Kevin stood under the shower and stared blankly at the wall, trying unsuccessfully to wipe away the image of Lenny wearing only her underwear. He hadn't realised she had curves like that underneath the boyish clothing she usually had on. The fact that his mind kept replaying the image over and over again unnerved him. Okay, so he appreciated women, who didn't? But Lenny? Jesus, she had been a thorn in his side for more years than he cared to remember, and she didn't seem to be improving with age. Not that she was that old. She could only be...what? Twenty-four, twenty-five, he thought. Still young enough to be turned over his knee, he decided, frowning as he thought about doing just that. God knew why she kept attacking him like that, but she seemed to have a knack for it.
He stared down at his big feet, grimacing when he saw the mud and ooze start to slide off his body under the spray of the shower. It wasn't even a particularly dirty lake, he mused. He had even been swimming in it before with Mark. But that had been on the other side when they had been fishing once, not this side where there were weeds and mud and gloop, all of which managed to adhere to his big body with seemingly no effort at all. Had she planned that? he wondered, for the first time. Had it really been an accident, like she claimed? He shook off the thoughts and started washing himself, knowing if he didn't hurry up and make himself decent he would miss Mark and Amy going off on their honeymoon, and he didn't want to do that. He was pleased for his friend that he was happy.
A few minutes later he was dragging a brush through his long hair, wincing at the tangles he encountered. Apparently Sam saw no need to have any expensive shampoos in his bathroom, just because he had short easy to control hair. But Kevin noticed every brush stroke, cursing and wishing he had short hair too. Still, the women seemed to like the long untamed look, he thought with a big grin, nodding at his reflection once he had straightened himself up. Oh, yeah, the women liked it a lot.
When he got downstairs he found Sam waiting for him, but no sign of Lenny and he scowled as he looked around. "Where is she? Waiting outside with a tin of paint to throw all over me?"
Sam laughed at that and shook his head, standing up. "She's gone back to Mark's to say goodbye to them, which is where we should be." He walked out of the house and turned as Kevin joined him, giving him a thoughtful look. "Why don't you try and get along with her, just for today?"
"It isn't me you should be saying that to. Why don't you tell her to stay the hell out of my way?" Kevin said, very nearly snarling.
"She tries to, believe me," Sam said as they walked down the dusty road towards Mark's house, the sound of revellers drifting to them in the slight breeze. "She just doesn't have much luck at it, that's all."
Kevin just snorted at that, quickening his pace so he could join up with his friends and relax again. He needed to get rid of the anger flowing through him somehow, and if it couldn't be done by wringing Lenny's neck, then having a laugh with people he knew would help.
Mark was giving a speech when they finally got there, and he grinned as he drew his new bride up next to him, his eyes sparkling warmly down at her. "So we just want to say thanks to all of you for coming today, and we guess we'll see you when we get back," he said, finishing with a small bow and a kiss for Amy.
Kevin watched them with his lips pursed, wondering how that must be, having a woman love you like that. It must have something going for it, he thought, for Mark to ever contemplate getting married again after his two divorces. Still, Amy was one in a million, and Kevin doubted he'd ever meet anyone like her, not while he was travelling around all the time. All he ever encountered were ring rats, and they were amusing for one night only, but never anything more long term than that. They were too vacuous. He moved forwards as others started saying goodbye to the happy couple, grinning and forgetting all his own problems when he finally stood in front of his friend.
"Congratulations, buddy," he said to Mark, bending and giving Amy a kiss on her flushed cheek. "You too, sweetheart. I know you'll both be happy. Just get some kids on the boil, okay? I wouldn't mind being called Uncle Kev, you know?"
Mark laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "I'm gonna do my level best to make a start, don't worry about that. Hell, by the time we get back she should be getting nicely rounded!" He laughed when Amy slapped his arm, instantly melting against him when he grabbed her up and planted a kiss on her lips. "You know you want to," he said, wiggling his eyebrows and making her giggle.
"Do you think you two will ever quit?" Kevin asked, trying to look disgusted but unable to help grinning at the two lovebirds.
"Not in this lifetime," Mark murmured, slowly putting his wife down and grinning stupidly. He looked Kevin up and down and frowned. "Where did your suit go, and why are you wearing my clothes?"
The look of disgust that shadowed the blond man's face this time wasn't forced. "Your little farm-hand threw me in the lake!"
"Farm-hand? Oh," Mark said, raising his eyebrows. "Lenny?"
"Yes, Lenny! Damned pest," he muttered, looking around to see if he could see her.
"How did she manage to throw you in the lake? You're a little...er...bigger than she is," Mark said, measuring the big man.
"She pushed me, and I ended up covered in the entire bottom of the damn lake! Hence the clothes. Sam came and got them, I didn't even have the presence of mind to tell him where my bags were, so that's why I'm wearing your clothes."
"Oh. And Lenny? What did you do to her?" Mark asked knowingly, raising just one eyebrow this time and smiling.
"She's as slippery as an eel, I couldn't get hold of her long enough to do anything. Then her brother came and damn well saved her neck again!"
