Steve looked curiously over at her. “You didn’t know water makes a grease fire spread?”

Jennifer shook her head, her face bright red from more than the steaming water. “I do now,” she pointed out. “Thanks a lot, Bill.”

Steve put his arm around her shoulder and planted a kiss on her lips. “I’ll have to remember never to let you in the kitchen unsupervised.”

Jennifer smacked him lightly with the back of her hand. “Bite me.”

Steve brought her hand up and placed it playfully between his teeth with a grin. She yanked it out, laughing. Steve stood up. “I’ll be right back.” He excused himself, stepping out of the hot tub, grabbing the towel she had brought out and drying off the best he could. He disappeared into the apartment.

Tracy looked over at Bill. “Are you hungry?” she asked.

“I’d love a sandwich and a beer.”

Tracy stepped out, wrapping a towel around her before heading inside.

Bill turned toward Jennifer.

“I never got the chance to thank you,” Jennifer said.

Bill’s eyebrows shot up. “For what?”

“For setting me up with Steve.”

Bill looked over his shoulder and then back at Jennifer. “I’m not so sure about him, Jen.” His eyes drifted over her body.

Jennifer shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “Why not?”

“He’s been around.”

Jennifer glanced in the apartment and then back at Bill. “So he told me,” she said.

“And you’re okay with that?” Bill asked.

“I could care less what he did before he met me.”

“Okay.” Bill said, but the thin press of his lips told her otherwise.

“How’s pledge week going?” Jennifer asked, wanting to change the subject.

“We’ve got some pretty interesting characters this year.”

“Are you camping again for initiation?” That had been a long-standing tradition of Beta Theta Pi.

Bill nodded. “Yep.”  His smile broadened slightly, like a wolf just before it takes down its prey.

Chapter 24

Tracy stood in the dressing room, and when Steve came out of the bathroom she said, “If you’re serious about Jen, you’d better get your ass in gear and get her a ring.” Tracy passed him and closed the bathroom door.

Steve stopped halfway through the dressing room. He turned and waited for Tracy. “I’m not so sure she’d accept a ring right now,” he said when she came out of the bathroom.

Tracy laughed and rolled her eyes. “Have you seen the way she looks at you?”

He shrugged, feigning innocence but he knew exactly how she looked at him and it drove him half out of his mind.

“You’re the one,” Tracy said, emphasizing the last word. She grinned. “And from what I see in you, it’s mutual, so why not cut to the chase?”

“Wow, you don’t beat around the bush at all.” He ran his hand through his hair and tossed out the next question, “What kind of ring do you think she’d like?”

Tracy beamed, overjoyed by the question. “I knew it,” she said and dragged him into her room, snagging a catalog for a well-known jewelry shop in New York from a pile on her dresser. She flipped through the pages quickly pointing to the things that were Jennifer’s style. “There.” She stopped on an ad for a simple gold band with a single round firelight cut diamond. “That’s her style.”

Steve looked at the book and flipped the pages. He found a gold band that had diamonds embedded all the way around. “Think she would like something like that as a wedding band?”

Tracy looked at it and shook her head. “It would overwhelm the ring. But if you got this one, it would go perfectly.” She pointed to the accompanying solitaire with diamonds surrounding it.

“Isn’t that too flashy?”

Tracy looked at the combination and shook her head. “Elegant, not flashy.”

Steve grinned down at the picture. “You mind?” He pointed at the page.

Tracy shook her head and watched Steve rip the page out of the magazine. “You’ve got that kind of money?”

Steve shrugged. “This gives me an idea of what to look for. You wouldn’t happen to know her ring size?”

“Five and a half,” Tracy answered.

“Thanks.” He looked around and then laughed. “My clothes are in the washing machine.”

Tracy took the page and put it on her dresser. “I’ll get it to you before you leave.”

“Thanks. Do me a favor and keep this between us, okay?”

Tracy nodded. “I figure if you two want to tell people, you will. It’s not my place. Besides, you didn’t give her a ring yet, so there’s nothing to tell, right?”

“Thank you.” He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Jenny’s lucky to have a friend like you. Most of the women I know would blab it all over the place.”

Tracy smiled. “Thanks.” She headed into the kitchen.

Steve followed and took a detour to the laundry room, tossing the clothes into the dryer and stepping out. “Mind if I grab a soda?”

“Not at all.” Tracy pointed to the refrigerator, dropping the knife in the sink. She carried the sandwich out and grabbed a beer from the bar. The two of them stepped back onto the balcony at the same time.

Jennifer smiled with relief. For the first time in close to seven years, being with Bill had been awkward. Their conversation was stunted, and his leer definitely disturbing.

Steve put the soda on the table between the lounge chairs and took a seat. “I put the laundry in the dryer.”

Jennifer slid out of the hot tub, accepting the soda from his outstretched hand and taking the seat next to him.

Tracy joined Bill in the hot tub.

“Are you doing all right?”

Jennifer nodded glancing in the direction of Tracy and Bill. She glanced back at Steve. “Do you have any more classes today?”

Steve nodded. “But I’m going to miss them.”

“They’re here now. I’ll be just fine.”

“We can watch out for her,” Bill piped in.

Steve shook his head. “I’ll pass,” he said. “You didn’t see how bad she looked when I got here. I’d just as soon stay to make sure she’s all right. But I appreciate the offer,” he said. “Besides, my clothes aren’t done yet and I don’t think they’d approve of me coming into class like this.”

Jennifer sighed. “I really don’t need looking after.”

“Yes you do. You were barely breathing when you called me.”

Jennifer glared at him. “I’m not a child.”

“I never said you were. I’m not doing this for you Jen—I’m doing it for me.”

“Don’t give him a hard time, Jen. He just wants to help,” Tracy said, flipping off the jets to the hot tub and climbing out with Bill.

Bill looked at his watch. “I’ve got class in a little while, so I’m gonna head out,” he said, and disappeared.

Tracy followed him inside.

Jennifer and Steve exchanged a look.

“What?” Steve said softly.

“Nothing,” Jennifer said, glancing inside as Bill kissed Tracy goodbye at the door. She wondered if her discomfort was a side effect of what Steve had insinuated earlier or if Steve was actually right.

“Feel like going for a ride once our clothes are dry?”

“Sure. Where?”

Steve shrugged. “Just out.”

Tracy came out onto the balcony. “What are you doing for the rest of the day?”

“I figured we’d get out of here for a while.” Steve answered.

“Where are we going?” Tracy asked. She didn’t have any more classes today.

“I figured I’d take Jennifer over to the shore for the day, a walk on the beach, and maybe a little dinner,” Steve replied with a shrug. “You’re welcome to come with us.”

“I’m supposed to meet Billy for dinner.”

Steve smiled at her and winked. “Maybe a few stores,” he added, and she understood.

“Well, maybe.” She looked between the two.

“The clothes aren’t dry yet though,” Jennifer said.

“We can swing by the frat house so I can change,” Steve said. “You can let Bill know you won’t be there for dinner.” Steve addressed Tracy and she nodded.