Chapter 32: Chapter 32

"Done," Ana said as she dropped her item into her basket.

Kate's perfect eyebrows arched high on her forehead. "When you said you wanted to go shopping, I assumed you meant for more than one item," she said dryly.

Ana peeked into her basket. "It's a plenty pack," she pointed out.

"Of batteries?" Kate pressed.

Ana groaned. "I am so mad at Eric!"

Kate shook her head. "Seriously...what's the point of having a boyfriend if he's not putting out?"

"That's what I've been trying to tell him!" Ana exclaimed.

It was Wednesday, and while Eric had shown up at her office for the past three days with lunch, he wouldn't come near her in the evenings. He still called her to say good night, but seeing each other without other adults around was apparently off limits. The whole situation was starting to get ridiculous, and she was beginning to wonder if her willingness was making him lose interest.

"So...you don't need anything else?" Kate pressed.

Ana chewed on her lower lip as she thought for a moment. "Maybe we could visit that adult toy store again."

Elliot looked at his phone, then hooted with laughter. Eric to come to a stop a few feet ahead of him on the trail. "What the hell is so funny?" he barked.

After staring at his brother for a moment, an amused grin broke out on Elliot's face. "Really, little brother. You should just bang her. It might help lighten your mood."

"'Bang' her? Nice, Elliot."

Elliot shrugged. "If you did, maybe she wouldn't be out battery shopping right now with my girl."

Eric frowned. "What the hell does a car battery have to do with me sleeping with her?" he demanded.

His brother cleared his throat. "Not that kind of a battery," Elliot said. "She's buying batteries for her plastic boyfriend." Elliot's phone beeped and he read his new text. "Oh, I'm sorry. Boyfriends. Plural. Apparently she's shopping for a new one right now."

Eric rolled his eyes. "Kate texted you that?"

Elliot nodded.

"You guys are pathetic," he announced.

Elliot shrugged. "At least we're fucking."

Eric glared at his brother. "Is this why you brought me up here?" he asked. "To rub it in that I'm not getting laid?"

"No, actually-"

"Because it's not that I'm not horny as hell. Trust me—I am!" Eric shouted.

"Then what's the problem?" Elliot asked. "And before you answer...let me remind you that there are people besides me within hearing distance."

After a sharp intake of breath, Eric raked a hand through his hair, and then, making an effort to lower his voice, "every damn time I fuck her she gets pissed off at herself, or she fucking runs."

Elliot nodded slowly.

"Don't look at me like that," Eric said tersely.

Elliot tossed up his arms in a show of surrender. "Like what?" he asked.

"Like I just lost my fucking dick!"

Elliot cleared his throat. "So...what exactly are you waiting for, then?"

"Oh, that's the real kicker!" Eric declared. "I don't even know. How am I supposed to know what a functional relationship is when I've never been part of one?"

"Well, Kate and I-"

"She's got you pussy whipped," Eric cut in.

Elliot's eyes widened as he fixed his stare on his brother. "Well, her pussy is very nice!" he snapped. "Perhaps that's why I fucking proposed last night!"

"You...you're what?" Ana asked later that evening, sitting across the table from Kate.

Her friend grinned. "We're getting married," she repeated.

"Kate that...that's amazing!" Ana said as she stood, walking around the table until she was at her friend's side. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks!" Kate said as she stood. The women wrapped their arms around each other and held on tight. "It's actually this weekend. In Santa Barbara."

Ana pulled back. "Oh," she said in a small voice. "I...I..."

"You'll be there," Kate said firmly.

"I...it's my weekend to work, Kate," Ana said shaking her head.

"It was your weekend to work," Kate corrected.

"I don't..."

Kate sighed as the two sat back down at the table. "Elliot and I were going to have this nice dinner with both of our families and you," she said with a smile. "That's how we were going to announce it. But then he accidentally told Eric today."

"Accidentally?" Ana asked doubtfully.

"Eric said something about my womanly parts and-"

"What?" Ana asked with shrilly.

"It was all..." Kate shrugged. "It was stupid, really, but Elliot let it slip that we're engaged."

"I'm sure Eric was very happy at the news," Ana insisted.

"Maybe," Kate said with a shrug. "But the first thing out of his mouth was 'Ana's going to have to be there.' So he called The Vegas Lux, and the assistant manager will be flying in tomorrow morning to cover for you. How does it feel, Ana, to know that you're the first thing on the billionaire's mind when such an important announcement is made?"

"Kate, you know I'm much more concerned with getting in the billionaire's bed," she said dryly, then gasped. "Does this mean you're pregnant?"

Kate laughed. "If I am, then that tequila night we had a few weeks ago was highly uncalled for. No, I am not pregnant."

"Then what's the rush?" Ana wanted to know.

