“We’re going for a drive. Why don’t you come with us?”
“I can’t,” she protested. “I’m exhausted.”
“Just what you need then. What could be more relaxing than an evening in the charming company of Crash and myself? We’ll even take you out to dinner. A nice place along the coast. Seafood. Do you like seafood?”
Before she quite knew what was going on, he had turned them both around and was guiding her back down the staircase. So much for her hot bath and nap.
She groaned. “Why do you need me along?”
He gave her a sideways look. “Because we like you, of course. You don’t think I want to listen to Crash the whole time, do you? He gets refreshingly quiet—or at least quieter—when you’re around.” He leaned closer, whispering loudly. “I think he has a thing for you.”
“He does not.” It was an automatic response, but there was a little jolt of hope in her stomach, which she immediately quelled. Crash would be fun to date. He was lively and playful, like a giant puppy. Gorgeous, too. But there was an almost bashful quality to him, despite his constant clowning. AJ was more sedate, gentlemanly, a little formal. It was too bad they couldn’t be combined into one guy. Fun and lighthearted, but with the capability of being serious when it was necessary. He would be the perfect man. Of course, she told herself, feeling her energy returning, if you combined the two of them, you’d never find a car—or a house—big enough to put him in.
Crash was waiting outside, and his face broke into an immense grin when he saw her emerge with AJ.
She tried to insist that Crash sit up front this time. If they were going for a long drive, she couldn’t stand the thought of seeing him crammed into the back like he usually was.
“Naw, then you would miss the view on the way,” Crash said, folding himself in and buckling up.
“Then what about you?” she shot back playfully.
“Oh, don’t worry about me. My view is just fine.”
She twisted around and saw that he was staring at her intently. “Don’t you think so, AJ?”
She didn’t hear AJ’s response, and fortunately everybody was too busy settling themselves in to see her red cheeks. She felt like she’d been blushing constantly for the past four days. These two had to be just messing with her. Surely they had all the cheerleaders they could possibly handle lining up to go out with them. She wished they would stop flirting with her, but her stomach fell a little at the thought. They were just so much fun.
They drove for several hours, occasionally stopping to walk along a beach, always chatting companionably. Crash joked around while AJ smiled indulgently and Sami giggled. It was like they’d been together forever, the three of them. Like a family. She pushed away the thought of how lonely she’d be after this week was over. Being with them was probably good for her. The tension she’d been carrying around inside her for the last year was starting to loosen its grip. She felt lighter and happier than she could remember feeling since college.
They finally stopped at a very nice restaurant overlooking the ocean and sat outside on the deck. The sun was sinking toward the horizon, and there was a cool, salty feel to the air.
“Mmm. I love the smell of the ocean,” Sami said as the waiter brought her piña colada. The guys had insisted she get what they called a “girlie drink.” She’d wanted to be offended, but she had to admit the evening called for something fruity and whimsical, preferably with a paper umbrella. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to be a paper umbrella kind of place and a piña colada was the girliest drink they offered. She leaned back, sipping it contentedly and feeling more delicate and feminine than she usually did, despite the fact that she was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. It was probably a combination of spending the morning trying on corsets and the fact that her two companions were the biggest and most masculine guys she’d ever seen. “You know, a girl could get used to this.”
The smile on Crash’s face seemed to grow even bigger than usual at her words. She wasn’t sure what that was about, but it was good to see him happy.
“I love the way the breeze plays with your hair.” She looked up in surprise. AJ had reached out a hand as if to stroke it, but suddenly his face changed and he snatched it back, reopening the menu he had closed a minute before and studying it.
She glanced at Crash, who for once seemed acutely aware of what was going on. He was staring at AJ now with a thoughtful expression.
“Your hair is beautiful,” Crash said suddenly, his joking demeanor completely gone. “Isn’t it, AJ?”
AJ mumbled something. He seemed to be using the menu as a shield now, although when Crash shrugged and raised his eyebrows, she thought AJ must be trying to communicate with him.
