She ran to the bathroom and started a hot shower. She had to get the oil from the poison oak vines off of her. She’d barely touched the bouquet, but where it had brushed her wrist the rash had already appeared. Looking in the mirror she realized what she thought was a residual blush from the afternoon’s activities was actually the beginning of poison oak rash. He’d picked the flowers and had his hands all over her.
“Holy shit!”
She’d had poison oak rash before, and Dr. Guthrie had told her everyone was allergic to it, but she was especially sensitive. She knew what to expect. The extremely itchy, painful rash and blisters. Summer heaved a sigh of relief as she found the poison oak remedy left from her most recent exposure in the medicine cabinet.
After taking a very careful, thorough, hot shower she got out and dried off. In the full-length mirror she checked herself and could see the trail of the rash already, up and down her legs, her hips, and her mound. It was everywhere Kemp had touched her with his hands, which he’d been unable to wash since she’d let it be known he was to stay away from her. She’d received full-strength exposure to the urushiol in the plant leaves from him. Her pussy was now tingling in a most unpleasant way. The rash was also developing on her cheeks, jaw, chin, and even around her eyes from sniffing the bouquet. She carefully applied the poison oak cream to all the affecting areas, including her throbbing labia. The next few days were not going to be fun ones.
Oh, no! Ace had playfully mentioned the possibility that either of the men might take advantage of a warm shower to get off since they hadn’t wanted to rush her into sex with them.
She dialed Kemp’s number, hoping he was still busy doing other things. If it was just on his hands he might not get the rash, but he’d had his mouth on her and near his contaminated hands aplenty.
“Hello, darlin’. I was just about to call you and wish you sweet dreams.”
“Kemp, do you have any calamine lotion?”
“I don’t know. I can go check. Do you need some?” That was awfully thoughtful of him, and it pleased her that he’d be willing to bring it to her if she needed it. He lived all the way out in Divine.
“No, but I think you might need it.”
“Why?” There was a guarded tone to his voice.
“There were poison oak vines in your bouquet. You probably pulled them along with the flowers and didn’t realize it. There is poison oak growing in the wooded lot next door.”
Kemp groaned, sounding sad. “That’s where I picked them. Honey, I’m so sorry. Are you having symptoms?”
She moaned at a rather painful twinge in her pussy and said, “Oh, you could say that.”
“How bad?”
“It’s everywhere you touched me.”
“Everywhere?” She could hear the regret resounding in every syllable of the word.
“Yup. I’m especially sensitive. I’ve had it before. I’m going to see Dr. Guthrie tomorrow for a steroid shot.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No. Just make sure you don’t touch yourself before you’ve had a really hot shower to get all the oil from the plants off of your hands.” At his low groan she cringed. “Did you already…”
With an embarrassed-sounding chuckle Kemp said, “I was in the shower as soon as I got home.”
“Maybe it won’t be too bad. Do you itch at all?”
“No.”
“It can take several hours before the itch starts. Do you have calamine lotion, just in case?”
“Yes, I found some. Will I see you tomorrow?”
“Kemp, if this is anything like last time, you may not want to see me.”
She didn’t want him to see her with swollen eyes and lips like Daisy Duck’s beak, not to mention what was going to happen to her “hoo-hoo.” She’d be lucky if she could walk by tomorrow.
“I’m so sorry, darlin’. I had the best intentions.”
“I know you did, and I still love my bouquet. I saved it but threw out all the poison oak. I know it seems vain, but I don’t really want anyone to see me when I’m all swelled up, blistered, and rashy. I hope you don’t get a rash.”
“It would serve me right if I did. If I get one, can I come over and we can be miserable together?” The things his sexy voice does to me.
“You won’t want to be around me when I’m like that, Kemp.” If he continued using that cajoling, sexy tone she knew she’d give in to him, but he let it rest for the time being.
“Okay, darlin’. Sleep well.”
What a pathetic way to end the day. She called Grace and asked her to let everyone know. After turning off the DVR, she went to bed, hoping to get some sleep before the pain and itching from the rash really got their groove on.
Her phone chirped on her bedside table right after she turned off the lamp. She smiled as she checked the text message. It was from Ace.
“Kemp told me what happened, kitten. Are you hurting?”
“Not yet. I’m worried about tonight, though.”
“He said you’re really allergic.”
“I am.”
“You know if you need anything, either of us will be there for you.”
“I would be very embarrassed to be seen, looking like that.”
“We would understand.”
“I know you would. But we’re still new to each other and I don’t want to mess it up. I’ll be fine, I promise.”
“So I guess phone sex is out of the question?”
Summer burst out in giggles and replied, “Men! Is that all you think about?”
“Phone sex, text sex, real sex. Pretty much. You know I’m teasing, right?”
“Of course. Thank you for checking on me.”
“You’re welcome. Despite what you’re going through now, I enjoyed this evening with you. You’re beautiful when you come.”
Heat blossomed in her cheeks. “Thank you, handsome.”
“Wish I could kiss you good night, kitten”
They wished each other good night, and she laid her phone aside, wishing that he and Kemp were with her right now. They’d both been so understanding, and it made her want them more.
