Summer's Indiscretion(Divine Creek Ranch 7)(17)

Kemp finished his work as the sun slipped behind the tall trees in the wooded area beside the shop. While he’d been upstairs he’d noticed that several different kinds of wildflowers graced the overgrown landscape next door. A privacy fence ran the full length of the property on that side of the shop, but the area near the road wasn’t fenced off, so he decided to get creative in his “sucking up.” He picked her a huge bouquet of wildflowers and assorted colorful greenery.

Rachel Wolf turned the sign on the door and rehung it with the “Closed” side visible. She grinned at Kemp as she walked to the steps and said, “Flowers. Nice touch. Good luck, Whittie. She’s pretty pissed.”

Kemp smiled at Rachel’s use of the nickname she’d dubbed him with over the last couple of years. Through Eli she’d discovered the vengeance he’d taken on her behalf with Reese McCoy.

The man had hurt Rachel and abused her trust before dumping her when she was barely out on her own, going to college. After helping Ace find the guy, they’d let Eli have a little revenge, and then Kemp had taken it upon himself to fit the guy with custom-tailored duct tape underwear. Sick bastards like McCoy walked around free while the victims they tallied up suffered the repercussions for years. It fueled Kemp’s passion to help people feel safe and secure, and it felt good to deal out a little retribution on occasion.

Rachel patted his shoulder and said, “Summer is very forgiving, but get ready to ‘get your grovel on.’ She said she was coming out to talk to you in a few minutes.”

Rachel leaned forward and kissed his cheek then went on her way. At first, Kemp had been reluctant for Ace’s friends to know of his involvement in their cases. He preferred to stay in the background while Ace, social butterfly that he was, became a part of their little group. When Rachel had found out about his revenge on McCoy, she’d singlehandedly pulled him into the group whether he liked it or not. He tried unsuccessfully to hide a smile.

That’s how Summer found him, smiling like an idiot as he sat on the top step fiddling with the bouquet of flowers. He schooled his grin quickly and looked up at her in apology as she sauntered out onto the porch. With rosy color high in her cheeks and determination in her eyes, she was some kind of gorgeous.

Even though she’d had the hell scared out of her earlier in the day, she still looked ready to take on the world. Her skirt fluttered daintily around her knees as she moved, and he salivated at the way her matching top skimmed her hips and torso.

He wished that he’d had something to wrap the flower stems with as he held out the big bouquet to her. Surely she couldn’t stay mad at him long holding the flowers he’d picked in her hands. She looked at them and held the flowers to her face, sniffing, then patted some of the flowers gently before turning her eyes back to him. Nope. It was obvious from her serious expression that he had more work to do.

His hands itched to hold her close. He could imagine sliding his hands up from her hips to her smooth abdomen then cupping the undersides of her lush breasts. He stifled a groan as his dick hardened in need. His gaze slid over her satiny cleavage to her delicate collarbone and throat. Her chin was set implacably, and she frowned at him. Her eyes spoke volumes, and he knew Rachel was right. It was time to “get his grovel on.”

“I’m sorry. I know I’m an ass. I—”

“Let’s talk about me for a minute, Kemp.” Her voice was low and calm, but he detected a tremble to it. The note of fragility made his heart sick that he’d already done something to hurt her feelings. “I’m not a piece of territory you can mark, like a tomcat pissing on a tire.”

That imagery hurt, but she hit the nail on the head with it. “I’m so sorry.”

“I never gave you permission to act like I was yours.”

“You’re right.”

“I don’t even know where this relationship is going and already you’re getting territorial. You haven’t made a single move to indicate what you want, but you’re already warning men away from me.”

By this point she was standing in front of him, her slim, high-heeled feet and ankles within easy reach. He brushed the fingertips of one hand over her instep and wrapped his hand around her ankle. He smiled up at her when she gasped but didn’t move out of his reach.

“I want you, Summer. That’s all I need to know or can express right now. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.”

His cock stiffened further as she bit her full lower lip. He slid his hand slowly up the back of her calf and felt a telltale tremble in the muscle.

“Did he ask you out?” His voice felt gravelly in his throat.