Page 25 of Tru Blue
Gemma scowled. Oh no you won’t! Hands off! Gotta run. He’s going to be here any minute. Kennedy’s playing princess tonight.
The next text came seconds later. And you’re playing hide the sausage?
Another text. Wizard of O?
Her phone vibrated like it was on steroids as her friend’s texts rolled in. Princess Swallows? Prince Cunnilingus? Hokey Pokey? Are you going to help him LET IT GO?!
Gemma laughed as the bells on the front door chimed the boutique’s special magical tune and Truman came in holding Kennedy’s hand and carrying Lincoln in his car seat. She put her phone on the counter and he set those beguiling blue eyes on her and swallowed hard as she approached, making her melt like a Popsicle. Her stomach spun into knots. She loved knowing she was breaking through that gruff barrier he tried so hard to keep up. Although when he’d come out of the bathroom in that very thin towel, it was hard not to notice just how much she affected him.
“Hey there.” Averting her eyes from his piercing stare, she noticed that he’d changed into a pair of low-slung jeans that hugged him in all the best places. Great, now she was staring at his junk—and trying not to wonder if it was tattooed. Damn it, Crystal!
“That’s a…” He licked his lips, his eyes drifting slowly down her body, lingering on her thigh-high stockings. “That’s a great outfit. We might need more princess days in our lives.”
She wanted to wrap that compliment around her like a velvet cape, but the way he was visually devouring her made her skin tingle with anticipation of a touch she hoped might come. She needed to get herself under control and focus on the kids or she was going to turn into a noodle-legged, swooning mess.
Shifting her eyes away again, she locked the door behind them and said, “I’m glad you found it, and I see you took my advice about Lincoln’s car seat.”
“Your directions were perfect, and whoever thought this up was brilliant.” He lifted the baby carrier, his wolfish grin morphing into an adoring brotherly smile aimed at the happy baby.
How did he do that when she was still mentally untying the knots that hungry grin had given her? She crouched beside Kennedy, feeling the heat of Truman’s gaze return. The wolf was back! Maybe she should have worn her Little Red Riding Hood outfit.
Chapter Eight
“TRU, HOLD STILL. You’re almost done.” Gemma worked the top buttons on Truman’s white poplin jacket—the fifth or sixth outfit she and Kennedy had picked out for him. “I’ll have you know, this Prince Charming outfit is very much in demand.”
“With you working the buttons, I bet it is,” he said under his breath.
She stood before him in those white thigh-high stockings he was dying to take off—with his teeth—nibbling on her lower lip. Her eyes were set in pure concentration as she shifted and smoothed, running her hands all over his chest and shoulders and sending titillating explosions directly to his core. From his vantage point, he had an enticing view of the swell of her breasts. Her sexy princess outfit pushed them up adeptly, creating cleavage so deep he wanted to bury himself in it and never come out. She was the epitome of sultry innocence, and he was nothing short of a gawking, lecherous dude who was quickly losing the struggle to keep his hands to himself.
“Do you dress like this for all the events?” He fisted his hands to keep from touching her. Jealousy clawed its way up his spine at the thought of other men leering at her.
She shrugged, squinting as she fiddled with his gold cuffs and then the black velvet epaulets on his jacket. “Depends on my mood. Sometimes I wear long satin gowns like the one Kennedy is wearing.”
He glanced at Kennedy, playing with a basket of tiaras, and imagined Gemma in a long shiny gown, her slim shoulders bared for all to enjoy, like they were now, beckoning his mouth to taste her smooth, tempting skin. The green-eyed monster dug its claws in deeper.
“Sometimes I wear lacier outfits with more frills,” she added. “Or shorter outfits. If I’m feeling really daring, I wear the leather biker princess outfit. That’s always a hit with the parties. Oh, and the fairy princess with the wings like Kennedy tried on earlier. I love that one, too. It makes me feel light and fun.”
