Bette laughed, hooked her arm around Tom’s as he crooked his on his side.  They started walking to the front door, and she explained, as Tom gave her a questioning look, “Yeah, the crowd inside is uber casual, and you will indeed, need to change into shorts.  We suggest you hang out there for a while.  Diane and Jules will be with you.  But Tina and I will be taking Angelica to the play area on the other side of the mansion.  Which is where the barbecue will be, by the way.  So come join us when you all feel like eating.”

“Oh?” Tom asked, looking a bit disappointed.  “You won’t be with us?”

Tina, Jules, and Diane looked quickly at each other, smirking as they trailed behind.

“Grab a drink or something first, then we can all get some barbecue,” Bette answered, gently urging Tom, smiling at him as he opened the front door to let her walk through.  He let the other women through and then followed them in.

Bette was shaking her head, while the other three were laughing lightly.

“What?” Tom asked.

Bette smiled, and waved her hand, signaling it was nothing.  “I think you can change in the room over there, and just leave your gym bag by the sofa.   Someone will take it to our room, which is that way,” she pointed to a hall on the left.

Tom shrugged, still feeling a little disappointed.  Then he smiled brightly.  “Okay.  So I’ll see you and Tina later, then?”

Bette and Tina nodded as Jules said, “We’ll wait for you over here by the sofa.”

Bette and Tina turned and walked in the opposite direction, arm-in-arm.

“Didn’t I ask you to let him off the hook already?”  Tina whispered, teasingly after they got to the hallway.

“How am I supposed to do that, exactly?” Bette asked with a semi-frown.

“Stop batting your eyelashes at him, and smiling at him like he’s special, holding his arm… just tone it down a bit,” Tina answered, still teasing.

“You make it sound like I was flirting with him,” Bette answered, opening the door for Tina, as they got to their room.  Angelica had woken from her nap, and was rolling around the bed.

“Hmmm… you were.  Unconsciously.  And like any man would, he’s responding, to your infamous sexy charms,” Tina added with a smirk.  She turned away from Bette, and bent down to pick up Angelica and nuzzled the toddler’s tummy.

“Mommy…” Angelica cooed, reaching out to swipe her hands at Tina’s eyes, nose, and face.

“Baby…” Tina responded.  “Can you please tell Mama B here to tone down that special appeal she has?”

Bette shook her head, and kissed Tina’s hair, nuzzling into it.  Mmmmm, smells sooo good.  Holding on to Tina’s sides she began to gently sway, so that all three were soon dancing to a silent beat.

She began to kiss Tina’s nape, caressing her sides softly, gently running the back of her hand down Tina’s spine.  Sex appeal?  Tina has all the sex appeal I could ever handle.

“B-e-e-t-t-e,” Tina moaned softly.

Bette whispered, “How about I take Angie to the sandbox, have her play with the other kids?  I saw some of her friends from playgroup out there.  She’ll have a blast with them, and we can ask Maria to watch her along with  Carson?  Pretty sure Carson’s mom won’t mind.”

Tina smiled, turned around, and gave her a deep kiss.  “Why don’t you play a bit with Angie, and then let her play with her friends, and you can come back?” she whispered, as she handed Angelica to her.

“And what will you be doing while I’m out there?” Bette asked with a smirk.

“Umm… getting ready,” Tina responded in a breathy whisper.  She gave Angelica a few kisses on her head, and then turned towards their luggage.

“What do you have in there?” Bette asked as she opened the door.

“You’ll see,” Tina answered with a long, slow wink.

“Don’t take too long out there…”