Okay, So I didn't think that I should keep you waiting for dessert. Enjoy!

Dessert

Annabel was very happy with the way things were going. Sure she had been shocked once she had realised what Skip had actually been talking about with the Mile High Club but then again she was very pleased with Ryan's reaction. He obviously wasn't pleased with Skip propositioning her. So maybe the plan was working. She couldn't help but be disappointed with the news about what Ryan and Marissa had been up to on the flight last week but she was sure that she couldn't change that. She would just have to chalk that one up to Marissa but it didn't mean the fight was over just yet. And she did have the added bonus of having Skip on her side.

Initially she had been disappointed when Skip had sat beside her and not Ryan, but he had been a very pleasant surprise and she couldn't deny that whenever he touched her she could feel a warmth spread through her that put a smile on her face. The question was, was it because he was someone special or had it just been so long since she'd been touched, that she would have reacted that way to anyone? She wasn't sure. Either way, things were going great for her. She felt sorry for Skip, however. Marissa didn't seem to be at all jealous of the attention that he was giving Annabel. It looked like his plan wasn't working for him at least. But then Annabel thought that just maybe ….if things didn't work out with Ryan…. then she might be able to ease his pain. Either way … she was in a win win situation.

Dessert was served and eaten without any major problems. It was delicious and Seth was in raptures yet again about Marissa's Chocolate Mousse. Skip and Annabel seemed to be spending a lot of time talking quietly between one another and they seemed to always be touching. Annabel was delighted with the glares that Ryan was sending to Skip. But she wasn't quite so happy about the way that Ryan and Marissa seemed to be all over each other. Marissa was so obvious. She had offered to share her dessert with Ryan and had then taken to actually feeding it to him and when one spoonful was particularly large and it left a little on the side of his mouth then Marissa had lent over and used her tongue to clean up and lick it away. It grossed Annabel out and she'd had to turn her head away. Fortunately it had a similar affect on Summer and she had demanded they stop it before she puked. It was the only thing that she had agreed with Summer about all evening.

When they had all finished eating, Marissa suggested that they move in to the lounge room and make themselves comfortable and that she would bring the coffees in there.

While Marissa went off to the kitchen to get the coffee, Annabel decided to go and freshen up in the bathroom and as the others all stood up to make their way into the lounge. Ryan waited until Seth and Summer had left the dining room and then took the opportunity to have a quick word with Skip.

"So what's going on? I gather from Marissa that you have some little plan in motion here that I'd love you to share with me." Ryan asked.

Skip smiled. "What? Don't you think I always behave like this?" he asked.

"No. I've spent too much time with you to know that you not a sleazebag… at least not naturally." Ryan stated.

"Well. Given that she's dressed like that, how else would you expect me to behave?" Skip asked.

"Okay. But how come she's going along with everything you say. It's like she's putty in your hands. That's definitely not the Annabel I know."

Skip smiled. "I convinced her that…" Skip all of a sudden thought better of what he had been about to say. "….Now...just hear me out before you react. I don't want you going off in my face."

Ryan knew that something was coming that he wasn't going to like. "Uh huh"

"Well. I convinced her that I was interested in Marissa, just like she was interested in you." Skip stated.

Ryan glared at him.

"I'm just pretending…mind you if you ever decide …" Skip added with a smile, knowing even hinting at it would get to Ryan.

"Skip. I won't. She's mine. So what's with the rest of this wonderful plan?" Ryan asked waiting to hear him out before reacting.

"Well I said that we could use each other to make the objects of our affections jealous. Clever huh? And by the way you have been playing your part very well. Lots of glares and things. A person could really believe that you are actually jealous."

"I'm not jealous. I just thought perhaps it was in bad taste to have your hands all over her when you had only just met."

Skip put his hands up in his defence. "I told her that if I did anything at all that she was uncomfortable with then she only had to say the word and I'd back off straight away. Mind you, I have to say, never in a million years did I imagine that I'd feel as much bare skin tonight as I have already and the night is still young."

"And what about telling her you'd help her join the Mile High Club if she wanted?"

