Modern Girl's Guide To Vacation Flings (22 page)

There was a brief lull in the conversation. Beth wasn't sure what she could say. She didn't think handling a bunch of twenty-something interns qualified her to give parenting advice.

Without warning, Holly threw her hands up in disgust. "See what I mean! I'm free of the kids and I'm still talking about them. Once you're a parent, everything changes. And then to top it off, Mike had the nerve to ask me if I was ready for another one. Another one? I might have stabbed him with a fork if it weren't for the fact that trying for another kid would mean lots of sex. And trust me, after the last year, I really, really want to do more trying. One child is bad enough, but with twins we hardly have the energy for a quickie, let alone nightly sex. I think twins run in families. I don't think I could do it again. What are your thoughts on kids? Thinking about have one anytime soon?"

It was a good thing Beth still didn't have a drink, because she choked at the question. "God, no."

"Too bad. I thought that might get the pressure off me. Mom adores the twins and she'd love to have more grandkids. She's not getting one from Jason. Bridget doesn't want kids, but between you and me, I think that's for the best. She'd make a horrible mom." Holly finished off the rest of the drink, and stared into the empty glass as if it held the answer to all her problems. "Maybe we can just do the trying part of getting pregnant. That's what I really want. We'll try for baby three, and I'll stay on the pill. What do you think?"

Not at all abashed by her frank admission, Holly waited for Beth's answer, as though she'd just asked about the weather, not spilled intimate details about her sex life.

At that point, Beth wasn't sure what to do. It wasn't as if they were friends. She was just the girl who was sleeping with and, as far as Holly knew, dating her brother. Was she expected to comment about Holly's sex troubles? Share details about her own sex life? Commiserate?

The whole conversation was incredible awkward, but Beth didn't think she could just move to the other side of the pool and ignore Holly in hopes of escaping this horrid conversation. So instead, she dropped her bag and settled in, opting instead for a change of subject.

"So… Uhm, how are you enjoying the cruise so far?"

Hadn't Holly just admitted how much stress this trip was causing? Crap, Beth really sucked at this family stuff. Luckily, the waiter came over and there was a pause in the conversation. Holly ordered another and Beth picked out something equally tropical for herself. This gave her time to cover her gaff, moving the conversation to neutral territory.

"How about them Cubs? They look good this year."

"God. I must sound like a crazy, sex-starved bitch." Holly set her now empty glass down and turned toward Beth. "I don't normally do girl talk. With two brothers, not to mention my job in the boy's club of corporate finance, I don't have a lot of opportunities to hang out with other women. I didn't mean to shock you with my locker room talk." She rolled her eyes and smiled that same lopsided smile Matt used when he was being playful. "Uhm… That was a nice dress you had on yesterday. Who's it by?"

"It's fine." And it really was, now that Beth understood what was going on. Hell, she could relate. More often than not, she was the only woman at many of the sites. It hadn't been the words that shocked her, more that she wasn't sure the appropriate social response. "Trust me I get it. While I don't have the brothers, working in the field is a lot like being on the Lord of the Flies Island. With the number of dirty jokes and sex stories I've heard over camp fires, I could be an editor at Playboy. I'm just not use to women being so… open. It's nice. Besides that, I have no idea who made my dress. My sister picked it out. I know fuck all about fashion."

Holly laughed at that, and Beth started to relax. She liked Holly. On the surface they seemed like complete opposites. Holly was a corporate, business suit and briefcase type of woman, while Beth spent her days laboring in the mud, working in places that didn't have running water. But they were actually a lot alike. Especially when it came to proving that being a woman didn't make you less of a person.

And just like that, she forgot all about her current troubles and spent the next hour exchanging war stories with Holly. It felt good. Beth went back to just being herself, not the fake girlfriend or the impassioned lover. Holly talked to her like they were old friends.

"You can't be serious," Beth said, totally shocked after one of Holly's outrageous stories.

"Yep. When we decided to move the corporate offices, we found the box in the bathroom. Ten butt plugs. No one at the company said a word, but I did hear a rumor that the former CEO had some kinky sex thing with his secretary. I don't think it ended well. His wife divorced him and took half of his assets. It explains why he sold without much of a fight and moved to Florida. I'm just glad he left before the buyout was final and I didn't have to see that kinky bastard when we found the box. It's not so much the idea; as it was the quantity. Really, why would you need that many butt plugs?"

"Well you never know. I was asked something similar by a TSA agent who was convinced I was a prostitute. They searched my bags and found the Costco size box of a hundred condoms I was bringing to Haiti."

"A hundred condoms? So, why DID you have that many condoms?" Holly asked.

"I always bring a supply when I start a project. They were for my crew," Beth tried to explain. "The projects I manage are hard work and filled with stress. When we're on site, our work day can run as long as fourteen to sixteen hours a day. Most of these kids aren't prepared to deal with the isolation from technology or the lack of modern entertainment options. Sex is bound to happen. I'm not these kids' mother. I won't tell them not to screw everything with skirt, but I'm really insistent they stay safe. Before every project, I sit my crew down, have the safe sex talk, and pass out condoms. There's no use pretending it's not going to happen and I don't need to delay a project because half the team has gonorrhea."

"You're different than I expected," Holly said out of the blue. "You're not at all the type of woman I would have picked for my brother."

