* * * *
Ace glanced at Kemp when he reacted to Summer’s statement. Watching her suffer the aftermath of the attack made a tight ball form in his chest. He wanted very much to soothe the way she trembled as she pressed a shaky hand to her lips. “Come here, Summer,” he murmured, gently drawing her suddenly quaking body into his arms. “Just breathe, kitten.” A great tremor passed through her. “Don’t fight it, just breathe through it.”
Her respiration turned to panting as her reaction to the event finally caught up with her. She’d been holding it together up until the moment when she relived the attack in order to describe it to them. A slight whimper escaped from her, and she held on to him tightly. Looking sympathetic, Kemp stroked her back and her hair. After a minute, her trembling began to dissipate, and she finally looked up at him and then over at Kemp.
“Wow,” she whispered softly. “I don’t know where that came from.”
Kemp said, “You went through a very dangerous, scary experience, darlin’. Your body is just catching up to it.”
Once her shakiness had passed, Ace helped her back down the hall to her office and helped her sit down. After turning on the lights, Ace pulled back the sleeve of her dress and said, “The skin isn’t broken, but you’re going to have quite a bruise there. Some ice should help.” Ace went to the kitchen and returned with a plastic bag filled with ice for her. She thanked him and gingerly held it to her elbow.
He squatted down in front of her and brushed a lock of hair from her cheek. Her eyes were dilated, and her skin was cool to the touch.
“How do you feel otherwise?”
“Honestly? A little woozy like I could take a nap.”
Ace nodded in commiseration. “It’s the adrenaline that dumped in your system earlier. If it doesn’t pass, you may want to lie down for a while. You had quite a fright.”
Remembering the extreme fear on her face as she’d run from the shop earlier caused another wave of protectiveness to wash over Ace. He wished like hell that he’d caught the son of a bitch that had scared her so badly that she was now reacting to it physiologically.
Ace noticed the line between her furrowed eyebrows and asked, “Does your head hurt, too?”
“Yeah, it does, all of a sudden.” She reached in her desk and pulled out a bottle of Tylenol and took a couple with the glass of water Kemp had brought her.
Kemp asked, “Can you tell us what happened, Summer?”
Ace listened as she described that morning’s events. She hadn’t expected them for at least another twenty to thirty minutes, and the fact that they’d arrived early might have been the only reason she was still in one piece. He’d teased Kemp about being overeager to get to the shop, but now he wanted to thank him.
Ace was both shocked and impressed when she described clobbering the burglar with the baseball bat. He nodded appreciatively and said, “Well done. That was a gutsy move.” Ace disregarded the urge to turn her over his knee for placing herself in so much danger when she could’ve just run.
“He may have to go to the emergency room. I may have broken his collarbone the second time I hit him, plus I…”
Kemp prompted her with a puzzled expression. “You what?”
“When he pulled me down, I—um. I nailed him really hard in the groin with my other elbow.” When both men grimaced she added, “He wasn’t much of a fighter after that. I just wanted to get away from him. He followed me to the front but must’ve run when he heard you close your vehicle’s door.”
Kemp said, “I’ll ask Duke to check area hospitals and clinics.”
He took out his phone and began dialing then moved away into the hall as Duke answered the call.
As he gazed at her, Ace noticed Summer’s complexion had returned to a more normal rosy-cheeked ivory color and was not so pale anymore. She drank the rest of her water, and Ace was mesmerized as her full, soft lips pressed against the glass and she swallowed delicately. His cock responded to the pretty sight, and he imagined her sucking on him. He closed his eyes and was very thankful for the suit jacket that he’d buttoned after replacing his revolver in its holster. He was also grateful that he preferred snug-knit boxer briefs, otherwise she’d have gotten a show.
Placing the emptied glass on the desk blotter, Summer said, “So you were both texting me last night.” She looked up at him with uncertain eyes as though she were looking for confirmation of their earlier phone conversation. When he’d overheard her mention being “big” as she spoke to Kemp, he’d wanted to sweep her up into his arms and do his best to personally convince her that she was beautiful the way she was.
“Yes.”
“I didn’t sleep at all last night.”
“Me either.” That was the truth. It had felt all kinds of wrong to leave the club without making contact with Summer. He’d had the pleasure of watching her face as they’d each sent her text messages. The color in her cheeks had deepened as she’d read them then looked around trying to locate them.
He and Kemp had come within about ten feet of her as she held the phone to her ear the night before, and he’d regretted not being able to continue the conversation right then.
The man they’d followed home had no apparent link to the blog, so they would keep looking. There was a connection out there somewhere. Once they found it they would do some more digging. Everyone had skeletons in their closet.
When he’d gone to bed, thoughts of her, the way she moved, the adorable way she bit her lip kept floating through his mind. He’d also remembered the hurt in her eyes at being ignored by that idiot blind date.
She sat in her chair studying him now. “I liked that you called me this morning. It was almost like…”
“What?”
She waved her hand dismissively. “You’d think it was silly.”
“Like kissing you good morning?”
Her cheeks took on a bright pinkish tinge, and she chuckled. She bit her lip, and he had to suppress the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her. She probably had no idea how that innocent, yet sexy, little mannerism affected his libido. “You’re a mind reader as well as a security specialist?”
