largest breasts Ariel had ever seen. She also had on a pair of matching golden stilettos that made her look even taller and thinner than she was.
“Oh my God,” she cried in the typical way women seemed to greet each other at social events like this one, “You must be Ariel and Becky. I’m so glad you made it.”
Ariel was feeling more and more flustered. The people by the pool were pretending to busy themselves but Ariel knew they were watching and listening.
“Thank you so much for inviting us,” she said.
She flashed a glance at Zola’s voluptuous breasts and did not relish the opportunity of trying on one of her bikinis.
“You both look so darling,” Zola said glancing over their sundresses, “almost innocent .”
Ariel wondered what she meant by that but didn’t have time to find out.
“We didn’t know it was a pool party,” Becky said.
“Oh you poor things. I forgot to mention it on the invite. Everyone else has been here so many times it sort of just goes without saying.”
Zola looked at Jake. “Honey, would you be a darling and make these girls a couple of margaritas. I’ll take them upstairs and show them some bathing suits they can borrow.”
“That’s really not necessary,” Ariel said.
“Oh don’t be shy,” Zola said. “I’m sure you’d like to get a little wet,” she said, addressing Becky.
Becky smiled and nodded slowly.
Zola marched through the kitchen and out to the grand staircase they’d passed on the way in. Ariel and Becky followed her. Ariel was relieved to be getting out of the view of the other guests. All she wanted to do was mingle through the crowd as quickly as possible, meet everyone, and then rush back to the safety of her own home. Everyone at the party knew each other and they all looked so happy and beautiful. It was intimidating being the new girl on the block.
Becky was already following Zola out to the hall and Ariel decided not to show her daughter how awkward she felt. She would get through this little party. It wasn’t that bad.
And then something happened that Ariel hadn’t expected at all. She never would have dared imagine something like it would happen. She was so surprised she didn’t even react. She just stood there.
Jake Medeiros slapped her gently on the butt.
For a second Ariel wondered if she’d imagined it but then he did it again. His hand definitely came down and cupped the cheek of her butt through the skirt of her dress. His hand was large and strong and lingered on her butt as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She looked up at him and then instantly looked away. Her face flushed red. She was shocked. She hurried after Becky and Zola and didn’t dare look back at Jake. She just prayed no one had seen what he’d done.
What kind of a neighborhood had she come to?
II
Z OLA MEDEIROS WAS MORE NERVOUS about her new neighbors than she cared to admit. Two single women, a mother and daughter, it was her worst nightmare. If she’d been married to a loving, caring husband who was loyal to her she would have been more than happy to welcome some newcomers to the neighborhood. But that wasn’t who she was married to at all. She was married to Jake Medeiros and he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off of them.
She was crushing ice when Ariel and Becky arrived. She swallowed as she looked up at them. They were as pretty as pictures, the two of them in their sweet sundresses looking like immaculate virgins. The mother, Ariel, was a little older than Zola was, early thirties she guessed, but she looked so great it didn’t matter. It was amazing to think that the woman had a sixteen-year-old daughter. She must have had her when she was still a child herself.
Jake led them through the kitchen like they were some new prize he’d bought for himself at the mall. Zola just knew he’d be all over them as soon as he got the chance. It made her shudder to think of it. That would be Jake’s absolute fantasy, a mother and
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