"Hey I only asked. She's the one who accepted." Skip replied.

"Yeah. But that was before she even knew what it was."

"True. And because of that I won't hold her to it. But she didn't say no even after I'd told her, so who knows, maybe in time she'll take me up on my offer. She just needs to get over this stupid crush she has on you." Skip smiled realising just how awkward it made Ryan feel even to talk about it. "I really quite like the girl but really her taste in guys to date has been questionable. But maybe if I can change that then…."

Ryan smiled realising just what Skip was up to. "Okay. So I guess I owe you. What can I do to help?"

"Just keep doing what you're doing. Feel free to make a complete fool of yourself over Marissa. It can only help me in my devious plan." Skip stated.

"That I can do. It seems to come naturally when ever I'm around Marissa." Ryan replied.

"So I've noticed." Skip commented.

---

When Ryan and Skip walked in to the living room, Summer was seated at one end of the lounge and Seth was laying along it with his head in her lap.

"Passed your bedtime already Seth?" Skip asked.

"No. I've just eaten too much again. I love the fact that Marissa made extra mousse for me but it seems that maybe I should have stopped at three serves. I think the fourth was a mistake. My stomach doesn't feel so good." Seth explained.

"And what about the fifth?" Summer asked.

Seth grimaced. "I don't think the fifth has actually made it to my stomach yet. It's still sitting in the tube waiting for space. You know like looking for a park at the mall at Chrismukkah."

Skip laughed as he sat down in one of the two large arm chairs that were either side of the lounge.

"I'll just see if I can give Marissa a hand." Ryan said and made his way in to kitchen.

---

"Can I help?" Ryan asked as he walked in to the kitchen.

"No. It's all ready." She replied. "Although, you could carry the tray in for me."

"I can do that. " Ryan replied picking up the tray that she had prepared.

"Did you get a chance to talk to Skip?" Marissa asked.

"Yeah. I'll tell you about it later. All we have to do is to continue to be all over one another and he'll be happy."

"Mmm. I like that idea. He'll be happy and so will I." Marissa replied giving him a quick kiss on the way past.

"I'm sure you can do better than that." Ryan said following behind with the tray.

Marissa looked back and said saucily over her shoulder. "I assure you I can."

---

After setting down the tray on the coffee table, Marissa proceeded to pour out mugs of the steaming hot coffee and pass them to their guests. Ryan had seated himself in the other large arm chair opposite Skip. When she had finished Marissa stood up wondering where to sit. She was about to ask Seth to move when Ryan suggested she sit on his lap. She happily moved to sit with him and as he wrapped his arms around her and held her close, Annabel came back into the room. She stood for a moment wondering where to sit. Ryan looked at Skip.

"You're welcome to my chair Annabel and I can sit on the floor or, if you like, we could share and you could sit on my lap. Annabel considered the options. It looked like Summer and Seth had fallen asleep so the chance of getting them to move was practically zero. She watched as Ryan proceeded to nuzzle Marissa's neck and she decided she could give him something else to think about. She walked over to Skip and turned to sit across his lap. Of course as she did the split on her skirt pulled apart and a large amount of bare leg, thigh and hip was put on display.

Marissa looked up and gave an audible gasp and Annabel smiled knowing that if it had that sort of effect on Marissa then Ryan would be seeing the same view. What she hadn't banked on was that Skip would put his arm around her to pull her closer so that she wouldn't slip off his lap. His hand went to her hip which at this point was totally bare. She felt like she had been zapped as his fingers moved over her skin gently moving her closer to him. She looked into his eyes realising that he was having trouble swallowing. Obviously it was having an effect on him as well.

Skip leaned in and whispered. "Much as I'm enjoying this, maybe you should turn around the other way with the split towards me."

"I think you might enjoy that more." She replied. Annabel was about to turn around when she noticed Ryan look up again from his 'activities' with Marissa and his eyes almost popped out. Annabel decided that she was staying right where she was. But within moments Ryan had gone straight back to what he had been doing.

