Your Endless Love (The Bennett Family 9)

I make a move to grab one foot to give her a head start on that massage, but Summer shifts at the same time, and I grip her thigh instead. My cock stirs in my boxers. Summer lets out a low sound, almost like a moan. She snaps her gaze from the point of contact up to my lips. It takes a superhuman effort not to move my hand further under her dress, to touch and explore her smooth skin. Even though it’s the last thing I want, I pry my fingers away.

Summer’s cheeks turn pink. “Well, I have to go prepare a few things until the group arrives. Thank you for lunch.”

She makes a motion to push herself up. I’m quicker, rising to my feet, then taking her hand and pulling her up too. “You’re welcome.”

“What stunts are you planning to show the kids? Are they safe?”

“Of course they are. You’ll see.”

“I like to be prepared,” she challenges. Ah, there it is. I like when she uses her fire on my behalf, but I like it even more when it’s directed at me. I lean in until our lips are just a whisper apart and push a strand of her hair behind her ear. Her light brown waves are silky and soft, and now I want to thread my fingers through them, grip them, guide her head down my body. Jesus. I step back so she’s out of my reach.

“I think you like being surprised more, Summer.”

“Stars. They think they know better than the rest of us.” She rolls her eyes, but her voice is breathy.

“I have fourteen days to lure out your adventurous side, Summer. Don’t challenge me.”

“Why not? Because you don’t like challenges?”

“Because I win them.”

She laughs, shaking her head. “See you around, Alex.”

“Yeah.”

She definitely will see me around. A lot.

Chapter Nine

Summer

My heart skitters like mad while I bid Alex goodbye. I head straight to my bungalow, holding my sandals in one hand, walking barefoot on the pathway. My skin’s still hot where he touched me, as if he left an imprint on me. Now, if there would be a way for me to find out what he’s planning to show the kids. But where to begin my snooping? I have a long history of snooping around. Goes with the territory of being the family’s baby, I suppose. I was always in everyone’s business and got away with it too. One of my first memories is of emotionally black

mailing my siblings into not getting mad at me by making puppy dog eyes and giving them sloppy kisses on their cheeks.

I take in my bungalow wistfully. It’s two rows away from the waterfront. If I strategically place my lounge chair on the porch, I can spot the water, but it’s nothing compared to Alex’s view. Maybe I should change tactics, and instead of snooping on his teaching plans, I should put my snooping skills to better use, such as persuading him to more lunches out there so I can enjoy the view... and his company. I loved sitting there, talking to him. I felt like he was listening to me, really paying attention.

When I brought up the tabloids, there was no mistaking the shadow that fell over him.

I wanted to soothe him, but I had no idea how. Usually, I wish I had magic powers so I can turn all baked goods calorie-free, but if I had magic powers right now, I’d use them to make him forget his life is splashed over the tabloids.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any magical powers. But what I lack in supernatural abilities, I make up for in persuasion and determination. So before heading to the reception to welcome the group, I stop by the resort’s shop, inspecting the stand with magazines. As I expected, half the shelf space is dedicated to gossip magazines, and half of those have Alex and Amy’s saga splashed on the cover.

“Hi, may I help you?” the vendor, a pretty blonde, asks.

“Yes. Here’s the thing, you probably heard Alex Westbrook is a guest at the resort.”

She nods excitedly. “Yes.”

“You understand how uncomfortable it would be for him to see guests reading this.” I point to the magazine whose covers he graces.

“Oh!” Her smile drops. “I can’t do anything about it.”

“Here’s a suggestion: what if you forget to place an order for them for the next two weeks? It’s always the same publications that run these stories.”

She shakes her head, and I feel a vein twitching in my temple.

“Can’t. The orders are placed automatically. And even so, the store owner would throw a fit. They’re our bestselling products right now. People come in asking for them.”