I woke up sandwiched sweetly between Janie and Gretchen, the three of us spooning, Janie’s back to my front and Gretchen behind me, her arm draped protectively over us both. I kissed the top of Janie’s head and she smiled sleepily, her body slowly waking, tensing as she stretched, cat-like, in my arms.
“Know what I want?” she murmured, not opening her eyes.
“I can’t possibly guess,” I replied, feeling Gretchen waking, too, snuggling closer.
“Ronnie’s special pancakes!” she exclaimed. “I haven’t had them in years.
Gretchen tried to make them after you left but…yuk!”
“You got it,” I agreed, laughing at Gretchen grumbling behind me.
I was in no hurry to get out of our warm bed, though, with Janie’s bottom perfectly shaped against my thighs, and I found myself considering the idea I was going to propose to the Baumgartners. I hadn’t consulted Janie, or TJ for that matter-but Doc and Mrs. B were the place to start, I decided, sliding my hand over Janie’s hip, feeling her wiggle and press back against me.
“Well…that’s where you were all night. Good morning, ladies.” I glanced up to see TJ standing in the doorway, his hair tousled but his eyes bright as he looked at the three of us snuggled together on the sofa bed. I smiled up at him, seeing it in his eyes, that dark look of lust, and knew how much just finding us together like this turned him on. Proof of that fact tented his boxers almost immediately, and he turned, excusing himself to use the bathroom.
“You’re so lucky,” Janie murmured, her eyes closed again. “He’s such a hottie.”
I smiled. “He is, isn’t he?”
“You damned well know he is.” Gretchen squeezed my ass, making me squeak. “And I think you should share.”
Janie turned in my arms, her eyes brightening. “Now that’s a good idea!”
“Hungry girl.” I kissed her nose and then, still smiling, crawled out of bed and headed toward the kitchen, calling: “Time for pancakes!” When TJ joined us again, wearing jeans this time-something that would cover up his obvious arousal a little better, I noted with a smile-I was up to my elbows in flour, Gretchen was nursing her first cup of coffee, and Janie was sitting at the kitchen table, complaining about her growling stomach.
“How’d you sleep?” I asked TJ, mixing the pancake batter like I always did-by hand.
“Like the dead,” he said with a snort. “I didn’t even know where I was, or that you weren’t in bed with me…until I got up.” His eyes met mine and I smiled, knowing he was remembering just where he found me when he got out of bed.
“Although now I feel like the living dead. I’ve got a kink in my neck you wouldn’t believe.” He rolled his neck with a groan.
“I’d give you a massage, but my hands are full,” I said with a shrug, holding up my hands, still covered in flour.
“I’ll do it.” Janie smirked as she got up and slid in behind TJ’s chair, her hands going to work on his neck and shoulders, making TJ groan even louder.
“My brother says I give the best massages of anyone he knows.” I bet he does, I thought, moving around Gretchen to wash my hands.
Thankfully, Henry’s attention had been diverted from his sister lately to a certain spirited redhead. “Speaking of, Gretchen, will you go find out if Henry wants some of Ronnie’s special pancakes?”
“My god, girl, your hands are incredible,” TJ moaned, glancing over his shoulder at a beaming Janie.
Smiling and humming to myself, I began to pour batter onto the hot griddle, pretending I didn’t notice the way Janie pressed her breasts against TJ’s back as she massaged his shoulders. It wasn’t long before the whole family was filling the kitchen, all clamoring for pancakes-even Doc and Carrie, who usually didn’t care for the all-out sugar-fest that was Ronnie’s Special Pancakes. I even made one for myself, not even calculating the serious amount of calories of the thing in my head before sitting next to TJ at the table and digging in.
“These are evil on a plate,” Henry said, his mouth full.
“Poor man’s crepes,” I said with a laugh, taking another bite. They were just huge, thin pancakes, rolled up with applesauce and cinnamon sugar inside, topped with whipped cream and more cinnamon sugar.
“Oh my god, I can’t even finish this,” Carrie sat back with a laugh as Doc made a grab for her plate.
“I think I’ll indulge,” Doc said with a grin, starting in on hers.
“Okay, now we all need to go for a swim to work off the calories,” Gretchen remarked from where she was putting her plate in the sink.
