Summer's Need Read Free

of the corner of his eye and
pursed his lips. Evidently Ember was hoping for more of a response than that
because she walked over and thunked him on the head with the egg. “That’s the
part where you really look at your wife, not with the blinders of marriage on
but as a man, and tell me yes, she is the most beautiful thing in the world.”
    Dave scowled at Ember then turned to Summer in an
exaggerated move with his ever-present teasing grin. Something moved through
his eyes and his smile faded, gentled. He slowly examined her, from head to
toe, and another pulse of desire went through her as he returned to her face
and their eyes met. The heat she saw there reminded her of when they’d first
started dating and everything was fresh and new.
    “You’re right, she is magnificent. Two kids and she still
has a body that makes men’s tongues roll out.”
    “Not exactly the poetry I was hoping for, but better,” Ember
said and returned to her chair, tossing the egg up high in the air and no
longer watching them. “Now, Summer, give him a kiss that shows him how he made
you feel. You may be unable to talk about your emotions, but you can show him
with actions what you can’t put into words. Guys understand that.”
    What became an awkward lean into Dave turned into something
else when he gently cupped her cheek and guided her mouth to his. She sighed
against his lips, loving the smell of his cologne mixed with the scent that was
uniquely Dave. The first brush of their mouths filled her with tingles and she
smiled as he nibbled on her lower lip. While the first blush of passion was
always a heady thing, she didn’t think she would trade it for the pleasure of
kissing someone who knew what she liked. He moved his hands down to her jaw and
he deepened their kiss, turning her head to the side and licking at her lips.
    A small gong sounded from the grandfather clock in the
corner of the room, signaling the end of their session. Pleasure, desire,
warmth suffused her limbs and she made a little noise of protest when he pulled
back. Seeing the satisfied and somewhat cocky smile he gave her made her feel
almost as good as the kiss.
    Ember chuckled and stood, moving over to the door and
opening it for them while Dave helped her stand from the couch. “Remember,
check your email when you get home and treat one another like you’re something
precious, because you are.”
    Heart still hammering in her throat, all Summer could do was
nod as she slid her purse over her shoulder and followed her husband out the
door, the taste of their kiss lingering like sweet candy in her mouth.

Chapter Two
     
    Summer leaned against the closed door of her youngest son’s
room and sighed, the long day catching up with her. Her morning had been filled
with her oldest son’s soccer game, then after a quick lunch they’d bundled
everyone into the car again to head off for a visit with Dave’s parents where
she’d eaten more of his mother’s good Southern cooking than she should have.
    Now, after helping both kids with their homework, she should
be heading to the living room to watch some TV with Dave. Instead she had to go
check her email and see what emergencies and disasters had cropped up during
her time away from her computer. Ember had insisted today be a work-free day
and Summer had managed to do it, barely. She’d almost cracked during the soccer
game and checked her email from her smartphone but Dave had given her a pointed
look and she put her phone away with a grimace.
    There had been moments when she’d actually forgotten about
work altogether and had enjoyed being with her family. When was the last time
that had happened? Ember said she used work as a barrier between herself and
the rest of the world and she had to admit that was probably true. After the
death of her father last year she’d thrown herself into her job and her family
had suffered because of it. A jolt of guilt raced through her blood and settled
in an unpleasant