So it's time for the dinner party. Let the fun begin ! Remember - read - review and I'll keep posting. Enjoy !

The guests arrive

Marissa rushed home from work on Wednesday to get things organised for the dinner party. She had made chocolate mousse the night before and it was safely chilling in the fridge so she just had to get the meatloaf in the oven and do the vegetables. When everything was under control, she set the table and then went and took a shower wanting to be ready well before anyone else arrived.

Summer had mentioned in the car this morning about Seth's visit to Ryan yesterday. She wondered why Ryan hadn't told her about Annabel's state of dress or lack there of … but she didn't want to make too much of it. She had decided that she would talk to him about it when she had a chance. She could only see two possible reasons why he would stay quiet. One was that he didn't want to worry her and two was……well she didn't want to think about two. She knew she had to believe that everything was fine with them and that she needed to have confidence in their relationship. She didn't want to come across as the jealous girlfriend but…… the fact was… she was just a teensy bit jealous; mostly of the fact that Annabel got to spend everyday with him. But then, Marissa got to spend every night and she knew which one of those options she would prefer if given the chance. She just needed to make sure that Ryan understood that they should talk about everything this time around.

She was just drying herself after her shower when she heard Ryan come in the door.

"Hey Ris. Where are you?" he called.

"In here." She called out as she wrapped a towel around her and walked in to her walk in robe looking for something to wear.

Ryan entered the bedroom and dropped his jacket on the chair. "I really need a shower. I've been on site all day and I'm filthy." He remarked as he walked over to give her a kiss. It started casually but soon warmed up. "Mmmm. Care to join me?"

"Can't you tell? I've just finished." Marissa smiled.

"Really?" he looked at her more carefully. "You still look a little dirty to me." He suggested.

Marissa knew exactly what he was up to. "Where am I still dirty?" she asked looking at her arms and legs as if trying to find somewhere she'd missed.

While she'd been inspecting herself Ryan had shed his jeans and shirt and was standing naked before her. He picked up his dusty shirt from the floor and wiped it down her arm leaving a streak of grime as the dust stuck to the body lotion that she had just rubbed in to her body. "Right there." He smiled and said. He tugged at the towel wrapped around her and as it fell to the floor he picked her up and moved back into the bathroom.

Marissa looked at him and felt the chuckle start in her belly only to be replaced by a completely different feeling as she melted in to him. "You do know that we have people coming in an hour?"

"Uh huh. We'll just have to make it quick."

---

Seth and Summer were the first to arrive. Ryan poured them a drink and then he and Seth went to catch up with some playstation while Summer joined Marissa in the kitchen as she put the finishing touches to the meal.

"So did you ask Ryan about what was the deal with Annabel yesterday?" Summer asked.

"Uh. No. I haven't had a chance." Marissa replied awkwardly.

Summer was surprised. When she was talking to Marissa earlier, she had thought that Marissa was very keen to get everything sorted out with Ryan before Annabel arrived. "Did Chino only just get home?" Summer asked. Maybe they just hadn't had the opportunity yet.

"No. He got home about an hour ago." Marissa answered automatically as she stirred the gravy. She looked up at Summer and realised that she would put two and two together. Marissa wondered what was going to come next.

Summer stared at Marissa, taking in the rosy glow that she had assumed was from either good make up or working over the stove in the kitchen but now she suspected was all natural…..or maybe au natural might be closer to what was the cause. She doubted that clothes had been involved. She sighed and shook her head. "God. You've been doing it again. Haven't you?" Summer stated.

Marissa felt the blush move up from her toes to the tip of her head.

"You do realise there is such a thing as talking. You do it with clothes on. Or at least I think you should. That way you wouldn't get distracted. How are you ever going to sort this out if you spend all your time with him lying on your back?" Summer stated.

"Um." Marissa looked up shyly. "I wasn't on my back."

"Well then in bed." Summer added thinking it really didn't matter who was on top.

"We weren't in bed." Marissa added.

Summer glanced around her as if somehow the place had just become contaminated. Thoughts of Ryan coming home to Marissa who was busy in the kitchen and them doing it right then and there flooded her mind. "I really don't think I need to know." Summer shook her head. "Unless of course I'm likely to be touching…..Ewww….I can't even think about it."

Marissa smiled. "Don't worry. Unless you're planning on taking a shower, you're safe."

"Thank god. You really had me worried." Summer relaxed back against the kitchen counter.