“Aren’t you supposed to wait half an hour before going swimming?” I laughed.
“That’s such an old wive’s tale.” Gretchen rolled her eyes. “So who’s with me?”
“Me!” Janie jumped up from where she was sitting on the other side of TJ.
She nudged him, “Coming?”
TJ nodded, swallowing a bite of his half-eaten pancake concoction. “Sure, in a minute.”
Henry, Gretchen, Janie and Doc went upstairs to change into suits while Carrie started to clear the dishes.
“I’ll get it,” I told her. “I was the one who made the mess!” She waved me away, smiling. “The cook needs to eat, too.”
“Missed you last night,” TJ murmured, sliding an arm around my waist and pulling me close.
“Missed you, too.” I smiled, watching Carrie at the sink, washing dishes.
“But no one wanted to wake you…”
His breath was warm against my ear, close. “I wish you had.”
“Patience.” I nudged him with my hip, glancing down at his now empty plate. “Are you going swimming?”
“Why not?” He picked up his plate, carrying it toward the sink. “What’s the point of vacationing on the beach if you’re not gonna swim, right?”
“Towels are in the linen closet upstairs,” Carrie told him, taking his plate.
“You coming?” TJ asked on his way by.
“In a few minutes.” I pointed to my half-eaten breakfast. “You go ahead.” I winked at him. “Have fun.” My message was unmistakable and I could have sworn he actually blushed as he turned, going to get his suit on. That made me smile.
Then it was just me and Mrs. B. She’d finished the dishes and poured herself a cup of coffee, joining me at the table.
“I like him,” she said, sitting across from me and stirring a spoonful of Splenda into her cup. “He’s good for you.”
“Yeah.” I laughed. “I kinda like him, too.” I glanced across the table at her, knowing it was now or never. This was the best opportunity I was going to get.
“Can I talk to you?”
She looked at me over the rim of her cup, her eyes unreadable. “Sure.
What’s up?”
I had no idea how to proceed, so I just said it, impulsively, the thing I was thinking, the thing I wanted. “Would you mind if Janie moved to New York with me and TJ?”
She blinked at me, setting her cup down slowly. “Say that again?” I didn’t. Instead, I tried to explain. “We’re moving to New York at the end of this school year. TJ found a consulting job out there that will pay him double what he’s making now, and I got a position in a private school,” I said in a rush. “Only, I worried about what to do with Beth. We have no family out there, and I hate the thought of putting our daughter into daycare…”
“You want Janie to move to New York to be a nanny?” Carrie raised her eyebrows at me, taking another sip of her coffee.
“Not exactly.” I cleared my throat. Not exactly, indeed. “I thought…well…” I changed direction. “Did you know Janie writes?”
“Sure.” Carrie leaned back in her chair, looking at me. “She’s written stories since she was little.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “But have you read anything she’s written lately?”
“Not…well, I guess, not for a few years.” She cocked her head at me, frowning. “Why?”
“Because she’s good.” I leaned forward in my chair. “She’s really good, Carrie. And a girl with that kind of talent needs an agent. She needs a New York agent.”
Carrie shook her blonde head, pursing her lips. “Publishing is such a long shot.”
I nodded. “But TJ knows people. Lots of people,” I told her. “That’s how he got the job he did in the first place. He’s got connections you wouldn’t believe.”
“What about school?” she asked, although I could tell she was more than considering it now. She looked cautiously hopeful.
“She’ll graduate at the end of this year, won’t she?” I smiled. “We’re not moving until over the summer. She can come stay with us then.” She didn’t say anything, but I could see her thinking about it. “I was just thinking, it would be the perfect arrangement. She could provide childcare for our daughter in exchange for room and board…and she’d be in New York, where she could make connections, get an agent, even get published…”
Carrie put down her coffee cup. “Does she want this?” Did she? I hadn’t asked her. I hadn’t even suggested it to her. But I knew.
I just knew. “Yes.”
“Let me talk to Doc about it, okay?” Carrie got up from the table, deep in thought. She put her cup in the sink and ran water in it, glancing at me. “I’ll let you know.”
I nodded, following her to the sink, putting my plate in. “Are you coming swimming?”
She slid her arm around my waist, pulling me close and kissing me tenderly on the mouth. I gasped at the press of her body, the sweetness of her lips. When she broke the kiss, she hugged me tight.