Beth's insecurities came flooding back and she couldn't help but feel judged. They may have just spent the last hour talking candidly about sex and commiserating about holding on to a relationship when you have a demanding job, but Holly was still Matt's sister. Beth could only imagine how her opinion had changed over the last hour. There was no doubt that some of Beth's stories could have been featured in an Aid Workers Gone Wild video.

"You know, all of that was before Matt was in the picture," she hurried to explain.

"That's not what I meant. I'm not one to judge. Mike and I have our fair share of stories. When we first met…" She closed her eyes, as if remembering that day, and a warm blush spread across her cheeks. "It has nothing to do with you. My brother is a nice guy and—"

"I get that I'm not the type of women you would have fixed him up with. But don't think for a second I don't know what a great guy he is," Beth said, not letting her finish. She could feel her hackles rise and wasn't about to let Holly tell her that she wasn't worthy. The moment of camaraderie they'd shared was over. She stood up and started to collect her thing. "He told me that his mother and Bridget have been trying to fix him up with Kitty. That might be the type of woman you all think is best for him. But you'd be wrong. I might not be perfect for him, but you have to know that she'd make him miserable. Matt's a grown man, and he has the right to make his own choices."

"See. That's what I'm talking about," Holly said in all seriousness. "All I was trying to say is that I wouldn't have picked you out, because I didn't realize you're exactly the type of woman he needs. Matt is a nice guy, and women, especially women in our social circles, take advantage of that. Mom thinks he needs a woman who can help him navigate society. I always thought he needed a girlfriend more like him, quiet and introspective." She stood up too and grabbed her hat. "I think we were both wrong. Please, you stay here. I'm going to follow Matt's other suggestion and find my husband for some alone time. And Beth," she said grabbing Beth's arm, "I am glad you're here."

Matt was losing it. His actions over the past few hours fell somewhere between peeping tom and stalker. He should have been willing to give Beth the space she'd obviously wanted. But instead of going back to his stateroom or even hunting down his brother and grabbing a beer, Matt found himself seated at the lounge that overlooked the pool watching her. It wasn't his intention to end up there. It just sort of happened.

And so there he was, watching her from a distance, and trying like hell to figure out what was going on. Beth was an enigma. She was passionate and fearless. And during sex… Christ, she threw everything into it, but the second it was over, he could actually see her pull away from him. How she compartmentalized her emotions with such ease was a mystery to him. She seemed to be able to switch them off at will. It was jarring, and honestly, he getting tired of the rejection.

Holly had been right. All Beth wanted was a fuck buddy. And when they started this, he wanted the same thing. A no strings, vacation hook-up with a sexy as fuck woman. He'd have to be dead not to want a piece of that.

But now? Now, he wasn't sure if that was enough.

It wasn't just the way she melted in his arms every time he touched her. He kept catching flashes of vulnerability behind the walls she erected. That fragile side that made him want to hold on tighter, despite all his misgivings. It showed up in all kinds of ways. Her vulnerability on the plane. The sweet way she stepped in to help strangers without question. The way she'd spent hours playing with a young boy at the pool, so his mother could have a break. She had depth, and Matt couldn't help but get sucked in.

When she'd shut down after the shower, he thought it was best to let her go. She could retreat for now. After all, she wasn't the only one who needed the distance. He needed to get his head on straight and stop thinking with his dick. He needed to figure out if sex alone was the only thing he wanted from her.

But instead of thinking, he was watching her chat with his sister. Beth had pulled out her special brand of charm and won over his normally guarded sister. Holly didn't hang out with other woman. As far as he knew, she didn't even have female friend. But there she was chatting up Beth as if they were sorority sisters.

Fuck, if Holly decided to get involved with his "relationship," he was trouble. His mom liking Beth was one thing, but with Holly on Team Beth, he'd never hear the end of it when he told his family they broke up after the cruise.

"Is that Holly with your girlfriend?" Jason asked as he approached the little cafe table. "Shit, is she laughing? I'm pretty sure that's one of the signs of the apocalypse."

"They've been talking like that for over an hour," Matt said, not looking away from the scene.

"And Beth isn't crying? No bloodshed? That's amazing. Bridget only agreed to marry me if I promised never to leave her alone with Holly."

Jason ordered a beer and made himself at home. So much for stalking Beth unnoticed.

"Speaking of marriage, Mom asked the captain if he could perform weddings at sea in case you and Beth wanted to get hitched."

Matt choked on his water. It was a few seconds before he stopped coughing long enough to question his brother. "You've got to be fucking joking? She didn't say anything to Beth did she?"

"Relax. She wasn't serious. At least, I don't think so." He sat back and took a few swigs of his beer, watching the women below. "So, what's up with you two?"

"What do you mean, what's up?" Matt wasn't in the mood to have this conversation with Jason. Especially since he still hadn't figured out what to do about her. "She's my girlfriend. I thought that was clear by now."

"Trust me, it's clear. You know my room is right next to yours and the walls aren't that thick. Beth's a bit of a screamer and she really likes it when you—"

"Enough!" Matt shouted. A few people turned their direction, and Matt looked down to make sure Beth hadn't heard him. She was standing now, looking down at Holly. Her posture was rigid and the smile from earlier was gone. "Why the fuck can't you guys just leave well enough alone? If I wanted relationship advice, you and Holly would be the last people I'd turn to."

He left without waiting for Jason to respond. If he said another word, things would get ugly. And right now, he needed to deal with his sister. Matt had this really bad feeling Holly had turned on Beth. She might not appreciate his interference, but knowing his sister, Beth probably needed it.