New and…Improved? & Andrew in Excess

sink getting “the full treatment.”

Above him, Summer shook her head. “At least you didn’t get arrested.” Squirting some conditioner into her hand, she slowly massaged it into his head. Despite feeling silly and uncomfortable, he couldn’t prevent the distinct uncurling of his toes as she kneaded his scalp.

“Good?” she asked, working more magic with her fingers.

He shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s okay.”

Summer snickered. “Liar. You’re positively melting.”

“I never melt.” Well, not quite. He melted over Becca’s smile. Over her kisses, her touch. He melted every time she so much as looked at him.

Which really threw this just-fun theory all to hell.

“Why is it so hard for a guy to admit he likes being pampered?” Summer wondered. “Look, I could have told you breaking and entering Becca’s wasn’t exactly the smart route to take.”

“Well thanks for coming up with something better.”

Summer started to rinse him out. With cold water. He sucked in a breath.

“Sorry,” she said sweetly, and the water magically warmed.

“And I didn’t break and enter,” he corrected. “I was already there.”

Abruptly, the water flipped off. Summer’s face appeared above him, creased in a frown. “Already there? Doing what?”

“None of your business.”

Their eyes met and Kent waited while Summer assessed, decided. Then smiled. This time, when the water came on, it was deliciously toasty. “You love her,” she breathed.

He made a noise that he most definitely meant as a denial.

“You do.”

He snorted and pushed out of the chair as soon as she’d finished. “By the way, thanks ever so much for that help you offered.”

“Hey, don’t blame me, you said you had it all figured out.” But she sighed. Bit her lip. “And I did help.” She sighed again. “Today. If you’re interested.”

“I’m interested.”

She looked him solemnly in the eyes. “I love what I did for her,” she said quietly. “The makeup, the clothes, especially the okay to go for it. It’d been a long time coming. But I’m also the first to admit she took it wrong. She honestly believes it’s all that extra stuff that finally caught your attention.”

“I couldn’t care less about that extra stuff.”

Summer gave him a long, thoughtful look. “Does she know that?”

He shifted uncomfortably. “I thought she might when I tossed away her stuff.”

Summer looked disgusted. “Words, Kent. Women need words.”

“This was supposed to be just casual,” he muttered.

“And is it?”

Yes.

Hell, no.

When he didn’t-couldn’t-answer, she led him through the busy salon, where he was subjected to more than a few whistles. They made Summer laugh, and made Kent grit his teeth.

Then, finally, they were in her office.

On her desk lay a garment bag, filled with clothes.

“Becca’s new clothes,” she whispered, even though they were alone. “She hasn’t even worn these yet.”

“You went breaking and entering too?”

At his surprised and delighted laugh, she lifted her chin. “No. But the dry cleaner owed me a favor. And I figured if you loved her enough to do it, I did too.”

He cringed as if struck. “Would you stop flinging that word around?”

She blinked innocently. “What word?”

Kent unzipped the garment bag and tried to ignore both her and that funny feeling deep in the pit of his belly, not easy to do when he was deathly afraid she was right.

The L-word just might be involved here.

“Not ready to talk about it?” she asked, tsking sympathetically. “Don’t worry, Dr. Dreamboat, this will all work out.”

“So glad you think so. You’re not the one on notice at the police station.” He fingered the stack of elegant clothes, the same ones he’d seen on Becca for the past few weeks. “Tell me you left her nothing but-”

The knock on the open door surprised them both.

So did Becca as she walked in. “Well hello there,” she said with a genuine smile for both of them. “What’s this?”

Kent froze. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Summer do the same.

“Sorry, did I startle you?” Becca asked. She wore a soft blue sweater over a matching skirt that managed to be sophisticated yet sweet and still show off her lush body. Her eyes sparkled, her skin glowed. When she turned to look at him, her hair danced over her shoulders in a way that made his fingers long to touch.

But it wasn’t the physical attraction that jolted him now. Her smile twisted at him, warmed him from the inside out. Not for the first time, he was struck hard by his feelings for her, by the very strength and depth of them. He just didn’t know what to do with them. If he went with the flow, and things didn’t work out, he’d lose her. There’d be no more daily chats, no more laughter and shared jokes. No more easiness, or affection, and he’d miss her with all his heart.

But if he didn’t go with these new emotions, if he backed off now, he’d lose her anyway.

Screwed either way.

There was still a smile of greeting on her lips. Her laughing, bewildered eyes took him in, from the black smock he still wore, to his wet hair dripping down his back.

“Becca…” Summer shot Kent a warning glance and smiled at her sister. “Hon, what happened? I thought you had school tonight.”

“I had a bit of an attitude.” Her gaze met Kent’s. They’d made love on his desk only hours before and yet none of the need had faded, it was a tangible thing between them. So was affection and overwhelming tenderness. Helpless against the pull of that last emotion, he found himself moving closer to her.

“Well it’s great to see you,” Summer said brightly. Too brightly. “But I’m right in the middle of giving Kent a great new ‘do’-” She moved toward the door, her arms outstretched, trying to shoo everyone out, especially Becca. With one nervous glance at the stack of clothes on her desk-Becca’s clothes-she said quickly, “Let’s go on out there and you can give me tips while I work.”

But Becca ducked beneath Summer’s arms. She was still looking at Kent, with a sweet, baffled smile. “I didn’t know you were going to get your hair cut. Here.”

It was a clear question, and he opened his mouth, but before he could say a word, she turned to Summer’s desk.

And saw her clothes.

Kent groaned silently.

Summer groaned, not so silently, and made a move to stop her sister.

Avoiding Summer’s hand, Becca evaded and rounded the desk, then touched the open bag. As she flipped through the clothes one at a time, her jaw tightened. Her expression darkened. “What’s this?”

Summer’s smile faltered. “Uh, hon? Remember yesterday when you didn’t press charges against panties-man here?” She bit her lip. “Think you’re going to be that generous today too? Jail time really wouldn’t suit my schedule.”

Kent sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.

Becca let out a sound of disbelief. “What’s going on?” She glared at Kent. Crossed her arms. Cocked a hip.

Waited.

And basically looked so damn irresistible he had to slip his hands into his pockets to keep them off her. “Yeah, about the clothes…” He peeked at Summer, who had apparently found something fascinating on the ceiling to