Added on to the back of the house was the addition Mr. Abbott had done for Ace, and her favorite discovery of the week. Monday evening, Ace and Kemp had completed the tour of his house and she’d nearly flipped over the outdoor garden room in the backyard. It was accessible from the pool at the end of the house and also through the French doors that led onto the back deck.
It was built of natural rough-cut timbers which served as an arbor for a large climbing antique rose bush which grew on it and provided a haven dappled with sunlight and shade. Beneath the arbor there had been large pots filled with lush, green plants, and the green screen was so thick, it wasn’t until she passed through the entrance into the arbor that she realized there was another outdoor bed located within it.
The sunlight shone down on the bed, which had a cover over it to protect it from the elements, and once the sun descended a bit, the cozy enclosure would be bathed in cool shade. She’d imagined the lovemaking she wanted to experience out there and had said as much. The tour had ended with the three of them testing out the comfort and shade of the bed, bringing her to several sweet orgasms orally before letting her return the favor.
From the vantage point of the bed, she’d noticed that they were visible only from one of the master bedroom windows upstairs and from the windows in the living room, although the casual observer couldn’t see the bed until they were standing right at the windows.
She sighed with relief as she passed into the shade on the shop’s front porch and returned to the cool air-conditioning inside. The temperature outside was scorching, and she didn’t blame Duke if he got pissy when the cool air was allowed to escape the interior of the work van.
Kemp and Ace followed her inside and paused at the lingerie counter inside the doorway. Kemp said, “I thought I’d run into town and pick up supper. We can eat here if you’d like.”
Summer nodded and looked at Ace. “I’m starving.”
The girls took turns closing the shop so that none of them had to stay this late more than one or two evenings a week, thus enabling them to be home most evenings with their husbands and families. She usually brought something to eat on the evenings she worked so she didn’t find herself eating supper late at night, but she’d forgotten to bring something with her today. Her men kept her distracted like that.
Kemp said, “I’ve missed you today. I can’t wait to get you home.” The hot look he gave her told her he didn’t mean so they could watch television together.
“I promise the feeling is entirely mutual, Kemp.”
He winked at her and left, and Ace returned upstairs to finish what he’d been doing before they arrived.
Summer was unpacking a box of new lingerie items when the doorbell rang. She giggled happily when she recognized the woman who came through the doorway.
“Emma Guthrie! It’s about time you came by for a visit!”
Doctor Emma Guthrie chuckled and returned Summer’s hug and replied, “I got done early today, which never happens. I decided with the weekend coming on that I’d treat myself to a shopping trip at your boutique, which I love, by the way.” She looked around the interior admiringly then turned her gaze back to Summer. “I also thought I’d check on you and see how your allergic reaction to the poison oak was doing.”
They talked about that for a few minutes, as well as other subjects. Emma seemed slightly nervous, and Summer’s instincts kicked in. Emma was the type who was comfortable discussing sexual topics, being a doctor, but probably didn’t dwell on her own sexuality very much. Summer was willing to bet that while she might’ve shopped online for sex toys and aids, she probably had never been in a shop like Discretion.
“Can I show you around the store?”
“Sure! I want to see everything you have. You never know when the information might come in handy. I talk to people all the time who need help spicing up their love lives or help with sexual issues. I think a lot of the stress I see in my patients would be helped by more openly embracing their sexuality and seeing it as a vital need rather than something to talk about in hushed tones.”
Physician, heal thyself.
Summer suppressed her smile, wondering if Emma was giving herself a pep talk. She gave Emma the grand tour, from the books, to the toys, the fashions, and even the bondage gear.
Emma was feeling much more relaxed after Summer had drawn her into talking about the various sexual aids in the shop, and the blush had long since left her cheeks. Summer and the girls were not shy about discussing the items the store carried and the wonderful benefits they could help achieve, but not everybody was comfortable talking about it and sometimes it just took time to get them to open up. This moment was what she’d been waiting for.