Wrong Way Renee (47 page)

He pretended
to shake with fear.

Laughing, she jumped onto the bed and pushed him down so he was splayed across it.
She climbed on top of him and
rocked back and forth
over his erection.

“Take me, wench. If you must, I mean.
”
He guided her atop his
length
.

She grew serious
. She bent to kiss him and tasted the desire on his lips
.
“I love you, Joe.”

“I love you, too.
”
He smoothed down
her hair
then guided her onto his shaft,
filling her
little by little
. Her
hips
took on a life of
their
own
, rocking, grinding, gyrating in rhythm
with his.

He took hold of her hips and control of their lovemaking
.
Her orgasm built. She l
et go and tumbled into oblivion, surrendering to her pleasure. Her body pulsed with ecstasy. She moaned his name until her delight ebbed.

Joe rolled them over and kissed her everywhere. She tingled with bliss as he entered her again. She ran her hands over his sides and back, felt the muscles there work and tighten. A sweet burning flood of renewed pleasure built in her core.

Joe met her sta
re and refused to release it. The intensity of his gaze was unspeakably erotic.
The pulse at his temples fluttered and his jaw clenched.
He detonated inside her and ground out her name.

She tightened around him, milking him until he settled against her. Their hearts pounded in unison. This was how she wanted it to be. Forever.

They made love again in the morning. Then indulged in a
breakfas
t of homemade waffles and bacon before they headed out to explore the
Castillo de San Marcos, a fort built by the Spanish in the late sixteen hundreds.

“You know this fort was never taken by military force.
”
Joe said as they strolled along the upper level, taking in the view of the Atlantic Ocean.

“Really? It is a pretty imposing structure
.” She mated her fingers with his.

“It changed hands several times, but only by treaty. It has such an impressive fou
ndation. Very solid, you know?”

Sh
e stopped walking
and faced him
.
“Are yo
u trying to tell me something?”

H
e kicked some sand around,
stared
at the ground.
“Maybe. Things with strong foundations can last a long time.
” Finally he met her stare.
“
I think we can have something that lasts as long as we do. But we have to break it down and build
it strong from the bottom up.”

Her heart kaboomed like a jackhammer.
“I'm willing to do whatever it takes. However long it tak
es to build, we'll work on it.”

“Glad to hear that.
”
He took
both her hands
.

She looked into his eyes
and her breath locked in her chest
.
His eyes held a passion that
told her he was in for the long haul. It was all she needed to know.
The man turned her into a puddle of a woman and she planned to hang on to him forever.

* * * * *

Two weeks before Becky's wedding, Melissa arrived, not for her appointment, but to show off Angela, her month-old daughter.

“Oh, Melissa, she's so tiny. Look at these little fingers.
”
Renee spread out the baby's hand.
“When you're ready for you
r first manicure, come see me.”

Melissa beamed.
“She's little, but boy, oh boy, does she have lungs. We don't even need a baby monitor. She makes h
erself heard across the house.”

H
s
er friend's pregnancy was now apparent. It looked good on her.
“Do you know yet what the other one is?
”
She pointed at Melissa's middle.

“Not yet. But
Rich is convinced it's a boy.”

After she left, Renee thought about Pam. She hadn't seen her since that day when
Pablo
had come to the salon with her. She wondered what would become of the baby Pam carried. She should have warned
her
about
Pablo
. Friendship and integrity were more important than keeping a client. Secrets were never productive.

Toy
blew in carrying her black bridesmaid dress, wrapped in plastic. After much weeping and wailing on the part of her bridesmaids, Becky had finally agreed to a black and white wedding.

“T
his dress makes me look like a black coat rack. Can I have some frills or something added?
”
Toy
asked
Becky
.

Becky was combing out Mrs. Goldstein's hair.
“Whatever you want
.”

Renee ran over.
“No frills on mine. I haven't lost enough weight for that. Can
mine be plain and hers frilly?”

“Whatever, ladies. I don't care. Just get to the temple on time, okay?
”
Becky waved them off.

“We will,
”
they said in unison.

Toy
hung her dress on a hook and settled into the chair at Renee's station.

