Free The Game by Jeanne Barrack Page B

Nothing came between them now. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” he asked. “We don’t have to go back right now, do we?” He cupped her behind, squeezing it. Hard. “Do we?”
    Shari gasped, pulled her T-shirt over her head, and let it fall to the floor. She placed her hands on Dave’s shoulders and smiled.
    “Let ’em wait.”
    * * * *
    Frank strode from one side of the room to the other. He stopped and glanced over at Marcie, lounging on the bed.
    “What’s taking them so long?”
    Marcie shrugged.
    “Take it easy, sweetie. They’re just…getting things straight…oops.” She grinned. “Sorry. Sorting things out. Don’t worry. I’m sure Dave will be back soon and—”
    Steady banging shook the cabin.
    Marcie cracked up.
    “Damn! This place has seen more sex in three days than I bet it saw in three years.” She gasped as she tried to catch her breath. “As for the banging…Lord, it’s amazing that we haven’t started an avalanche!”
    Frank stared at Marcie with wonder.
    “How do you do it? I’ve been having a meltdown since we got up here, and I’m not sure Dave and Shari have been any less anxious. Yet you seem to be taking things in stride. Even the blizzard.”
    Marcie sat up in the bed and crossed her legs at the ankle.
    “Frankie, my bubbie —that’s the Yiddish word for grandmother, in case you didn’t know—survived Hitler’s Germany. She always told me to live each day with all the joy you can because you never know what the next day will bring.” She smiled. “Hell, all I need to do is think of what happened to her, and my worries seem minor. Even being stranded in a cabin in a blizzard.” Her smile turned wicked. “Think of the fun we’ve had.” She stopped. “Think what we’ve learned about ourselves and each other. So you see, I try not to dwell on things.” She paused in thought. “You know, I was doing exactly that—worrying about Kip and Tony leaving town. And now, with any luck, I may have found some new lovers.” She bit her bottom lip, all traces of laughter gone. “What do you think?”
    Frank returned her look and nodded.
    “I think—maybe…possibly…probably.”

Chapter 5
    “Thanks for giving Shari and me the rest of the night together.” Dave looked over at Shari and smiled. “It’s amazing what you can do with just a bed sheet and a belt. Oh, and glad I found yours, Frank. I’ll buy you a new one when we get back to the city. Marcie, we owe you.” Dave leaned over and brushed a kiss on her cheek.
    “Uh-uh. You owe Frank and me—and I expect you to pay up when we get home.” Marcie grinned. “As the lady of the manor, I command it.”
    “Is that okay with you, babe?” Dave asked Shari.
    “As long as I can play, too. And as long as you’re the cavalier who ravishes me in the stable.”
    Frank quirked an eyebrow.
    “You sound quite familiar with this little play.”
    Shari added another spoon of sugar to the tepid coffee before answering. “Well, I did have a life before I met Dave. Not that it compares with what we have now, of course. Still, Marcie and I…well, my lips are sealed.”
    Dave put on a mock serious demeanor. “Good thing, Ms. Nelson; otherwise, I’d have to arrest you for lewd and lascivious behavior.”
    Shari swatted him with a dish towel. “Only place I conduct lewd and lascivious acts is in bed with you. Now.”
    “And that’s the way it better stay. In bed with me.” He laughed. “Or Marcie and Frank.” Dave pushed away from the table and cleared his throat.
    “Okay, guys, the snow has stopped, the weather’s cleared, and the plow still hasn’t gotten to us. Frank and I will bring in as much wood as we can and get a good fire started. We’ll take turns keeping it going. I’m sure the smoke from the fire will be seen, and we’ll be out of here soon.”
    Frank got up from the table and looked out through the tiny patch of clean glass in the window of the kitchen door. “I can’t believe how