Page 32 of Love Shots

Two weeks after their Moonrock ride and subsequent make-out session, Summer had been on four more dates with Teddy. Their third date had been the typical dinner and a movie. For their fourth date he’d taken her to see some live music in the next town over. On their fifth date they hung out at her place and got takeout. And, finally, their sixth date consisted of another trip to Teddy’s cabin, this time during the day. Things seemed to be going well. Kind of.

There were no problems per se. Every time she saw Teddy, whether it was on a date or at work, they joked, laughed, and they kissed like horny teenagers. But that was it. No groping. No overnight stays. And definitely no hanky-panky. He hadn’t even hinted that he wanted said hanky-panky. She was starting to get a complex.

Stop being paranoid. He just wants to take it slow.

That was probably it. Not every man wanted to jump straight into bed. That sounded possible. Kind of.

“We should get a stripper,” Laney chirped, downing the remnants of her second glass of wine. “Or go to one of those strip shows. We can get Ivy a lap dance!”

Ivy giggled while Summer frowned. This wasn’t a good idea. Laney was a liability. She’d crashed her and Ivy’s bachelorette party planning session about an hour ago, claiming she needed an alcoholic break from her kids. Summer should have known as soon as she waltzed into Mickey’s that things were going to go downhill. Fast. At least Teddy wasn’t working today. Distracting her.

But he’s having a grand old time distracting you in your head.

Shaking away those thoughts, Summer tried her best to concentrate on one disaster at a time. “No strippers, Lanes. I’m under strict orders from her fiancé that no naked males are to go anywhere near her.”

Ivy giggled even harder. “Yeah, Ace would lose his mind. He actually growled at Luke the other day when he came over to check on one of the horses.”

“Hot Luke? The vet?” Laney asked.

“Yup. He thinks Luke is into me. Supposedly he looks at me too long and he flashes too much teeth when he smiles at me. Honestly, the man can be ridiculous sometimes. Poor Luke though. Getting growled at. Even if it was kinda funny to witness.”

Summer’s frown cracked at the image of Ace growling at Luke. Ace was a big softie when it came to Ivy, but to anyone else she could see how he might come across as quite intimidating.

As Ivy and Laney continued to discuss Luke, Summer’s phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out only to see Teddy’s name flash on the screen. What had she been saying about distractions?

Teddy: Dinner tonight at my place?

Summer: What we having?

Teddy: It’s a surprise. How’s the bachelorette planning going?

Summer: Laney suggested strippers. Interested in earning a few extra bucks?

Teddy: Fuck no. Private shows only.

Summer: How does one go about booking a private show? Asking for a friend.

Teddy: It involves asking me nicely. Preferably naked.

Summer almost choked on her tongue. That conversation took a turn. A very interesting one. Maybe he was after some hanky-panky after all.

“Are you blushing?” Laney grinned her way.

“Uh, no, it’s just hot in here. Must be the wine.”

“Oh yeah, who you texting?”

Damn her friend. Damn her to hell. “No one.” She shot Laney a drop it look that she’d perfected over years of friendship.

“Oh my god, you’re texting my brother, aren’t you?” Ivy chimed in.

Fuck my life.

“Anyway ... back to the party. No strippers. How do you guys feel about karaoke?” Summer ignored the phone in her hand, which was currently buzzing.

“Are you gonna get that?” Laney asked, smirking at Summer’s phone.

“Oh, leave her alone,” Ivy beamed, “her and Teddy are still in the early phases of dating. You remember how it was with Max, right? All hot and heavy. Wondering what each other are doing every second of the day. I think it’s cute.”

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