“So, how are you?
”
Toy
placed her hands on the towel.

“I'm fantastic. I was talking to Joe about double dating with you and John soon. What do you think? “

“That would be fun
except I’m not dating John anymore
.”

“
Oh no. What happened.”

Toy shook her head. “I don’t even want to talk about it. I know there are men out there who don’t lie. Tell me there are.”

Her
heart broke for her friend. “Becky and I both found good ones. You will too.”

Toy shook her head. “I’m through with them. I’m going to become a nun.”

Renee rolled her eyes. “You’re not even Catholic.”

“Don’t care. Read my lips. No more men.”

“We’ll see.”
Her friend rarely went a week without a date. But one day Toy would find her dream man just like Renee had.

* * * * *

On a sunny June morning,
Toy
and Renee sat in folding chairs in a room off the main sanctuary of the Greater Orlando Reform Synagogue waiting for Becky to walk down the aisle to get married.

“Becky, it'll all be over in a few minutes. I've done this enough to know that everything will be fine.
”
Toy
held her bouquet of lilies of the valley like she would a mop.

Renee shot
Toy
a warning look.
“Becky, breathe into the bag a few more times.
”

“I'm nervous about walking down the aisle, that's all. What if I fall?
”
She
held an empty brown paper bag in her hand.

“Darling, I'll have hold of your arm. I von't let anyting happen,
”
Morris Weiss told his daughter.
“Ve've done this ting
once
before
. It vent fine t
hen, it'll go fine now. Ready?”

Becky took one more deep breath then threw the bag in a trashcan. She
nodded
at
Toy
, then at Renee
who
handed her a bouquet, a larger version of the one the bridesmaids held.
Toy
went first then Renee
. Finally, Becky walk
ed
slowly down the aisle on her father's arm.

Charles stood next to the Rabbi under a white canopy, his brother and Justin at his side. The sanctuary was full.
T
here had to be
over two hundred people in attendance.

Ten minutes later, they smashed a glass for luck and the Rabbi presented the newlyweds. All the guests filed out of the hall after the wedding party. The reception would take place in an hour at a downtown hotel.

Renee hurried to her car, dragging Joe behind her.

“T
hese shoes are killing me, slow down,
”
h
e begged.

Sh
e stopped in her tracks, hiked up her long black dress and held up one foot. She pointed at her three in
ch, black stiletto sling-back.
“You want to trade? If I have to wear thes
e all day, you can wear those.”

He glanced at her feet and nodded
.
“
Fair enough.
Want me to driv
e?”

“Please.
”
She kissed his cheek.

H
e opened the passenger door for her,
then lifted the bottom of her dress and shoved
it in
side the car before he shut it.
“You look stunning
.”

When he sat behind the wheel, she
took his hand.
“So do you. I can't wait to dance
with you.”

“Dance?
”
His eyes
widened
.
“I can't dance, Renee.”

“Don't worry. Let me lead.”

“Don't I always?”

At the reception everyone drank, ate and danced until almost midnight.

Becky came to their table and ushered Renee and Toy to a quiet corner of the room where she had three glasses of champagne waiting. She handed one to each of them. “What would I do without my friends. I love you guys. This day wouldn’t have been possible without you.” She looked at Renee and her smile slipped just a little. “And I forgive you for waiting so long to tell me about the salon’s financial issues. I take part of the blame since I should have been paying more attention. But now that we have another hairdresser, all’s good. But enough about work.”

Renee was so relieved Becky had taken over the bookkeeping for the salon. And because of that, they were finally in the black.

Becky raised her glass.
“To love,
friendship and new beginnings.”

They all touched glasses, then drank, knowing that no matter what life threw at them, they would always have one another.

###

About the author

Wynter Daniels lives in Central Florida with her husband of more than twenty years and their two nearly grown children. They are all the slaves of
a very demanding cat
. After careers in marketing and the salon industry, Wynter’s wicked prose begged to be set free.
She writes for Ellora’s Cave, Carina Press, Loose id, Red Sage. She loves to hear from readers, but only if it’s good!

Find
Wynter
at her website
or on
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.