by Rita Herron
Reid, looking for an excuse to escape any morning-after awkwardness, had leaped at the chance to come over and ogle another female. Especially when Lance had mentioned that Sophie's sister was the knockout strawberry blonde with the tight ass Reid had fawned over at the bar.
Of course, Lance had seen his brother's unadulterated look of lust when he'd walked through the door and spotted Lucy in her fluorescent pink T-shirt (it doubled as a nightgown, she announced), and Lance had realized the flaw in his plan. So he'd spent the better part of the night staying awake to make sure Reid behaved, and Lucy remained tucked safely upstairs with Sophie's psycho cat, who still hated him but adored his brother.
Now Reid had taken Lucy for a ride to show her the projects they'd recently built on Skidaway Island. At least, he'd better be showing her the houses and nothing more. Thank God, Lucy had left her silver case here at Sophie's.
Lance rubbed his tired eyes, then hauled the door to his truck. The warehouse where he ordered supplies was closed on Sunday, so he'd have to wait until Monday to pick up the new one. This morning he'd replaced the piping in the downstairs powder room so it was functional. He attacked the retiling project next. Maybe by the time Sophie returned he'd have her bathrooms accessible.
Ironic that while she'd been off gallivanting around nude beaches with another man, he'd had his head stuck in her toilets.
* * *
Lucy twisted a strand of her hair around one finger as she watched Reid Summers describe the houses he and his brother had built on Skidaway Island. He had the biggest, sexiest hands.
She had always loved hands. Hands and feet and long toes on a man. Did Reid have long toes?
"Most of the estate homes are on five acres," Reid pointed out.
"My gosh, these are mansions. The owners must be rich."
"Most of them are; a lot of folks retire here. There's a section in back with smaller lots. We'll head that way." Reid maneuvered the Tahoe down the road toward the last phase of the development. "Lance and I work together on the construction. Chase Holloway, our brother-in-law, is the architect. My sister, Maddie, has a decorating service and furnished the interiors."
"It must be fun to work together. Sophie..." She itched to mention that she and Sophie had worked together, but remembered her promise not to talk about the Diva act. Pooh on Sophie for making her lie. "Uh, Sophie's show... I saw Chase and Maddie get married on Sophie's show."
"Yeah, they did." Reid gave her a wary grin, then shifted in his seat as if she'd produced a rope to hang him.
The M-word must be taboo, too. Hadn't Sophie mentioned that he and his brother had a bachelor pact? Well, he needn't worry. Marriage was the last thing on her mind. Lucy didn't intend to settle down; she didn't want to limit herself to one man. Although Sophie wanted that security; it was the very reason she'd bought the house. Hadn't she said something about having a thing for Lance? It certainly didn't sound as if her sister was happy with him the night before. And Lucy didn't want her sister settling down, especially in Savannah, so far away from her.
"Maddie and Chase live in that one," he said, stopping his Tahoe in front of a long, winding drive that led to a smaller Southern plantation home.
"Oh, my stars, it has sleeping porches. I wonder if they use those in the summer."
He shrugged. "I imagine so."
"How romantic."
Reid grinned. "They can hear the water from the river on their back porch."
"Yum."
Reid laughed and angled his head toward her. "So are you moving here, Lucy, or only in town for a visit?"
"Just here for a visit," Lucy said. "I live in Vegas."
"Really? I've always wanted to go there. You gamble a lot?"
"Not really, I..." Er, she wasn't supposed to mention the act. "I hostess for a club in the city."
"I've heard it's a wild town. All those nightclubs and showgirls."
If he only knew... "Yeah, I love it. All the lights, excitement."
"We have excitement around Savannah, too."
Lucy toyed with her gold loop earring. "Is that so?"
Reid's lip twitched. He was probably a player, but he was sexy and easygoing, her kind of guy.
"Really." He reached out and twisted a strand of her hair around his finger. "Maybe I could show you around."
Lucy leaned into his hand. "I'd like that, Reid." After all, Sophie had warned her not to talk about the Diva act, but her sister wouldn't care if she had a little fun with Reid Summers, would she?
