She laughs.“Oh, honey.There are some things we women must face alone.”
CHAPTER 13
Declan
I answer the door.I don’t recognize her at first.
And that makes me really angry.
I stare at Summer.I think my mouth is unhinged.
“You gonna let me in, or what?”she snarls.
“Yes.Of course.Please.”I fling open the door to the suite and gesture for her to step inside.And then I watch her walk past me.She’s long, lean, and luscious.I’ve never seen her like this.I’ve never imagined she could look like this.What am I supposed to do with this development?
This is the last thing I need.I was barely hanging on before this happened.
I’m angry.At myself.At her.We’ve been so stupid.
Summer spins around.Her dark hair swings over her shoulder in a shiny wave.Her blue-gray gaze locks on mine.
I feel tears sting my eyes.Actual tears.Of anger.And something else I refuse to name.I blink furiously to stop them.
Ridiculous.I’m being ridiculous.It’s still Summer.She’s still the same person, only in a dress and makeup, with her hair all glossy and smooth and her skin all peachy and velvety and...
Oh, shit.
Ridiculous.I’m ridiculous.
But comeon!
Why did she have to pickthatdress, black and silky and leaving little to the imagination.The kind of dress that slips over every curve and valley of her shape.A dress that makes me want to brush my fingertips over her hip and down her thigh.
And whythatmakeup?It’s tasteful and elegant, but what’s the point?All it does is accentuate her already outrageous beauty and bring out the perfect shape of her face, the fullness of her lips, and the ocean-blue gray of her eyes.There was absolutely no reason she needed to go and do that to herself with makeup.Now everyone will see how beautiful she is.
And why did she have to dothatto her hair?It was already perfect, flying behind her as she gallops through the east pasture.But now there’s a shimmer I’ve never seen before.It’s got me imagining how the satiny strands would feel slipping through my spread fingers.
Why did Summer go and do all this shit to herself?
Tome?
She’s always been flawless in my eyes.This is too much.It flattens me.Leaves me breathless.
Which brings me right back to how angry I am.
Fuck!Get it together, Declan.Don’t be a pussy.
She frowns at me.“Are you alright?Did the onion rings catch up with you?”
“Yes.I’m a total wreck.From the onion rings.”I’ve never felt so out of sorts around Summer before.If the barbecue sauce thing was awkward, what should I call this?An existential crisis?I swallow.“You look real nice,” I manage.
Then I take a step closer.I lean in to kiss her cheek, but she moves without warning, and my lips lightly caress the corner of her mouth.That was a mistake.I was aiming for her cheek, but she moved.I should probably tell her that it wasn’t intentional.
Oh, shit.Why did she have to move?What have I done?
Her scent lingers in my nose.It’s subtle and sensual, traveling up through my nostrils and penetrating the center of my lizard brain.
Fuck.I want her so badly.
