Chapter Sixteen #2
Mack smiled and stood up, greeting her with a polite hug.
Kayla couldn’t help but clock how warm that greeting was.
Mack had certainly made progress on her task of sucking up to Amy.
She was always the kind one between them.
And, after all, Amy would need a friend when this was over.
Kayla’s annoyance melted into an appreciation for her best friend.
What’s more, she could take advantage of those kind instincts.
“Hi there,” Kayla said and stepped into Skye’s arms.
Her abrupt movement meant Skye had no choice but to accept the embrace. At first, it was an awkward, one-sided hug, but after a moment, she pulled her arm from Amy’s waist and wrapped both around Kayla.
Just like that, the last year and a half melted away.
The fights and the tears and the overwhelming pain evaporated as Skye’s scent wrapped around her.
The ever-present sunscreen that smelled of bananas, a hint of apple from her hairspray.
Clean cotton and sun-warmed skin. It was never just one thing with Skye.
It was a conglomeration of scents that was overwhelming at first, but smoothed into a wonderful, well-loved whole.
Without warning, emotion ripped through Kayla’s body.
She nearly wept at the flood. It felt like coming home after a tough loss on the pitch.
Like dropping into her favorite armchair with Mr. Pebbles on her lap.
Like breathing and suffocating all at once.
Before she could get lost in the emotion, Kayla let go and took a step back. She was honestly a little surprised to see Skye looking just as shell-shocked as she felt. Mack, on the other hand, looked like she could rip Skye limb from limb with her bare hands.
Amy, seemingly oblivious to the whole exchange, said, “I can’t tell you how excited I am for this. I have never needed a massage more. Thanks again, Kayla.”
“Yeah, um, thanks,” Skye said.
Mack grunted and shared her scowl evenly between Kayla and Skye.
“It’s my pleasure,” Kayla said.
“Oh my God, is that champagne?” Amy asked. “Yummy, yummy.”
She dropped Skye’s hand and hustled over to the table of snacks and drinks.
Skye didn’t follow. In fact, it wasn’t entirely clear if Skye even knew that Amy had been there.
Her eyes hadn’t left Kayla since she’d entered the spa.
She gave Skye a suggestive little wink, then spun on her heel to head over to the table herself.
She may have imagined it, but she swore she heard a quiet burst of air as Skye let out her held breath.
This was going to be easier than she thought.
Amy drained her glass, then held it out to Mack to refill. “I could get used to this pampering. You’ve got yourself a keeper, Kayla.”
Mack’s smile was sheepish as she handed Kayla a full glass.
Her instincts were to tease Mack and ask if she had a crush, but she forced herself to tamp it down.
Instead, she wrapped her free arm around Mack’s and looked up into her eyes, channeling the soppy, smitten looks she saw on the parade of Mack’s girlfriends.
It wasn’t exactly hard to do. She did have deliciously green eyes and tantalizingly muscled arms.
“I sure do,” Kayla said.
For a moment, Mack smiled at her in a sweet, loving way that would have melted the panties off anyone with a heartbeat. Then she rolled her eyes and scoffed, tipping her own glass back and taking a healthy sip.
Skye marched over and snatched up the bottle, clearly annoyed that she was the only one Mack hadn’t served. “Oh yeah, she’s a prince.”
Mack opened her mouth to snap back, but before they could start bickering again, the receptionist glided into the waiting area. “McKensie and Amy? Your massage awaits.”
Kayla took a sip of champagne to hide her smile as the other three all stared blankly at the receptionist. Skye was the first one to react. “There must be some mistake. It should be Skye and Amy.”
“Skye?” The receptionist made a show of checking her list. She was certainly earning her bribe. “I have Skye and Kayla as the next couple.”
Mack said, “No, those are switched around.”
“You’d rather Skye and Kayla go first?”
Skye snapped, “No, I’d rather have my couples massage with my fiancée, Amy.”
The receptionist kept her feigned puzzled look in place as she looked between them. Kayla had to bite her lip not to laugh. Honestly, the woman could win an Oscar.
Mack’s tone was far kinder than Skye’s when she said, “Skye can take my place. I’m sure that could work, right?”
“I’m afraid not. Skye requested a firmer massage than the rest of you, and we assigned massage therapists based on those requests. Her massage therapist is still with another client. If you want to change the order of the massages, you will have to rebook with the front desk for another day.”
“But that’s ridiculous,” Skye snapped.
