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.”