning, the two lost in exhausted sleep. She could have stayed, both asked her to, but she didn't like the morning after awkwardness. Never allow them to see how rough you look in the morning was her rule. So, she quickly dressed and headed home. Besides, nothing was better than her own bed. She expected her own condo to be quiet, so when she walked in and every light in the place was on, her sister sitting on the couch, hand dipping numbly into a bag of sour cream chips, tears streaking her cheeks, and bloodshot eyes, Karla wished she had stayed back at Mitch's place. She wasn't sure what happened, but it was obviously not good.She tossed her keys on the dining room table and joined her sister on the couch, reaching into the bag and grabbing a couple of chips as she did. "So, what's with the cry-fest?" She popped the chips into her mouth.Aimee wiped her eyes before answering. "Mitch showed up at work tonight, wanting anot
They stayed up for another hour, Aimee crying about how she screwed up and Karla doing her best to reassure her. It seemed so different than their behavior toward each other over the previous few days. By the time Aimee forced herself to head to bed, she didn't necessarily feel better, but she didn't feel as hopeless, either. She needed to sleep, however, because of work in the morning. She thought of calling out, but that didn't sit well with her. Not for her poor-pity-me night, anyway. She would work as much as her mind would allow, but she definitely needed at least a couple of hours of sleep.Karla hugged her and even offered to clean up after their binge on ice cream and chips as Aimee trudged off to bed. Aimee thanked her, blew her nose and crawled under the covers. She was too tired to even put her pajamas on after stripping. The sheets were cold against her bare skin as she slid under the thick comforter. She pulled it up, tucking it under her arms as she stared at the ceiling.
Aimee pulled out into traffic, glad to have the day done and over. Her mind was barely able to focus on what she was doing and by the time her hump day came to an end, she found herself merely going through the motions. Ginny even ceased her attempts at trying to cheer her up and left her to her musings. She screwed up. She knew it. Clint did not call her the next day as he said he would, and she couldn't blame him. His wife was back, wanting to reconcile, and Aimee had been seeing two guys at the same time. Clint saw that as a betrayal. It was a betrayal and now Aimee lost both men.Well, she doubted she lost Mitch. According to Karla, with a bat of her eyes and a come-hither motion with her fingers, he'd be all over her again. She didn't want someone like that all over her. She didn't want a hook up. She wanted a relationship. She deserved a relationship. Why Karla still saw him, Aimee didn't know. Her sister deserved a relationship, as well. However, Aimee never truly understood Kar
Karla finished putting the bottle of vodka away and then wiped the counter from the moisture left behind. Wednesday nights were always popular at Sand Dune as people hoped to score a little hump day booty call. She could feel the energy in the bar as everyone was hyped up and hopeful. She had to admit, she truly enjoyed the gig as bartender. She wasn't sure she would, but it allowed her to keep moving. While Sand Dune had its regulars, the majority of people were either new or not frequent enough to leave a lasting memory, so every night was a new experience with new people to flirt with and tease, two of her favorite hobbies. Her night had a quiet, steady pace to it, so far. Even Paul was in a good mood. He apologized for his behavior the other night and she merely kissed him while caressing his cock through his pants, her twisted way of saying there were no hard feelings. "It's all good," she said when she pulled away. "Just remember no one has a claim to me but me.""Got it." He
Mitch watched the ladies get seated as Paul slid up beside Karla, a grin spread over his face. With a tilt of his head, he gestured to the five women. "Looks like Mom is taking over.""Don't call her Mom.""I knew hiring you was going to be good for business. I just thought it would be men who came to see you and not your mother." He gave a chuckle before turning and walking back to his end of the bar.Karla just stood there and sighed. She didn't want her worlds to collide. Her mother was not supposed to be here. It bothered her.It didn't, however, bother Betty Harper. She acted as if Karla wasn't even there as her and her friends danced with each other as well as with whoever wanted to join them, and drank like sailors on shore leave. She was happy that her mother was back out and having fun, but did she have to be doing it in her bar? The more Karla watched her, the more she knew where she received her dance moves from. Betty Harper could grind to the music with the best of them an
"I'm sorry. Where did you say you were located again?"Aimee took a deep breath, trying to rein in her impatience. It was the third time Mr. Robertson had called that month asking for directions so he could attend an appointment he made, but for which he never appeared. She wasn't sure why he kept calling. She gave him the directions, adding that she hoped they would see him this time. As she returned the phone to its cradle, she knew that, once again, he would be a no show."Mr. Robertson again?" Ginny laid a stack of manila envelopes on the counter in front of Aimee's desk. "Third time's a charm, they say.""You really think he'll show up this time?""Not at all, but where would I be if I didn't think positive?""True," Aimee said. However, she was having a hard time being positive. It was now Friday and she had not heard from Clint since their hallway conversation two nights ago. While she told him to take his time, she hadn't really meant it. The lack of communication drove her cra
Karla rolled out of bed at noon without remorse. She deserved it after the week she had. Trying to coax a smile out of her mopey sister, watching her mother get drunk at Sand Dune, and trying to keep Mitch from swallowing her thoughts had drained her just a little more than normal. That type of multitasking she could do without. She needed a few extra hours of sleep and when she heard Aimee leaving for her day job, she snuggled deeper into her covers. Noon was her sleep-in limit, however. She didn't want to waste her entire day lounging in bed, especially when there was a pool where she could be just as lazy.Being a Friday, the condos were pretty quiet with everyone at work during normal hours, so the pool should be, as well. She hoped anyway. At least there wouldn't be children splashing about. She didn't care if there were other adults. She just didn't need the noisy tots invading her sanctuary. She grabbed a towel, her sun block, and her book, and headed out the door.The sky was c
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