Free Private Party by Jami Alden

open-collared shirt.
    Her smile faded as she saw the grim expression on his face. She’d been so encouraged by his wide, welcoming smile, convinced that he was as happy to see her as she him. But now he stared silently at her, his eyes hidden by his sunglasses, his full lips set in a tight line.
    “What are you doing here?”
    Not exactly the welcome she’d been hoping for. “It’s great to see you, too, Chris.” Even through the sunglasses she could feel his gaze rake down her body, taking in her halter top, and exposed abdomen. She felt her nipples harden beneath the thin cotton, and, not for the first time, she questioned the wisdom of bowing blindly to Wendy’s judgment.
    “Trust me, Jules,” Wendy had said when Julie had protested that she couldn’t wear a bra with the halter top. “You are blessed with perfect breasts. They’re big enough that you have a nice little rack, but not so big that they look sloppy when you go braless.”

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    Julie had given in, but now she felt almost as exposed as if Chris’s hands had peeled away the fabric.
    “Hi, Carla, it’s nice to see you again,” she said, offering her hand in greeting.
    Carla shot Chris a quizzical look and said, “Since Chris seems to have forgotten his hosting duties, let me help you get settled in.” She gave Julie the key and map to her villa, assuring her that her luggage would be in her room when she arrived.
    “If you want to wait a moment,” Carla said, “we can give you a ride in the golf cart.” Julie politely refused, hoping that the walk would dispel the anger she felt coiling in her belly. Why was he being so cold? Her first instinct was to jump on the ferry and go back home. It wasn’t in her nature to cause trouble or stay when she wasn’t welcome.
    Her spine stiffened. The old Julie might turn tail and run, but the new Julie needed to stand her ground.
    Chris didn’t want her here? Fine. As Jennifer had pointed out on the ferry, there was plenty here to keep her entertained.

    Chris watched Julie stalk away, mesmerized by the bounce of her luscious ass under her skirt. He resisted the urge to go after her and apologize. He’d seen the hurt in her eyes, the way it had overtaken her sweet, excited smile. He’d been unforgivably rude, a total ass, but she’d taken him by surprise, damn it, showing up unannounced like one of his ridiculous fantasies come to life. And Chris, who’d never had any sort of problem handling himself around women, found himself at a total loss. So rather than escort Julie to her villa, he stayed at Carla’s side, trying to regroup and figure out his next move.
    “What was up with that?” Carla asked Chris once Julie was out of earshot.
    “A complication I really don’t need right now.”
    “Weren’t you just at her wedding? Where’s her husband?”
    “Drop it, Carla.”
    “Wait a minute—did you and she—at her wedding?” Carla might abstain from her own liaisons, but she loved to live vicariously through Chris.
    “I said, drop it.” Chris felt tension creep into the back of his neck, promising a killer headache if he didn’t get some Tylenol and some sleep in the very near future.
    “Oh, this is going to be a fun week.”

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    6
    J ulie took one last look in the mirror, adjusting the straps of her pale pink camisole. The slightly gathered neckline prevented the silk from clinging too tightly, which was a good thing, since the top and the matching silk and chiffon skirt was yet another outfit that required the braless look. In fact, the way the skirt clung to her, it barely allowed underwear, but Wendy had assured her that one of her new pairs of thong panties would work fine underneath.
    Which in itself was a new adventure. After spending most of her life trying to prevent her underwear from creeping up her behind, it was hard to get used to having a permanent wedgie.
    But she had to admit, as she scrutinized her reflection, she looked nice. Sexy, but