Chapter Eight

Summer smiled, wiping her forehead with her dirt-smudged hand. Finally. With Night’s assistance and hard labor, they’d managed to pull out the old post and replace it with a new metal one, guaranteed not to rot.

She watched the muscles ripple under his sweat-soaked T-shirt as he attached the wire fence to the new post. More than once she’d found herself staring at him as he worked, hoping he might shed his shirt under the summer sun, and dreaming of what other physical perfections his clothing hid from her view. What she could see kept her near drooling, wanting to reach out and run her fingers over his flat stomach and around to his delightful rear, squeezing to test for buoyancy.

Good grief. Where did those thoughts come from? Never had she lusted after a man like this. A couple of hours in Night’s presence and she’d turned into a hussy with seduction on her mind, not unlike a few heroines in the romance novels she read. She needed to face facts. Night remained out of her league, through money, status, and that splendid physique. She couldn’t match him in any area. Besides, his mother was a client. Surely dating her son would be a conflict of interest at worst and awkward at best.

After digging through the cooler on the tailgate of his truck, she pulled out two iced down bottles of water. As soon as he stood, she shoved one in his hands. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.” He used his shirtsleeve to wipe the dripping sweat from his face before unscrewing the lid, and drinking deeply.

Summer watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed with each swallow, finding the motion not only alluring but sexy as well. I’m losing my mind. With a shake of her head, she marched through the newly hung gate, untying the lead rope that had served as a physical barrier to keep the horses in the pasture and out of their work area. A while ago, the animals had grown bored with watching Night and Summer work. They’d stopped by the water tank, drank their fill, before heading for the shade trees and meadow grass, escaping the scalding sun of midday.

“Thank you, Night. Without your help, I would still be struggling with that silly old wooden post.” She stepped back through the gate, latching it tightly behind her.

He glanced in her direction. “No problem.” After emptying his plastic water bottle, he tossed it in the back of the truck along with his tools. “Hop in. I’ll give you a ride back to the house.”

Summer didn’t waste any time, climbing into the passenger seat, struggling to keep her mind on business and not on the sweaty hunk beside her. “Why don’t you come in and wash up?”

He cranked the engine. “I’m a walking dirt pile.”

She grinned over at him. “Yeah, so am I. Come in and wash up anyway.”

A smile appeared on his face, knocking the breath out of Summer. His eyes softened as did his facial features. All the more breathtaking when he shows amusement and happiness.

“I can use the water hose.”

“I hear cold showers really suck.” She grinned impishly, unable to resist teasing him.

He chuckled and shook his head. “Not going there.”

“Well, drat. Here I looked forward to hearing the ins and outs of men and their cold showers.”

His gaze met hers, amusement flashing through his eyes. “You’re fishing in an empty pond.”

“Hmmm… Wonder where I can find a stocked one then?”

He pulled into his earlier parking space, cut the engine, and turned his full attention to her. “Just what kind of fish are you looking to catch?”

Her face heated at the not so subtle innuendo. Dang it. He’d turned the table on her. “I don’t know?” When in doubt, play dumb.

Night stared at her for a long moment, his lips twitching. Obviously satisfied, he released her gaze before gracefully sliding out of the truck.

Summer followed suit, a bit unsettled by his intensity. A man being able to read a woman’s mind could be quite embarrassing. After all, what if he stumbled across the image of her shucking his clothes off at amazing speed and hopping astride for a session of ride ‘em cowgirl? Talk about mortifying.

Seconds later, he followed her up the front porch steps, both pausing to slip their dirty shoes off before entering the house. Murphy greeted them at the door, nosing first Summer then Night.

“Hi, girl.” He greeted the large dog.

Summer pointed out the bathroom. He followed her directions, striding quickly to the small room on his right. She heard the click of the light switch. Taking the opportunity, she dashed to the kitchen to wash her hands then returned to the living room, arriving in plenty of time to meet Night as he emerged from the restroom. Murphy sat on the large area rug, looking from her to him and back.

“How much do I owe you?” She reached for her purse.

“Nothing.”

Her back stiffened. “Yes. I do. And, I will pay you.”

