him.
“I’ll give you a head start.” Joe slowed and turned, moving
backward.
“I don’t need a head start.” Her legs burned as she picked
up speed and tried to blow past him.
Joe scooped her up with one arm and started up the slope.
“Put me down.”
“No.” He hoisted her over his shoulder and picked up his
pace.
“You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“Oh, please. I have barbells that weigh more than you do.”
“Damn it, Joe, put me down.” She fisted her palms and beat
them into his ass. Pain blasted up her arm. “Ouch. Is anything on you not hard
as a rock?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you stick your hands down my pants
and find out?”
“Very funny.” She arched, lifted his shirt and bit his side.
“Oh, I just found something soft.”
“Hey!”
“What?” She wrapped her arms around his hips. “You wanted me
to find something soft and I did.” Ann wiggled her butt and slid up a little.
“I think you need to work on that.”
“I’ll get right on it.” Joe hooked his arms over her legs
and stepped over a tree stump on the trail.
Her head bounced against his back. “Let’s see. Is there is
anyplace else you should work on?”
“Don’t start something you’re not willing to finish.” He
slapped her ass again.
Sensual pain radiated over her skin and centered in her
core. “Who says I’m not willing?”
“Well, in that case.” Joe stopped and slid her from his
shoulder.
A thrill raced over Ann as her breasts skimmed down his
chest. She tugged at the collar of her oversized sweater. “Is it getting hot
out here?”
“I’m about to burn up.”
Ann gazed over the landscape. The huge tree painted the
horizon in a wash of red, yellow, green and brown. A tiny zip of anticipation
pricked up her spine.
“Let’s go behind those trees and see how hot we can get.”
“Good idea.” He interlaced his fingers with hers and leaned
down, nuzzling her cheek.
“Joe. Is that you?”
Like a wolf scenting a mate, Joe’s head whipped up. “Holy
shit.”
“What?” Ann spun out of his arms and her world crashed down
around her. It didn’t matter she’d never met the woman jogging up to them in
all her beautiful sculpted-body perfection. Every photo Joe had of himself though
his teenage years featured the beauty who was now a Victoria’s Secret model.
How could she have been so stupid? Ann tugged her sweater
over her plus-sized hips.
What was she thinking, letting herself believe she was good
enough for Joe?
Stepping back, Ann watched the one that got away jump into
his arms.
“I thought that was you. How have you been?”
The other woman fit just right against him. He smiled as she
rubbed her huge boobs over his chest. “It’s good to see you, Brooke.”
“Oh, it’s so good to see you,” the bitch said and pressed
her famously pouty lips over his.
Ann’s heart galloped against her ribcage and a herd of
bucking broncos reared up in her stomach. All her insecurities swelled and
crested inside her. Swallowing back tears, she backed up.
Memories of that night so long ago clawed their way through
her mind. She remembered how her stomach flip-flopped when he asked her to go
to the party with him and her chest still ached like it did when he waved the
UNH head cheerleader over and offered her a drink. She was still that
twenty-year-old girl standing in the doorway of the old fraternity house,
watching Joe walk back to the dorms with a Playboy bunny wannabe all over
again.
The other woman slithered down his body. He cleared his
throat and shoved his hands into his jean pockets. “What are you doing back in
town?”
Brooke’s finger traced little circles over his chest. “It’s
my grandmother’s ninetieth birthday and we’re having a big party for her later
today.” Her million-dollar face brightened. “You should come. My grandmother
would get such a kick out of seeing you.
Joe’s hand clamped over Brooke’s and he gazed over at Ann.
“Let me
Victoria Christopher Murray