Family Ties

”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” I said, ever the peacemaker. “Let’s not do anything crazy. Everyone’s right in this case. Trip does a great job with the budget. I think we all agree.”

“We do,” Wren said as she slipped her arm around his waist and smiled up at him.

“And Trip, dude, the girls have their own money. Besides, Christy’s right… they’re buying all this stuff for us. Yeah, they like it too, but really…

Christy rolled her eyes but grinned at me from under her lashes.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Trip said. “Sorry, sweetheart,” he added to Wren. “I go a little nuts around Christmas.”

“I know,” she said. “You’re forgiven.”

“So,” I said once the mood had lightened, “where’re you off to next?”

“Ah well, it was worth a try.” I kissed her. “Have fun. Don’t spend too much. You don’t want your dad to have a heart attack when he sees your bank account.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me. He already gave me a lecture about the plane ticket.” She looked chagrined. “I didn’t have enough money in my account or something.”

“Uh-oh. Birdy’s in the doghouse?”

“No,” she muttered. “But I’m on a short leash, he says.”

“Extra reason to watch what you spend,” I said. “Just pay attention.”

I hugged her and kissed the top of her head. Wren couldn’t help grinning at us.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I told her. “You were right.”

“I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“Uh-uh. Not falling for it. Don’t you have more shopping to do?”

We kissed them goodbye and sent them on their way.

“I love Wren,” Trip said as we watched them go, “but her spending habits are gonna change once we’re married. Big time.”

“Um… careful with that,” I said. “Compromise, remember?”

“You’re gonna have problems of your own,” he said. “Christy’s even worse. At least Wren actually listens when we talk about money. Christy doesn’t seem to have a clue.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to realize that.”

“Aw, hell,” he said, “I don’t know what we’re complaining about. It’s just money. We can make more. Women like Wren and Christy don’t come along every day.”

“You got that right!”

Trip and Wren went on a date that evening, “to a real steakhouse, for meat from a cow,” as he put it. The door had barely closed behind them when Christy bounced and grinned at me.

“I have a surprise for you,” she said, “an early Christmas present.”

“Oh? Something you bought today?”

“Sort of, but not really.”

“You have to promise to wait here, though. You’ll spoil it if you come upstairs.”

I arched an eyebrow, but she didn’t give in.

“Promise me. Okay? You have to stay down here until I call you.”

She grinned and kissed me before she scampered upstairs. I thought I knew what she was up to, and the water hammer confirmed it about five minutes later. It rattled every time someone turned on the water upstairs, which meant that Christy probably wanted a hot bath. Still, I cooled my heels with my book for nearly an hour before she called down from the top of the stairs.

“Give me two minutes and then come up, okay?”

“Will do,” I called back. I knew her sense of time, so I gave her ten.

“Ready or not,” I yelled up, “here I come!”

I peeked in the bathroom (a small mess) and then her bedroom (a larger one) before I reached my own bedroom door. I wasn’t entirely prepared for what I saw.

The lights were off, but Christy had lit a dozen candles around the room.

She half-reclined on my bed, like Canova’s Pauline on her divan. She’d done her hair and makeup, although I couldn’t be sure in the candlelight.

My eyes traveled lower, to where her dark nipples showed through the openings in a peekaboo bra. Her panties were crotchless, although I couldn’t really see anything more because of her position. She was wearing a dark garter belt, light-colored stockings, and high heels the same shade as the garters. I smiled and wondered how long she’d had the shoes before she’d found the outfit to match.

“Don’t laugh,” she said nervously.

“D’you hear that?” I said to my jeans-covered penis. “Laugh and you’ll

be in solitary confinement. Got it?” I nodded and imagined his reply. “He says ‘got it.’”

Christy rolled her eyes.

“He also says he likes your outfit.”

“This was so much sexier in my head,” she said.

“Sorry,” I said quickly. I sat on the bed and rested my hand on her thigh.

“You look amazing! Very sexy. I was speechless. Then I realized you were nervous, so I thought I’d make you laugh. I probably should’ve—”

“You’re doing fine. To be honest, I’m a little nervous too. That’s why I tried to make a joke.”

“I thought—? I mean—? Didn’t you—?” She took a deep breath and composed herself. “I should stop.”

She caught the emphasis and smiled. “You’re going to make me all tingly inside.