“No, you won’t,” his voice though soft, encouraged no argument.

“But, I need to pay you, do something for you. You worked hard out there.”

He shrugged. “I enjoyed it. I don’t get to do a lot of manual labor like that anymore. It made for a good afternoon, an honest day’s work.”

“Thank you. Really. I didn’t realize what a task that would be and couldn’t have done it without your help. At least let me fix you something to eat.”

The corners of his mouth lifted. “That I will do.”

She returned his smile, already heading to the kitchen. “Any preferences?”

“As long as I don’t have to kill it, I’m good.” He trailed behind her.

“Okay. Let’s see.” She nosed through the fridge then a couple of cabinets, tossing out suggestions.

“It looks like spaghetti, grilled cheese, or white chicken chili.”

Night took a seat at the small dining table, petting Murphy as she plopped down next to him. “Let’s go with the chili.”

“Okay.” Summer grabbed a couple of cans of white beans, chicken broth, and poured them into a pan to heat. After that, she pulled out three large chicken breasts from the freezer, dropping them into a separate pan full of water. She turned the stove on high, then went about gathering spices, and setting the table. Noticing how her pet leaned and begged for attention from Night, Summer couldn’t help but smile. “Animals seem to like you.”

He shrugged, finding an itchy patch on Murphy’s back, which sent her back foot to thumping. “Ever since I was a kid, I liked animals. Went to summer camp at a working ranch a few times.”

A bit surprised, she grabbed a couple of glasses from the cupboard, filling them with ice. “Why don’t you have them, then? If you don’t have acreage for large animals, you can still have a dog or a cat. Heck, I hear people keep potbellied pigs and even snakes in the house.”

“I bring a snake in the house and my mother will screech to high Heaven, proceed to kill it then take the hoe to me.” He threw his head back and laughed.

“I don’t blame her a bit.” Summer agreed, enjoying the conversation and glimpse into his life. “What about a dog or cat?”

“I’m not home very much with my work. Any animal would spend more time in a kennel than in my home. That’s not fair to them.”

“But your mother’s home all the time. Perhaps now might be the time, if she likes pets?”

He seemed to ponder that. “I hadn’t thought about it, to be honest. I’ll have to ask her. She’s always talked about getting a Persian cat, but never did so.”

“It might give her good company while you’re away. Someone to talk to. I know Murphy is a great companion for those cold nights when you just talk to hear a voice.”

The dog glanced up at her, hearing her name. Her ears cocked, before she opened her mouth, that pink tongue hanging out again.

The chicken began to boil. Returning to the stove, Summer decreased the heat a bit so it wouldn’t splash over the side. “What does your job entail?”

He leveled a gaze at her before sighing. “I own a business.”

Summer bit her lip, uncertain about pushing for details, but more curious than ever. “May I ask what your business is?”

His hand rested on Murphy’s head. “I employ former military men and veterans to work in personal and private security.”

The way he’d chosen his words told her he’d left some major details out. “So you’re a former military man, too?” She decided to tiptoe around the tulips and see what else he might tell her.

“Army. Green Beret.”

“Wow.” Now she really was impressed. Those men held a legendary status in nearly every American’s mind. No wonder his physical prowess outclassed everyone she knew. “Translated to simple terms, you protect people and things from the bad guys?”

He smirked. “Something like that.”

“That’s quite the noble cause. I never thought about it before. Someone has to do the dirty work. I guess that’s where you come in.”

“Yeah.”

Her mind whirled for a minute more before landing on an idea, like a ball clinking into the number slot on a roulette wheel. “You get to play with lots of weapons—machine guns, that kind of thing?”

Night arched an eyebrow. “And?”

She smiled brightly at him. “I would love to shoot a cannon. That’s got to be fun.”

He shook his head and chuckled. “Too noisy.”

“I’m sure we can find some ear plugs…” she tossed out hopefully.

“I don’t think so. Nice try, though. Besides, we don’t use cannons. Much better to rely on stealth and quiet in our business.”

She pouted. “Darn. A cannon would’ve been great.”

“To each their own.” The corners of his mouth turned upward.