“May I take your orders now?”
Both men jumped at the sudden appearance of the waiter, and Sami continued to watch them out of the corner of her eye as she asked for the salmon.
“I’ll start with a bowl of clam chowder,” Crash said, his attention back on his favorite activity. “Then a porterhouse, rare, with a lobster. Loaded baked potato, extra sour cream, extra rolls. In fact, can you make that two baked potatoes?”
“Of course, sir.” The man’s face showed no surprise at all as he turned to AJ.
“I’ll have the shark steak,” AJ said. “One loaded baked potato, and a Caesar salad.”
“Very good.” He was gone, silently, and the atmosphere went back to the odd tension from before. The guys seemed to be trying to communicate silently, with little jerks of their heads and quick scowls.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” AJ picked up his beer—the only one he was allowed, she’d informed him, since he was driving—and held it up in a toast. “To new friends.”
“To new friends,” she and Crash repeated, lifting their own drinks and clinking.
“—And old ones.” AJ kept his glass in the air. Crash’s face grew dark, and he wordlessly took another drink. Sami stared at them in turn, repeating the words slowly, wondering exactly what they’d meant and why they seemed to upset Crash.
“So, Buffy. You’re looking for a new place to live?” AJ finally put his drink down with a frown toward his friend.
She nodded.
“Have you considered the Bay area?”
“San Francisco? I don’t know that I want to live in such a big city.”
He shook his head. “There are a lot of smaller places nearby. Oakland, for example.”
“Yeah.” Crash was suddenly animated again. “You could be a massage therapist anywhere, couldn’t you? We could even get you a job with the team, maybe.”
“Maybe.” AJ shook his head slightly. “But I’m sure Buffy would be happier working on normal people, not apes like us.”
The sudden image of herself massaging AJ’s huge, nude body or Crash’s, or both, caused a wave of heat to course through Sami. She forced herself to give a light laugh. “I’m not sure I could handle all of you.”
As if he had heard her thought, Crash asked, “Could you handle two of us?”
There was a commotion behind her, and Sami turned to see that the waiter had dropped a dish of rolls he’d been bringing over. He apologized profusely, scooping up the rolls and hurrying away. Crash watched him, his face bright red. “I meant—You know what I meant.”
“I’m not sure I do.” AJ gave him a stern look. “So, Buffy, how are you feeling about the workshop so far?”
“I’m enjoying it,” Sami said automatically. She couldn’t be rude and say it was something she would never have considered doing if she hadn’t been pushed into it. But once the words were out, she realized that she meant them. “It really has been fun. I’m surprised, though. I never thought I would like it. I thought people who were into leather would be scary. Like bikers.”
“White slavers,” Crash agreed. He accepted the replacement rolls from the waiter, who turned away with a startled look.
“Kind of,” Sami said, grinning. “But they’re not like t
hat at all.”
“No. They’re really friendly and down-to-earth,” AJ said. “I was amazed by that, too.”
“How was the bootblacking class?” Sami asked.
Crash gave her a wide smile. “It was cool. Here, look at my boots. Have you ever seen a better shine?” He proudly stuck out a foot for her to see, barely missing the waiter, who was passing their table. “Oh, sorry.”
Sami giggled as she gave the stumbling server an apologetic smile. “Wow, those are shiny.”
“Yes. I think I need to join a club just for the excuse to buy a bunch of leather clothes. They smelled nice.”
“They did,” AJ agreed. “Do you think you’ll keep going to clubs, too?”
Sami considered it. “I wouldn’t have thought so, but I guess I can see myself as part of their community. Some of the things they do are a lot of fun.”
“Like the rope. The outfits were really nice, too.” Crash’s soup arrived, and he attacked it with gusto, not noticing the blush that rose in Sami’s cheeks as she reached for a roll.
* * * *
“Dude, I texted Tammy.”
