Summer's Desire (17 page)

His laugh
started as a slow rumble and grew. “Sweetheart, is it a crime that I don’t want
anyone else to even look at you? That there dress is too eye catching.”

Frowning
more,
she studied him.
“What’s that supposed to mean? It covers everything it’s supposed to. Do you
think it’s not appropriate?”

He’d stepped
in it again. “I mean that you will look lovely and I don’t want anyone else to
dance with you.”

Summer
blushed as the corners of her mouth turned up. “Really?
I’ve been under the impression we were done.
”

“What else do
you need? I like the heels.” He desperately changed the subject. Of course they
weren’t done. Hell
,
he’d hardly gotten warmed up but the general store was not the
place to talk about it.

“Why won’t
you talk to me? Were those kisses this morning a ploy to get me to come to town
with you?” Her eyes grew misty as she took the heels off, put her boots back on
and grabbed the shoebox. She haphazardly put the shoes in the box and made her
way to the counter.

Andy grinned
at Summer. Holden had been aware that Andy stood close enough to hear them the
whole time. He wondered what was up. Maybe he was concerned for Summer but
somehow his gut told him that wasn’t the reason.

Holden paid
while Summer insisted that she would pay him back as soon as they got home. He
had no intention of taking her money but he smiled and nodded at her to keep
her from fussing. She hadn’t seemed so stubborn when he first met her.

Finally, they
stopped at Ander’s Food Mart. Mr. Ander followed them around the whole store.
Holden kept glaring at him but he wouldn’t go away. They grabbed some food and
left. At least he didn’t say anything to Summer and he didn’t call the sheriff.
Maybe it was a successful shopping trip after all.

He loaded the
bags into the truck. “Ready to go home?”

“Yes, I’m
done here for a while. I sure wanted to hit Ander
s
with the cart. He’s a jerk. Well, he’s the
sheriff’s best friend so I guess he believes I’m involved. I’m having second
thoughts about the social. If people don’t want me around, I don’t want to make
others uncomfortable. There could be trouble.”

Holden opened the
door for her and smiled. “Don’t worry so much.” He got in the truck and glanced
at her. She had her head rested on the back of the seat with her eyes closed.
He’d never noticed how long her eyelashes were. Reaching out he caressed her
cheek with the back of his hand and she rewarded him with a smile.

“Trouble I
can handle, Summer. You thinking I don’t want you concerns me more.”

She opened
her eyes then her mouth. Holden put his finger on her lips.

“Just listen for
a minute. I care about you. Care isn’t the word I’m looking for. I know I’ve
been distant and I’m sorry. I doubted you and I’m sorrier than I can say. Oh
hell, what I’m trying to say is that I’m falling in love with you and I don’t
know what to do about it.”

She swallowed
hard. “Really? I’ve felt so alone for so long
and y
our doubts shattered me. I thought I saw
something in your eyes that said you cared about me
and
I hoped I was
right. I’m half in love with you too. I’ve been wrestling with myself because I
didn’t know if it was a good thing or not. I don’t want to get hurt. My heart
can’t take any more disappointment. You didn’t see me all battered. I don’t
remember much but I still have this fear in me
and y
ou
keep the fear away. I’ve never known a man like you. You’ve given
so much of yourself to your brothers and to animals.”

His heart beat
faster, he
r
words were pure magic and he felt himself falling more in love
with her. She never acted as though she was afraid but he was glad that he made
her feel safe. “Let’s go home. Maybe we can find some privacy sometime.”

Summer
laughed. “Good luck with that. You hired men to watch me remember?”

Nodding
,
he started the truck
and began to drive. He reached over and took her hand in his. For a moment he
forgot about Brent and the threats they all faced.

*
*
*
*

Upon arriving home,
Summer waited for Holden to
open her door, wanting to feel his hands on her when he helped her down. The
bright sun showed the golden highlights in his dark hair. It illuminated one
side of his face emphasizing his high cheek bones and strong jaw. She made sure
that their bodies brushed against each other. Intense desire flared in his eyes
and warmed her heart.

They weren’t
alone for long. Everyone came out to help bring in packages. Matt supervised
from the front porch. She gave Holden a smile before they were separated due to
all the help they were getting. Before she knew it
,
she was in the
kitchen putting groceries away while Holden huddled with
Jaz
and Gabe. Strategizing no doubt. She’d be happy when it was all over. She
wanted Brent out of her life.

The phone
rang and she answered it. Someone named Sheila was calling for Holden and her
Texas Twang was very pronounced. The surprised expression on his face was
immediately followed by anger.

“Tell her not
to call here again.”

Summer stared
at him. Why couldn’t
he
tell Miss Texas? She did what he asked and hung up the phone.

“What did she
say?” Holden asked.

“A lot of
words that I refuse to repeat. Next time tell her yourself.” The house was
silent. All eyes were on Holden. His brothers looked worried. Maybe Sheila was
the key to his past. Holden just nodded and went back to talking with
Jaz
and Gabe. This time his cell phone rang. She watched
him answer it. She couldn’t hear what he said but he nodded a few times.

“I
gotta
go. Jacob Ash just bought five horses at auction. I
need to get over there before he tries to ship them out of the country. Damn,
he’s on a watch list.”

Summer tried
to gauge whether or not he was telling the truth. Maybe Sheila had his
cellphone number. She couldn’t let her mind go there. He was going to rescue
horses and that was that.