“I guess so.” She grabbed a spoon and stirred the beans for a moment before forking the chicken. Deciding they had boiled long enough, she plunked each one onto a plate, where she cut them into smaller pieces before adding them into the bean mixture, along with several spices. “As soon as that heats back up, dinner will be served.”

Night stood up, heading to the fridge. “What else do you want out of here?”

She peeked under his arm as he opened the door. “Let’s take out the salad and fruit. Maybe the cottage cheese, too.”

He grabbed each item, setting them in the middle of the table. Summer set to making a pitcher of tea. When she’d finished that task, she placed the jug on the table.

By the time she carried the large pot of chicken chili to the table, Night had filled their glasses. They sat down to eat in relative silence, Murphy stretched out on the kitchen tile next to them.

“Why don’t you have a boyfriend?”

Summer nearly choked on the out-of-the-blue question. Grabbing her tea, she took a couple of sips, trying to clear the blockage.

Night bit back a grin at her reaction. Keeping her off balance proved to be fun and amusing. The more time he spent with her, the more he found himself interested, helping the constant tension to ease away. She did that for him. More than once today he’d felt her gaze glued to his body, caught the flash of appreciation in her large brown eyes. The rapt attention had raced to his head, bolstering his confidence, and stirring his pride. It also made him want to pursue Summer, take her in his arms, and kiss her until the cows came home. More than that. Lay her down naked under his body and press into her hot body until she screamed his name in a mind blowing orgasm for the ages. His randy cock twitched at the image.

Maybe, just maybe, he’d toss his hat into the ring and see if she’d accept his offer of a date—a good starting point that felt right. But first, he needed to find out more about her social history in order to formulate a plan on how to proceed.

She took a deep breath, her gaze flickered up to meet his eyes before lowering back to her plate. “Boyfriend? Let’s see. I guess it’s because I work all the time, I’m picky, and I just haven’t stumbled across the perfect man yet.”

His lips twitched. “That sounds reasonable.”

“What about you? Why don’t you have a girlfriend?”

He smiled wryly. “I work all the time, I’m picky, and I just haven’t stumbled across the perfect woman yet.”

“Touché.” She laughed. “So, where does that leave us?”

His groin tightened at the low sultry tone in her voice. He braced himself to move carefully and with patience. As much as he would love to toss her over his shoulder, carry her to her bed, and show her how she affected him, he had to make sure he didn’t pressure or rush her. In almost stunned amazement, he realized he wanted a relationship with Summer—not just a fling. A roll in the hay wouldn’t suffice. Instead, he longed to spend hours with her, learning all about her, working beside her, making a life together.

Lately, his run of the mill woman radiated experience, horniness, and a willingness for a quickie or one-night stand. They filled in the gaps since his last brief dating experience had failed miserably. While those women might temporarily satisfy his base needs, he longed for something more. Someone like Summer to come home to, to start a family with, to sink into her abundant love and devotion for the next fifty years or more.

Damn. You’ve got it bad.

In all honesty, he hadn’t considered marriage in forever. Not for a decade since he’d broke up with an upscale Fortune 500 business manager. She’d possessed the body of a model, the intelligence of a college professor, and the aggressiveness of a hungry lion. He’d thought that would be enough until the cold element to her nature kept cropping up, blaringly, right in his face. No matter her other attributes, she’d ended up rubbing him the wrong way within four months.

Summer, in comparison, offered soothing sweetness, caring, and a heart of gold which she wore on her sleeve. He’d been the recipient of her strength and determination when she basically told him to back off. Yet, he also noticed the gentle way she worked with not only his mother, but Summer’s own pets. Something down deep clicked and whetted his desire for more. So much more.

“Where do you want us to be?” He returned her question, letting her take the lead with this more romantic discussion.

Her eyelids lowered as she puffed out a breath of air.

That small action sent a definite reaction to his cock. Ignoring the tightening jeans, he focused on her face, watching for key signals.

“I’m…I’m not sure. What if you don’t want the same thing?” She peeked up from under those long eyelashes, a shy but endearing action.

He leaned forward, scooted his plate aside, and rested his arms on the table in the open space. “Try me.”