“I don’t think I can read your mind, that’s just how it felt to me, getting to hear your voice on the line again. That sounds really sappy, but it’s true.”
Kemp returned to the office and said, “Duke is on it. He’ll get back to us if he hears of any likely suspects. He said things appear normal with that guy we followed home last night, but his instincts are telling him otherwise so he’s going to be watching him.”
Summer smiled at both of them and said, “Will you be at The Dancing Pony again this weekend?”
Ace replied, “Until we turn up some good leads, yes. Nothing new has been posted to the blog, but there have been new comments popping up daily. We’d like to get that thing canned sooner rather than later. Besides how much it bugs Jack and all the other guys, the things they say about Grace trouble me. It’s just wrong.”
Summer seemed to hesitate for a moment then smiled at them both and rose from her chair. Approaching, she said, “You know what I think?”
Ace smiled as she stood between them both, her gorgeous hazel eyes looking very serious as her gaze swept from him to Kemp. She laid a hand on both their chests. Her gentle fingertips caressed both their pectorals, and Ace felt a tingle slide from her fingertips down his torso to his cock.
“What, kitten?”
“You’re really tough because it’s what you specialize in, but you’re soft as marshmallows on the inside.”
Kemp placed his hand over hers and murmured, “Only where certain people are concerned.” The smile on his friend’s face was genuine and happy. “You look as though you’re feeling better.”
“I am, Kemp. The shakes seem to have stopped. It hit me hard afterward, but I really am better now.”
The fact that they were both into her didn’t seem to trouble Summer in the least. Ace wanted to take her in his arms right then and kiss the d
aylights out of her. He was about to when she asked, “Should I report the break-in to the sheriff? I know there isn’t much he can do about it.”
Kemp replied, “The guy is long gone, but you should let the sheriff know.” He admired her resilience and the way she bounced back from the emotional and physical reactions to being attacked.
She nodded and replied, “Thank you again for saving me, guys. Can I make you a fresh pot of coffee? Do you want to get started looking the place over?”
Ace looked in her eyes and asked, “How do you feel, Summer? Do you want to put your head down for a little while?”
She smiled at him and shook her head. “I may take a break and lie down upstairs in a little while, but I’m okay for now. We can get started.”
They spent the next thirty minutes looking around the house, both inside and outside, upstairs and down. During the inspection, Angel and Joaquin Martinez’s wife, Teresa, arrived to open the shop. They explained to her what had happened that morning and assured her that they would be around from that point forward to watch over things. That seemed to greatly ease Teresa’s concerns, and she told them she would let her husbands know. Ace was gratified in helping the women feel safer.
Summer took them upstairs and showed them around. “What are you doing with the rooms upstairs?” Kemp asked as he followed Ace back down the stairs. There were two bedrooms, a bathroom, and another room that could be used for a media room or library.
Summer stood on the landing looking up at them and replied, “I was thinking about moving into them. I have a rental house in town, but we thought it might be good if someone was living here.”
Ace said, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, kitten, given what happened this morning. You’re a big girl and it’s your decision, but I’d hold off on that for a little while.”
Summer’s jaw took on a stubborn tilt as she looked from one to the other. “But you’re putting in a surveillance system and burglar alarm. That’s more than I have in my own home. Plus, I showed whoever is up to these shenanigans that we’re not going to take it lying down anymore. Whoever that guy was, he is in real pain right now for trying to break in to my business.”
“That may be so, but you also had an attempted arson. Your security system can’t put a fire out. What if you were trapped upstairs during a fire?”
“I’d have a plan of escape, the same as anyone with a two-story house would.”
Damn, she had an answer for every one of Ace’s reasons. It wasn’t his place to tell her she couldn’t move in, but he wished it was. The fact that she didn’t have a security system in her own home made Ace want to stop by there after they were done and rectify that situation.
Summer smiled at him when he stopped debating with her. In resignation he said, “Well it looks as though you’ve made your mind up.”
“Yup.” She crossed her arms over her chest, causing her breasts to swell upward and fill the neckline of her blouse in a way that made him groan inwardly with appreciation. He wanted very much to see her do that with the blouse off, sometime soon. His cock stirred, informing him it wasn’t just a want. It was a need.
Kemp stroked his chin and said, “What if you held off for just a couple of weeks? Give us a chance to get things set up here then make some progress with all these incidents that have been occurring around here.”
“I would need that long to organize everything and get packed anyway.”
Ace replied, “Good. That will give us time. I want to ask you something.”
“Sure.” She turned and gestured for them to follow her to the rear of the house.
They walked back into the office as customers entered the front door and were greeted by Teresa, who had arrived shortly before the boutique opened.
Ace said, “We’re going to be keeping an eye on the place.”
“Meaning what exactly?”
“Surveillance and security. In a vehicle down the street and scouting the area. Would you feel comfortable if one of us was inside as well? If we’re spread out we have a better chance of catching whoever is behind these attacks on the shop. We wouldn’t get in your way. The upstairs rooms would be perfect for that. We could switch off and stay here at night.”