“I can’t think of anyone I’d trust more with my daughter,” she whispered, and then she was gone, heading upstairs to change. I stood there for a moment, stunned, thinking about the past, but more about the future and the potential it held for us all.
* * * *
“Who is that with Brian?” I asked Carrie as we stood at the bar, waiting for Captain Tony to mix us two fresh strawberry margaritas. She glanced in the direction I was looking and smiled, her eyes narrowing, cat-like.
“That’s Lola!” Captain Tony had to practically yell to be heard over the music, and I turned my attention back to him as he set one of the margaritas on the counter. “She’s my cousin!”
Captain Tony’s cousin Lola was a tall, leggy blonde wearing a skin-tight leopard print dress and boots that came up to mid-thigh. She had herself draped nicely on Brian’s arm and I bristled at the thought of him finding someone again so soon after his treatment of Janie and Liz. I looked at our table and saw them sitting together, their heads, one blonde, one red, bent close. Janie pointed to Brian-she’d obviously seem him-and laughed. I waved to TJ-he was sitting on the other side of Janie. Henry got up and pulled Liz out on the dance floor as I watched. Doc and Gretchen were already out there.
“Lola likes the pretty boys,” Captain Tony said with a wink, putting another strawberry margarita on the bar next to the first.
“I’m sure he’ll be very photogenic.” Carrie laughed, picking up her drink and taking a sip. She winked back at Captain Tony. “I owe you one.” Captain Tony waved her comment away with a grin, turning to his next customer, but I looked at her, puzzled, as we moved back toward our table.
“What was that all about?” I asked as we threaded our way through the people. I looked for Brian and Lola at the bar, but they were gone, and a brief scan didn’t turn them up.
Carrie took the chair Henry had vacated, and I took Liz’s-they were dirty-dancing out on the floor under the old-style disco ball, the changing lights mirrored in their hungry eyes. Henry and I had passed in the hallway or smiled at each other over dinner a few times, but he hadn’t been away from Liz much since they’d first hooked up, and I considered that a good thing, for both of them.
Carrie smiled cryptically. “You’ll see.”
“Come dance with me!” Janie grabbed TJ’s hand and pulled him toward the dance floor. He shrugged helplessly at me, but I just grinned and waved him on.
“What are you up to?” I nudged her, sipping my margarita-god, it was strong! It made my eyes water.
“Me?” Carrie watched as TJ danced with her daughter. Janie was pressed closer than convention should allow, and she was whispering something in his ear. “What are you up to?”
I shrugged, flushing, wondering just what Janie was whispering to my husband. Two weeks ago, it would have made me crazy with jealousy.
Now…now it just made me crazy with lust. Watching the two of them together made my ass clench and my nipples tingle.
“Did you talk to Doc?” I asked, my gaze shifting to them out on the dance floor. They were a sweet sight, Gretchen’s head resting on Doc’s shoulder.
“I did.” Carrie nodded, taking a long, hard sip of her drink.
I hadn’t expected to bring it up. I wanted to wait for her to tell me, but I was so anxious to know. I wanted to tell TJ. And Janie. I wanted it so bad I could taste it.
“If it’s really what Janie wants…” Carrie slid a hand under the table and squeezed my thigh. “We’re all for it.”
“Really?” I gaped at her, my heart hammering in my chest. I’d hoped, of course, but hadn’t really expected them to agree.
“She’ll love it.” Carrie looked at her daughter, turned in TJ’s arms now, her bottom pressed to his crotch as she wiggled back against him. “We can’t protect her forever.”
The music suddenly stopped and the dance floor went dark. The whole bar objected in collective surprise and then the huge flat-screen TV monitors above the stage flickered on. There was no sound at first, just a picture, but I recognized both of the people on the screen-the woman was Captain Tony’s cousin Lola, sitting up on a counter with her legs spread, her dress pushed up around her hips, and the guy fucking her was unmistakably Brian.
“Ah, here’s the show…” Carrie sat back with a smile, crossing one long, tanned leg over the other. The whole bar was stopped now, transfixed, watching the scene on the screen. The sound piped in then through the overhead speakers, loud and clear.
