Free Love's Back Pocket by Heather C. Myers Page B

she asked him, perking her brows up in hopes to make her point. “Do you think it’s fair that to further your happiness, you have to take away somebody else’s?”
     
    “You have to look out for yourself,” Tommy said, his brow furrowed as he replied somewhat defensively. “There is no one more important in this world than yourself.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “Sorry, toots, but if you don’t put yourself first, who’s going to? You can’t depend on anybody.”
     
    “Oh,” Holly said, now in full realization of a portion of Tommy’s persona. “I get it. I guess I understand as well. You don’t have a wife or any children, I have no idea your relationship to your parents, your family. Judging from the members of your band, you’ve replaced at least two members with younger guys, and while you’re close to them, you don’t fully trust them, am I right? These young guys threaten your masculinity which is why you sleep with … what’s the term? Your groupies. It makes you feel young, strong, whatever.” She sighed through her nose and straightened up, suppressing a yawn. “Most women may fall for your games, Tommy Nye, but I’m not one of them. Drop me off at an airport if all you were looking for was sex. That’s fine. But you had better get it through your head if you want me to stay that I’m not your …” she paused, trying to figure out the correct phrase, “booty call. Right. I’m not a booty call.” And with that, she turned on her heel and headed back into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her.
     
    ---
     
    From his room, Victor watched the whole scene play out with an amused smile on his face. So this young woman was different after all, and quite perceptive. Judging from the look currently etched onto Tommy’s face, Victor suspected the man had no idea he could be that transparent.
     
    This trip would surely be amusing.

Chapter 13
     
    “We’re in Arizona, Tanya.” Holly leaned over the lounging room window as her eyes took in the new terrain. “I’m sure we can find something to do here.”
     
    “Like what?” Tanya asked, standing next to her friend, her dark eyes more wary than her friend’s. “Burn our skin? Make me faint from dehydration?”
     
    “You know,” Mitch said, coming up behind Tanya to wrap his sturdy arms around her waist, “you might actually look cute with a pink tint to your skin.” He grinned sheepishly at her before claiming the column of her throat with his lips, causing Tanya to burst into a fit of giggles and her cheeks to redden. “Ah!” he exclaimed, seeing the effect he had on her. “Much like that.” He glanced over at Holly. “What do you say, Holly? Don’t you think she looks better with pink skin?”
     
    “I …” Holly began, a smile eclipsing her face, “I have to agree with Mitch.”
     
    “You would,” Tanya shot at her friend, and though she tried to look far from amused, there was glimmer in her eyes that revealed otherwise. Holly studied it for a moment. She had never seen such a shine in Tanya’s eyes before, and she was left to believe that the reason for this positive change was none other than Mitch. She smiled at this; her friend deserved all the happiness the world could offer her, and as Tanya transformed, Holly found it quite fascinating to observe.
     
    “There’s a pool at the hotel we’re staying at,” Mitch suggested, resting the tip of his chin on Tanya’s shoulder. He glanced down at her, a small frown touching his lips. “Do you realize how short you are?”
     
    Holly laughed as the bus pulled into the hotel parking lot. Once everybody had rooms and were settled, Tanya headed over to Holly’s room where the two quickly changed into their bathing suits, having decided to take Mitch’s suggestion.
     
    Tanya was wearing a bold purple string bikini that covered what was necessary, while leaving little to the imagination. The material of the suit shimmered, and resembled the scales of a