Crash wrenched his attention away from the movie he was watching. “You did what?”
He was suddenly glad that Buffy had gone upstairs for her bath as soon as they’d gotten home, thanking them for the very nice evening. AJ had gone to his room, claiming he had things to do. It was obvious now what that had been. Luckily, nobody else seemed to be around. The two other couples must have gone out for dinner as well. Crash had gotten his stash of junk food and settled down with the television.
This was more important than the movie, though. Crash turned it off and offered AJ a Nutter Butter, frowning at him as he sat down.
“I said I texted Tammy.”
“What did you tell her?”
AJ absently took the snack and put it next to him on the couch. “I said that I had come here to learn about BDSM and that I’d even gotten to tie up a girl. Hopefully that’ll let her see that I’m serious about making our relationship work.”
“It wasn’t just ‘a girl.’ It was Buffy.”
“I know. I didn’t mean anything disparaging. I think you should go for it with her, by the way. There could really be something there.”
Yeah, and when Tammy dumps you, you’re going to see that for yourself, and I’ll be out in the cold again. No, thanks. Crash unwrapped another package of Nutter Butters and tossed one into his mouth. “We’ll see,” he said finally, chewing.
“What do you mean, ‘We’ll see’? You’ve only got this week, then she’ll go off to God knows where. You’ve got to work quickly. We could both be in good relationships by the end of this week if everything goes well.”
“Maybe.” Crash stared at the dark television, wishing he hadn’t turned it off. It would have been good camouflage for his conflicted impulses.
“What is with you? She’s perfect!”
Crash shrugged. “I know. She’s too good for me. She deserves someone like you. So go after her yourself.”
“I don’t want to go after her! I’ve got Tammy.”
Crash sighed. “I hope it works out for you, Bro. But Buffy would be better.”
“It will.” AJ’s face got serious. “I have a good feeling about this. And trust me, you’re going to be sorry if you don’t give it a shot with Buffy. I don’t know why, but I think she’s interested.” He gave Crash a mock punch, his face lightening.
AJ’s cell phone buzzed, and he jumped as if he’d been shot. Crash watched glumly as AJ lunged up and almost ran from the room, fumbling with the phone, then reached over and picked up the forgotten snack. “Amateur.”
He had just gotten the movie turned back on when there was the slam of a door and AJ’s unmistakable tread on the stairs. It sounded like he was running up them.
If it had been good news, surely he would have come back in to gloat. Crash turned the television off again and followed his friend up to his room.
Chapter 10
There was a soft knock at the door. Sami was just drying herself off after a long, relaxing bath with her novel, and she hastily grabbed a robe and threw it on.
Crash stood there, wringing his hands. You don’t often get to see someone actually doing that, she thought, especially someone his size. If he was coming to seduce her, he certainly didn’t look enthusiastic about the idea. She considered not inviting him in. If one or both of them did decide to seduce her, it couldn’t possibly end well, as enjoyable as it would be for the moment. But it would be rude not to listen to what he wanted to say, and she couldn’t bring herself to go wandering around the house in a robe, even though nudity was allowed and encouraged.
“Come in.” She took a step back, giving in to whatever was going to happen. He didn’t look as if sex was on his mind—or any more than normal, anyway. He was a guy, after all, but now he looked like he had just lost his best friend. “What’s the matter?”
“It’s AJ.” He went directly to the bed and sat down, putting his face in his hands.
“What happened?” She was beginning to get seriously alarmed now. She glanced around for her cell phone in case they needed to call an ambulance.
“The dumb ass texted Tammy tonight.”
“Oh.” Her entire body went cold. It couldn’t have anything to do with her, then, but suddenly there was a gaping, empty hole in her stomach. Maybe AJ wanted to go back to Oakland immediately and Crash was upset about it. “Are they getting back together?”
