Clint opened his door as Aimee stood there, a small bag of ingredients in her hand. It wasn't going to be pork chops, but it would be edible, nevertheless. She hoped, anyway. He took the bag out of her hands and kissed her cheek as she passed him on her way into the condo, giving Miss Fowler a smile and a nod as he did. The elderly woman just shook her head at him.An apple-cinnamon candle burned from the entertainment center, sending its aroma floating throughout the small space. Abigail sat in front of the television playing with her dolls on the couch as soft jazz filtered through the sound system. She smiled at the homey feeling that enveloped her."Aimee!" Abigail dropped the doll she played with and sprinted around the couch, throwing herself up into Aimee's arms. "Are you having dinner with us again?"Aimee squeezed the little girl, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I am. And I'm cooking it, as well. Do you want to help?""Can we throw flour around again?"Aimee heard Clint's lau
Abigail could be heard in the bathroom and Clint kissed Aimee's forehead once more before going to get his daughter out of the tub. She watched him disappear down the hallway, a smile of contentment on her face. The past couple of weeks were a turmoil of emotions between fighting with Karla, the confusion with Mitch, and discovering her feelings for Clint. She had to admit that Mitch had been exciting, but she could not have handled his unpredictable behavior for long. It just wasn't her. It was Karla, however, and she hoped that her sister would give Mitch the chance to prove to her that he was indeed the man for her. Karla would fight it, of course. She didn't care for commitment, didn't think that men could be committed to just one woman. Therefore, she decided a few years ago that she would be the one who played around and that the men would have to deal with it. Aimee was not that way, couldn't be that way. She believed in love and forever. She wanted the whole fairy tale and woul
Aimee slipped out of Clint's condo before the sun came up. Neither one of them wanted Abigail to wake up and find her there and then have to answer a million questions. There was still a concern with Bonnie snooping around, as well as the awkwardness of Abigail seeing her dad in bed with the babysitter. They would break it to her, but in time. Aimee didn't want to do anything that might make the little girl feel awkward about them being together.As she stepped into the hallway, she heard the elevator doors behind her ding. Turning, she watched as Mitch stepped in and turned around, his shirt hanging open. He smiled at her and gave her a slight bow of his head as the doors slid closed. Interesting. Karla doesn't usually return to the scene of her crimes. She turned back to her own condo and Miss Fowler stood outside of her door, watching Aimee as she left Clint's apartment. She gave Aimee a shake of her head as she turned back around and disappeared, the click of the door like a judgme
She couldn't believe it. The man had his own frigging apartment! Why the hell were they doing the dirty deed right against the wall where Karla could hear every single moan and grunt? Revenge, that's what it was. Pure, cruel, unadulterated revenge. Aimee was getting her back for every time Karla brought a guy home and forced her sister to hear the lustful sounds of Karla's lovemaking. Rude. "They definitely seem to be having fun," Brad whispered, as he circled Karla's nipple with his finger. "Is it too much for you to relax and have your own fun? I'll understand if you just want to lay here and cuddle a bit."Karla stared at him, her eyes wide, lips pressed together. "Karla Harper does not cuddle. No, Aimee is only doing this because of how we acted the last time you came over. Nope. She's not going to get the last moan." She reached out to Brad's broad shoulders, pulling him down on top of her as she swung a leg around his legs and kissed his throat. "Now, fuck me."He just chuckled.
He heard her coming down the hallway as Aimee talked to him about something cute Abigail did the other day. At least, he assumed it was cute. The little girl was only three years old, after all. He didn't hear any of it, because he was too busy listening for Karla.And Brad.Mitch grinned as he picked up his coffee cup, the steam bathing his face as he took a sip. He just set the cup back on the table when Karla appeared, stopping abruptly, causing Brad to run into her as she just stared at Mitch, acting as if she had just been caught doing something wrong. She still didn't understand. Even after their conversation a few nights ago about non-traditional relationships, she expected him to be just like everyone else.Mitch Greenway was far from being like anyone else. He didn't have a typical bone in his body or a typical thought in his head. As a matter of fact, typical was the last word he would use to describe himself or his lifestyle."Good morning," he said, smiling. "Aimee was nice
Wednesday night at Sand Dune boomed loud with music and laughing patrons, college kids and surfers fresh off the beach. Some even bothered to wipe the sand off their feet. Karla wiped down the counter, having to step on her tiptoes to reach the outer edge. She didn't mind, of course. Leaning over like that allowed her top to pop open as she teased the customers with her cleavage and promised them treasures just beyond their grasp. Heath, Sand Dune's bouncer five nights a week, winked at her as she glanced up, showing his appreciation of the view. Paul Kiser, owner and bartender, reached under her skirt and pinched her ass as he walked by on his way to the Glenlivet. Those who noticed, also cheered. Karla just yelped as she jerked upward, her squeal turning to laughter. She turned, smiling at him as she slapped her towel at him. He surprised her with the pinch, but it wasn't unexpected. Paul played grab ass with her ever since before he hired her. It was probably because of how much he
Cleaning the counter also gave her time to think about the fiasco of this morning. Mitch Greenway fascinated her about as much as he totally pissed her off. Their relationship, friendship, encounter—she had no idea what to call what they had—began, because she intended to manipulate him to fix her sister's piece of crap car. She threw herself at him, screwed him in his garage, and even had a threesome with him and her friend, Sandy, from the local radio station right outside Sand Dune on the beach. What did Karla get in return? He chased after Aimee, instead. Of course, Aimee and he never had sex, but it did put the twins at each other's throats for a couple of weeks.Her phone vibrated again. Because we're not dating. Isn't that the gist of what I heard you tell Brad this morning? And I paid last time. She growled. They weren't dating, that was true enough. However, Karla Harper didn't pay, not for dinner, not for car repairs, not for anything, and she told him that in her next text.
Mitch Greenway dropped his cell phone onto the work bench, as a chuckle escaped his lips. It was easy to get Karla rattled. She wore such a massive chip on her shoulder. He didn't understand why, either. She was pretty, no doubt. Sexy, even. However, she could really be a snot at times. His chuckle settled into a smile as he pulled a rag out of his back pocket, wiping his hands. Turning back to the Dodge Dakota he was working on, he made a five dollar bet with himself as to whether she would show up for dinner or not."Turned you down, didn't she?"He glanced over to where Sandy Elantra leaned back on the truck—her truck—with her hands gripping the edge of the truck bed, offering him a nice view of her round breasts as she made sure they were pushed out for his viewing pleasure. Her stance reminded him of the first night Karla appeared in his garage, offering herself up to him so that he wouldn't chase after her sister. It didn't stop him, of course. He fucked Karla right there in the
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