Ace chuckled at her quick reply. “Sure. Duke is outside in the work truck, so we have backup if we spot someone suspicious. Say yes to that guy walking toward you.”
Ace hadn’t meant for her to sit alone at the table. Not everyone had come tonight, so when the girls paired up with the men they came with, it left Summer on her own. He’d watched as she’d waved Grace off to dance with Ethan then fiddled with her drink napkin. She’d politely refused twice when men offered, and that’s when Ace had intervened.
She smiled at the man when he offered and nodded, allowing him to help her from her chair. Ace wasn’t happy that another man’s hands were on her but liked her sitting alone even less.
Kemp was alert, scanning the crowd but looking casual and relaxed as he did it.
Ace noticed she bit her lip when the next dance song began to play. She looked over at Ace and Kemp then smiled at her dance partner when he said something in her ear. Ace noticed when the man pulled Summer close to him, and Ace smiled as she eased away, gracefully placing more distance between them.
The song was faster paced, and she seemed to settle into the dance as he twirled her and two-stepped with her on the dance floor. She seemed stiffer than she had the other times he’d watched her dance. He remembered the poison oak and realized there was the possibility she was uncomfortable moving to the lively dance because of it. Perhaps he shouldn’t have pushed her to go dance. One look of true discomfort from her and Ace promised himself he’d cut in and rescue her.
“She looks pretty in her black dress,” Kemp said as he watched her, too.
“Beautiful.” The knee-length silky dress molded to her torso and drew his eyes to her full breasts. He wondered what she had on underneath it and wished he could find out firsthand.
* * * *
Summer did her best to smile politely at the tall, thin cowboy two-stepping with her. Her partner kept her moving on the dance floor to the faster beat, and he began to loosen up. Or maybe loosen up wasn’t the right word. He got a devilish grin on his face, and all of his joints seemed to loosen up. The effect was most unfortunate as he took on the appearance of a scarecrow flapping about as he moved. Worse still, he began to sing along with Ray Scott. “Do It With the Lights On” was one of her favorite songs. She loved Mr. Scott’s ultra-sexy, deep voice, and this guy was ruining it for her.
The next time I hear this song, this poor guy is what I’ll imagine! Oh, Lord, make him stop singing and flapping his elbows!
Summer decided to concentrate on the dance while listening to the singer. She didn’t want to hurt this man’s feelings, but this was the last time she was dancing with him. He pulled her closer, which made not looking at him easier while simultaneously making her a little nervous about his closeness. He sang in her ear, and she hoped he didn’t feel her shudder.
“You look so good tonight. That dress you’re wearing has got me wound up tight. There’s a tidal wave of tension building up. You know we oughta take it home and do it with the lights on, do it with the lights on.”
Oh, let’s not! She focused on her handsome hunks at the table in the corner, dressed in suits. Mama. She’d dirty dance with either of them.
Her dance partner evidently thought it was pretty darn cool to use the sexual lyrics and erotic buildup of the song to press his claim on her. He rubbed against her as he serenaded her with the second verse.
“Well, I can’t take this teasing anymore. Let’s say goodbye and make a beeline for the door. We’ll see how far we make it before we have to pull that car right off the road and do it with the lights on, do it with the lights on.”
When he pressed his hardening erection against her belly she shivered. She wished one of the guys would cut in and rescue her. Maybe if she backed away a bit he’d get the message. He launched into a full-throated chorus with Ray Scott and gyrated his pelvis against her.
“I wanna slide that black dress off of you—”
She broke the hold he had on her. “Okay, honey. We’re done dancing. I’m not that kind of girl—”
His dance moves might’ve worked on an unattached woman, but she only wanted Ace and Kemp rubbing against her like that.
“Excuse me. May I cut in?”
Summer tried to not react outwardly to the effect that sexy, panty-dropping voice had on her. Her dance partner looked at Ace and then at Summer.
“You sure, darlin’?” He seemed disappointed when Summer nodded but obviously had enough sense to know she wasn’t going to dance with him anymore and moved away.
Another song started, and Summer savored the moment as Ace drew her against his chest. He smelled heavenly, of soap and leather. To be held within his strong arms as Jason Aldean’s “Don’t You Want to Stay” began to play was profoundly comforting.