LLucy’s Revenge(Divine Creek Ranch 15)(47)

He caressed her upper thigh, enjoying the feel of her hot flesh through the silky material of her dress and said, “Bedroom?”

With one arm wrapped around each of their necks, she looked from one to the other. “Yes.”

Patrick gathered her securely against him and then rose from the couch.

Lucy let out a shrill squeal. “Put me down! You’ll hurt yourself!”

He winked at her as she held on to his shoulders and looked at the floor then back at him. “Don’t be silly, Luce.”

“I weigh a ton! You’re gonna get a hernia!” She turned a pleading look to Beck. “Tell him to put me down!”

Beck shook his head in resignation. “We need to work on your self-image, Juicy Lucy. You don’t weigh that much.”

“I do! Damn it, be careful of your back!” she squeaked as he walked down the hall with Beck trailing behind.

Patrick carried her to his king-size bed and although the thought of tossing her onto the bed had appeal, he didn’t release her.

She looked at him expectantly. “Aren’t you going to set me down? I’m straining your back. Your arms.”

Beck made a tsking sound as he kicked off his boots and Patrick sighed. “I’m stronger than I look, Luce. After Elizabeth was gone, remember me telling you that I started lifting weights here at home as something to do with my spare time and a way to work out my frustrations? What was her sewing room is now my weight room. Beck lifts, too. You really don’t need to worry. I can handle you.”

The troubled look in her eyes told him that she’d need convincing of that.

Finally, she smiled at him. “That explains why you’re both so muscular. I noticed that on Valentine’s night.”

Beck got a quizzical look on his face and then understanding came into his eyes. “I’d just as soon forget that night.”

Patrick set her on the bed and she said, “Not all of it was bad. Besides getting to see your manly, hairy chests, I also got to talk with Patrick. And I suppose you couldn’t help your crotchety assholedness, Beck. I’ve had the flu so I know you felt pretty awful.”

Beck chuckled at her verbiage and shook his head. “I don’t want you to make allowances for me anymore. If Patrick had acted like that, you’d have been royally pissed.”

Lucy stopped him from speaking further. “Patrick wouldn’t act like that because it’s not in his nature. You have a completely different personality. You’re not as easygoing, but I can handle that.”

“I don’t want you making allowances for me that you wouldn’t make for him.”

“You’re different, Beck. That’s all. I still like you,” she said as she reached for his hand and pulled him nearer. “I like that the two of you are different. I wouldn’t change you.”

Beck scoffed. “You say that now…”

Lucy smiled and nodded. “Granted, I’ll still call you on your bullshit. But that doesn’t stop me from caring about you. I’m done talking.” She looked expectantly between the two of them. “Can we stop talking now?”

Patrick nodded silently as he unbuttoned his shirt and watched her climb from the bed and walk across the room. He grasped the flowing skirt of her dress to stop her. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Lucy turned with a hand on her hip. “You might as well know, I guess. I’m wearing Spanx under this dress. They erase a multitude of sins but they aren’t exactly sexy. I’m going in the bathroom to take them off and then letting you undress me.”

Beck looped a forearm around her waist and pulled her back between them. “Uh-uh. Let us help you.”

Lucy huffed and her cheeks turned pink. “Air of mystery, guys. Come on. Beck,” she whispered as he went down on his knees in front of her. “This is embarrassing.”

Patrick closed in on her side and brushed her hair from her shoulder to kiss his way up her throat. “Don’t be embarrassed. We want to undress you. This is no different from taking off your bra.”

“Yes, it is. My bra is sexy and made of lace. Spanx are just flesh-toned nylon and Lycra. Not sexy at all. I don’t want you to see them.”

“Why do you wear them?”

“They erase the dimples in my ass,” she said stridently. Her cheeks were red but a giggle escaped her and she jumped as Beck reached under her dress and evidently slid his hands up the backs of her Spanx-covered legs. “They make me look better in my clothes.”

Beck kissed her upper thigh through the fabric of her dress and looked up at her. “Okay. Let’s have a compromise.” He grinned, evidently liking what he felt. “Damn, baby, Spanx or not, you’re pure sexy beneath this dress.”