22. Summer
SUMMER
I hang up the phone and toss it down on the counter in frustration.
“That’s the third inspector I’ve called that doesn’t have any availability until next month.
What am I going to do? I told Raven that I had to stay for the inspector, and she’s already texted twice asking for their info so she can pay them. I told her I would take care of it?—”
“But she’s not taking no for an answer, is she?” RJ wraps his arms around me from behind, resting them on my shoulders. I sink into him and smile at how quickly his touch calms me.
“No, she’s not. I wouldn’t normally insist on an inspection before listing a house, but with it being on the beach, I want to make sure there’s no hidden mold from all the humidity and moisture, not to mention any potential structural damage.
Everything looks to be in good shape, but I’ve seen perfectly good houses come back with so many surprises on an inspection.
” I turn in his arms, suddenly remembering something.
“Fuck, I love you in my clothes.” He runs his hands down my body. “What’s that smile for?”
“A few months back, when we were trying to set Lucy up on a date, Raven was giving me a hard time about how picky I am with men, and I gave her this speech comparing finding the perfect man to a house inspection.”
“Oh, I need to hear this speech.” He moves his arms down to my waist.
I drop my head. “It’s stupid.”
He hooks his fingers under my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Nothing that comes out of this gorgeous mouth is stupid.” Leaning down, he plants a soft kiss on my lips. “Now tell me.”
His hazel eyes are so earnest, like he’s clinging to every word I say. Reaching up, I cup his cheek. “You start with the roof, which is like the brain. You want to make sure everything’s in good working order. No holes or leaks in the roof, or in his logic or emotions.”
His eyebrows raise slightly. “And I passed?”
Nodding, I continue as I drop my hands and slip them under his shirt. “Then there’s the exterior of the house.” My fingers trace each divot and groove of his V lines and abs. He reaches behind his head, pulling his shirt off. “And your exterior is ridiculous. When did you get so ripped?”
He chuckles. “I was always skinny from running, but I started building muscle from rock climbing.”
“Is that why your forearms are so big? And veiny?” I run a finger up and down his forearm loving the goosebumps that erupt on his skin at my touch.
“Yeah,” he rasps as he backs me up to the island and then lifts me. He sets me on the edge so effortlessly as he stands between my open thighs.
My hands rest on his chest. “It’s important to make sure there are no cracks in the foundation.” His heart beats rapidly under my fingertips as he places a hand over mine.
“My heart only beats like this for you.” He leans in and kisses my forehead. “What else?”
I hear his question, but I can’t focus on anything else but his heartbeat. This isn’t something he can fake, nor are the goosebumps. And I know, because I get the same way when he’s around, and I’ve never been able to control it. This is real. Could we actually make this work?
“Summer?”
I shake my head, trying to clear the overwhelming thoughts. “Sorry. Then there’s… uh… heating and cooling.” He grips my waist as he pulls me closer. “Electrical. There’s got to be that spark. And plumbing…” I drop my gaze to the rock-hard bulge in his pants.
He thrusts his cock against me, and I gasp. “I think you know better than anyone that it’s in working order.”
The air around us is thick, charged with sexual tension as he stares at me, waiting for me to continue, but I can’t concentrate when he’s this close.
Can’t think about anything but him and the possessive way he’s touching me, the intense way he’s staring at me, as if he’s looking into my soul.
Even his scent is overpowering me in the best possible way.
“I know there are more parts to an inspection, but I didn’t want to get all technical with the girls, and you only get like five minutes to leave a voice memo in those DMs, so I was trying to make it quick.”
His fingers glide up my inner thigh, under the shirt of his I’m wearing, until they connect with my bare pussy. “Jesus Christ. You’re not wearing any panties.”
“I didn’t want you to tear another pair.
” His large hand covers my belly as he pushes me back onto the kitchen island.
The cool granite feels refreshing against my back as RJ lowers his head and kisses up my inner thighs.
“Oh my God, RJ. Again?” I’m not complaining.
This is probably the most time any man has spent between my thighs, but surely, he’ll get tired of this.
The intense look on his face silences me when he peers up at me.
“When I told you that this was my new favorite obsession, I wasn’t joking.
If I could spend the rest of our time here between your thighs, making you quiver and shake, I would.
If I could give you years’ worth of orgasms in one week, I would.
One for each time I thought about you since high school.
One for each time I regret what I did. One for each apology I owe you.
I will use my tongue to whisper those apologies against this sweet cunt until you’re writhing against me, begging me to stop. ”
His tongue licks up my length, then he uses his fingers to part my lips and hold them open as he flicks rapidly against my clit.
The noises escaping me are obscene. Loud.
Feral. As his tongue works me over, he slips a finger in my pussy, teasing but never really stroking where I need it, like he’s drawing this out on purpose.
It’s the same position I woke up in this morning. I grab his head as I hold him in place.
There’s a loud knock on the door, and his head lifts. “Dammit,” I groan as I reluctantly release my grip on his hair.
He stands, and my eyes immediately go to the huge erection tenting his pants. He looks down and shrugs, then plants a kiss to my knee and grabs his shirt. “Stay here. I’ll get rid of whoever it is.”
