Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

“Just like that,” she breathed, flexing her hips in rhythm with his movement.

Seconds later Kelly was clutching him, her eyes open, her breathing fast. “Now,” she told him right before she began to climax. “Griffith, yes, yes. Yes!”

He watched her eyes glaze over and felt the rapid contractions. He went with her, filling her over and over until he lost himself in his own release.

When they were done, she followed him to the private bathroom off his office. When Kelly reached for her clothes, he stopped her.

“Give me a second,” he told her. “I want to etch this moment in my memory so every time I’m in this room, I think of you standing there, naked.”

She smiled and slipped a hand between her legs. “Want to picture me doing this?”

His dick stirred. Griffith swore. “You’re deadly.” He pulled her close and kissed her. “Can we go back to my place?”

“I have a tourism board meeting, but I can meet you at your house after that.”

“I’m in.”

“Good.” She kissed him back before sighing. “I was thinking we could do it with you behind me. Think of all the things you could reach. Oh, and I want to go down on you tonight. I did some reading online and there are interesting techniques I’ve never tried.”

Griffith had no idea why he’d won the sexual lottery, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to complain. He kissed her again, then wrapped his arms around her. Emotions stirred. Emotions he wouldn’t name or even acknowledge. They weren’t part of the deal and he knew better than to try something he wasn’t good at.

*

Kelly felt like Cinderella in the classic Disney movie—at any moment little birds were going to fly down from the sky and start singing and talking with her. She felt giddy and silly and happy and many other words ending with the letter Y.

In her sensible moments, she told herself it was just sex. What she was feeling wasn’t real—it was hormones generated by dozens of orgasms. She was drunk on sex and smart enough to know that while she liked Griffith, she shouldn’t confuse her climax-induced high with real feelings.

Still, the sky was bluer, the sun warmer and everyone she ran into was just so nice. She was going to go with the sense of well-being for as long as it lasted. And if a few woodland creatures smiled at her along the way, that was okay, too.

She pulled into the parking lot of the craft mall. The tourism board had a big pre-fund-raiser meeting that night. Two days before, Olivia had been voted as the new mall manager, something that had made Kelly feel oddly proud.

She made her way back to the community room and waved when she saw Helen was already there. “I haven’t seen you in forever,” she said as she settled next to her friend. “How are you? How are things?”

Helen stared at her. “What happened?” She leaned close. “Are you glowing?”

Kelly felt herself blush. “Um, Olivia has me using some special products. There’s a nightly peel. It really works. I’ll get you the name.”

Which was the best lie she could think of on such short notice. Ack! Now she was going to have to find a peel and buy it because there was no way she was going to admit her skin was dewy from all the sex she was having.

“Please. We should all look as good as you. So what’s new?”

Kelly had to consciously press her lips together to keep from blurting out the truth. She loved Helen and they were close but there was no way she was going to admit her former “problem” to anyone.

“The usual,” Kelly said as casually as she could. “Work, family crap. Things are good with Griffith.”

“What family crap?” Helen’s voice was sharp. “Your mom?”

A few of her happy bubbles popped. “Don’t remind me and yes. Marilee is still everywhere. Sometimes she tries to be nice, which makes it all worse. I have no idea how long she’s staying. Oh, and the other morning, she was wearing one of Dad’s pajama tops. WTF? I have no idea what happened there.”

Helen stared at her. “Do you think... Are they...” She cleared her throat. “Are they back together?”

“No.” Kelly grimaced. “At least I hope not. Then she’ll never leave. I’ve got to believe he’s smarter than that. It’s been thirteen years and she was awful to him when they were married. Why would he give her a second chance?”

“Men can be stupid sometimes. She’s very beautiful.”

“I know, right? But not my dad.” Kelly didn’t like thinking about the two of them together. “I wish he’d call her a bitch or something, but he won’t. He’s so reasonable about everything. It’s annoying.”

Olivia joined them. “Hey,” she said. “How’s it going?” She looked at Kelly. “Someone’s rarely home these days. Mom or your hot boyfriend?”

“Both,” Kelly admitted. “I sleep at home—I just get in late.”

“Really late.” Olivia turned to Helen. “Are you okay?”

Kelly saw that her friend had gone pale.

“I’m fine.” Helen managed a wobbly smile. “It’s my time of the month and I’m cramping.”

Olivia fished a small makeup bag out of her tote. “I have some ibuprofen in here,” she murmured. “One or two?”

“Two, please.”

Olivia passed them over. Helen swallowed them dry.

“We were talking about Mom,” Kelly told her sister. “I was complaining Dad won’t say anything bad about her. You don’t think they’re getting back together, do you?”

“Of course not.” Olivia wrinkled her nose. “Jeez, that would be awful. No. I don’t think he would ever trust her again.” She hesitated.

“What?” Kelly demanded. “You’re thinking something.”

“Just that Marilee still has a way with men. She pretty much gets whoever she wants. Guys find her sexy and appealing. There was this one time when—” Olivia pressed her lips together. “Oh, goody.”

Kelly turned and saw Marilee walking into the community room. Her formfitting dress and high heels were out of place for the meeting, as were her perfect makeup and diamond earrings. Conversation stilled as everyone watched her make her way to her daughters.

“Hello, girls,” Marilee said cheerfully. “I thought I’d come and see what you two were up to.” She turned to Helen. “Hello. I’m Marilee, Jeff’s wife. You must be Helen.”

“Ex-wife,” Kelly corrected, then frowned. “How do you know who she is?” She and Helen had become friends as adults, long after Marilee had left town thirteen years ago.

“Oh, your father’s mentioned her a few times.” Marilee’s smile relaxed. “I was expecting someone...different, but I see you’re nothing like that.”

Helen sucked in a breath and rose. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m not feeling well.”

Kelly stood. “Want me to drive you home?”

“No. I just need to, ah, lie down with a heating pad. I’ll be fine.”

Kelly hugged her. “Call me if you need anything.”

“I will.” Helen waved and left.

Kelly sat down, then looked at her mother. Had something just happened? Was there more going on than she realized? Before she could figure it out, Olivia pulled her tablet and a stack of handouts from her tote.