They wove their way in and out of pecans, through a small stand of evergreens, and he stopped in front of two massive live oaks that were side by side. “I’m partial to these two.”
She scanned the size and configuration of the branches. “They look a bit like the ones holding up the old one at your mother’s house.”
“You’ve a good eye. That’s what drew me to them.” He pointed out the branches he’d use to support the base and the ones needing to be removed.
“This is pretty ambitious, Drake.”
“Big ambitions, big man. But it, too, will have to wait until I get the house done.”
“How long before you’re finished?”
“Barring any problems, another month at the most. Mama and Sable are going to help me pick out the furniture. They know that left up to me, I’d get a bed, a table to eat on, and be done. I’m not one for fancy lamps or settees.”
“You’ll need a place for guests to sit.”
“Not one for guests, either.”
She smiled softly. “Your wife will want to entertain.”
“Will she?”
His tone and gaze froze her in mid-breath. She managed to whisper, “I’m sure she will.”
“Good to know. I’ll keep that in mind.” After a few heart-pounding moments of silence, he asked, “Did you enjoy yourself last night?”
The memories of their time together rose and filled her with wanting. “I did.”
“That’s good to know, too.”
Val’s nipples tightened, and a familiar hum awakened between her thighs. Would he evoke the same reaction in his wife? she wondered. Her eyes strayed to his mouth and memories of its warmth added to her own.
“Do you think my wife would let me undress her in the gazebo under the stars, and enjoy being pleasured in the tree house?”
Her eyes closed, heat whispered through her, as she imagined being the recipient of that pleasuring.
“I’d undress her and tease her small, perfect treasures until they were hard as gems. Think she’d like that, too?”
She whispered, “Stop this, Drake.”
He whispered in reply, “Cheri, I’m just getting started, but come. Let’s drive back to Mama’s where you can cool off. It’s pretty warm out today.”
That he could stand there and look so innocent after verbally reducing her to a bowl of pudding made her want to punch him in the nose even as her smile betrayed her.
“We really need to find you a cure.”
“Pirates can’t be cured. Many have tried.”
“Just lead me back to the buggy.”
He held out his hand.
“No. You might be contagious.”
He laughed. “See, you are learning to banter.”
She pointed firmly, eyes sparkling.
He laughed again and started walking.