She worried her lower lip.

Night reined back a groan while watching her, his mind conjuring images of her sucking his aching dick, her pink lips wrapping around it, her tongue flicking out for a small taste of the pre-cum beaded at the tip.

“I don’t do one night stands.” Her back straightened as she met his gaze.

He nodded, pulled from his erotic thoughts. “I didn’t think you did.” When she said no more, he prodded. “What do you want?” His voice was soft, carrying with it his wishes.

“I want…”

“Yes?”

“To kiss you.” The words tumbled out in a rush.

He smiled as the tension in his shoulders dissipated. “I’d like that, too.”

Her eyes widened. “Really? You aren’t just playing with me?”

“Really.” He stood, reaching his hand out to her.

She confidently latched onto it, letting him pull her upright.

His gaze locked onto hers, refusing to let her look away. After reaching around the table, he tugged her closer before lowering his head. She wrapped her arms around his neck as her eyelids slowly began to close.

Night initiated contact, gently meshing his lips with hers, coaxing and caressing, enticing rather than demanding. Summer opened her mouth beneath his, offering entrance for his questing tongue. He rewarded her with a deep exploration and a quick game of tag. She responded delightfully, encouraging him to plunder further. His motions became more insistent as his needs swiftly rose.

Summer pulled back, panting for breath. “Wow.”

He grinned. “Just the beginning, Yazhi.”

She blinked up at him. “Yazhi? What does that mean?”

“Little one.” Night cradled her cheeks between his large hands, tilting her chin up for another meeting with his mouth.

This kiss rose to the occasion, full of passion and sweet first steps.

A nose to his groin yanked Night back to reality. Glancing down, he found Murphy inserting herself between them.

Summer glanced down as well, giggling at her dog. “She’s jealous.”

He shook his head, struggling to subdue his raging libido that one kiss had prompted. It probably wasn’t a bad thing they were interrupted as he’d lost all track of time, boundaries, and his intent to move things along slowly so as not to overwhelm her and potentially throw a monkey wrench in their budding relationship. Taking a few deep breaths, he watched Summer pet the large fluffy animal, unable to wipe the smile from his face as he spied her decidedly pink cheeks. Good to know she was just as affected as he was.

“I better get going, anyway. Mother will be wondering where I’ve gotten off to.”

“Oh. Okay.” She peered up at him with a sultry expression that nearly had him wrapping her up in his arms and plundering that delicious mouth of hers again.

Steeling himself, he stepped back, hoping distance would cool his ardor.

She blinked then spun back to the table. “Take the remainder of the chili with you. She won’t have to cook.” As she spoke, she plucked the lid off the stove, setting it on top of the large round pan. “It’s still hot, so take some pot holders, too.” After yanking a couple out of a drawer, she wrapped them around the handle, making sure to keep the large one on the underside of the metal.

Night easily accepted the burden, placing his hand under the large pad. “Thanks. I’m sure she’ll love it.”

Summer herded him to the front door, opening it wide, until he’d passed through. She followed along, tugging the passenger door of his truck open so he could set the hot pan on the floorboard.

He stood up, peering into Summer’s round face, noting her slightly swollen lips. Unable to resist, he covered his mouth over hers once more, this time a sweet, chaste kiss that ended before either of them could get carried away. “Thanks for the food.”

“Thanks for all the help. And for…” She waved her hand encompassing the whole area. “For everything.” She grinned up at him. “Perhaps we can…do something…soon?”

“I would like that.”

She kicked her toes in the dirt. “Night?”

“Hmm?”

“I…I…had a good time.”

His heart fluttered with her declaration and he couldn’t help but smile. “Ditto.”

She appeared to sigh in relief as she met his gaze. The coloring only added to her beauty. As much as he wanted to kiss her senseless, he held himself in check. They needed time to learn about one another. Good thing he possessed more than his fair share of patience, even if it meant more cold showers in his near future. Summer was worth it.

He strode around the truck, climbed in, and drove off with a crisp wave.

Already his mind worked on excuses to visit her again, have more time to chat with her, tease her, and pursue their physical attraction.