The men glanced at each other in silent communication, and Boone replied, “It would be fine with us, if it was from the neck down, and nothing too provocatively posed, if she’s interested.”
Lily grinned and said, “How about if I give you proofs from the shoot and you get final approval. I’ll shoot them head to toe and crop all identifying features out for the website.”
A broad smile appeared on Kendall’s face, and in his deep, Texan drawl, he said, “That sounds like a fair deal.”
Smiling, Lily reached out and shook hands with each of them in turn. “Gentlemen, it’s a pleasure doing business with you.”
The rest of Lily’s afternoon was back and forth between helping postholiday shoppers in the store and working alongside Clay, filling orders for Internet customers. She was jubilant that the improved website seemed to be drawing more attention. Tabitha’s mood was cool the rest of the afternoon, but Lily had grown accustomed to it, feeling grateful if she was the most difficult person Lily had to deal with nowadays. Tabitha was a walk in the park compared to JT.
On her return from her latest trip up to the front, Clay smiled at her as he held his phone to his ear. After he ended the call, he said, “That was Del. He’s at the hardware store. He’ll be by to follow you home in about ten minutes. Are you done for the day?”
She felt like she’d suddenly run out of time for all the questions that had been brewing in her mind. “Just about. Clay, what if…”
Clay turned to her, watching her closely after her words trailed off and she had difficulty swallowing.
What if something happens between Del and me?
She felt perched on a precipice, and she was so afraid of making a mistake. The usual boundaries didn’t apply in Divine, but that didn’t mean she could count on a happily ever after just because so many women had found them there. In the past she’d learned she didn’t have that kind of luck.
“What if what, baby?” he whispered as he glanced at the security monitor and reached out to her, grasping her by the hips and drawing her to him. She looked at the monitor, too, and gave in as she watched Tabitha stride across the store to help a customer who had just entered.
He lifted the hem of her top and kissed the bare flesh above her waistband. His lips left a searing trail of kisses as she shuddered and tried to get her lips and tongue to work together to form words. His touch rendered her incapable, and she closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of his heat and nearness as he wrapped his arms around her hips and nuzzled her belly button. Wicked, lustful tremors rippled through her pussy, and she knew if they were alone, he’d have her naked in a heartbeat, tattoo or no tattoo.
“What if you see that Del needs affection?” he asked softly as he flicked her navel with the tip of his tongue. “What if he needs a hug or someone to talk to?”
“Uh…”
“What if he needs a kiss?” He drew her more tightly to him, and she felt the stiff ridge of his erection against her thigh. “How about if you just want to hold him tight or…” His lips lightly suctioned below her left breast as he pushed the hem of her top higher. She held on to him tighter as her nipples hardened into tingling points of sensation. “Or more? Is that what you want to know?”
Chapter Twenty
Incapable of speech, she moaned out an assenting sound, and he looked up at her with smoldering green-gold eyes. “I trust you to give him whatever he needs. The same as I trust him to give you what you need. I know it’s not easy to wrap your mind around what I’m suggesting but I think we can be happy.”
“The three of us?” she whispered. At his nod she said, “But I’m scared to risk what’s started between us. I need you, Clay. I don’t want to ruin it. What if it doesn’t work for us like it has for the others?”
“This can work if we trust each other. And love each other.” His eyes practically blazed. “You have no idea how much I wish we had more than ten minutes.”
Lily moaned as a shudder of need passed through her. “Oh, I have an inkling. Are you sure you can’t come out to the ranch tonight?” The longing in his eyes pulled at her heartstrings as she echoed his words. “Love?”
A slow smile played across his handsome face, and she wanted to kiss every millimeter of those sensual lips. She could barely hear over the pounding of her own heartbeat in her ears.
He nodded and gave her a tender smile. “Of course, I love you. I’m sure it’s more important to hear it from him but I’ll bet Del’s in love with you, too, Lily. He’s struggling with something right now, but I don’t doubt that he has feelings, deep feelings, for you. I think we both always have. You’re one in a million and the years have done nothing but refine that about you. I love you, baby.” He nestled his face between her breasts and squeezed her to him tightly and growled. “Give us a chance?”