She was so
deep in thought she hardly noticed him walking to her until he was in arms
reach. He put his hands on her waist and reeled her in. He swooped down, kissed
her and left. Summer touch
ing
her lips. They still tingled after he went out the front
door. Everyone was giving her a little smile and she felt her face grow warm. “What?”

Everyone went
about their business until she was left with Matt and Ben. Ben
,
she assumed
,
was the body guard
of the day. When was this all going to end?

Collecting
the laundry she thought about her conversation with Holden. Her heart skipped a
beat remembering his words. Love was a good thing. She hoped love was a good
thing. Imagine a man like Holden falling for her. She walked by a mirror and
studied her face
. Maybe
she
was pretty enough.
She stood straighter realizing that Holden was the lucky one. She smiled at her
reflection. Her self-esteem was coming back.

*
*
*
*

A week later,
Holden paced in front of the stairs, waiting for Summer to come down. It was
the night of the Summer Social and he couldn’t wait to see her in that green
dress. It’
d
been a long week with no privacy. He’d hardly gotten a kiss in and
he needed much more than a kiss. No matter what, he planned to sneak into her
room tonight.

He’d
mentioned it but Summer was concerned that his brothers would find out. Holden
had wanted to roll his eyes at her but he pretended to understand. He tried to
touch her at every opportunity. She’d smile then pretend he wasn’t there. He
would never understand women.

Summer came down the stairs and o
ne look at
her
in
the green
dress and he
forgot all about trying to understand her. “Wow, you look great!”

She blushed
and smiled with pleasure. “Look, I can walk in my heels. I’ve been practicing.”

He couldn’t
stop staring at her. The green dress hugged her body. It had tiny straps to
hold it up and he hoped they stayed put. It was cut a bit lower than what she
usually wore. He liked it yet it worried him. Her blond hair was piled
on top of her head
with little wisps of hair curling down. Her neck looked sexy. Hell
,
everything about her
screamed sexy.

“We could
still go and buy that blue one,” he suggested, only half kidding.

“You look
very handsome yourself.” From the sparkle in her blue eyes he could tell she
meant it.

“We all do,”
John said. “Let’s go, I don’t want to miss any of the food.”

Summer
laughed and grabbed her wrap, which Holden helped put on. His hands settled on
her shoulders and she turned and gazed up at him. There were promises in her
expression that he planned to have her keep.

They piled into
two trucks and off they went. Holden couldn’t wait to dance with Summer. She
was all he thought about and it was making him crazy. Last week when he’d gone
to rescue the horses from Jacob Ash, they had found signs of someone living in
his barn. They watched the place but Brent never showed. He didn’t tell Summer.

“We’re being
followed,” Summer told him. He reached out and took her hand. “It’s Denver and
Gabe.”
Some of her happiness seemed to fade. “When will this be over?”

“I don’t
know, honey. I wish I knew.”

He parked the
car in the community center’s parking lot. It was supposedly from one of the
original buildings in Carlston. He helped her out of the truck by lifting her
at the waist and setting her down in front of him. She wobbled for a second in
her new shoes. “Ready?”

Smiling, she
took the arm he offered and they walked in. The room was filled with round
tables, covered with green and yellow table cloths. There was a stage in the
back of the room with a band playing. To the right, tables were laden down with
food. His brothers immediately headed right to them.

He held
Summer’s hand and started to lead her to an empty table. Unfortunately Beverly
Rain waylaid them. He wanted gag from her perfume. She must have used extra
tonight.

“I thought
you got rid of her. She really isn’t welcome here you know.” Beverly had the
type of voice that carried and soon everyone was staring at them.

Lizzie Hoff
immediately came to Beverly’s side.
Lizzie
wore
a strapless black dress that made her skin look
pasty white. “I’m surprised you came
,
my dear.” She looked Summer up and down, and then scowled.

Summer’s hand
trembled in his and
h
e gave it a quick
squeeze. “No one is more surprised than me that Summer consented to be my date
for the evening. I’m a very happy and lucky man. Now if you’ll excuse us we
have friends to chat with.”

Their dirty
looks did not go unnoticed but he pretended it didn’t bother him and ushered
Summer the table where his brothers sat.

He was glad
that people stopped them to say hello as they walked.
M
any people
didn’t
share the same
opinion of those two biddies. Summer’s
death grip on his hand loosened and
began to
relax
as
she joined in with the jokes and laughter.

The band
started playing what Luke dubbed “lovey
dovey
music.”

Holden
laughed. “I think that’s my cue. Would you like to dance?” He stood and offered
his hand to her.

Grasping it
she smiled and her eyes shined bright. “Yes.”

He led her to
the dance floor and immediately drew her against him. Her shoulders were so
soft. He put his hand on her back and led her around the dance floor
, loving
the feel of her
in his arms. She had said she was falling in love with him too. His heart hoped
so
because she made him whole.
He pulled her closer leaning his cheek against her soft hair. She
smelled of
vanilla and cinnamon
and s
he was intoxicating. They danced perfectly
together as if they had danced together many times before.
Her
gracefulness
reflected
in e
ach
step. Finally, the
music stopped and they drew apart, staring into each other’s eyes.
T
he love she held for him
shone in her eyes
and
he hoped she could see the same in hi
s
.