Free The Beach House by JT Harding Page A

the way Ami seemed to take to her, unafraid and
trusting. Jenni didn’t know much about kids, would like to know a
lot more, but Mark had made it clear he didn’t want to bring any
brats into the world. According to Mark the world was fucked up
enough without another wailing mouth to feed. Jenni had tried
working on him, which was always tough because Mark didn’t listen
much to what she said, and when he did listen gave even less
attention to her words. Jenni accepted she would never be a mother.
Almost twenty-nine, a prime time of life for children if it was
going to happen, time left too but she felt the clock ticking and
didn’t see Mark changing his mind.
    Twenty-nine, she thought. Time for a change,
maybe. Time to do something about her situation instead of
pretending she didn’t care, instead of pretending things might get
better. Nothing was going to get better, she knew, unless she did
something herself to make it better.
    Ahead of her Joe kicked at an empty shell,
leaned over to pick a piece of wood up and she watched as his
shorts pulled snug, cupping his ball sac between his thighs and she
flushed, shivering with sudden lust. She hadn’t felt this way, this
out of control, since Paul. Jenni wasn’t sure if she wanted this or
not. Wasn’t sure if she needed this, not now, not ever, then
thinking suddenly – if not now, when? She had to make the decision
she had been putting off for far too long. Had to decide what she
wanted from her life. More of the same or something else? But what
else… and how far did she want to go?

Chapter 6
    As they approached the beach house Joe saw Kim
stretched out on the sun lounger. She had carried the lounger
off the porch, set it up on the dry sand in front of the house,
angled directly toward the sun. She was lying on her front, wearing
only tiny black bikini bottoms.
    “Hey Kim,” Joe called as they walked up from
the tideline. “We got company. You want to get some clothes on,
babe?”
    “Don’t worry about me,” Jenni said. “I’m all
grown up. I’m sure I can cope with a little nudity.”
    Sounds good to me, Joe thought, but he said,
“Kim’s a bit of a slut when it comes to flashing herself around,
Jenni. I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong idea.”
    “Why not?”
    Joe looked at her, but she was grinning and
he realized she was teasing.
    Kim stirred and Joe wondered if she had been
asleep. She liked to sleep in the afternoons now, since they had
arrived at the beach, often taking herself to bed, alone if need
be, for a nap after lunch. Kim rolled on to her back, scrabbling
for her bikini top and cupping it around her breasts. The top was
miniscule and her sleep fuddled movement left one nipple peeking
free. Joe reached down and slipped his finger inside and tucked her
away, her nipple responding instantly to his touch, and Kim smiled
sleepily.
    “This is Jenni,” Joe said. “She was kind
enough to carry Ami most of the way back.”
    Kim held her hand out and Joe pulled her to
her feet. Kim kept coming, wanting a kiss, and Joe brushed her
lips, feeling a little awkward in front of Jenni. Kim’s lips curved
into a smile under his and Joe grew nervous.
    “She’s such a sweetheart,” Jenni said,
slipping Ami off her shoulder and turning her around to let Kim
take her.
    “Not at three in the–”
    “We’ve done that,” Joe said, laughing, and
the two women joined in.
    “Nice to meet you at last,” Jenni said.
“I’ve seen you around since you moved in, and nearly came over to
say Hi, but I thought you might want some privacy.”
    “You’ll stay for coffee, won’t you?” Kim
asked, then before giving Jenni chance to answer said, “Put some on
Joe, we’re going to talk about you behind your back.” Kim handed
Ami to Joe. “Put her down before you start the coffee.”
    As soon as Joe took Ami, Kim slipped her arm
through Jenni’s as though they had been lifelong friends and leaned
across and whispered in her ear. Jenni’s face flushed