The silence in the car during the drive to Suzy’s house was broken only by an occasional groan from her. Beth decided to stay quiet and let her come to terms with it on the way. It wasn’t like she was doing much better. She still had a hard time believing that she was sleeping with someone like Nick. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined a man like him being interested in her. She had never been comfortable with her body, even though she was a normal size now, maybe even smaller than average for her height. Yet when Nick looked at her, she felt beautiful. Even when she tried to hide her body from him, he refused to let her. He had kissed every inch of her, and the desire in his eyes said that he didn’t see any of the flaws that she did. Maybe he just needs glasses or he has secretly longed for a fluffy girl to cushion his hard contours.
Beth had no idea how Nick would react to the news of her surprise pregnancy. Everything about their relationship was casual. They did spend almost every night together, but there was never any talk of feelings. For all she knew, he was still fitting in dates with other women when he could. She wasn’t sure what her feelings were for him, either. If she let herself, she would probably fall madly in love with him. The only thing that stopped her was the certainty that men like Nick didn’t end up with girls like her.
He was a rich, sexy, handsome man with a killer personality. Everyone loved him. When he walked into a room, it lit up with his presence. Things were just better when he was around. Beth, on the other hand, knew she was just average at best. Some might consider her attractive, but she was far from model material, and those were the kinds of women Nick was probably used to dating. She couldn’t work out what he could possibly see in her besides maybe the excitement of sneaking around? Boy, there had been plenty of that. They’d had hot, furious sex all over Suzy’s new home. Beth chuckled; her sister would croak if she knew that.
“All right, stop with the laughing. I can well imagine what’s running through your mind, so please stop unless you want me to upchuck right here in your precious VW Bug.”
Gray’s BMW was sitting in the garage beside Suzy’s SUV when they pulled in. “I’m not talking in front of him. So unless he goes, I go.”
Suzy snorted and marched toward the door. “Trust me, I got this.” When Suzy threw open the door to the beach house that she shared with her fiancé, she looked around as if moving in for the kill. When Gray picked that particular moment to walk in from the patio, Beth almost felt sorry for him. A smile lit up his face as he walked toward her sister, the love he felt for her evident in the intimate look in his eyes. As he leaned in for a kiss, Suzy put out a hand and stiff-armed him. “Whoooa, that’s close enough, slick.”
Any other man would be confused by such a statement, but Gray seemed to take it all in stride. “Good evening, Beth.” When she smiled weakly at him, he turned back to Suzy. “Ah, baby, it would appear that I’m in the doghouse again. We could save time if you just tell me what I’m guilty of.”
“You’re guilty of having a horny brother who lowered his zipper in the wrong place this time!”
Beth could see the instant Gray looked at her and made the connection. “Oh, hell. I’ll kill him,” Gray sighed.
“You won’t have to; I’m going to stick my foot so far up his ass, he may never walk right again.”
Beth looked back and forth between her sister and Gray as they each threatened bodily harm to Nick in turn. This was really absurd. Nick hadn’t seduced some teenager; she was an adult, fast approaching thirty. What did it say about her that they thought she was this easily led astray? Poor fat Beth, she has to be protected from evil Nick. Show the big girl some attention and she loses her head.
Screw this, she had had enough.
“Stop! My God, do you hear yourselves? Nick hasn’t done anything wrong. Let me tell you—I wanted him. Hell, I still want him. I like sex; actually I love sex! Nick tried to be a gentleman and walk away after our first kiss, but you know what? I grabbed him and crammed my tongue down his throat and ripped the buttons off his shirt right in your kitchen. I have been fully willing and eager every time we have had sex and, believe me, we’ve had plenty. I’m enjoying myself and when I’m ready, I’ll walk away.”
When Beth paused to take a breath, she saw the stunned expressions on Suzy’s and Gray’s faces. Okay, possibly she might have gone a bit too far in her defense of Nick. Maybe a simple sentence letting them know it had been consensual would have been better than, “Hey, I’m a slut.”
“Um, I think I’ll go upstairs to my office. You know, take care of a few things. I’m sure you two would like some privacy.” Gray left the room as fast as his Italian loafers would carry him.
Great, I’ll never be able to look him in the eyes again. Every time he goes in his kitchen, he’s going to imagine me ripping his brother’s clothes off against his granite countertops.
Suzy pointed her to the couch in the living room before she walked into the kitchen. Moments later, she returned with a bottle of wine, orange juice, and two glasses. She motioned for Beth to be quiet until she had filled her glass to the rim and then proceeded to drain half of it. Taking a deep breath, she said, “All right, start at the beginning and feel free to gloss over any parts that you know will make me want to puke.”
Beth picked up the glass of juice that Suzy had poured for her and took a sip while trying to decide where to begin. Well, heck, if she wanted the whole story, then that was what she would get.
Chapter Two