“That’s a good boy,” Lola moaned, wrapping her thigh-high boots around Brian’s waist. His jeans were down to his ankles, his bare ass clenching as he pumped his cock deep into her.
I gaped at the screen, looking over at a grinning Carrie. What in the hell was going on?”
“Do you like Lola’s pussy?” the woman on the screen purred.
“Yeah…yeah…” Brian gasped, not slowing. “Feels good…”
The blonde reached down and lifted up the leopard-print dress pooled in her lap, revealing something that made me do a double take before she asked,
“Maybe you’ll like Lola’s cock, too?”
Lola wrapped her hand around a not-inconsiderable length of flesh rising up from between her legs-and it didn’t belong to Brian. He was still inside of her…him?… I stared in disbelief as the blonde began to pump his…her…cock, right up against Brian’s stomach.
“Holy crap!” Brian tried to move back, his face a mask of horror in his realization, but Lola had him in a vice grip, her stiletto’s digging into his ass as she pulled him in deep. “What the fuck?!”
“That’s a good boy,” Lola murmured again, her hand squeezing the length of her cock, pumping fast. “Fuck my pussy while I stroke my dick for you.” Brian groaned, not in a good way, and tried again to get away, but there was nowhere to go. Lola was a head taller than he was, and obviously a great deal stronger.
“You did this?” I leaned in to ask Carrie the question as she watched the scene, still grinning.
She didn’t answer, but her grin widened as she raised her glass and said,
“Go Lola!”
“Get off me!” Brian yelped as Lola wrestled him to the floor, the clear winner as she sank down onto his cock again, her own cock hard in her hand.
“Jesus, you freak, get the hell off me!”
Funny how Brian’s erection didn’t disappear, though, I noticed, as the whole bar howled with laughter at his protest. Lola slapped his belly with her cock as he tried to buck her off by thrusting his hips.
“Oooooo that’s good!” Lola squealed as Brian writhed and pushed at her.
“You like Lola’s pussy, don’t you?”
Brian growled his protest again. “Get the fuck off me!”
“I’m going to get off,” Lola said simply, quickly standing and planting a stiletto heel in the middle of his chest, lifting her dress high and pumping her cock fast. “All over you.”
The whole bar cheered when Lola grunted and came, a fat splotch of cum landing first in Brian’s gaping mouth, making him gag and turn his head as the next blast hit him in the cheek, the next threading across his chest and dripping onto the tip of Lola’s black boot.
“You bitch!” Brian groaned and rolled away as Lola lifted her boot from his chest. The transvestite found her panties and put them back on as Brian gagged and crawled in the opposite direction.
“I’d keep that thing in your pants from now on if I were you.” Lola smirked, grabbing her purse from the counter. “Or you might get an even bigger surprise next time.” Lola looked right at the camera, blowing a kiss, and the whole bar erupted in laughter and cheers that only grew louder when the screen went blank and Lola stepped out from Captain Tony’s back room.
“Thank you! Thank you!” The blonde fluffed her hair and preened. And I suppose we should have expected it-maybe they were, which was why Doc and Henry were right there, standing next to Lola as Brian lunged out of the back room to tackle the transvestite who had just humiliated him in front of a crowd of people.
“You aren’t welcome here!” Captain Tony called as Doc and Henry disposed of a furious Brian out on the street. The bar was still buzzing about what had happened, but the lights were back on, as was the music, the disco ball lazily turning as if nothing had happened.
“What if he goes to the cops?” I asked Carrie, frowning as Doc and Henry came back in, both wearing identical grins.
“This is Key West.” Carrie grinned. “A straight guy complaining he got seduced by a transvestite? Please. Tell them another sob story.”
“What about the video?” I nodded toward the flat-screen monitors, dark now. “The witnesses?”
“This is Key West,” Carrie reminded me again with a wink. “A straight guy getting his comeuppance from a transvestite in Captain Tony’s is the stuff of legend-no one’s gonna be on Brian’s side, I’m afraid. And all the evidence?
Well…” She waved to Captain Tony, who winked and waved back. “That just disappeared.”
“Well, you may not be able to protect her forever.” I laughed, shaking my head and looking over to where Janie and Liz were leaning on each other, still laughing. “But you’re sure going to try, aren’t you?” Carrie slanted a smile at me and then looked at Janie. “I’m her mother. It’s the least I can do.”