Summer's Indiscretion(Divine Creek Ranch 7)(66)

Chance’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh! Oh.” He smiled at her and chuckled.

“How’s that handsome brother of yours doing?” Summer asked as she placed the white velvet display back in the jewelry case and locked it up then carried his selections to the register.

“He’s doing great. He’s dealing with the avalanche of paperwork on his desk this afternoon, otherwise he would’ve come along.”

Based on Chance’s comments in the past, Summer knew there was a possibility that Clayton was equally interested in Lydia. Whether or not Lydia was amenable to that remained to be seen.

“Well, I think you made good choices.”

He lifted the paperback from the counter and squinted at the back cover then pulled his reading glasses from his denim shirt pocket. He chuckled and said, “I need my cheaters for this small print.” Summer didn’t think his silver-rimmed reading glasses detracted from his rugged good looks in any way. “So you think this is something Lydia would like? Whoa, it says back here that this title is scorching. What does that mean? That can’t be good.”

“That means it has explicit sex in it. Actually it’s not as hot as some that I would recommend if she likes that one. But that book is a good place to start. I think she will like it a lot. It’s a best seller.”

“Really?” Turning the book over, he looked at the title and author name. “I’ve never heard of Caressa MacFarland.”

Summer giggled and replied, “Chance, honey, I’d worry about you if you said you had.” Chance glanced up at her over his glasses, and they shared a good laugh over that thought. “I can wrap it all up for you like we usually do, if you’d like.”

“Why don’t you wrap up the jewelry real pretty, but I think I want to take a look through this book. Clayton might be curious about it, too.”

“Don’t be surprised by how explicit it is. Erotic romance leaves very little to the imagination where sex is concerned, but these books are wildly popular with readers nowadays. I’d be willing to bet she’s read others like it before. If she seems unsure about it just tell her the lady that sold you the jewelry suggested she might enjoy it.”

“Okay. That I can do.”

She placed the jewelry in a padded gift box and wrapped it up for him. After she completed their transaction, he thanked her and went on his way. Summer hoped his trip to see the mysterious Lydia was a fruitful one.

She heard footfalls above her in the rooms upstairs and denied the urge to go up there. She’d heard Ace’s deep voice earlier, probably speaking on the phone, and her body responded with a rush of heat and dampness between her legs, just from the sound of his voice. Her heartbeat accelerated as she once again reminded herself the wait was over.

It was nearly Friday night. They’d tortured her all week long with applications of the aloe vera. Well, it wasn’t complete torture because they’d made sure she came each time they applied it for her, taking the job as their personal responsibility even though she could have done it herself with a hand mirror. The aloe had worked wonders, and she’d declared herself completely healed that morning.

There was a thump outside, and then she heard the sound of Ace’s footfalls on the stairs. Heat bloomed with renewed force in her body when she looked up as he came into view on the landing and made his way down the last steps. He caught her gaze and smiled at her. She’d announced to them earlier that morning that tonight was the night. She had a feeling she’d be lucky if they made it home first, much less made it until the evening. The added convenience of the luxurious bed upstairs contributed to the shakiness of her self-discipline.

“It’s just Kemp and Duke outside. Want to meet him?”

Drawn from her haze of lustful thoughts, Summer grinned and replied, “Yes! Finally I get to meet the elusive Duke.” There was no one in the shop, and it would be closing time soon, which was seven o’clock.

Ace chuckled and said, “He likes to stay in the background. His cousin Gage is with him today. You’ll get to meet them both.” He opened the front door and held it for her, and she licked her lower lip at the way his thick biceps bulged against the sleeve of his shirt.

She brushed past, nearer than was strictly necessary, and traced her palm down his oblique and rubbed her breasts casually against his chest. He groaned softly at the contact, and she gazed up at him, not bothering to hide the desire she felt coursing through her body.

“Oopsie.”

His scent wafted in her nostrils, causing a surging response inside her, and her doubts about making it home increased. Not that she was worried.