beach, posing in various groups for the camera. Their 18-year-old faces smiled at her from behind the plastic as she picked up the album with trembling hands.
Lowering herself onto the bed, she studied the photos, her heart contracting painfully. She traced her finger over a picture of Brandy and A.J. They stood in front of the sparkling lake, their arms wrapped around each other. A breeze lifted Brandy’s long dark hair from her face, exposing her tanned cheekbones. Her silver eyebrow ring glinted in the sunlight, and her lips curved into a mischievous smile.
A whirring sound caused Rain to jump up, sending the album crashing to the floor once again. The blender. They had decided on Mexican tonight, and someone was obviously getting started on the margaritas. She picked up the album and placed it gently on the dresser, then hurried to get dressed.
Jason and A.J. were sitting at the island, scooping guacamole onto tortilla chips while Allie crushed ice in the old blender. “Oh, thank goodness, our chef is here!” she exclaimed as Rain came into the kitchen. “Please help me; I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Rain smiled self-consciously and assessed the ingredients that Allie had gathered together. “You already did the hard part, but I’m happy to take over. Why don’t you sit down and relax?”
Allie slid onto a stool next to the guys with a happy sigh. “I can’t remember the last time someone told me to sit down and relax. I wish I could bring you home with me.”
Rain laughed. “I’d gladly go with you. I like feeling useful. Holly doesn’t leave much for me to do at her house. To be honest, I’ve been kind of bored.”
“Have you thought about dating again?” asked A.J.
Rain noticed Jason’s attention suddenly swing from a magazine lying open on the island back to the conversation. Her tell-tale blush began to creep up her cheeks and she looked down quickly, pretending to concentrate on measuring lime juice.
“I haven’t given it much thought, to be honest,” she replied, dumping the green liquid into the blender. “Certainly no one is banging down my door. But then of course, I don’t have a door.”
Jason quickly came to her rescue. “Well, we’ll put you on Match.com. Together, the four of us will be able to come up with a profile that will make the homelessness part seem like a non-issue. We’ll focus on your strengths. What are they again?” he teased.
“She has a nice rack,” A.J. commented helpfully, studying her chest.
“A.J.!” Allie elbowed him in the ribs. “But, I guess it’s true. Very perky. Her boobs haven’t been through what mine have,” she laughed.
Jason grabbed a pen and started making a list on the back of the magazine. “‘R’ for rack.”
“Ha ha, very clever,” Rain replied.
“Also, you’re very mild-mannered, easy to get along with,” Allie pointed out.
“Oh, please, I’m a total bitch,” Rain disagreed, trying her best to look intimidating. “I love conflict. Fighting is what I do best.”
“Yeah, you’re a real hellcat, Rain. I wouldn’t want to meet you in a dark alley,” added Jason.
“Oh, I could take you down,” Rain threatened playfully. “Fourth degree black belt in karate, so very scary. Please.”
Jason narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Care to show me your moves, then, Rainy?”
“Sure,” Rain agreed, grabbing a handful of ice from the bucket on the island. “I just want to numb up my hand before I hit you.”
She lunged for Jason, attempting to grab the neck of his T-shirt and drop the ice down his chest. She thought she had the element of surprise, but she wasn’t even close to being fast enough to get past his lightning reflexes. He was up off the stool and had her spun around and held tight against him, her arms pinned, before she could even react.
“Well, that’s an even better view,” joked A.J. at the sight of her breasts pressing out against her thin tank top.
Holding both her arms with one of
Lowering herself onto the bed, she studied the photos, her heart contracting painfully. She traced her finger over a picture of Brandy and A.J. They stood in front of the sparkling lake, their arms wrapped around each other. A breeze lifted Brandy’s long dark hair from her face, exposing her tanned cheekbones. Her silver eyebrow ring glinted in the sunlight, and her lips curved into a mischievous smile.
A whirring sound caused Rain to jump up, sending the album crashing to the floor once again. The blender. They had decided on Mexican tonight, and someone was obviously getting started on the margaritas. She picked up the album and placed it gently on the dresser, then hurried to get dressed.
Jason and A.J. were sitting at the island, scooping guacamole onto tortilla chips while Allie crushed ice in the old blender. “Oh, thank goodness, our chef is here!” she exclaimed as Rain came into the kitchen. “Please help me; I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Rain smiled self-consciously and assessed the ingredients that Allie had gathered together. “You already did the hard part, but I’m happy to take over. Why don’t you sit down and relax?”
Allie slid onto a stool next to the guys with a happy sigh. “I can’t remember the last time someone told me to sit down and relax. I wish I could bring you home with me.”
Rain laughed. “I’d gladly go with you. I like feeling useful. Holly doesn’t leave much for me to do at her house. To be honest, I’ve been kind of bored.”
“Have you thought about dating again?” asked A.J.
Rain noticed Jason’s attention suddenly swing from a magazine lying open on the island back to the conversation. Her tell-tale blush began to creep up her cheeks and she looked down quickly, pretending to concentrate on measuring lime juice.
“I haven’t given it much thought, to be honest,” she replied, dumping the green liquid into the blender. “Certainly no one is banging down my door. But then of course, I don’t have a door.”
Jason quickly came to her rescue. “Well, we’ll put you on Match.com. Together, the four of us will be able to come up with a profile that will make the homelessness part seem like a non-issue. We’ll focus on your strengths. What are they again?” he teased.
“She has a nice rack,” A.J. commented helpfully, studying her chest.
“A.J.!” Allie elbowed him in the ribs. “But, I guess it’s true. Very perky. Her boobs haven’t been through what mine have,” she laughed.
Jason grabbed a pen and started making a list on the back of the magazine. “‘R’ for rack.”
“Ha ha, very clever,” Rain replied.
“Also, you’re very mild-mannered, easy to get along with,” Allie pointed out.
“Oh, please, I’m a total bitch,” Rain disagreed, trying her best to look intimidating. “I love conflict. Fighting is what I do best.”
“Yeah, you’re a real hellcat, Rain. I wouldn’t want to meet you in a dark alley,” added Jason.
“Oh, I could take you down,” Rain threatened playfully. “Fourth degree black belt in karate, so very scary. Please.”
Jason narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Care to show me your moves, then, Rainy?”
“Sure,” Rain agreed, grabbing a handful of ice from the bucket on the island. “I just want to numb up my hand before I hit you.”
She lunged for Jason, attempting to grab the neck of his T-shirt and drop the ice down his chest. She thought she had the element of surprise, but she wasn’t even close to being fast enough to get past his lightning reflexes. He was up off the stool and had her spun around and held tight against him, her arms pinned, before she could even react.
“Well, that’s an even better view,” joked A.J. at the sight of her breasts pressing out against her thin tank top.
Holding both her arms with one of
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