"Well, aside from the fact that I love him, he designed a few buildings for a college campus in Spain, and he leaves in three weeks. At first he was just supposed to draw up the plans, but now they want him to head up the entire project. And he wants me to go with him," she said excitedly. "That means we get married this weekend, spend two weeks in Barbados, and then a week here packing and spending time with my bestie."

Ana felt her eyes well up with tears. "You're...leaving?" she asked.

Kate laughed. "It's only for a year," she assured her friend. "Eighteen months at the most."

"That's...a long time."

"Plenty of time for you and my soon to be brother-in-law to get to know each other," Kate said with a knowing grin.

Ana took a deep breath. "What am I going to do without you for an entire year?"

Kate grinned. "With any luck...have lots and lots of sex."

Elliot and Eric had flown to Santa Barbara a day early to get some sailing in; Kate, Ana, and Mia's flight had just landed, and Ethan, Kate's brother, should have arrived at the same airport an hour earlier. The parents would be arriving first thing Saturday morning, and Jose would get there later that night when his art exhibit ended.

The women stepped off the plane and headed off to look for the men; their suitcases had gone with the men the day before, so there was no need to wait at the luggage carousel.

"I still think you should've put one of your vibrators in your suitcase," Kate muttered with a devious grin. "Can you imagine if they'd opened up your luggage? Eric would've been mortified."

Mia burst out laughing, and Ana glared at Kate. "You're giving Mia a great first impression of me, Kate."

Kate grinned at Ana. "You didn't think you were my only dildo shopping buddy, did you?"

Mia laughed and then pointed ahead. "There they are," she said.

Ana watched a grin break out of Eric's face when he saw her, and his speed picked up a bit. He was about twenty feet away when a figure bolted past him and ran up to her, picking her up and swinging her around.

"Annie!"

"Ethan," she said breathlessly as he put her down. "How are you?"

Eric wanted to punch the punk who had Ana in his arms claiming how much he'd missed her. And Annie? Who the fuck called her Annie?

Though he'd put her down, the man still hadn't loosened his grip on her by the time he reached Ana, so Eric pulled one of her hands from his back and linked his fingers through hers, giving it a tight squeeze.

When pretty boy finally let her go, he looked at Eric. "So, this must be the boy toy," he said with an appreciative nod before turning back to Ana. "I knew you'd get snagged up eventually," he said with a grin that made Eric tug on her hand until her side was pressed snugly against his side. "I was just hoping it'd be me."

With a fucking smirk, the man who must be Ethan turned to his sister. "Katie!"

"What the fuck was that all about?" Eric practically barked.

Ana's eyebrows rose. "Ethan? Oh, he's always like that," she said dismissively.

"Well, I don't like him," Eric decided aloud.

Ana laughed. "Trust me, he'll grow on you."

"I doubt that," he muttered.

Ana heard her phone beep and pulled it from her pocket.

Ethan: Sorry. I couldn't resist. Kate told me your boy toy has a jealous streak and to lay it on thick. Who am I to disappoint my sister on her wedding weekend? ;)

With a grin, Ana held her phone up in front of Eric. He growled as he read the message.

"Yeah. That bastard definitely won't be growing on me."

"Change them back!" Kate demanded an hour later when they'd made their way to hotel they were staying at.

"No," Eric said simply.

"Eric," she said, obviously struggling to be patient with him. "Ethan and Jose are sharing a room, and it's supposed to be the one adjoined with Ana's. Your room is supposed to be adjoined with Mia's!" she said stubbornly. "She doesn't even know Ethan and Jose!"

Eric shrugged. "I don't care.

Kate sighed. "You can't possibly think that Ethan and Ana-"

"What I know, Kate, is that the only possibility for Ana...is me."

Kate stomped her foot. "I demand you change the rooms back!"

Eric crossed his arms over his chest and arched his brows. "Have I ever told you, Kate, how much I adore Barbados this time of year?" he asked.

Kate took a deep breath and spun on her heel as she stalked off. "Stupid in laws," he heard her mutter.

He spied Ana standing next to her luggage halfway across the lobby and went to join her. She smiled at him as he made his way over to her, and his eyes narrowed. "Stop looking at me like that," he snapped when he reached her.

"Like what?" she asked in confusion.

Holy hell. He was officially turning into a dick, and he was so frustrated there was nothing he could do to stop it. His eyes found Elliot, gathering all of their keys at the counter. "Like I'm going to fuck you in this hotel. Not gonna happen."

"OK...you know what? I don't know what has you so pissed off, but these are not my fuck me eyes!" she informed him.

His head snapped around so he was looking at her. "You have fuck me eyes?"

Her eyes immediately clouded over into the sexiest, most smoldering look he'd ever seen, and Eric felt his knees go weak.

Lord, help him.