Amy, ever the peacemaker, hopped up out of her chair and drained her glass of champagne. “Oh, it’s fine. Mack and I can go first. Can’t we, Mack?”
Mack took her outstretched hand and stood awkwardly. “Sure. I guess.”
“But Amy…”
“I am not missing out on this massage, sweetie, even to have one with you.” Amy turned to the receptionist and said, “Take us away, I can’t wait another moment.”
The receptionist was smart enough to be quick about it, and before Kayla could so much as blink, she was alone in the lobby with a sputtering Skye and a bottle of very good champagne.
She leaned over to refill Skye’s glass, careful to turn the full extent of her cleavage directly into Skye’s line of sight.
As she suspected, Skye looked at her breasts and did not look away. So predictable.
Kayla put a seductive purr into her voice and said, “Don’t worry about Mack. She’s quite the gentlewoman. I’m sure she won’t peek while they’re getting undressed.”
Skye’s eyes snapped up, away from Kayla’s cleavage, and settled on her eyes. “Undressed?”
“Well, yeah, silly.” She leaned back and crossed her legs slowly, making sure to point her toes as she did so her calves popped. “You have to be naked for a massage. Has it really been that long since you’ve had one?”
“I, um, yeah. I guess it’s been a while.”
Kayla clicked her tongue. “That’s a shame. Amy should take better care of you.”
Skye’s eyebrows shot up, but she still looked like a boxer who’d taken a few shots to the jaw. “She’s been busy. Besides, she doesn’t have the same training you have.”
“You know I’m self-taught. But if you want me to give her a few pointers, I’m happy to.”
Skye laughed, but she was blushing in that adorably blotchy way of hers.
Kayla’s brand of massage was far more sensual than any professional, and Skye had taken advantage many, many times in their years together.
She couldn’t begin to count the number of times she had seduced Skye by starting with an offer to massage her sore muscles.
Skye said, “I’m good. Thanks.”
Kayla covered her smile by sipping her champagne. She hadn’t expected Skye to flirt back too much. She just wanted Skye to remember how good they were together and, if the continued blush on her neck was any indication, Kayla had scored another victory in the Plan of Seduction.
They sat for a while in companionable silence. There was intimacy in the comfort of those quiet moments and Kayla wanted Skye to feel it. To remember it. In fact, even she was surprised how comfortable it was. The charged tension had dissipated and she could just enjoy her surroundings.
A flash of movement from the window beside her caught Kayla’s attention.
A breeze had ruffled some flowers and then moved on to set some palm leaves above them.
Kayla let her gaze wander through the lush landscape out until it was swept away by the gentle swell of ocean waves.
She couldn’t hear the birds in the trees or the sweep of water over sand, but she could feel it.
A place this beautiful was so east to get lost in.
Kayla returned her attention to the room, only to find Skye watching her. Skye’s smile was easy and her gaze soft. She spoke without thinking, just let the words come. “We chose a great spot to get married.”
Skye’s smile widened as she looked out through the window, but Kayla could see the moment when she remembered she wasn’t actually sitting here with her fiancée. The silence had clearly worked, but her discomfort was back.
Changing the subject, Skye asked, “Who’s watching the boys?”
“Tara.”
“Oh no.”
“Yeah, they’re going to come home five pounds heavier and too lazy to work, but they deserve a little spoiling now and then.”
Skye laughed. “Remember when we came back from that race in Baja?”
“How could I forget? Mr. Pebbles had gas for a week and wouldn’t stop begging for Doritos.”
Skye laughed again, slapping her knee as she bent over. “Finn wouldn’t even share the dog bed with him, poor guy.”
“Poor guy?” Kayla said. “How about poor us for having to clean up after that?”
“You wouldn’t even let him come to bed with us. He smelled so bad.”
“I wish I could say he learned his lesson, but he only ever listened to you anyway.”
Skye gave her a curious glance. “He doesn’t listen to McKensie?”
Kayla set her empty flute down and leaned in conspiratorially. “I think he knows she’s more of a cat person.”
Skye shook her head. “Of course she is. What do you see in her, anyway?”
Annoyance prickled across Kayla’s skin. “What do you mean? She’s my best friend. She has been since we were kids.”
“Yeah, well, she’s also an uptight ass. Nothing like your type.”
“Oh yeah? What’s my type?”
Skye opened her mouth, and Kayla was sure she was about to answer by saying “me”, but she stopped herself at the last minute. “You know how to have fun. She’s always had a stick up her ass the size of New Jersey.”