Summer Temptation (Hot in the Hamptons Book 2) by Wendy S. Marcus Page B

goodness Nick chose that moment to walk up the back steps to the deck. “Good afternoon, ladies,” he said with a big smile. Then he held up a grocery bag. “I brought dinner. That is, if you like hot dogs. If you don’t,” he held up a grocery bag in his other hand, “I brought snacks.”
    “I love both,” Kelsey said. “But I’m not sure I’m going to be here for dinner.” She glanced at her watch and stood. “Depends on how my afternoon at the beach turns out.”
    “Going to look for Sean?” Storme teased.
    Sean Dempsey, AKA the Hampton Hottie, who just happened to be the lifeguard Kelsey had met the day she’d arrived in the Hamptons.
    “Won’t need to look hard,” Kelsey said. “I know exactly where he’s going to be.” And with that, she left.
    Storme stood. “I’m off, too. My wedding favors are in.”
    “Oh. Why didn’t you say anything?” I asked. “I would have come with you.” Isn’t that something a maid of honor should do, go with the bride to check out her wedding favors?
    “I know you would have,” Storme said. “But then you’d have seen the very special gifts I ordered for you and Kelsey. I couldn’t have that, now, could I?” On her way back into the house, she looked over her shoulder. “You have the house all to yourselves. I’ll probably grab a bite in town, so I won’t be home for hours .”
    I felt my face heat. “Could you be more obvious?”
    “Obvious?” Nick asked. “Obvious about what?”
    Storme laughed, and then she was gone.
    Leaving Nick and me alone. “So...”
    “I should probably put some of this stuff in the refrigerator.”
    “Right. Sorry. Why didn’t I think of that?” And why was I suddenly so nervous?
    “Hey.” I felt his hand on my shoulder. “Come here.”
    I turned, and he kissed me; a slow, sweet, caring kiss. “Relax.”
    I smiled, feeling a little shy. “Thanks, I needed that.”
    He smiled, too. “Any time.”
    After we’d put away the groceries, we went back outside.
    “That’s the pool cover-up you wore to the bonfire,” Nick said approvingly.
    “Storme made one for each of us.” Beautifully styled to fall off one shoulder and show lots of leg, in a bold print I never would have purchased for myself, but that I’d grown to love.
    “I like it,” he said. “Now take it off.”
    “What?” I laughed. “You first.”
    He looked down at his lime green tank and baggy gray shorts. “Me first what?”
    “I want to see you in your bathing suit first.”
    He pulled the tank over his head and held out his arms. “This is me in my bathing suit.”
    Man, he had a sexy chest, firm abs and muscled arms. But, “You’re kidding, right?” I crossed my arms. “You want to see me in my little bikini, all of my goods on display. The least you could have done is worn a Speedo so I could see all of your goods on display.”
    I was teasing, of course.
    But Nick got this serious look on his face, and he walked toward me, slowly, not stopping until I could smell his coconut-scented skin.
    I swallowed.
    “You want to see my goods?” He moved his hands to the front of his waistband. “Here? Or would you rather go inside?”
    This had to stop. I hated feeling off balance around him, so I dug deep and found some self-confidence that had been lollygagging around of late. “Sorry.” I looked him straight in the eyes. “I need a little more foreplay than ‘you show me yours and I’ll show you mine.’”
    He laughed.
    Whew.
    Then he reached into his bag, pulled out a tube of suntan lotion, and held it up. “How about we try some hands-on activities?”
    I walked over to him. “How about we let it happen when it happens and stop trying to force it?” I held out my hand. “But I’ll be happy rub you with lotion if you’d like me to.” Lord help me, that didn’t come out the way I’d intended.
    Nick hesitated, as if trying to decide how to proceed. “I’d like you to.” He smiled a plain old, regular handsome smile. No