Chapter Six
Kemp resisted scratching for the hundredth time Monday morning as he and Ace scoured the woods beside the boutique, searching for a trail or any sign of a person using the woods to get close to the shop. Rachel had told them Maya had seen the man who’d set the back porch on fire a few weeks before, and Kemp believed it was the same man who had broken in yesterday. His disappearing act led them and the authorities to believe that he was using the woods as a means for a hasty exit. Duke was going over the toolbox with a fine-tooth comb, looking for fingerprints and traces of who it might’ve belonged to.
“Kemp, come look at this.” Ace was squatting at the privacy fence line dividing the wooded area from the boutique.
“What do you have?”
Ace poked at a pair of binoculars lying on the thick grass. “These were not here yesterday morning when I checked this area. Must’ve left in a hurry and forgotten them.”
Looking over the privacy fence, there was only one spot he would’ve been able to see. The front porch. The windows were all covered by curtains.
Kemp said, “What kind of idiot leaves his binoculars behind?”
Ace replied, “Judging by what Summer told us about the other day, and then finding these this morning, I’m beginning to think we’re dealing with amateurs.”
And damned elusive amateurs at that.
Ace studied the area along the fence line and added, “Time will tell, I suppose. Let’s leave them here. I’ll turn one of the outdoor cameras to face this area and we’ll see if someone comes back for them.”
“Good idea,” Kemp said, scratching his wrist.
Ace noticed and asked, “You itching?”
“Yeah, you?”
“A little. On my chin where our faces must’ve rubbed together when Summer and I were kissing. If it’s this itchy with only mild, indirec
“Damn, don’t remind me.” Kemp groaned, wanting to scratch his cock and balls like crazy. The heat and humidity made it worse. “I can’t imagine how Summer must feel. She drove herself over to the doctor’s office this morning to get a shot. She sounded like she was in pain and even whimpered once while we talked. It serves me right if my rash gets worse for not thinking about that when I picked her flowers. I should’ve been more careful. I feel even worse because she was so sweet to me about it. No saying, ‘You did this to me,’ or anything.”
“You should send her flowers and chocolates. This time from the florist,” Ace added with a chuckle.
“You’re funny.”
But Kemp did like the idea.
* * * *
Kemp smiled Tuesday morning when he looked at the screen on his phone and saw Summer’s name pop up in the caller ID.
“Hello, darlin’.”
“Kemp?” Her voice was soft, and she sounded like she was in pain.
“Darlin’? What’s the matter?”
“You remember telling me I could call you if I needed anything?”
“Tell me what you need, darlin’.”
“My air conditioner stopped running this morning. Margot is still out of town. I’m…”
“Miserable?”
“Uh-huh.” Her voice hitched as she said it, and his heart went out to her. She was rashy, itchy, in pain, and hot on top of all of that. “I’ll handle it, darlin’. You don’t worry about a thing.”
“Thank you, Kemp.”
Each word sounded like it required effort, and Kemp replied, “Get as comfortable as you can and I’ll be there with a repairman as soon as I’m able.”
“’Kay.”
Kemp hung up and made two phone calls. First to Ace to let him know, and then he looked up Adam Davis’s phone number.
* * * *
Summer’s already inflamed face burned with embarrassment as she peeked around the opened front door. She imagined that she must look like a total freak with her face painted with calamine lotion. Looking up into Kemp’s sympathetic green eyes, she said, “Hi.”
Of all weeks for her air-conditioning to go on the fritz, it had to be this one. Texas in the summertime was not a place to be without air-conditioning under normal circumstances. Add in the extreme poison oak rash and her body felt like it was on fire.
She had her hair pulled back into a ponytail to keep it off her face and neck, so he’d be able to see just how bad her reaction had been, and that was the last thing she wanted.
In a soothing voice, Kemp said, “Hey, darlin’. Adam Davis is pulling up right now. He’s going to slip in for a minute to check the unit inside.”
“It’s in the hall closet. Thank you, Kemp. My landlord is on vacation and told me to handle it. I forgot Adam does this kind of work.” Her lips were a little swollen and made it hard for her to talk, but they weren’t as bad as she’d expected.
“He’s minus his worker today, so we volunteered to help out where needed. Ace will be here soon.”
“I wish you didn’t have to see me like this.”
“Neither of us can stand the thought of you suffering in this heat and we want to be helpful if possible. You look like you don’t feel good, but that doesn’t change how beautiful we think you are.”
He stroked her pulled-back hair and then kissed the top of her head where it didn’t hurt. She heard vehicle doors close, and Kemp turned so she could see that Ace had also arrived and stood talking to Adam Davis in the driveway.
She stepped back from the doorway because the bright sun shining on the rash made it tingle uncomfortably.
Kemp said, “Get comfortable for now. Hopefully this won’t take long.”
She slowly returned to the couch in the living room, which she’d draped with a white sheet, and gingerly sat down. The way Kemp assisted her was sweet, and she gestured at the two flower arrangements on the coffee table and said, “I love the roses, Kemp.”