* * *
It was nearly midnight when Sophie finally made it home. She dragged herself from the limo, tipped the driver, who hauled her suitcase to the front door, and fished her keys from her purse with one hand while she visually inspected the premises for intruders, as she always did when she arrived home. Force of habit from living in low-rent, low-class neighborhoods her entire life.
Everything seemed in order, although barring the kitchen light, the house was dark and Lance's Blazer still sat in the driveway. Drat. If he had seduced Lucy, she'd kill him with one of his own tools.
What if Lucy seduced him? Could she really blame Lance for giving in to her vixen sister?
Shuddering at the possibility, she pushed open the door and barreled inside, clomping her heels as loud as she could to alert them that she had arrived. Swallowing her pride was one thing; actually having to witness the man she wanted—correction: had wanted—naked in bed with her sister was another.
Clip-clop. Clip-clop. "Lucy, I'm home!"
She dropped the bag by the steps, hesitating at the bathroom when she noticed the new tiles. Wow. Lance had made noticeable strides in the renovations already. Excitement budded in her chest, and she knelt to examine the work, running her hand over the sleek white ceramic. Jazzy loped in, turned up her nose, and rubbed against Sophie as she scratched the cat's back.
"Hey, baby, I can't wait to see the house finished. All my life I dreamed of having a real home, with a white picket fence, a walk-in closet...." She let the sentence trail off, adding other requirements silently—a house with nice, clean furniture, everything neat and orderly, none of the ratty furniture or beer-stained rickety sofas and cigarette-scarred cheap tables she'd grown up with. A small yard for children to run and play—
"You're home?"
She swung around on her hands and knees, and Jazzy growled. Lance stood in the doorway, his gaze glued to Sophie's butt. She instantly slapped a hand over her rear, wishing she'd forgone the decadent desserts in Cancun.
Lurching upright, she nearly smashed her knee on the toilet as she stood. Jazzy darted through Lance's feet and raced up the stairs. Smart cat.
Lance steadied her but she pulled away. "You shouldn't sneak up on a girl."
"Sorry. I was so busy I didn't hear you come in."
Busy doing what? She skimmed her eyes over his torso, willing herself not to react to the fact that his denim shirt had come unbuttoned (or had he just put it on?) and his rolled-up sleeves revealed muscular arms covered in a fine layer of dark hair. "You're still here at midnight?"
"Working."
Sure he was. Her gaze cut toward the kitchen behind him. "Where's Lucy?"
He chewed his lip, shifting uncomfortably. "Out with Reid."
Sophie gulped. So if Lance couldn't have her, the other brother swooped in for the kill. "Lucy's with your brother?"
He shrugged. "He took her to see the property on Skidaway Island."
"What time?"
"They left around noon."
Her mind ticked away the hours. "And they're not back yet?"
"He called. Lucy wanted to see the sights."
And no doubt Reid had offered to show her. Sophie paced to the front window, pushed aside the curtain, and checked the drive. "You shouldn't have let them go off together."
Lance grunted. "What do you have against Reid?"
Sophie folded her arms and swung around. "He's a Summers man. That's enough."
He grabbed her arms and forced
her to look at him, but his gruff voice sounded gentle when he spoke. "Listen, I know you're upset about the dating game thing—"
"I'm not upset; I had a wonderful time with Rory."
His jaw tightened. "I realize when you called last night that you misunderstood—"
"I didn't misunderstand anything." She tried to pull away, but he held her firmly in place.
"Yes, you did. I did not offer to take Lucy to a hotel to seduce her." He pulled her through the hallway to the kitchen, then pointed to the space where the back door had once been. Plastic flapped in the breeze from the fan Lance had brought over. "I didn't think it would be safe for her to stay here without the house being secure."
Sophie winced, still unforgiving. "But you were looking at her... her—"
"Her boobs?"
Heat flamed her face. "Yes."
"You misunderstood that, too."
She planted her hands on her hips. "How the heck could I misunderstand that?"
He crooked his finger toward the oak kitchen table where a small silver case sat. "Look inside."
"What is it, a trap or something?"
He made an exasperated gesture with his hands. "Look and you'll see."