Leaning up on my elbows, I look over my shoulder, eyes glued to his perfect ass as he walks over and opens the door.
“Tony? Were we expecting you?” RJ asks loud enough for me to hear. Quickly, I hop off the counter and run into the bedroom.
Tony’s voice is muffled as I frantically pull on my shorts.
“Sorry to bother you. Raven said there was a hole that needed patching up? It’s hard to get supplies quickly since hardware stores don’t deliver out here easily.
But I had some extra drywall and supplies at the Market from a repair I did over there recently.
Figured I’d knock it out between ferrying tourists today. ”
“That’s really not necessary,” RJ says as I button my shorts.
“Nonsense. We’re a small community here on Broccoli Bay. We take care of our own,” Tony says. Why is his voice louder and less muffled?
I open the bedroom door and almost run smack into Tony. He glances at me, taking his time like he’s studying me. My face feels hot, and I know my hair must look disheveled. Does he know what we were just doing? Shit. It’s not like I was being quiet.
Tony looks at RJ. “Sorry if I’m interrupting?—”
“You’re not,” I interject. “I just finished a workout. No clue what this guy was doing.” I hook a thumb at RJ. “Probably just eating breakfast in the kitchen.”
RJ smirks, running a hand along his jaw. “Yeah. I’m a messy eater.”
I roll my eyes, choosing to ignore his comment. “Yeah, he’s worse to clean up after than the kids. Speaking of kid messes, I think I exaggerated how big the hole was in the drywall when I left Raven that message. I was able to patch it with some caulk.”
RJ snickers, and I give him a “grow up” look.
“Okaaay.” Tony stares at me, and I shift under his scrutiny, unsure what he knows or has figured out. Clearly Raven is in touch with him. I don’t know if he would tell her what he’s just walked into, but I can’t risk Raven finding out about me and her brother from Captain Tony.
“It was so nice of you to stop by, but we’ve got it covered.”
“Uh-huh.” Tony looks between us.
Then RJ slips an arm around my waist, leaning into me as he plants a kiss against the side of my head. I push him off me, afraid of what Tony will do with this information. “What are you doing?”
RJ gives me a knowing look. “We’re not fooling Tony.”
“I wasn’t born yesterday. It’s obvious I walked in on something.” Tony smiles as I cover my face with my hands. “Sorry to interrupt. I was just following orders, but if you’ve got it handled, I’ll get outta your hair.”
“Thanks, Tony. We’ve got it covered. But I’ll text you if we need anything else.”
I look up, catching Tony before he turns to leave. “Actually, do you know anyone that can come out and do an inspection?”
Tony’s brows furrow. “Like a house inspection?”
“Yeah. I’ve called around and no one is available until next month, and I’d love to get someone out here soon and plan for everything that needs to be fixed before we list it.”
He scratches the back of his neck. “I didn’t realize…” He pauses, a look of sadness flashing briefly on his face before it vanishes. “I might know someone. Lemme see what I can do.”
Did he not know that Raven wanted to sell this place?
Fuck, was I not supposed to tell him that either?
What is going on, and why do I feel like I’m not the only one keeping secrets right now?
“And can you please not say anything to Raven about this? About the listing and…” I wave a hand between me and RJ.
“She’s my best friend, and he’s her brother, and I want to talk to her about it first. Once we get back home.
I’d hate for her to find out from someone else before I got a chance to talk to her. ”
“Your secret’s safe with me. But you really should get some window cleaner.” He winks as he exits the house.
I breathe a sigh of relief until I hear RJ’s soft chuckle and a muttered “Fuck.” When I glance up at him, he’s looking out the sliding door to the ocean, and I follow his gaze until I see what he’s laughing at.
The very clear outline of my body—ass print and all—and what are clearly RJ’s hands on the glass.
“Oh my God.” I cover my face with my hands.
RJ breaks out into a fit of laughter.
“This isn’t funny, RJ!”
“It kind of is. I mean, look how perfect your ass looks on that glass.”
“What if he tells Raven?”
He walks over and wraps his arms around me as he rests his cheek on my head. “He’s not going to tell Raven.”
“How do you know?”
“From the number of times we’ve been on that man’s boat and the way I can’t keep my eyes off you, he’s known what’s up for a while now. If he was going to tell Raven, he would’ve told her by now. And she would have texted one or both of us if she knew.”
I blow out a breath. “That’s actually very good Raven logic.” He runs his arms up and down mine as my heart rate slows. “I’ve got to figure out how to get an inspector out here.”
“We could tell her that everyone was booked until next month. How big of a hurry is she in to sell?”
“I dunno. She hasn’t asked about many updates other than trying to pay for the inspection, but I think that’s just her need to take care of the financials more than it’s about selling the house. Anytime I mention house stuff, she mostly tells me to do what I’d want done.”
“In that case, we could just give her a name to satisfy her, take her card info and then never charge her, and schedule someone for later.”
“Maybe. I hate lying to her, but I want to talk to her face-to-face, and that would buy us some time.”
“Exactly. Now where were we?” He lifts me onto the counter again.