Read Online Girl Gear 4: Striptease by Alison Kent - Free Book Online

her. He studied her face for a minute and then boldly took hold of her fingers where her hand rested on the tabletop. He rubbed his thumb from her knuckles to her nails. “Why don’t I get us a drink while we wait for Eric to figure out what he’s doing with that grill?”
    Renata smiled, curling her hand into a fist in her lap when he released her. “Thanks. A beer would be great.”
    “A beer I can handle. Not exactly impressive, but doable.”
    The sight of him walking away was worth having had to let go of his hand. She’d never understood the appeal of a cowboy the way she did now. What was it about the fit of denim over lean hips and long legs, the strength in that long, rangy stride? Not to mention the perfect taper to his waist from his broad, muscled back.
    From out of nowhere came the urge to skate her palms from his shoulders all the way to the tops of his thighs, where she’d linger. And play. And explore…taking pleasure in the secrets behind the copper buttons of his fly.
    He was back in seconds with two ice-cold bottles. She sipped, enjoying the earthy chill, but not anywhere close to the way she’d enjoyed the movement of his body or her rather prurient fantasy. Or even the way she now enjoyed Aiden watching her tongue flick at the moisture on her lips.
    Finally, he drank, his throat working hard as he swallowed. Her heartbeat thudded and awareness shimmered in the heavy afternoon heat.
    “Tell me what I’ve forgotten about you,” he said, and she couldn’t help but grin.
    “Tell me what you remember, since I have absolutely no idea what you know.”
    He laughed. “I do know the boys said Chloe actually studied when you were around.”
    “I guess that’s a good thing, though it makes me sound like I had nothing but school on my mind.” Renata tilted her head, tilted the longneck, thought back to the past. “I wasn’t any more of a bookworm than Chloe, to be honest. It was just a case of convincing her that without the grades, neither one of us would be going anywhere.”
    He drank again, his eyes focused intently on hers as he raised, then slowly lowered his bottle. “Chloe told me you’re a school psychologist now. On the west side?” When she nodded, he went on. “Why a school district instead of private practice?”
    “I like the kids. I like being there where they can find me, where they need me. When they need me.” She ran her fingertip around the beer bottle’s mouth. “It’s hard to believe it’s been less than a dozen years since I was there myself.”
    Aiden was quiet for a minute, his thoughts hidden even while his eyes showed his mind hard at work. Renata didn’t try to hazard a guess as to what he was thinking. For a reason that had no basis but the churning of nerves in her stomach, she didn’t want to know.
    But none of that mattered when she sensed he was looking into her past, seeing all the times she’d wished for someone to talk to. The times when she and Jacob had been left at home, had tried to be all the family the other needed but, more often than not, had failed.
    A carefree grin lifted both corners of Aiden’s oh-so-yummy mouth. “Your kids must be glad to have you on their side.”
    Renata laughed. “I’m not always on their side. Trust me. The choices some of them make?” She shook her head. “I’m amazed they manage to get to campus, period, much less on time. And forget having finished their homework.”
    Aiden laughed. “Sounds like you were looking over my shoulder while I dragged myself through high school.”
    She gave a wry smile. “Actually, I was thinking about Jacob.”
    “Jacob?”
    “My brother. He’s the reason I hooked up with Chloe again. He’s a videographer, working on the gIRL-gEAR documentary. They ran into one another at the office.” She glanced around the large backyard, searching the noisy and milling crowd. “He’s supposed to be here, but I can’t say I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t show.”
    Aiden leaned