“There’s something I want you to know,” Tyler said.
“Uh-oh.”
“Not really. It’s just that…I don’t want you to think…God, how can I say this? I felt the way I do about you before all this about Dan happened. You remember this morning in my room?”
“How could I forget?”
“That was before…the tour. I’d already made up my mind not to…get involved with him.”
Abe nodded as if he’d known that.
“I just don’t want you to think the way I…I mean, I’m not on some kind of bizarre rebound. It has nothing to do with him. Hell, I wanted you last night. But he was in the way, even though…oh, God, doesn’t that sound wonderful? He was in the way and now he’s not.”
“I think I understand, Tyler.”
“You guys went in!” Nora said as she and Jack came near. “Didn’t you freeze your buns?”
“It wasn’t too bad,” Tyler said. “Give it a try.”
“No way. I’m gonna spread out one of those towels and catch some rays. We’re gonna stay awhile, aren’t we?”
“Sure,” Abe said. “One thing, though. Is anyone opposed to staying over again tonight?”
“All
“There might be a problem with the Inn,” he said to Abe.
“Weird, huh?” Nora asked. “What do you suppose happened to those people?”
“I promised the cop I’d check about that,” Abe said. “None of you noticed anything strange last night, did you?”
Nora said, “Not a thing.” Jack shook his head.
“If the motel’s going to close up,” Tyler said, “we’d better find out.” Her heart started racing. “Why don’t Abe and I go on ahead and check it out? We can register, if everything’s okay, and meet you back here.”
“Terrif.”
“That okay with you, Abe?” Tyler asked.
“Let’s go.”
They left Nora and Jack spreading towels on the sand, and trudged up the slope. Tyler was eager and nervous. The parking area seemed very far away, as if the path had stretched itself simply to frustrate her. At last, they reached the car. Abe opened the passenger door. He rolled down its window, and tossed the towels into the backseat.
“Whoa,” Tyler said. “I’d better put something on.”
“You look fine,” he said.
With a shrug, she climbed in. She jumped at the burning touch of the seat cover, then settled down and watched Abe wince as he sat behind the wheel. “Hurt?” she asked.
“I can take it.”
“We should’ve put clothes on.”
“I like you this way.” Reaching over, he slid a hand up her leg. He patted her thigh, met her eyes for a moment, then started the car.
Tyler slumped down in her seat as they passed through the middle of town. Abe kept glancing at her, looking a bit amused. He drove in silence.
Nervous? she wondered.
“We’ll check the office later,” he said finally.
Except for Gorman Hardy’s Mercedes, the courtyard of the Welcome Inn was deserted.
“My room’ll be fine,” Tyler whispered.
He parked in front of it. Tyler stepped out into the shade. A mild breeze chilled the sweat on her skin. Leaning over the backseat, she gathered her handbag and all her clothes.
Her hands were trembling. She dropped the room key on the stoop. Abe picked it up and unlocked the door.
The room was dusky, the curtains drifting out from the open windows. The bed Tyler had slept in last night was still unmade. She stepped over to the dressing table, and emptied her arms.
In the mirror, she saw Abe come up behind her. Parting her hair, he kissed the nape of her neck. He caressed her sides, her belly. She watched his hands glide upward, and moaned as they cupped her breasts through the filmy bikini.
“Tyler,” he whispered.
“Huh?”
“It’s a nice name.”
“It’s a weird name.”
“I like it. I like everything about you.”
“Flatterer.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you like my sweat?”
“I like how it makes you slippery,” he said, sliding his hands down her belly.
“Soap will do that, too.”
“Mmm.”
“Let’s take a shower.”
He fingered the ties at her hip. She lifted his hand away. “Patience. We’ve got to rinse the salt water off our suits.”
He laughed softly and followed her into the bathroom. Leaning over the tub, Tyler turned on the hot water faucet. She kept a hand under the spout. The water, cold at first, slowly became warm. She flinched with surprise when Abe touched her rump. His hand was big and warm. It moved slowly lower. She gasped and felt her legs go weak when it stole between them. She gripped the edge of the tub to hold herself steady. Steam rose from the splashing water, hot against her face. She looked around. Abe gave her an innocent smile, and his hand went away.
Tyler turned on the cold water. She adjusted the faucet and touched the water. Still too hot. She reached again to the faucet, and felt Abe’s fingers on her hip. Looking back, she saw him pluck open the knotted cords. He let the ends fall. The white triangle at her groin swung away like a hinged flap. She twisted the faucet. Abe untied the other side. She turned the faucet slightly more and felt a tingling brush of fabric as Abe drew the garment away. He tossed it over her head. It dropped into the tub.
“You’re very helpful,” Tyler said.
“I try to be.”
She touched the water. It felt right. “What about your trunks?” she asked as she twisted the shower handle.
“That’s your job.”
The spray came down. Straightening up quickly, Tyler yanked the shower curtain almost shut. She reached through the gap to test the temperature. Abe, standing beside her, moved a hand down her back and rump. “It’s ready,” she said.
“Ladies first.”
Tyler climbed into the tub. She passed through the spray and backed up against a tile wall. Abe stepped in. He closed the curtain and turned to face her, one eye squeezed shut against the pelting shower, a rather silly smile on his face.
Tyler eased into his arms. The water rained down on their faces as they kissed. His body was slick against her. His hands roamed down her back, caressed and plied her buttocks as if he was fascinated by the firm mounds. Then they slid up. They opened the ties behind her back, behind her neck. Holding onto the neck cords, he stepped away and peeled the bikini down. He let it fall to their feet. He gazed at her streaming breasts. He explored them with his hands, stroking and holding and squeezing, clasping the nipples between his thumb and forefingers, pinching them gently in a way that made Tyler catch her breath and squirm.
Crouching, he rubbed his face on them. She felt his nose, the tickle of an eyelash, the rasp of whiskers,
