He squeezed her and said, “You looked uncomfortable with him. I came to save you.”
“I’m so glad you did.” Summer peered up into his dark brown eyes and sighed happily as he led her around the dance floor.
Ace brushed gentle fingers at her jawline. “How do you feel tonight?”
“Happy, now.”
She was surrounded by his strength and warmth and didn’t want to think about returning to her seat across the club. A wave of desire rippled through her as he brushed his lips against her temple and inhaled. It had a totally different effect on her body when his cock hardened against her abdomen.
“You feel so good, kitten,” he murmured in a husky drawl.
To hell with looking like they were just dancing and barely knew each other. She tilted her head and allowed him to capture her lips in a long, sultry kiss, not giving a rip who watched.
His lips were warm and gentle as he consumed her, body and soul. Her pussy flooded with moisture as Ace slid his hands in a sensual caress over her hips and slowly up to her ribs. She couldn’t stop the moan that slipped from her lips. Did he know how his touch stimulated her?
“Come to the shop with us tonight.” Her breath caught in her throat as he continued, “Stay with us.”
She wanted to very much, but also didn’t want to lead either of them on. “Ace, I can’t—”
“Just spend the time with us. We can watch a movie. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want.”
Oh, believe me. I want. But it would probably take another week before she was healed enough to have sex. She wanted them, despite the fact that it would be painful if they made love tonight.
Her cheeks must have been bright red they were so hot. “It’s not that I don’t want to—”
He put two fingers over her lips. “I understand. Just be with us. We wouldn’t want to do anything that might hurt you. We both want you like crazy, but we can wait as long as it takes.”
There was nothing on her schedule for the following morning, and she had clothing and toiletries at the boutique. “All right. But I want you to know that I’m not abstaining by choice.”
Ace smiled. “I know. But it’s good to hear, kitten.”
“Are you here until closing?” she asked as Kemp approached them. Ace slowed them to a stop on the dance floor, and Kemp smiled at her as he caressed her lower back and leaned close to kiss her cheek.
In a subdued voice, Kemp said, “I think we’ve got our guy. It’s the same one as last week, in the same basic location as the other videos were shot from. Big guy. He’s using a camera phone and he had it pointed at you two while you were kissing. That’s how I spotted him.”
Could it be the same one who broke into the shop and set the fire? Maybe shot the photograph of them on the porch?
“Come sit with us, Summer. If it’s the same guy, he would think it was odd if you didn’t sit with us after I kissed you.”
Pleased with this turn of events, she followed Ace and Kemp back to their table. Ace took out his phone and sent a couple of texts after seating her in his chair. She shivered, not knowing if it was because of the air-conditioning or the knowledge that they were being watched. Ace noticed and draped his leather jacket over her shoulders. She gathered it to her and turned her nose to sniff his spicy scent on it.
“Duke has followed him once before. He’s waiting outside in the truck, so all we’ll have to do is let him know when this guy leaves.”
A few moments later Ace looked at his phone and chuckled.
“What?” she asked as he sent a reply message.
“Duke has tapped into The Dancing Pony’s surveillance system. He said he can take care of things tonight, once this guy leaves, in case we want to spend time with the incredibly gorgeous blonde.” He held out the phone to show her the message. “His exact words.” Her cheeks warmed at the compliment.
Kemp grunted. “Duke just gave us the night off?”
Summer asked, “How did he access The Dancing Pony’s security cameras?”
“Ethan allowed him to tap in to the system. But you’d be amazed what Duke can do given the right tools. He has some serious skills, kitten,” Ace replied.
Chapter Eight
Summer laughed when she walked into the bedroom Ace was using upstairs at Discretion. A bed wasn’t the only thing he’d had delivered to the shop in the week she’d been gone. The wall opposite of the bed was now filled with a flat-screen television and enough home theater equipment to have any red-blooded man beating his chest.
Ace asked, “Want to watch a movie?”
Summer was sleepy but nodded. “Sure. Put it on while I go change.”