Page 25 of A Summer to Claim Her Cowboy

The image of Frankie, her belly rounded, a big smile on her face, did something so twisted to him that he about threw his damn self out the bedroom window.

The thing about Frankie was she was one of those people. Exceptional. Singular. She had seen a need in his life and she had filled it. She had done it selfishly and joyously, and she had... She had brightened up the darkest days they had ever lived through. And whoever ended up in her ray of light for the rest of their lives was a lucky bastard.

“You and me,” he said. “All summer. On every surface in this damn house.”

She grinned. “Tell me more.”

“Why? Are you not sufficiently satisfied?”

“I need to be sure you’re not just doing me a favor.”

He gripped her hand and put it on his burgeoning erection. “Does this feel like I’m doing you a favor?”

“Not entirely,” she said, stroking his length.

He hardened even further, groaning. “Hell, Frankie.”

“Tell memore,” she said, stroking him just featherlight. Torturing him. “About me. About why you want me.”

“Did I not make it clear that you are one of the prettiest things I’ve ever seen? That I have felt like an absolute pervert in your presence for two years? I am not supposed to look at you that way. I’m supposed to protect you. You’re one of my own, Frankie. I am supposed to look after you. I am not supposed to want to bend you over the kitchen counter and make you scream.”

A flash of fire went through her blue eyes. “I would really like you to do that, though. I’ve never had any success with that position. I’m thinking you could make it fun.”

“You shouldn’t say things like that.”

“Why?”

“Because a man is tempted to take it as a dare.”

She smiled. “Perhaps a man should.”

“You are also one of the most singular people I know. You stepped into this house when it was buried in sadness. And you didn’t have any experience in life. But you just knew. Exactly what we needed.”

“You make me sound like Mary Poppins.”

“Sexy Mary Poppins.”

“That’s kind of redundant, don’t you think?” Frankie asked.

“Maybe. But the truth is, I’ve never been one to share my body with someone who didn’t matter. And I do want you to know that. You matter.”

She snuggled up against him, still stroking him. “Well, I think we have a deal. One summer affair to draw a line under this.”

But he couldn’t respond because she was touching him. Nothing had ever felt so good. Nothing ever felt so sweet.

So he let his head fall back, and let his need for her carry them both away.

CHAPTER TEN

FRANKIECOULDN’TQUITEbelieve her good fortune. Every night when she went to bed with Walker, she was completely blown away by the fact that this was happening. Every morning when she woke up in his arms she was completely blown away by this happening.

He was the best. Literally the most handsome man she’d ever seen. The absolute best in bed. He was so hot, and he was...

Getting to see this side of him made him different.

Because yes, she had known him for a long time, but there had been a distance there she hadn’t fully realized existed.

She decided to make dinner for him that night wearing only an apron. And she was looking forward to his hungry expression when he walked in.

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