“No.” Crash lifted his head again. “She’s a total bitch. I never liked her. I knew this was going to happen. That’s why I’ve been trying to—”
He stopped. When he didn’t finish his thought, Sami made an impatient movement. “What happened?”
“She told him to leave her alone. I think her exact words were, ‘Why should I care if you’re off tying up some slut? I need a real man. Go to hell.’” His eyes widened as he realized what he’d said. “I’m sorry, Buffy.”
It took a moment for her to realize that the slut being referred to was her. A bright light seemed to be dawning in front of her eyes. She patted his shoulder distractedly, sitting down herself.
“It’s okay. What’s going to happen now?”
“I don’t know. He’s pretty broken up.”
The empty hole in her stomach had left. She felt light and buoyant, for some odd reason. She could analyze it later.
“Why are you telling me?”
His eyes had an anguished look. “Well, I don’t really know how to put this. See, you—He likes you, and I thought maybe you would—”
She felt her eyes narrowing. “I would what?”
“I’m just saying that maybe having you around at a time like this would be really good for him. We’ve only got a few more days here, so it’s not like I’m asking you to make a lifetime commitment or anything.”
“You want me to be a rebound relationship for him?”
“Well, yeah—I mean no. I mean, you’re free to do what you want, of course. But he needs someone to take his mind off Tammy.”
“How, exactly, did you want me to ‘take his mind off’ her?”
He stood up. “I’m not handling this very well. I’m an idiot, I know. Just think about it, okay? I can help—If you need anything—”
She stood up, too, and seeing her expression, he began backing up. “Are you offering me money?”
“No, of course not.” He held up his hands as if he thought she was going to throw a punch. “I—I need to leave now.”
“You’re damn right you do.”
He turned and almost ran out the door. Sami slumped onto the bed, her good spirits draining away. She was a little confused about what had just happened, but she was reasonably sure it hadn’t been good. Crash seemed to think that she was available to have a fling with AJ in order to get him over this bitch. No doubt they would both leave at the end of the week, laughing about the silly girl who had come in handy for a quick fuck. How had she gotten herself i
nto this situation?
* * * *
AJ sat at the breakfast table, staring into his coffee cup. He would have given anything to be able to just pack up and leave, but that would have been selfish. If he wanted Crash to have any chance with Buffy, he needed to stick it out for the rest of the week. He was going to have to do some serious work with Crash, though, if there was any hope of success. Buffy was sitting on the other side of the table, looking like she was ready to murder someone, and Crash was next to him, glumly stuffing a muffin into his mouth. He hadn’t even stopped to pull it apart and see if he could identify what was in it first. It was like AJ’s despondency had settled on everyone in the house.
That impression was dispelled with a merry laugh from the staircase. Lucy came prancing into the room, a long, silky scarf floating around the skintight bodysuit she wore. Her eyes took in the room, and she called out, “Good morning, everyone!” in a sing-song voice.
AJ forced himself to smile at her, Roy, Greg, and then Susan, who all filed in behind Lucy. They sat down, talking about the restaurant they’d apparently eaten at last night and speculating on the plans for the rest of the week. Even Susan seemed fairly cheerful, smiling as she allowed Lucy to prattle to her throughout the meal.
“We’ll be meeting in the barn at ten for our next class,” Allie told them as she began cutting slices of quiche for everyone.
“What’s on tap for today?” Greg asked, rubbing his hands together.
“We’ll be talking about wax play, latex painting, and body art,” Allie said.
“Oh, goody! Body art!” Lucy clapped her hands. Susan smirked, although it might have been an attempt at a smile.
AJ’s eyes met Crash’s. He knew they were both wondering the same thing: How would Buffy react to the idea of body art?
She seemed okay with it on the surface. Lucy, of course, volunteered to be the “demo bottom” for Allie, who explained the uses of hot wax and how to do it safely, either comfortably or uncomfortably. Everyone had wax dripped on their arms to show how it felt from different heights, as she explained, “depending on the negotiation and preferences of the participants.”
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