The previous morning she been a little surprised to see the delivery van for Merritt’s Florist parked in her driveway. They’d delivered a dozen red roses and a box of rather expensive chocolates from Kemp. Just an hour ago, another delivery had arrived, this time a dozen white roses and more chocolates.
“I’m glad you liked them. It’s a good thing I was able to get in touch with Adam. It’s like an oven in here.”
As if on cue, Ace walked in the door. “Knock, knock, kitten. I brought you a treat to cool you off.”
He held up a container of cheesecake ice cream. When he’d called to check on her the previous night, she’d talked with him and he’d asked all sorts of random questions, including what her favorite ice cream was.
“Thank you, Ace. It’ll sure come in handy now.”
“I’ll put it in the freezer.” He returned from the kitchen and repeated Kemp’s earlier observation. “It’s hot in here.”
He came to her and leaned down and kissed her on top of the head. She was very appreciative that neither of them seemed to be hiding disgust at her unsightly appearance.
It was difficult sometimes as a full-figured woman to put her best foot forward and project confidence. It was even harder with her face and most of her body looking like she’d been dipped in a vat of calamine lotion.
Adam greeted her quickly and offered his wishes for her speedy recovery then set to work. Thankfully, the problem was that the Freon needed to be recharged, and Adam had her AC up and running and the house cooling in a matter of minutes.
“I love when it’s an easy fix,” Adam announced as he carried his tools back out to his truck. “I’ll see y’all later. Feel better, Summer.”
Realizing Adam was leaving, Summer tried to rise. “What about the bill? I have to turn that in to my landlord.”
Kemp waved her back to the couch. “It’s already been taken care of, darlin’.”
“You didn’t have to do that. My landlord will reimburse me.”
“Don’t worry about it, kitten,” Ace said as he handed her a small bowl of ice cream then licked his finger. “That’s some good stuff.”
“Thanks for having the air conditioner fixed. I feel better already.”
Ace grinned and said, “Good! Then you won’t mind having company tonight. I’ll bring some movies.” Chuckling, Summer thought that explained why he’d also quizzed her about her favorite movies.
“Are you sure you have time?”
Kemp chuckled and said, “Sure we do. The cameras are all set and being viewed from the surveillance van even as we speak. We don’t have to work twenty-four hours a day and can take the occasional night off.”
“Okay.”
Summer had never known men like these. Plenty of other guys might have helped in a difficult situation like this one, but she didn’t know any others who would hang around given her appearance. It was a sad fact of her life.
One by one, they bent down to kiss her forehead carefully on the one little spot that was not painted pale pink, and Kemp said, “You get comfortable and rest. We’ll call you later and let you know when we’ll be over.”
“We’ll let ourselves out, kitten. Stay put,” Ace said as he and Kemp both blew her a kiss and they left. The old-fashioned gesture left a lump in her throat.
She ate the ice cream Ace had given her and tried to read a book but found she was too distracted by her real-life heroes.
They called her late in the afternoon and told her they’d decided to not only bring movies but dinner as well. They brought Chinese takeout and made a picnic on the coffee table, and Summer found that she really enjoyed herself despite still feeling a little self-conscious.
“How is the Mongolian beef?” Ace asked her.
“It’s very good. I was wondering how things are going at the shop for you. Have you settled in okay upstairs?”
They both nodded. With a chuckle, Ace added, “The bed is a little small, but it’s temporary so no big deal.”
Summer grinned picturing this tall man with his poor feet hanging over the end of the bed. “If you want to move anything up there to make yourselves more comfortable, it’s fine with me and Margot. That full-size bed is not really big enough for a tall person.”
“I may do that. Thanks, kitten.”
When they let Summer pick the movie, she chose Beastly. While Ace put the DVD in, Kemp drew her to him and coaxed her into his lap.
“Um—are you sure?” she asked as she awkwardly sat on his knees, unsure where he wanted her because she was definitely not used to sitting in a man’s lap. Self-consciously, she wobbled and braced her hand on his shoulder. Evidently sensing her unease, he smiled at her and patted her thigh.
“Allow me, darlin’.” Kemp carefully slid his right forearm under her knees and braced her back and turned her so she was now across his lap, facing Ace as he sat down beside him. Figuring this would last five minutes before he’d start squirming and want her off of him, she was surprised when he put a pillow behind her back and helped her get comfortable.
“Thank you, Kemp. This is nice.”
He gazed down at her and replied, “I want you to be comfortable with me. I know I’m a big guy and I figured it might help.”
Summer could say with certainty that it helped to sit with him like this. Her main fear in a position like this was the vulnerability that came from feeling too big and out of proportion with the size of the man holding her. With Kemp that was a nonissue. He was so much bigger than her that she experienced the rare, wonderful sensation of feeling small compared to him.
Once Summer relaxed, she settled into the comfort of his embrace. Her head fit perfectly in the indentation between his muscular shoulder and pectoral. She snuggled and then grimaced at the pale smudge the calamine lotion left on his shirt.
“Uh-oh. Sorry, Kemp.” She rubbed at it, and it faded a little.
He never even looked at the mark as he stroked her side and her hip. “Don’t worry about that. You cuddle all you want, darlin’.” Dragging his fingertips in a light caress up the top of her thigh, he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her gently.
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