Finding Summer - Suzanne Halliday Page 0,73

lifetime crush on Linda.”

“It’s pretty.”

She hummed the tune and nodded. “Harmonies can be beautiful when done right.”

Swooping down for a kiss, he claimed her lips, and as he drew away, he murmured, “I love the way you think and the words coming out of your mouth.”

Her half-smile was everything.

“Be right back,” he told her as he dashed into the bungalow.

The socks were easy to locate since he never even took them out of the shopping bag. He laughed at the awful design done in the same green, yellow, pink, orange, and black colors as the sneakers. Gucci definitely missed the mark.

Tearing off the price tag, he shook them out and stuffed them into the pocket of his robe along with his phone. Passing through the dining room, he picked up two clean glasses and the last of the wine from their dinner.

Locating her phone, he noted that the battery was at four percent and added it to his pockets.

“There’s a charging station in the living room,” he told her when he handed it over. “I can plug it in for you if you’d like.”

“I’m not expecting any calls, so it can wait. That’s it for the music, though.” She disconnected from the Bluetooth and shut the phone off. “Are those supposed to be socks?”

Holding up the god-awful foot coverings, Arnie chuckled. “The store was giving them away.”

Summer lifted a foot and wiggled it. “This has a Cinderella vibe. I like it.”

Doing his best to fill the fairy-tale boots of Prince Charming, Arnie stuck out his thigh for her to use as a footrest. While sliding on the tacky sock, he noticed her light pink toe polish and tilted her foot to look at the sunflower tattoo.

Flashing him when she raised her other foot, he was sorely tempted to slide his hand between her legs but squashed the urge.

After pouring the end of the wine, she joined him on the loveseat and curled into his side. He basked in her presence. Summer was pure enjoyment.

“Did your grand seduction plan include a sleepover, or are you sending me home in a cab?”

“I thought you might enjoy the dawn slut patrol and the walk of shame.”

Her laughter was rich with amusement. It rang out without censor. He liked how she didn’t try to play a part. He’d had enough of women following a script.

“Can you imagine?” She sniggered. “I caught Mrs. Ferguson from the second floor sneaking in one morning around five thirty. It was really funny too because she was barefoot and wearing a sequin dress, just like in the movies. I think she’s what they call a cougar. Her oldest boy is in college, and while I don’t know how old she is, the shoe fits.”

While they were on the subject, he took the opportunity to admit the flaw in his plan.

“I’d like you to stay,” he drawled. “It’s entirely up to you, but there’s a problem.”

“What? Your other girlfriend is on her way?”

He laughed. “As if.” His voice then lowered to make a point. “I don’t play games. No, what I mean by problem is this. You’re wearing my socks because I didn’t think this through. You don’t have a change of clothes.”

“Hmm, true. But tonight’s wardrobe choice wasn’t a sequined dress. I’m fine, and as for my undies, this wouldn’t be the first time I washed my panties in the bathroom sink and hung them on the towel rack to dry.”

Undies on a towel rack. Could this evening get any better?

“So it’s settled then,” he announced as if he was the decider. “You’re staying.”

Her sly smile was satisfied as she peered at him over the rim of her wine glass. “Have I told you this is yummy?”

“Several times.”

“Oh,” she said with a goofy shrug. “Well, did I also tell you red makes me act silly?”

“I thought it was your normal setting.”

“Nah, my normal setting is less about mining for drama and more about being nice than anything else. If you ask me, there’s not enough nice in the world.”

Boy, talk about a truth bomb. His line of work didn’t intersect on the Venn diagram with nice.

His phone made a distinct sound. He glanced at the coffee table where it lay. The screen lit up, and he made out a numbered sequence NIGHTWIND used.

Shit. He could ignore it for now. The sequence was an alert, not a directive, but he’d have to check in soon.

“Do you have to take that?”

He shook his head. “It can wait.”

“What exactly do you do?