"So you didn't do anything to her then?"
"No."
"Why is she wearing a different outfit then?" Amy asked, looking off into the distance and making Kevin follow her gaze.
"I followed her and she opened the stupid door just as I was about to break it down and I fell over....hell," he said, raking a hand through his damp hair. "She fell on me, then she kneed me."
Mark winced. "And yet you did nothing to her?"
"I told you, her brother came back and saved her. I hung her up on the back of her bathroom door." He shrugged and glared at the small figure trying so hard to blend in with the crowd and not attract his attention. His eyes followed her as she finally gave up and ran into Mark's house, and his jaw tightened.
"Kevin!" Amy said, trying to sound stern. Ever since she had seen the two together they had fought, and it didn't seem like their behaviour would ever get any better.
He managed to look like a two year old when he turned back to the couple and Amy couldn't help smiling. "She's lucky I didn't hurt her."
"You wouldn't seriously hurt her?" she asked him, frowning now.
"No...yes...I don't damn well know. I feel like it sometimes. I still owe her for the lake, not to mention the truck," he said, mentioning the time Amy and Lenny had taken his precious truck without permission. His eyes narrowed suddenly. "In fact, there's no time like the present, is there?"
Mark smiled and shook his head, knowing there was no point trying to talk him out of whatever he was planning. He just hoped Lenny was faster than his friend. "Well, we'll see you when we get back then. Take care of our house."
Kevin shook Mark's hand and smiled. "I will. You have good time, okay?"
Another kiss for Amy and then Kevin stalked off towards the house in search of Lenny, his eyes glittering with anticipation.
Amy bit her lip as she watched him go, jumping when Mark pulled her bottom lip away from her teeth gently. "Haven't I told you not to do that? Your lip will get sore and I won't be able to kiss you."
She smiled at him, everything she felt shining from her like a beacon. "I'd never stop you kissing me, you know that. I was just worrying about Lenny."
Mark shook his head and bent to kiss her, rubbing his thumb over her lip when he pulled back. "Don't worry, he wouldn't ever really hurt her. He's not like that."
"I'm not so sure, he looks so...wild," she murmured, looking towards the house again.
"Yeah, she does seem to wind him up, doesn't she? But if you're thinking that he'd hit her, you're dead wrong. He doesn't hit women, no matter what the provocation."
"Like you?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Just like me."
"Hmm," she said, pursing her lips and making him frown down at her.
"What do you mean 'hmm'?"
"Nothing," she said, smiling.
"Nuh-uh, don't try that, baby. I'll get it out of you eventually, so you may as well tell me right now," he warned her, grinning wickedly as he thought of several ways to extract information from her, most of them extremely pleasurable.
Her smile almost matched his as she thought about some of the things he had done to her in the past, and she was almost tempted to remain silent. But now wasn't the time, she remembered, looking around at all their guests. "Okay. It's just that, if Kevin's like you, then he really does hit women. Just not in a beating up kind of way."
"Ah, you mean a damn good ass whupping?"
"Mmm-hmm, exactly that. If that isn't hitting what is?"
"That ain't hitting darlin', that's punishing, it's totally different. Which reminds me," he said, his eyes twinkling. "Did I hear you call me 'old' last night?"
She giggled before she could stop herself and then tried to look repentant. "No."
"Ya know, darlin', I think you might be lying to me, and you know what I do when you do that, don't you?"
She nodded, a small smile curving her lips. "Yes."
"I punish you, don't I?"
"Yes, but I was only joking," she protested, rubbing one hand over the buttons on his shirt.
"Maybe I can come up with a special kind of punishment then, hmm? Just for you?" he murmured, pulling her against him and growling at the feel of her curvy body.
"Really?" she asked, looking like she couldn't wait to be alone with him.
"Hmm, really. Come on, Mrs Calloway, let's say goodbye to our guests and then we can get on with our honeymoon." He bent and whispered in her ear. "I can't wait to peel that beautiful dress off you."
Amy blushed, grinning when he called her Mrs Calloway, and she took his big hand when he held it out and walked off with him into the throng of people, forgetting all about Lenny for the time being.
****
Kevin walked quietly through the sprawling house, smiling whenever he bumped into someone, his eyes always watchful. He had no idea where Lenny had gone, but he couldn't wait to find her. There was no big brother around this time to save her annoying neck. A sigh of frustration puffed out of him and he rubbed his neck, wondering where the hell she was. She hadn't gone to any of the bathrooms and all the other rooms were clear. That left the gym and the pool, and he doubted she was there. Still, he would look, just to be sure.
There was no luck in the gym, but when he walked into the big room that held the swimming pool, his eyes narrowed and a smile tilted his lips upwards. There she was, staring into the water and completely unaware he was there with her. He debated just walking up and pushing her in, but he wanted her to know he was there, to anticipate what he might do to her.
Lenny turned as soon as she heard a footstep behind her and her eyes widened when she saw Kevin approach her, smirking gleefully. "Well, well," he said as he stopped about a foot from her, folding his arms over his chest and looking down at her diminutive figure. "All on your own? No-one here to protect you from the big bad wolf?"