Marissa couldn't help but smile wondering what Summer would do if she knew that they had previously 'christened' the kitchen counter that Summer was leaning against.

Summer noticed the grin on Marissa's face but decided it was probably better not to know what it was about. "But what about the talk?"

"Don't worry. We'll have it. We just……" Marissa wondered how she could explain to Summer the effect Ryan had on her. "…. missed each other?" Marissa suggested wondering if Summer would believe her.

"Uh huh" Summer nodded just as the door bell went. "Do you want me to get that?" she asked.

"No. I think Ryan should probably go. It might be Annabel. Ry?" she called out.

"Yep. I'm on my way." he called out as he made his way to the door.

"Summer?" Seth yelled from in front of the playstation. "Come here. Ryan's left and I've got no one to play with."

Summer rolled her eyes at Marissa. "He really isn't getting any better is he? If you don't need me here then I'd better go and keep him company, otherwise he'll keep whingeing."

"No. I'm under control. Go look after your man." Marissa replied.

"Wise words. Just make sure you do the same this evening. Or was that what you were doing in the shower?" Summer stated smiling as she left the kitchen.

Marissa returned the smile as her friend left … wondering just what the evening would bring. It had seemed like such a good idea on Friday night when she had asked Annabel to dinner but right now she was starting to wonder if she might be making a big mistake.

---

Ryan opened the door to Skip who had his arms full.

"Hey man. What's with all this?" Ryan asked as Skip handed him a bottle of wine and then Ryan went to take the flowers Skip was holding.

"No you don't. They're for the lady of the house. I'm hoping that when I give them to her, she'll love them so much that she'll feel that she needs to show her appreciation by falling into my arms. I certainly don't want that sort of reaction from you." He laughed.

Ryan just smiled. "No fear of that. And chocolates too?" Ryan commented.

"Well you know what they say about chocolates?" Skip asked.

"I'm assuming you're referring to their aphrodisiac qualities?" Ryan suggested.

"Of course. Who knows? Maybe after I get her to fall into my arms then…" Skip suggested.

"So you're saying they're not for me either?" Ryan asked innocently.

"Not likely." Skip replied as Ryan indicated for him to go through in to the kitchen.

"Well, you'd better not let Seth see them or you could be in for more than you've bargained for." Ryan suggested.

"Seth. Why?" Skip asked.

"Because he loves chocolate. I'm sure he'd be willing to fall into your arms for a few soft centres." Ryan suggested.

"Name me one man who wouldn't." Skip suggested; his eyes indicating that he had stopped talking about chocolates and was referring to something completely different. "But I'll definitely keep them away from Seth. I don't want him getting any wrong ideas."

"Hey you." Marissa said as they walked into the kitchen.

"Hey there lovely lady. Is it possible that you are even more beautiful than the last time I saw you?" Skip asked causing Marissa to smile. "These are for you." he said as he handed her the flowers.

"Why thank you" Marissa replied as she gave him a friendly hug.

Skip looked over her shoulder at Ryan. "Not exactly what I was hoping for but better than nothing." He remarked to Ryan as then he pulled back and smiled at Marissa. "But somehow now, I don't think they are enough. They fail by comparison to your beauty." Skip added.

Ryan smiled watching his friend make an idiot of himself in front of Marissa. "Excuse me, I think I'm going to be sick."

"Then go. By all means. I'll look after your woman for you. It's the least I can do." Skip suggested.

"You just leave my woman alone." Ryan replied.

"And these are for you too." Skip added as he placed the chocolates on the bench.

"Chocolates as well. I am spoilt." Marissa smiled.

Ryan moved to take Marissa in his arms just to make sure that Skip knew that nothing had changed and he whispered softly in her ear "I like soft centres…. especially your soft centre." He kissed her sweetly, and then just to make sure she knew exactly what he was talking about he ran his hand down her back and over her rear and cupped her buttock in his hand gently.

Marissa melted as she felt his hand on her. She looked at him and whispered back. "I like you hard. I mean them hard." She corrected herself whilst giving Ryan a look that indicated that she would eat him right now if they didn't have company.

Ryan moved to whisper in her ear again. "If you keep looking at me like that, I'll be hard very shortly." He said and nuzzled her neck.

Skip watched his friend and marvelled at the change in him in such a short space of time. Sure he had heard about Marissa long before he had met her and it had been obvious when Ryan had spoken about her that he was still deeply in love with her. But Skip still hadn't been prepared for the glow that appeared whenever they were around one another. That was what every man wanted but few ever found.