“Sure, but when would you sleep?”
Kemp replied, “One of us would sleep during the day and the other in the afternoon or at night. It’d be worth it to be able to catch them.”
Summer paused and said, “I’d have to talk to Margot about it. She’s in Dallas with Juliana again. I was planning to call her after you were done anyway.”
“Fair enough. How do you feel about it?” Ace asked, brushing a lock of hair behind her shoulder.
A slow smile crossed Summer’s beautiful lips, and she chuckled. “About what? Having two handsome guys hanging around the shop keeping all us delicate females safe? Gee, that’s a tough one.” She laughed when he grinned big and added, “It wouldn’t be a problem for me at all. Although how I’m supposed to get any work done is beyond me.”
Ace agreed with that sentiment. His reasons for volunteering duty in such close quarters were not entirely work related. He’d take whatever opportunity he could to get closer to Summer and figured Kemp had to feel the same way.
“We’re ready to get started if you are, Summer. Would you mind if we borrowed your bathroom to change into work clothes?”
Chapter Four
If they only knew the fantasies that were running through Summer’s mind and the way those thoughts affected her body. Their deep voices were barely audible as they talked to each other, and she imagined them undressing, their bare chests and abs revealed as they unbuttoned their dress shirts.
Her fingertips tingled as she imagined running them over a hard biceps or a trim hip. Her body pulsed with need, and she tried not to think about the last time she’d felt true, deep satisfaction with a man. Stopping to think about it, she realized she never had experienced either because if it had been true and deep it would’ve lasted.
She’d never been in a relationship that lasted more than a few months. It seemed that once the excitement and newness wore off, the guys she dated usually showed their true colors and lost their appeal or they turned out to be freaks.
Such was the case with her last boyfriend, Gary. The guy was married, as it turned out. He and his wife, Paulina, were looking for a “third.” She shivered, remembering the phone call she’d received from the wife, trying to persuade Summer to give them a “try.” Neither of them had been too put out that she’d sold all of the belongings he’d left at her house for a garage sale the month before. Paulina had called a couple of times since then, trying to persuade Summer to change her mind. Both times, Summer had assured her kindly that it wasn’t going to happen. Summer still wondered at Gary’s tactic, leaving so many of his things at her place. Perhaps he’d hoped that by being magnanimous about the loss of his possessions he could manipulate her into giving their threesome idea a try.
Summer laughed, recalling her conversation with the girls in the shop a few weeks before. The idea of sharing a man with another woman repulsed her, but being shared by two men was her ultimate fantasy. Now suddenly she was being presented with an opportunity to test drive that fantasy.
“You mind if we hang these in here, Summer?” Ace asked as he stood in the doorway, holding their clothing on several hangers. She hadn’t even heard him come in the room.
“Oh, sure! Right there.” She indicated a hook that hung over one of the French doors that led into the office. Ace stood in the doorway, dressed in blue jeans, work boots, and a faded denim shirt. The lightweight denim fabric was stretched flat over his well-defined pectoral muscles, and she made a decision. Why fight it? Teresa was up front, and what harm could a little cuddle do?
Ace watched her as she rose from her desk and walked over to him. She stood in front of him as he hung the garments up, and when he smiled at her, she slipped her arms around his waist and pressed close to him. His body was warm and hard, a
nd when his arms closed around her, she felt caged in and safe. She let out a long sigh, and the unsettled feeling she’d had all morning dissipated a little. The muscles in his back were hard and well defined under her restless hands.
She remembered that Kemp was somewhere nearby, and a disturbing thought occurred to her. If the three of them progressed forward in a relationship they were going to draw serious fire like the rest of the girls had.
Already Joaquin and Angel were alternating taking Teresa to and from work, which had to be an inconvenience for them, but they didn’t want to take a chance with her safety.
Rachel didn’t have the challenge the others did because she worked odd hours doing the store’s books and website maintenance. She came and went as she pleased, and nobody had bothered her at her other job.
Grace was having a difficult time getting her men to allow her to leave the house alone at all. Summer couldn’t blame them after the second time Grace was followed closely on the way home by the same vehicle that had run her off the road a few weeks before. Her men were also taking turns bringing her to the shop. It might make them all happier to know that Ace and Kemp would be around.
“You okay, kitten?” Ace’s voice was soft and indulgent sounding as he stroked her back.
“I needed a hug. It’s been a while since someone held me. I just needed—I was…” Words failed her as his hands roamed.
Ace slid his palm up her back until his fingers sifted into her hair. At the base of her skull, he gripped her hair and tilted her head back. The feeling took her by surprise. He held her close, and a tremor went through her as she lost herself in his dark brown gaze. He stayed that way for a few seconds, just staring into her eyes, then looked down at her parted lips as he closed the small gap between them.
Oh, God.
His first touch was gentle, and he took his time caressing her lips with his own. He pressed his lips to hers, and she moaned quietly, coming up on her tiptoes to get closer to him. His arm around her and his hand in her hair grew tighter as he deepened the kiss until their lips were crushed together. Her heart pounded so hard, she was certain he could feel it against his chest.
The Divine Creek Ranch Collection Volume 3 Page 35