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The dinner
Ryan guided the four guests into the dining room and they all hesitated not sure where to sit.
"Um..." he shrugged his shoulders "Sit wherever you like. I'm sure it doesn't matter." Ryan said as he went to the bar to get the wine for dinner.
Annabel quickly reasoned that Marissa would sit at the head of the table closest to the kitchen and hence Ryan would sit at the opposite end. So she moved to the seat that would be to Ryan's right knowing that then he would spend the entire evening looking at the split in her dress as it was down her left hand side. She knew that when she sat down the split would open so far that he couldn't possibly ignore it; he'd be faced with a large expanse of bare flesh all the way up to her waist. She'd spent a lot of time and money getting waxed and tanned and she intended to put it to good use. And also, she would be able to turn slightly in her seat every time she spoke to anyone else at the other end of the table and then, Ryan would be able to see the deep v of the back of her dress which would reveal more of her naked flesh to him. She knew it would leave little to the imagination. She smiled to herself thinking about what his reaction would be.
Skip noticed the look on Annabel's face and realised what she was up to. He quickly moved to the head of the table and said to Ryan "You don't mind if I sit at the end here do you? It's just, with legs as long as mine, I end up kicking people under the table, otherwise. At least if I'm at the end, I can always move back." Skip asked.
"Uh no. That's fine. Doesn't worry me." Ryan replied not really understanding Skip's logic.
Summer sat down opposite Annabel. She was already angry with her about what she was wearing and she knew that Annabel was trying to cause problems for Ryan and Marissa so the last thing she wanted was for Ryan to sit beside her and so she suggested to Seth "Why don't you sit beside Annabel? That way you can get to know her."
Seth had been about to sit beside Summer but glanced at her surprised. He thought that she had wanted him to stay away from Annabel but hey, he wasn't complaining. "Sure. I'd love to." He replied and moved around to take the seat beside Annabel. Summer glared at him because he seemed to have liked the idea a little too much and Seth looked at her confused. He figured he was just doing as she'd asked.
Summer glared across the table at Annabel. "I'm sure she sees enough of Ryan at work. She wouldn't want to have to sit beside her boss." Summer added wanting to put Annabel in her place and in turn make it quite clear to her what Summer believed the relationship was between Ryan and Annabel to be. She then glared back at Seth just wanting him to understand that she was making this sacrifice for Marissa and that it didn't mean that he was allowed to enjoy it. If he enjoyed it too much then he would be the one being sacrificed.
That left Ryan to sit beside Summer and Marissa at the opposite end of the table to Skip, between Ryan and Seth.
Marissa placed the last of the food on the table and sat down and said "Please help yourselves. There should be plenty of everything…. At least as long as you give the meatloaf to Ryan last." She said looking at him and smiling.
"Aw. So not fair." He replied as he reached and squeezed her leg under the table. All of a sudden he realised that he liked this seating arrangement. He could play with Marissa's leg under the table and no one would be any the wiser. He'd have to remember to thank Skip. He looked up at his friend and realised that he was chatting to Annabel. It certainly seemed as if they were getting along which was a huge bonus. Ryan had been worried. Really worried… when she had turned up in that dress. He knew he should have talked to Marissa about what had been going on at work. At least then she would have been prepared for it. He could see that she was upset by it and that was why he had taken her aside before dinner. Hopefully his reassurance would get her through the evening and then they could have a talk about it all. He watched Skip as he offered Annabel some meatloaf before putting some on his own plate. Ryan was surprised. He knew that Skip could get along with almost anyone. But he had thought it possible that Annabel may have been one of the exceptions. Thankfully it appeared that he had been wrong.
They were all fairly quiet as they were busily feeding themselves and everyone seemed to be enjoying the food.
Seth looked up from his dinner and said "Marissa this meat loaf is terrific. It tastes just like…"
"Nana Cohen's" Ryan finished for him.
"Yeah. That's what I was going to say." Seth added.
"That's because it is. Kirsten gave me the recipe the other day. She said it was one of Ryan's favourites. And I can assure you it is." Marissa replied.
"Ohhh. Well you're in trouble then." Seth suggested looking over at Ryan.
"Why? I've been good and not eaten too much." Ryan said looking at Marissa.
"I don't care about how much you eat – well as long as there is enough for me – but don't you remember? When you and Dad used to fight over it at home, you agreed with him that if you ever found someone who could make it, you would never let them go. Dad reckoned that you should get a ring on said female pronto." Seth suggested.
Ryan just smiled and looked at Marissa. They exchanged a look that showed everyone at the table that the idea appealed to them both.
"If someone gave me the recipe, then I'm sure I could make it. I'm a very good cook." Annabel interrupted with venom in her voice. It was almost as if she was challenging Marissa to a cook off, for Ryan's attentions.
Skip looked at the death glares coming from Summer and knew he had to do something before Summer exploded and he imagined that Marissa wouldn't be far behind.
