Funny how she’d come to notice those little nuances about him in so short a time. She wanted to go to him and hug him. Make it better. But she was almost afraid to find out what troubled him.
She turned and headed down the stairs to the garage. She knew once she hit the remote for the garage door that he would know she was leaving, so she waited until the last possible second. She started the engine on her Miata and hit the button on the remote they’d given her and backed the vehicle out as soon as there was enough clearance under the door. Luckily, the Mercedes Kathleen drove was parked outside one of the other garage doors. It would’ve been awkward to go back in and ask her to move her car. The men probably wouldn’t have let her leave in her present state.
She drove down the long driveway, her conscience pricking her at the immaturity of running like this. She was a grown woman and had always prided herself on facing difficult situations head-on. The good Lord knew she’d had enough experience with man problems to face painful realities with dignity and class. But not today. Today, she ran. Right when it was time to put faith in the trust she had in those two men, she ran, without explanation. Isn’t that what Kemp had told her Kathleen had done?
It didn’t take a genius to see that her knee-jerk reaction was way off base. Ace told her he loved her, and she believed him. She believed Kemp loved her, too. She could tell in their eyes that they meant it. She sighed heavily as the distance between her and her men grew.
As if on cue the radio cut out, and the car’s audio system announced an incoming call. She hit the “talk” button on the steering wheel and said, “Hello?”
“Kitten? Why did you leave?”
Summer sighed heavily and felt a sob ripple through her chest. She pulled over onto the shoulder on the state highway headed into Divine.
“Because my feelings are hurt.” Might as well be honest.
“Where are you headed?”
“Divine.” From there? Who knew?
“Why are your feelings hurt?”
“You two appeared to be very intimate on the back deck. I needed to get away.”
“Why did you think we were being intimate?” He didn’t voice his question as an interrogation but as a means to help her work through her feelings.
“I saw you kiss her head and hug her close and hold her. It made me jealous.”
“You realize she can’t hold a candle to you, right?”
“No, I don’t realize that. It was really her house I was staying in. I felt like a usurper.”
“Usurper? This house has seen more of you than it has of her. It was a shell the last time she saw it. I’d just gutted it and started the major renovation.”
“Oh.” Sweet relief swept through her, and she tilted her head back against the head rest. “That’s not her bed I slept in last night?”
His voice was smooth and calming, and carried a note of regret. “No, kitten. I bought all the furniture after she was already gone. I should have explained all about her to you before this happened.”
“That’s okay. I’m a firm believer in letting that stuff stay in the past. I just didn’t like thinking I’d made love in a bed that was originally intended for another woman.”
“Territorial?”
Summer chuckled a little sadly. She really should have stayed there and talked it out face-to-face. “Very. Evidently.”
“Kathleen came to apologize and explain. She never got in touch after she left so suddenly and felt that she owed me an apology. She also hoped that I was available still and wondered if the three of us might have a chance after all. She was more interested in Kemp than she let on.”
That explained Kemp’s pensiveness out on the deck. What a revelation.
“Why did she leave you?”
“It’s a complicated story best told over a stiff drink. I’m sorry if you saw me hug her and kiss her head. It was meant to be a comforting, parting gesture.”
“I forgive you. It made me a little crazy to see you touch her.”
“But you understand now, right? I don’t want you to be upset, kitten. I love you.” His words were sincere, and his velvety tone made soft shivers slide up her spine. It was a good thing he was a decent man because he could use that voice and tone to get his way with any woman.
“I love you, too, Ace.”
“Kemp was very worried when he saw you drive away. He told me he saw you on the landing and you looked really hurt. He was waiting for you to get done in the bathroom because he wanted to talk to you and make sure you were okay. Then he saw you leave.”
Telling her that made her want to cry. Kemp had never done anything to hurt her. He’d probably been trying to protect her by cutting Kathleen off and announcing her proximity to their conversation. She never wanted to do things to make them hurt or worry about her.