“We found another player. We’re ready,” Lia said as she bounced onto the court.
“Nice. You girls ready to lose?”
“I wouldn’t count on it, slim. We’re pretty feisty,” Rachel countered as she got into position in front of the net.
There were six of them all together, and Ari felt better when she saw some of the other bikini’s the women were wearing. Their outfits made hers look downright modest. One of the women was barely keeping her large br**sts contained and Ari had a feeling the large orbs were going to pop out at least once during the game.
“Heads up!”
Ari turned, but not quickly enough to avoid the spinning ball which smacked her right in the forehead. Going down about as ungracefully as she possibly could, she groaned as a pair of strong calves stepped into her vision.
“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I think my pride is the only thing that got wounded.”
“Let me help you.” Before Ari could refuse, the man reached beneath her arms and lifted her into the air, letting her body slide down his before her feet touched the ground again. “I’ll make sure to be more careful,” he said with a wink.
Ari was shocked speechless as she realized he was flirting with her. She didn’t know what to say back. He was stunning, in a beach bum, bleached blonde kind of way, but there were no sparks flying.
Who cares, she thought. She had just been moaning and groaning about sexual frustration and here was a red-blooded, hot male practically groping her.
Before she could make a decision one way or the other on whether she should flirt back, Rachel came running up.
“Oh, Ari. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“Good, then let’s play.” Rachel dragged her away from the too tanned man, and she forgot about him as the game started.
A half hour later, Ari was feeling good. She was certainly working up a sweat, and laughing so much her stomach hurt. Lia and Rachel were right about the sore legs though as she could already feel a slight burning in her thighs.
“We need a break,” Rachel said as she grabbed the ball and jogged over to a water cooler. Ari was right on her heels. She needed a large guzzle of the cold liquid.
“See? It’s a lot of fun, huh?” Lia said as she handed Ari a water bottle.
“I have to admit that it is. I haven’t enjoyed an afternoon so much in a long while. I may have to come back next weekend and try this again,” she answered with a bright smile.
“I’ll meet you here. You’re a lot better than you said you’d be,” Rachel piped in.
“It’s been so long since I played that I really didn’t think I’d be any good,” Ari admitted.
“Time out’s over, ladies. Well, unless you want me to massage your sore muscles.”
Ari turned, and was surprised to find one of the other guys gazing directly at her. She was even more stunned when he nodded her way. What was going on? Maybe it was the bright red bikini top that was giving them the wrong impression. Before she could decide whether to flirt back with him or not, Lia grabbed her hand.
“We’re just fine, John. Quit trying to unnerve us by flirting. We’re not that naïve,” she said as she tugged Ari back onto the court. Ari was mortified. What if that’s why they were flirting? It made more sense than her suddenly becoming a sex magnet.
“Oh, that wasn’t game-playing. How about I take you ladies out for a drink after the game?” he offered, soothing her ego.
“Can’t. We have dinner plans, but thanks anyway,” Rachel said.
Ari wanted to pipe in and say she didn’t have any dinner plans when Lia turned in her direction.
“You should come with us tonight. We’re having a sunset dinner on my brother’s boat. The thing is absolute heaven to ride on, and there’s even a small spa onboard so you can get a massage. Your legs are really going to need it.”
Ari didn’t know how to respond. These women were strangers. She really should politely refuse and return to the safety of her friends, but she found herself unable to say no. She’d never been on a boat before and it sounded like a lot of fun.
One thing she’d discovered since starting her job and getting away from the college campus was that people in general were a lot more friendly than she’d ever thought. She had a cell phone if anything came up. She couldn’t imagine they were secret serial killers.
“I promise we’re not planning on chopping you up and tossing you in the ocean. We just don’t get to San Fran very often, so we try to make friends fast,” Rachel said as she crossed her heart.
If it was a bad idea to go, Ari would get a feeling deep in her gut, wouldn’t she? Besides, she was sick of always playing it safe.
“Where are you girls from, if not from here?”
“We spent our childhood between here and Italy. My dad’s American, my mom, Italian, so they compromised. Six months in Italy and six months in the U.S. The last few years we’ve been in Italy a lot more, though. I just finished with college over there so freedom is mine now. I think my parents are going to dump us off on my brother and go travel the world.”
Ari was confused. They looked over twenty-one, certainly over eighteen, so why did they need to have someone take care of them. Was something wrong – like maybe a mental issue? She didn’t know how to ask that question, though.
“I see you look confused, Ari. It’s okay. When you meet our father, you’ll understand. I’m twenty-six, and Rachel is twenty-three, but to our dad, we’re still twelve. Our brother pretty much feels the same way. I’ve moved a few times, but then dad either has security on my butt or he and my mother decide to vacation where I’m living. Plus, my brother has chased away about every guy I’ve ever even thought about dating. If I didn’t love them all so much, I think I’d hate them a little. The bottom line is, if I truly wanted to make a change in my life, they’d let me. They may not like it, but I know they love me enough to let me go. They’d just secretly stash a tracking device in my bag,” she said with a laugh.
“Wow. I thought my mom was overprotective.”
“Oh, Ari. My family has overprotective down to a science. They are amazing, though, truly amazing. You have to come with us and meet my mom. I’ll try to get her mad and then she’ll start swearing in Italian. It’s good entertainment.”
Ari couldn’t help herself. She was growing very fond of these two bubbly girls. How could she not when they talked a mile a minute and smiled constantly. She felt safe in accepting their dinner invitation.