He reached over under the table to squeeze Annabel's leg and get her attention. What he hadn't counted on was the fact that with the split in her dress having separated, as he reached for her he actually put his hand on her bare thigh and the feeling was …..all good. It was touch and go who was the more startled as Annabel felt his warm touch high on her thigh. She turned to look at him as he said. "I'm sure you could. And I would love to volunteer to be your guinea pig." Skip suggested.
Annabel looked at him and saw the message in his eyes. She realised that her previous little outburst was not at all what she was supposed to be doing. She would have to be more careful. "Well, if Marissa will give me the recipe then I'd love to make it for you. We could have a private dinner sometime?" She suggested.
Summer and Ryan looked stunned wondering how this change had suddenly come about. Marissa realised straight away that Skip was up to something and Seth just thought that Skip might be on the way to getting lucky.
---
"Maybe you should clear it with the Nana before you reveal her secret recipe to an 'OUTSIDER'." Summer suggested glaring at Annabel. It was obvious that Summer was not at all happy with the redhead sitting opposite her.
"We can ask her when we see her on the weekend." Seth suggested.
"The weekend?" Skip asked. "Is she coming to visit?" He had been asked to dinner at the Cohen's when the Nana was last in Newport and he thought she was great.
"No. We're all going to Miami. It's her 70th birthday and we're the surprise." Ryan added.
"Wow. That's great. Be sure to give her my best wishes." Skip added. "I gather you're not wanting my services?"
Ryan looked at him. "No. Sandy insisted he shout us and he has booked us all tickets on a commercial flight."
"Uh huh. So it wasn't because you didn't ….enjoy….yourself last week?" Skip asked watching the glances between Ryan and Marissa as they realised just what he referring to.
Seth was puzzled. "Ryan has never 'enjoyed' himself on a plane. You know he hates flying."
"I beg to differ. I'm fairly sure he 'enjoyed' himself last week. Didn't you Ryan?" Skip asked, knowing that Ryan was going to make him pay for this at some later time but unable to resist the opportunity to give his friend a hard time.
Ryan looked at Marissa who had started to blush as Skip had persisted with his line of questioning. He glared at Skip trying to get him to leave the topic alone.
"Well come on? I'd love to hear? Did I get it wrong? Wasn't it your most enjoyable flight ever?" Skip persisted.
"I can't imagine what you're talking about." Seth said frowning and looking at Skip and then at Ryan and wondering why he was being silent. "Ryan has never liked flying."
"Oh for crying out loud. He joined the Mile High Club Cohen. That's what Skip's getting at." Summer interjected.
"He what?" Seth stated surprised, wondering why he hadn't known about this. "Why wasn't I told? You lucky devil you."
"What's the mile high club? Is a type of Frequent Flyer club?" Annabel asked. "Can anybody join?"
There was silence around the table while they waited to see who would be the one to answer her.
Skip went to open his mouth only to be stopped by a death stare from Ryan. He thought for a moment and then said. "It's very exclusive. But I'd be happy to help you join, if you want to become a member." He smiled as every one else at the table held their breath.
"Skip." Ryan said sounding like a disapproving father.
"Why that would be lovely. Thank you." Annabel replied still none the wiser but pleased that Ryan seemed to be at least paying attention to her.
The others at the table all just looked stunned and then Seth couldn't help himself and he burst out laughing, only to be shortly followed by all the others.
Annabel was not stupid and she realised that there was some sort of private joke going on that she wasn't part of. She looked at Skip who was supposed to be her allay and asked. "What's so funny?"
He leaned over to whisper in her ear, thinking he would rather tell her in private but this would have to do. He put his hand on her back to pull her in closer and his hand hit her skin. There was no material there at all and he realised that he loved the feel of her bare skin under his fingertips. "It means he had s. e. x. on the plane while it was up in the air."
Annabel gasped and then looked at all the others around the table before she let her eyes rest on Ryan who was definitely starting to blush. She had never seen him look so uncomfortable.
Marissa could feel herself burning up by this point and excused herself and fled to the kitchen.
Annabel was stunned and then she looked back at Skip and realised just what he had suggested to her and was about to tell him where to go when she realised that he was just giving her the opportunity to really test Ryan out. Ryan had tried to censure Skip after Skip had offered to help her join so maybe she would continue and see whether Ryan would get really jealous.
She turned her back on the rest of them and looked at Skip. "So exactly when can I join?" she said huskily and just loud enough to make sure that everyone at the table could hear.
Seth had just taken a mouthful of red wine and when he heard Annabel's reply he couldn't help but spit it out as he sprayed the table and Ryan with the dark crimson liquid.
"Excuse me. Sorry about that Ryan but I mean…." He looked at Summer. "How come she is willing and yet you've never let me…"
"Seth. If you want to live another day, I think you should stop before you say another thing." Summer said.
"But Skip's only just met…." Seth continued still trying to put his point forward.
"I don't care what Skip does…..or Annabel for that matter." She turned to Skip. "You do know that he is now going to whinge the whole way to Miami and back thinking that he is missing out on something that both you guys have experienced."
Skip smiled. "Well maybe you could…"
"No! And let me think….ah No! It's not happening so don't even go there. Understand?" Summer said to Seth.