Determined not to let him off the hook so easily, she clip-clopped over to the table and opened the case. When a life-size fake woman's chest sprang up to greet her, she screeched in shock.
"Those are the boobs your little sister wanted me to play with."
Sophie glanced back at him, swung her gaze to the fake breasts again, then inched closer to the table, stumbling as she assimilated the remaining contents of the case. So this was the kit Lucy had been referring to, the reason the security guard had thought she was soliciting, then bribing him. Her new business?
What in the world had her little sister gotten into now?
Chapter 6
Lance hated the look of distress on Sophie's face. While she usually seemed so tough, so perfect, a soft vulnerability shadowed her eyes that made him ache to reach out and soothe away her worry lines. He actually found himself lifting his hand toward her, then remembered that she'd accused him of trying to seduce Lucy, and that she wanted marriage and family—her money pit of a house proved that. And he had been there and done the family part by raising his sister and brother....
"I didn't ask any questions," Lance said, indicating the case. "And in spite of what you think of me, I am not into kinky stuff like that."
"I... this can't be right." Her hand trembled as she reached for the kitchen chair. He pulled it out for her and she fell into it, looking lost and pale. "She... told me she was working for a new company selling bath oils and lotions and other romantic products."
He quirked an eyebrow toward a package of grape-flavored condoms sticking from one of the plush folds of the case. "Romantic?"
Sophie snapped the lid closed. "My sister has a vivid imagination."
"Maybe I should worry about Reid instead of the other way around."
He'd gone too far with that one. Sophie suddenly stood and pushed at his chest. "You'd better go, Lance."
He caught her hand, and her breath fanned his cheek. She was such a petite woman, so fragile-looking, yet so feisty. Her green eyes sparkled beneath the dim light in the kitchen, her milky-white skin golden from her trip to the beach. His body thrummed with arousal, the sultry scent of her exotic perfume sending his senses into a dizzying spiral. He wanted to taste her, to touch her, to revel in the heat that spiked a fever in his body every time he was near her. Why her?
Why Sophie, with the big green eyes and the temper and the house that screamed for a husband and kids?
Her long black lashes fluttered, and he lowered his head anyway. Her rosy lips were just a hairbreadth away. Then they were touching. Gently. Softly. Tenderly. His lips just barely brushed against hers. It wasn't enough. His hand snaked into her hair, and he dragged her mouth to his. A breathy sigh escaped her as he claimed her mouth. Then he flicked at her lips with his tongue, nibbling at the edges, begging entrance. The sweet sensations of her kiss tortured him, the hunger that rose inside him raw and so primal that Lance growled and took the kiss to another level, searching, exploring, savoring each delicious foray his tongue made.
But then Sophie pulled away.
She stumbled backward, her eyes wild with emotions as she pressed a hand to her mouth. To savor his kiss or erase it?
"You have to go, Lance. I... I can't do this."
He swallowed hard, knowing she was right, although his heart pounded in his chest and his body throbbed with the need to have her. Restless energy and desire exploded inside him, irrational fear seeping through. He wanted her but he couldn't give her the things she wanted. The settle-down man she deserved.
He'd come here to repair her house. He had to keep his hands off everything else.
His voice sounded gruff when he finally collected himself enough to speak. "I... I can't let you stay here alone."
She shook her head, fluttering long red fingernails through her dark hair. "Lance, you made it clear you didn't want to date me. And I thought I made it clear that I felt the same way."
He closed his eyes and ran a hand over his neck. "I meant because of the door."
When he looked back up, hurt darkened the light green of her eyes to a shade near black. Guilt slammed into him again. He couldn't get it right with this woman.
Because you're not right for her.
He wanted different things in life, and being a Southern-bred boy at heart, he was too much of a gentleman to take what he wanted without giving back. And he didn't have enough to give....
"I'll sack out on the couch. I—"
"No. I can take care of myself, Lance. I don't need a man to protect me." She gestured toward the cat, who rounded the corner, pausing to snarl at Lance. "Besides, I have Jazzy."
"Right, psycho cat. Some protection."
"We'll be fine."
He started to open his mouth to argue. Would she really jeopardize her and her sister's safety to get rid of him?
