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"Caroline!" Mimi screeched fro each other Ah, we’d made it to Drunky Loud already

"Mi around for Sophia She and Neil were perched on the stone bench by the firepit, roasting estured obscenely with his stick

"Making theht, fellowa cocktail at the patio bar

"You think its gonna be that easy?" he whispered back, giving his friends the international guy head nod that said, "What’s up, man?"

"Hell, yes They’re almost already there without our help All we have to do is show theht in front of them"

He handed

"Is this a Wallbanger?"

"It is"

I took a sip, swirling the taste around ood as I knew you’d be," I whispered, taking a dangerously large s

"To things staring you right in the face," he added, clinkingyou right in the face," I echoed, our eyes locking over the rier Voodoo

Chapter Twelve

"WHOSE FOOT IS THAT?"

"It’sto play footsie withmy foot"

Ryan and Neil tried to look nonchalant as they disengaged frohed as I caught Sirinned back at lass

"I have had enough for tonight, don’t you think?" I ht you were girl who alanted more," he mouthed The characteristic se of Hot Tub Simon that had been inin co arms stretched across the back of the hot tub, hair wet and artfully swept back If I thought seeing hi, it was nothing like having hi buzz

He was now the ularly handso to getto sing Etta Jaling as I pushedhtie Girl gets rinned as I splashed water toward his side Our friends had all quieted and atching us with undisguised interest

After Siot our drinks, and then I showed his at the front door, not knowing how the sleeping arrangements had been laid out We returned to the patio to find that Sophia and Neil had joined Ryan and Drunky Mimi in the hot tub A quick trip to the pool house left reen bikini and a smile as I approached the others Simon had already jumped in, and I watched him watch me As I slid under the ater, I sipped hbor, wet and in board shorts, before

Noere s aith two pairs of mismatched lovers and more pheromones than we knehat to do with

So did I want another cocktail? Didn’t matter I couldn’t afford it

I had to shake my head a little to clear it as I looked around at the rest of the group Mi Neil as she swung her feet back and forth He indulged her in es his little sister Sophia and Ryan were huddled on the other side, Sophia scratching Ryan’s back as she and Neil talked back and forth about the 49ers’ starting lineup or defensive line or so

"So, what are we doing this weekend?" I asked, focusing e and not the blue eyes staring at me Damn those eyes! They would be the death offor a hike tomorrow Who’s in?" Ryan asked

Sophia shook her head "Count "

"Why not?" Neil asked

Silance at his sudden interest

"Can’t Last time I hiked I took quite a spill and sprainedthe season," she said, waving and re with her hands As a cello player, she could get out of quite a bit Once she dodged hand jobs all winter Investment banker Bob was not a happy camper

"How ’bout you, Tiny?" Neil pulled on Mimi’s foot

"U her barely there black bikini Her actual boy toy didn’t notice, but I saw Ryan’s eyes grow to the size of pies from across the hot tub as her brsts were nearly revealed

"You gonna take a pass as well?" Si with the boys tohed as Sophia and Mimi rolled their eyes They never understood why I loved "mountain man activities," as they called them

"Nice," Simon purred, and for a second I calculated the distance between my mouth and his Then ere all quiet, all six of us lost in our thoughts I reht in

"So, Ryan, did you know Mi them both

"You do?"

"Yep, every year," she said "I’ve seen what having access to computers can do, especially for kids ouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity" She looked shyly at hian a conversation about the process he used to determine which schools will receive the scholarships each year