Her mouth fell open and she gulped, looking around for a way of escape before he could get hold of her. No matter how much she bluffed being brave in his presence, she wasn't, and it showed. Kevin cocked his head to one side and narrowed his eyes. "Scared?"
Lenny swallowed again. "N-n-no," she stammered, lifting her chin and trying to breathe evenly as he moved even closer. Oh God, she thought, he was going to kill her, she knew it. He could just wrap one of those enormous hands around her throat and squeeze, and she would be dead before she could make a noise to alert anyone to what was happening. She took a side-step which he matched, making her heart try and beat her to death. Maybe Sam would be able to hear her if she screamed? Surely someone was within earshot?
When he lifted one of his hands she totally panicked and made a desperate lunge for the doorway, swerving around him quickly before he had time to stop her. But she knew that she couldn't be that lucky, and Kevin caught her before she reached the door, lifting her up and holding her against his chest while she struggled. "Let me go!" she shouted furiously at him, scared out of her wits but willing to fight to the bitter end.
"You sure that's what you want?" he asked her, grinning with enjoyment. It was payback time and he couldn't wait. "Well, okay then..." he lifted her higher and prepared to throw her into the pool, but she saw what was coming and threw her arms around his neck so he couldn't let go of her. The feel of those small arms twined around him had the oddest effect and he froze, shocked as desire coursed quickly through him. Once again the image of her in her underwear rose up in his mind and now he had the added problem of feeling her soft body against him, and a curse broke through his tight lips. Before he could even try and analyse why he was reacting this way, he forced her away from him and lifted her again, holding her so she couldn't grab him.
"Kevin! Don't you dare!" Amy's voice said, coming from the doorway as she and Mark walked in to see where Lenny had gone, meaning to say goodbye to her.
But it was too late. He had been in the process of heaving her forwards and he couldn't stop, so Lenny went sailing through the air and landed with an almighty splash right in the centre of the pool, her wail of dismay echoing through the large room until it was cut off by the water.
"Kevin!" Amy gasped as she moved next to him, staring into the water with her hand over her mouth.
"Nicely done, man," Mark mused, watching as Lenny struggled up to the surface and broke through with a gasp.
"Don't you dare compliment him! That was a horrible thing to do, Kevin, you should be ashamed of yourself!" she said, glaring at both men.
"I'm sorry darlin'," Mark said, instantly looking contrite in case she held out on him on their wedding night.
"Well, I'm not!" Kevin snapped, looking slightly ashamed but also triumphant as he caught Lenny's eyes. "She damned well deserved it."
Lenny heard what he said and an idea popped into her head. She let herself sink under the surface again and started thrashing about wildly, coming up and gasping for all she was worth before she went under again, sinking a little lower this time.
"Oh...my...can she swim?" Amy asked, pointing to the water frantically.
"I think so," Kevin murmured, his eyes widening slightly when he saw her go under again.
"Did you even bother to find out?" Amy asked again, prodding him in the ribs.
Lenny shot back up again and then thrashed a bit more, sinking like a stone to the very bottom of the pool and staying there. Kevin gulped and his eyes widened further when she didn't come up. "Oh shit," he muttered and then dived straight in to the water.
It was what Lenny had been waiting for and she swam rapidly to the shallow end of the pool and hauled herself out, moving around to stand near Amy and Mark as they watched Kevin come up to the top and wipe the water from his face.
"Oh, now that was nicely done," Mark said, and started laughing when he saw Kevin's furious expression. Amy and Lenny joined in and Kevin started swimming towards the edge.
"Oh, I guess I'd better go..." Lenny said, her laughter dying as quickly as it arrived. She turned to Amy and Mark and gave them a big smile, flicking some wet hair out of her face as she did so. "Have a really great honeymoon, you two, okay?"
"We will," Amy said, looking the other girl up and down. "I would hug you, but..." she broke off and shrugged.
"You haven't got time anyway," Mark said, nodding to where Kevin had reached the side and was starting to get out. "You'd better get out of here, Lenny."
"Okay, bye!" she said quickly and then ran as fast as she could out of the room, her footsteps squelching distantly as she made it out of the house.
Kevin stood next to them and looked down at himself, gritting his teeth. "I can't believe she damn well did that," he muttered, shaking his arms and sending a spray of water everywhere.
"Yeah, well, she had provocation," Mark pointed out, making no attempt to hide his grin.
"Provocation? Provocation?!" Kevin yelled and he stomped away from them, following the watery trail Lenny left in her wake. "I may go to jail for the rest of my life, but it'll be well worth it."
Amy and Mark looked at each other and laughed as his muttering continued until he left the house. "Poor Lenny."
"Poor Kevin," Mark mused, twisting his lips as he looked down at her. "Before he knows it he won't be able to live without her."
She frowned. "You know, you said something like that once before. Do you really think he likes her?"
"I think he's attracted to her," he corrected her, brushing one finger down her face. "It's a totally different thing. Not that he realises it yet. But I'm betting he will soon."