Muttering beneath her breath about not wanting his Southern macho type around, she snagged his arm and ushered him to the door. He had his answer.
He stalked to his truck, wishing like hell that he'd never kissed her. Because that one kiss made him crave another.
But even though he couldn't have that kiss, he couldn't leave her and Lucy alone to unsuspecting predators.
No, he'd park his Blazer a safe distance away but close enough to watch the house, and grab some shut-eye. At least if he fell asleep, he'd be close enough to reach her if something happened at her house. Surely he'd hear if someone broke in, if she screamed for help. He'd drive home early in the morning, shower, and make his breakfast meeting with Reid and the owner of the new development he and Reid were trying to win bids on.
And if he didn't sleep, maybe he'd figure out why Sophie was driving him crazy, and how to put an end to it.
* * *
"I had a great time today, Reid." Lucy toyed with the curly ends of Reid's hair, scraping her fingers into the thick mass. His six-foot muscular body in tight denim had driven her insane with lust all night.
"Me, too." Reid's gaze dropped to her mouth. "You sure you don't want to come back to my place?"
"I can't. Sophie will be home tonight. We need to catch up." She ran a hand over his arm, smiling when his muscles bunched beneath her touch. "Girl talk."
"Right." Reid maneuvered the Tahoe down the street, and Lucy spied the pansies and day lilies dancing in the evening moonlight. The entire suburbia feel gave her the willies. Home. Responsibility. Kids. Boredom.
She already missed the excitement of Vegas, the bright flashing lights, the dinner shows... although the Salty Breeze had been a surprise. And River Street with all its shops and restaurants on the water was romantic. She'd actually envisioned herself and Reid taking one of the carriage rides. It really wasn't like her to be so mushy.
The front end of a Blazer caught her eye in the side
mirror and she squinted, frowning when she noticed a man sitting inside. The vehicle was parked in the shadows of a huge Spanish moss-covered tree, the branches nearly shading it from view. Sophie had always told her to be careful and watch out for perverts in Vegas.
But a pervert had parked on Sophie's street here in Savannah and was watching her house.
"Here we are." Reid parked in the driveway to Sophie's house and killed the engine. "Thanks for the evening, Lucy." He curled his hand into a ball, then brushed his knuckles against her cheek. A shiver chased up her spine.
"Thank you. I'd like to see more clubs."
"Then we'll do it again while you're here?"
"Absolutely." She traced a finger along his jaw, intrigued by his husky voice. "You're pretty hot on the dance floor."
His voice grew even lower, humming with masculine want. "You have some great moves yourself."
If only he could come watch her show at the Palace. She bit back her comment, realizing she'd been on the verge of confiding in him her part in the Diva act.
But Sophie would kill her.
His eyes skated over her face, a heartbeat stretching between them before he dipped his head and claimed her mouth. Lucy gave in to the kiss, loving this bad-boy wildness. Reid was misplaced in Savannah; he needed to be in Vegas with the action instead of in this sleepy Southern town. One kiss led to several, the heat between them fogging up the windows. Reid was everything a lover should be, bold, wild, passionate, primal. She played a teasing game with his tongue, seeking, yearning, dancing around the flames of desire that erupted.
Too bad her older sister was waiting inside.
Already dreading the behave-yourself-Lucy lecture Sophie would no doubt greet her with, especially if she'd been watching through the window, Lucy slowly pulled away.
She finger-combed her tangled hair into some semblance of decency and tried to erase the whisker burns from her cheeks by licking her fingers and dabbing the moisture across the abrasions.
Before she climbed from the Tahoe, she kissed Reid one more time, this one long and slow, lingering with promises. A pebble caught in her red spike-heeled sandal as she tottered up the sidewalk to the front porch, and she paused and jiggled her foot to shake it free. But she caught her reflection in the glass windows flanking the door and winced. Her hair was sticking out in all directions, and the lickety-split job on her face had failed to erase the love bruises from Reid. Oh, well. Just because Sophie didn't want to have fun didn't mean she couldn't. Then again, maybe Sophie had had a fabulous weekend with her date and would be in a good mood.