Annabel decided that two could play at that game and so she decided to give Skip some extra attention. Moving slightly on his lap and running her hand through his hair.

"I think you should stop moving around like that or you might stir up more than you're bargaining on. I am only human you know and right now I'm having a lot of trouble concentrating on anything other than the thought of you. You're much too attractive to ignore." He smiled.

"I never asked you to ignore me. Quite the opposite in fact. I thought you were supposed to be pretending to be attracted to me to make Ryan jealous."

"I assure you… right now… I'm not pretending and looking at Ryan I don't think he could care less… so what do you want me to do?" Skip asked.

"What are my options?" Annabel replied.

"Well we can stay here and I can place my hand on more inappropriate places to try to see if Ryan will come to your rescue but right now I don't like your chances. He seems to be pretty well occupied." Skip suggested looking at Ryan and Marissa making out in the other chair.

Annabel watched them for a moment and had to agree. It certainly didn't look like Ryan was going to play the knight in shining armour tonight. He seemed to have his hands full. She turned back to Skip. "Or?"

"Well…how about we get out of here? Did you bring a car?" Skip asked.

"No. I caught a cab." Annabel replied.

"Good. Then I can give you a ride home." Skip suggested.

"You do realise that's all you be riding." Annabel remarked just to make sure that Skip realised that she wasn't that sort of girl. She was worried that the dress may have given him the wrong opinion.

Skip smiled. "Sure. But a man can dream." He shrugged. "Maybe one day…I'm patient. So… are you happy to get out of here?" he asked.

Annabel looked back over at Ryan who didn't look like he would even come up for air. He had his hands inside Marissa's top and was stroking her back with one hand while pulling her closer with the other. She couldn't believe that he would act that way in front of guests. "Sure." She said. "May as well. There's nothing going on here." She stood to leave.

"I think you're wrong there. If we get out of here, I suspect there will be plenty going on…or off." Skip suggested looking at Ryan and Marissa who were really getting in to it. Skip suspected that they had long ago stopped pretending to be making out for Annabel's sake and were now so far in to it they had forgotten that they even had visitors. "Ahem." Skip said trying to attract Ryan and Marissa's attention but to no avail.

"Earth to Ryan. Come in Ryan." He tried but still nothing. He reached over and tapped Ryan on the shoulder. As Ryan finally looked up, Skip said "We're just going to go. It's getting late and we both have work in the morning. Annabel's boss is a real pain in the arse and she can't afford to be late."

"Very funny." Ryan replied.

"I thought so." Skip added.

"Do you need us to call you a cab Annabel?" Marissa asked just happy that she was finally going.

"Um No thanks. Skip is giving me a lift." Annabel replied knowing that Marissa couldn't wait to be rid of her. She smiled. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind dropping you off as well." She suggested, thinking that at least that would put an end to Marissa's night of fun as well.

Ryan looked at Marissa and she shrugged her shoulders as an obvious message passed between them. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close to him. "I thought you realised, Marissa lives with me. This is OUR home."

"She what?" Annabel was stunned. In all the time she had known Ryan he had never had anyone live with him. He'd had a couple of girlfriends. No one for very long but she didn't even think they had managed to stay overnight let alone….." She turned his words over in her mind. 'This is OUR home'. That sounded pretty definite, not just a 'she's staying for the night' or 'she's living with me'. It was like a nail in the coffin of all her hopes and dreams about a life with Ryan. Annabel pulled herself together and turned to Skip. "Could we go now?"

"Sure. Thanks for the dinner you two. I'll talk to you later Ryan." Skip said as they moved out the door to wait for the lift.

"Okay. And thanks for coming." Ryan replied and closed the door.

He turned to Marissa who said. "I know it seems odd but I actually feel sorry for her. Did you see her face?"

"Yeah. But she had to know sometime that there was never a chance that anything would happen." Ryan replied.

"Yeah. I know. I loved your choice of words by the way." Marissa said.

"Did you now? Well how about we get rid of the two sleepy heads and you can show me just how much."

"Sounds like a plan." Marissa smiled.