Chapter 17
Seventeen
Smitty slept for more than an hour. He woke up when Caroline crept in to get her bathing suit. From the other room, he could hear talk about going to the pool until it was time to leave for the ferry.
Now that some of the initial shock had worn off, the anger began to set in. He couldn’t remember being this pissed since the last time he saw his mother.
He watched Caroline come out of the bathroom in her bikini and tried to remember what he had once seen in her. Whatever it was, it was gone now. Even her sexy body, which had dominated his thoughts for weeks, was no longer a turn on.
Smitty steamed as he recalled making love to her—at least that’s what it had been to him. She’d been so responsive. Had that been just an act? I’ll probably never know for sure. He realized they hadn’t made love since she met Ted. That thought did nothing to soothe his aching heart.
After she left the room, Smitty turned onto his side and hugged a pillow to his chest. Over the music they had on, he could hear his friends laughing and talking by the pool. Ted’s family was out there, too.
Why am I hiding in here? I didn’t do anything wrong.
An inspired thought occurred to him, and he sat up with a burst of energy. I’ve got a few more hours with them both before we go our separate ways. Maybe it’s time to make them squirm a little. A big smile spread across his face. Oh, yes. Let’s get busy.
Ted was swimming laps in the pool when Smitty came out wearing his bathing suit and an unbuttoned shirt. A fat cigar dangled between his fingers.
“Looks like you’re feeling better,” Chip said.
“I’m back and better than ever before.” Smitty bent down to lay a long, wet kiss on Caroline. “Sorry to desert you all day, sweetheart.”
Ted burned as he watched Caroline brush her hand over her mouth.
“That’s okay,” she said, clearly flustered.
Smitty lit the cigar and sat on the end of her lounge chair. “Did everyone have a good time last night?” he asked as he massaged the bottom of her good foot with his thumb.
Caroline’s eyes were almost frantic when she subtly sought out Ted in the pool.
“It was a great party,” Mitzi said. “Everything was just as we hoped it would be.”
“Having all of you here made it perfect,” Lillian added.
Ted noticed his grandmother watching as Smitty’s hand caressed Caroline’s leg. Pushing himself up and out of the pool, Ted sat on the deck with his back to the happy couple.
“How about one last round of margaritas before you all have to go?” Mitzi asked, sliding on her sandals.
“I’ll help you, Mom,” Ted said.
“That’s all right, darling. Come over for a drink when you’re ready to go.”
“So did you miss me in that big bed last night, sweetheart?” Smitty asked, reclining back against Caroline.
“Cut it out, Smitty. Don’t be crass.”
“I’m sorry.” He kissed her hand and leaned in to capture her lips.
“You’d think they were the ones who got engaged last night,” Chip joked.
Elise giggled. “They’re next.”
Ted felt like an elephant was standing on his chest as he struggled to take a deep breath.
“You might be right, Elise.” Smitty kissed each of Caroline’s fingers. “I said I’d never get married again, but that was before I met the lovely Caroline.”
She tugged her hand free, nudged Smitty off her chest, and got up. “I’m going to pack.”
Smitty jumped up. “I’ll help you,” he said with a wink at Elise.
“I don’t need any help,” Caroline said.
“Oh, sweetheart, I insist.” He slung his arm around her shoulders and escorted her from the pool area.
Ted watched them go, filled with helpless, jealous despair. He glanced over at his grandmother and saw the despair on her face as well.
Caroline stormed through their bedroom tossing clothes into her duffel bag. She was moving around much better on her walking cast and had all but abandoned the crutches. “What was that all about?” she asked Smitty.
He reclined on the bed to watch her pack. “What was what all about?”
“You may as well have lifted your leg and peed on me to mark your territory.”
“Now why in the world would I have to do that in this crowd?” he asked, full of innocence. “I was happy to see my best girl. What’s wrong with that?”
She stopped what she was doing to look at him. “Nothing’s wrong with it. I just don’t go for all that PDA. You know that.”
“We were among friends.”
“That’s not the point.”
“What is the point?”
She held his eyes for a long moment during which he could tell that she was debating something. “Never mind.”
He reached for her hand and pulled her down next to him on the bed. “Tell me.”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
When exactly do you plan to tell me you’ve got a thing for my best friend?
But instead of asking that burning question, he said, “All right then, kiss me.” He moved quickly to wedge himself between her legs and kissed her hard and fast. His tongue took deep possession of her mouth while his hand slid under her skimpy bikini to cup her bottom.
He wanted to swear when his penis reacted to the feel of her pressed against him. Traitor!
She pushed at his chest in protest, but he ignored her as he thrust his tongue even deeper and sank two fingers into her.
“Stop it!” she cried as she twisted away from his kiss and the invading fingers. “Stop!”
“Why?” He dropped kisses on her neck as he unclipped the front clasp of her bikini top. When it fell away, he rolled his tongue over her nipple. “I want you, Caroline. Let me make love to you.” He tugged on the tiny scrap of fabric that still covered her.
“Smitty, please,” she begged, now on the verge of tears. “Stop. I don’t want this.”
Realizing he was about to force himself on a woman for the first time in his life, he released her abruptly. “What do you want, Caroline?”
She got up, and with shaking hands she reattached her top. “Not this,” she whispered as she went into the bathroom and closed the door.
Caroline slid down the back of the bathroom door and dissolved into tears. This is a nightmare, she thought as she was choked with sobs. I need you, Ted. Come get me, and take me away from here.
Smitty lay on the rumpled bed, fighting to catch his breath and control his emotions.
He had never done anything like that to a woman before, let alone to one he had thought he loved only yesterday.
Well, I guess this proves you’re not all that different from your old lady after all.
At least she’d approve of using sex as a weapon.
Ted came into the house and stopped to contemplate the closed door to the master bedroom. When he thought he heard Caroline cry out in distress, it took everything he had not to storm in there to get her. Son of a bitch!
Parker walked out of the kitchen with a beer to find Ted staring at Smitty’s bedroom door with fire in his eyes.
What the fuck?
“Duff?”
Ted looked up at him with unseeing eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“I thought I heard someone crying.”
“She looked pissed at the pool,” Parker said, nodding at the closed door.
“Yeah.” Ted’s jaw clenched and a tick of tension fluttered in his cheek. “I’m going to pack.”
“Okay.” Parker took a long swig from his beer as he watched his friend take the stairs two at a time.
What the fuck?
“Chip,” Elise whispered with a giggle, tearing herself away from him. “Save it until we get home. We have to pack.”
He grabbed her waist with both hands and hauled her back to him. “That’s hours and hours from now. I can’t wait that long.”
She pushed her backside against his erection in a pretend attempt to escape from him. “You just had some this morning.”
He groaned from the feel of her pressed against him. “That was hours and hours ago.” Cupping her breasts from behind, he teased her nipples. “Come on. Just a quickie.”
“What’s with you today?” she asked with amusement as she turned to face him.
“Being engaged makes me horny.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she laughed. “What’s going to happen when we’re married?”
He backed her up to the bed and tumbled down on top of her. “I think it might get worse.”
She trembled with desire. “Oh, boy.”