Page 115 of Under Her Skin
“Whew!” Peyton shouts as we go up the stairs out of the swimming pool. “Shake itbaby!”
We giggle and she pulls me to the pool house. A large pool table is inside and she hiccups then says, “Wanna play some pool? I have to warn you I’m very good atit.”
I pull at my blue bikini top to straighten out my breasts as the jump knocked them out of place. “Sure, but I have great beginner’s luck so chances are I’ll beat you even though I really have no idea of what I’mdoing.”
“Is that a challenge, little girl?” she asks with archedeyebrows.
I arch mine right back. “It is, BigMomma!”
She leaves the double doors to the large room just off the side of the pool open. The breeze flows through them and she takes me to a rack of the long sticks you use to play poolwith.
“This one is mine,” she says as she pulls one down. She hands me one. “This is a pretty goodone.”
Kip jogs in and places a couple of drinks down on a small table at the side. “I get to play thewinner.”
“Are those for us, babe?” Peyton asks as she points to thebeers.
“Nope.” He tosses his head and gestures behind him. “He has you and Rachelle’sdrinks.”
I look past him and around the corner Blake comes. His eyes meet mine and he looks down. I look at Peyton and sheshrugs.
With a pout I turn away and walk back to the pool table. He doesn’t seem to be trying to talk to me so I’ll ignorehim.
Damn, match-maker,Kip!
Blake
Damn,Kip!
I try not to watch Rachelle as she plays pool with Peyton and both are in skimpy-ass bikinis. A long drink I take of the beer Kip brought me and look into hiseyes.
He grins. “Ignore her,mate.”
“How!” I hiss. She can’t hear us as the music is playing at a near deafening level. “She’s practicallynaked!”
With a chuckle, he says, “I know. That shit will go all over her when you act like she doesn’texist.”
“I’m not into playing games. She wants nothing to do with me.” I take another drink of the beer and will it to hurry up and affectme.
“I overheard a bit of the girl’s earlier conversation. It’s not that she wants nothing to do with you, it’s her hang-ups. Just act as if she’s not even here and see what happens. If nothing else, you get a little closure to help you get on with your life.” He taps his long neck bottle to mine and smiles at me with that Kip Dixon, million-dollarsmile.
Rachelle
“How could he, Peyton?” I hiss across the pool table ather.
“I know. I’ll get all over his ass later on. And then I’ll get all over hisass,” she says with a grin. “Just play along like you don’tcare.”
I do care though. Seeing his handsome face is killing me. I’m second guessing everything. I want him. I want his hands on me. I want his lips on me. I can’t see him and not wanthim.
She takes a shot and I brush up against her as I walk around the table and whisper in her ear. “What if I want him back? What should Ido?”
A quizzical look covers her face. “Do you want him back? It’s only been aday.”
“I was wrong. I can see that now. I was stupid to think I could go on without him. I want him back.” I look his way and he’s looking at Kip as they talk and touch their beer bottlestogether.
“Then that’s easy. Tell him that,” Peyton says and puts her arm around me. “I’m sure he’s looking at you when he thinks you’re not looking. Lean way over and take this next shot. Elongate that little body of yours and I’ll keep an eye on him and tell you how hereacts.”
I do as she says and make a sideways glance to see if he’s looking. He isn’t, and I hit the ball all crazy and it makes three other balls go in thepockets.
