Free Bouncing by Jaime Maddox Page B

bucket on the table and took a seat on a glider across from Brit’s chair, wanting a good place from where she could talk to Brit and check out her sexy legs. Sal hadn’t mentioned that Brit was gorgeous, which she was, or gay, which Alex suspected from the way Brit had checked her out. She was distracted from her gawking by the unexpectedly exuberant response to her statement.
    Brit’s smile was huge, and she seemed to be bursting with happiness at the prospect of her job. “Yes. A full-time teaching job!”
    Alex laughed, remembering her own reaction when she was hired not so long ago. She looked at Brit again and realized it wasn’t so much her beauty that was the attraction, but the light in her eyes. Brit seemed to glow from within, which drew Alex like bugs to the zapper on a warm summer’s night. And Alex sucked in a breath as she realized that she had, in fact, been zapped.
    Everyone laughed, and Sue replied, “Well, your first job certainly is exciting. Congratulations.”
    “Thanks. Sue, were you a teacher, too?”
    She laughed. “Nothing so exciting. I was a stockbroker. A long, long time ago. Now I’m retired.”
    “How’s that going?” she asked.
    Both Sal and Sue laughed. “It’s exhausting,” they said in unison. They told her about their agenda of golf leagues, volunteer work, gardening, and exotic vacations.
    “And you live here full time?” Brit asked.
    “Yeah, this is it. With our parents gone, we decided to move toward friendlier, warmer skies. And we’re close enough to home that we can visit—but quite honestly, our friends prefer to come here.”
    Brit gestured to the water beyond their tree-lined yard. “I can see why.”
    Sue wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. “It is lovely, but I’ve had enough of it for today. I need a change of venue,” she said, and looked at all of them. “This heat is getting to me. Let’s take the party inside.”
    Sal looked like she might argue but then suddenly stood. “You’re right, Suzie. It’s too hot out here.”
    It was technically evening, and although the sun had begun its westward descent, it still cast powerful rays across the open space of the patio. Sal stood and offered Sue her hand, and with Alex once again carrying the drinks, they headed indoors.
    “You have a beautiful home,” Brit said as she looked around. Inside the sliding-glass doors was a dining room, with a wall of glass facing the water. On the opposite side of this large, open-style room was a couch with two chairs, a television, and all the furnishings of a living room. It, too, had a wall of glass looking out at the patio, the landscape, and the cove beyond.
    Sal beamed. “Thank you,” she said, and pointed them in that direction, where they all made themselves comfortable. Seated in a chair where she could easily watch the other three women, Britain chose a bottle of water from the collection in the oversized bucket, ignoring the soda, beer, and wine coolers she saw. She wanted to keep her wits intact, to make a good impression, and she suspected the intoxicating Alex Dalton could fluster her even without the assistance of alcohol. If she started drinking, Brit would be in trouble for sure.
    Brit waved toward the wall of glass. “What a view.”
    “Well, yes, it is. It was the main reason we bought the house.”
    “Why Rehoboth?” Brit asked, although she suspected she knew the answer.
    “It’s gay. We wanted to be somewhere where we’re the rule instead of the exception. And besides, we have great restaurants, a nice beach, and a dozen wonderful golf courses.”
    Brit agreed on all counts. “Where do you play?” she asked.
    “Oh, all over. We’re in a league, but otherwise we don’t limit ourselves. How about you, Britain? Do you play?”
    “Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.”
    “So you live in Bear Creek? Do you play at Wilkes-Barre Muni? That’s in Bear Creek, isn’t it?” Alex asked.
    Brit met her gaze and nodded. Sally must have mentioned