---

"So what would you like to drink?" Ryan asked.

"Bundy and Coke if you've got it?" Skip replied.

"Ah. Aussie rot gut. I'm sure you've left enough of it here to last a lifetime. You know, I really do think it destroys brain cells." Ryan stated. "That's probably why you're the way you are?" he smiled at Skip waiting for his reaction.

"Nah. Nectar of the Gods. You know I used to be unattractive before I started drinking it. And look at me know."

"I think you must have already been drinking it, if you think you're not unattractive." Ryan laughed.

"Aw that hurts." Skip clutched at his heart and then smiled. "You do know it only destroys brain cells if you drink it like a fish?"

"And do you know any other way?" Ryan asked.

"I'll have you know that when I'm in mixed company, I can be on my best behaviour. Just because you and I have tied on a few on our 'boys night outs' doesn't mean I'm like that all the time." Skip teased his friend.

"'Boys night outs' hey? I think I need to know more about these." Marissa interrupted.

"Now look what you've done Skip. I'm going to be in trouble and it's all your fault." Ryan stated. He looked at Marissa. "Maybe you could punish me later. When all our guests have gone?" Ryan suggested to her, his voice husky making it obvious he would look forward to it.

Marissa said nothing but smiled as thoughts of how to 'punish' Ryan went through her head.

Ryan got lost in her eyes for a moment as they both suddenly wished that they were all alone.

"Ahem." Skip said to break the moment between them. "My drink? A man could die of thirst around here."

Startled, Ryan jumped then smiled at his friend "Okay I'll go and get your drink now. Just behave yourself while I'm gone. Or better still, maybe you should come with me?" Ryan suggested.

"Nah. I'm fine. I'd rather hang with Marissa." Skip replied.

"I know you would. That's what's worrying me."

---

"So you and Ryan?" Skip asked.

"Yeah." Marissa smiled. Just thinking about him could do that to her.

"It's all good?" Skip enquired. He didn't know why but Marissa just seemed a little off….. like maybe she was worried about something.

"Um…" Marissa couldn't help but think of Annabel and the fact that she still hadn't had an opportunity to talk to Ryan about her. And the fact that she would be arriving any minute didn't help. She really should have stopped him earlier when he got home from work, so they could have talked. But she just couldn't help herself. Marissa had got lost in her thoughts and she looked up only to realise that Skip was still waiting for her answer. "Yeah ….it's good." She reassured him.

"Not buying it. Do you want to share?" He asked.

"No. I'm sure I'm just being silly." Marissa assured him again. She thought for a moment. "And anyhow if you use your charm on her tonight then maybe it won't be a problem anymore."

"Her? Who? Ryan's secretary." Skip asked.

"Yeah. Annabel. I know I'm probably over-reacting and I don't want to come across as the jealous girlfriend but I have the distinct impression that she has a bit of a thing for him. I tried to make it clear to her last week that Ryan and I are together; thinking that she would back off. But I've heard that she has started dressing rather……provocatively at work. I'm a bit afraid that she's not going to give up without a fight. That's where you come in. I'm hoping she falls head over heels for you and then she'll leave Ryan alone." Marissa added.

"Well. I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. At least from Ryan's side. That boy is head over heels. But the rest is news to me. Ryan told me I was being set up but I didn't realise that it was to make a triangle into a square." Skip replied.

"Not a square. Two straight lines is what I'd like, that don't intersect." Marissa added.

"Yeah see I'm not so good with that drawing stuff. That's why Ryan's the architect and I'm the pilot."

Marissa laughed.

"Well I'll have to see what I can do. So what's she like?" Skip asked.

"You'll see. She's very attractive. I don't think you'll have any complaints there and she's certainly intelligent. She's not going to just fall for your cheesy lines." Marissa assured him.

"Ahh. I'm offended. I might have to take myself off with a fit of the vapours." He replied hamming it up.

"What are you two up to?" Ryan asked as he returned and passed Skip his drink.

Marissa and Skip just glanced at one another and burst out laughing.

"Nothing." Skip replied. He leant forward and whispered in Marissa's ear. "Let's just see how well my cheesy lines work on her."

Ryan looked at them wondering just what was going on and was about to ask when the doorbell went again.

He looked at Marissa and he was sure that he saw the same concern in her eyes that he felt. "Um. I'll just get the door."

"Let's move over to the doorway so I can get a look at this girl. Maybe we need to get a game plan." Skip suggested to Marissa.