"I guess so." Seth replied putting on his very best 'sad' face. "But tell me Skip, since it seems that I'm never going to get to join said club…" he glared at Summer. "Is it really that good?"
"Well maybe you should ask Ryan and Marissa. After all, they are the newest inductees." Skip suggested and all eyes turned to Ryan since Marissa had still not returned from the kitchen.
Ryan instantly stood up and collected the rest of the plates. "I'm just going to take these to the kitchen and put on a clean shirt. I'll be back in a minute." As he got to the door he turned and added. "And Skip… behave yourself."
As he walked out the door the four that were left at the table, all laughed at the obvious embarrassment of their host.
---
Ryan walked into the kitchen and placed the plates on the counter and then proceeded to take off his shirt.
"What happened to you? Not that I'm complaining mind you. I just thought we should wait until our guests have left." Marissa asked admiring his naked torso and then looked at Ryan and realised that he wasn't in the best of moods. Something had obviously happened.
"Nothing." Ryan just shook his head. "Just Seth. He couldn't quite control himself. I'm just going to get a clean shirt and then I think I'd better try to have a quiet word with Skip. I mean what's with him? He's not usually like this? Fancy telling Annabel he'll introduce her to the mile high club. I mean, I had hoped that he and Annabel would get along but I think that comment was ….highly inappropriate. I can't believe he actually suggested it?" Ryan said as he walked off in to the bedroom looking for a clean shirt.
Marissa followed him and once inside the bedroom she said. "Ry." She looked at him guiltily.
He turned, surprised that she had followed him. "Yeah."
"Well….um…." Marissa didn't know where to start.
Ryan could see how uncomfortable she was and he couldn't think what she could be so concerned about. If it was because of Skip mentioning their exploits on the plane last week in front of everyone then he would have another reason to have words with Skip. "Ris what is it?"
"It's just…..I think I might be responsible for Skip's behaviour. So don't be too hard on him." Marissa came out and said.
"How can you be responsible for what he's been up to?" Ryan wondered.
"Well…I was telling him earlier that….." she stopped. She didn't want to admit to being jealous. It was like telling Ryan that she didn't have confidence in their relationship and that she thought that Annabel could come between them.
Ryan started to worry. It was obvious that whatever Marissa was about to say, she was having difficulty with, which meant that she probably knew that he wasn't going to like it. What could it possibly be? "Ris….just out with it."
"Well… I was telling him earlier that I thought that Annabel might have had a ….. bit of a thing for you. And that I hoped that he would sweep her off her feet so that she wouldn't or couldn't cause any problems between us." Marissa looked at Ryan wondering how he would take her admission. She quickly added as explanation. "Summer had told me about how Annabel had been dressing provocatively at work and well….I guess I was feeling a little insecure and maybe…. just a little jealous." She admitted looking at him to see how he would react.
Ryan took in everything she'd said. So she had already known about Annabel's clothing choices at work. Now Ryan felt bad that he hadn't talked to her about it before this. In trying to stop Marissa from worrying he had only made things worse. Now the guilty feeling was with him. If only he had come clean in the first place then he could have removed all her insecurities and they wouldn't be in this predicament.
He still hadn't said anything and Marissa was starting to worry and began again. "I'm sorry I was jealous. I do trust you. It's just…." Her words were cut off by Ryan's lips taking over her mouth; his tongue dancing with hers as he tried once again to assure her of his love.
He pulled back. "You don't ever need to be jealous. I'm sorry I didn't talk to you about it all. I guess I was just hoping that she would get the message and everything would go back to normal. But looking at that dress tonight, I guess that's not about to happen. But what does all this have to do with Skip?" Ryan asked.
"Well ….I think he has some sort of plan to try to help me or us…" she looked shyly at Ryan.
"Us" Ryan assured her.
Marissa smiled. "…and that's why he is acting the way he is. I'm guessing he's trying to make sure that she realises that we are together and that's why he brought up the flight from last week. But as for propositioning her, that I don't really understand. But I think you should at least talk to him and let him explain first before you have your 'word' with him."
Ryan finished doing up the buttons on his clean shirt. "Okay. Point taken. I guess if he is doing all this for us then I'd better hear him out. Mind you he doesn't exactly look like he is torturing himself in the process. In fact, I think he's having the time of his life. But if you're right and Skip's doing all this to help us out then, I don't think it could hurt us to be extra affectionate tonight." Ryan looked at Marissa. "You know, just to let Annabel know that we're definitely a done deal." He gave her his half smile and she melted.
"I think I could do that." Marissa smiled.
"I didn't exactly mean 'that'" Ryan said with a twinkle in his eye. "At least not until they have all left."
Marissa laughed. "You know that Summer will gag and give us a hard time if we are all over one another?"
"I can cope with that. Especially if it means I get a little more attention from you." Ryan added. "But come on we'd better get back out there or they'll send in the search party. Seth's sure to be looking for dessert by now." Ryan said as he put his arm around her and they made their way back to the kitchen.
He didn't think it was a good idea to leave their guests alone for too long.
