The Deputies: 3 Novella Box Set (32 page)

She rinsed the last dish and placed it on the rack to dry. He had to consciously keep from reaching for her and pulling her into his arms. He wanted to hold her close and kiss those full lips.

But they’d made a deal. He was a man of his word.

“You sound very proud of your father.”

“I am proud of him. All those changes weren’t easy. He kept telling me I didn’t need to leave the Army, but I think he was glad I came home. My brothers were so busy with their own families they aren’t always around to help as often as they’d like.”

Tori’s head tilted in question. “As often as they’d like or as often as your parents would like?”

She was smart. Really smart. She’d heard the underlying words under his seemingly benign statement.

“As often as my parents would like,” he admitted. “Hell, even as much as I’d like. When anything needs doing around my parents’ place that Dad can’t do, it pretty much falls to me. I know Danny and Dale have wives and kids but sometimes it feels like they use them as an excuse.”

“Like a ‘get out of jail free’ card?”

Drake laughed but without any real amusement. “Exactly like that. I love my parents and I don’t resent helping them. I just thought…shit, I don’t know what I thought.”

“If it makes you feel any better, just talking to you about this makes me realize that I’ve left too much on my siblings’ plate.” She reached for his hands and laced her fingers with his. “My brother and sister have carried the load while I was in New York. It’s time for me to step up to the plate. Maybe I’ll volunteer to cook Sunday dinner next weekend.”

“I didn’t mean to make you feel guilty.” The warmth from her skin seeped into his own, making everything else seem unimportant.

“I don’t.” Tori shook her head, a smile on her face. “But I’ve coasted in that department. They’ve never said anything but I don’t want to push too far. My brother gave out wedgies when we were kids.”

Tori pulled a face that made Drake burst into laughter. “I’ll protect you from any and all wedgies. I promise.” He raised his right hand to seal the vow. “If John has a problem just send him to me.”

“I’ll take you up on that.” Tori giggled and began packing the cupcakes into a box. “You can take these to work tomorrow. Be sure to tell everyone where you got them.”

Drake snorted. “They sure as hell won’t believe I made them. My skills don’t run to baking.”

She handed him the box and he realized the evening was coming to a close. “Thank you. Everyone at the station will really appreciate this.”

Slowly and deliberately, so she could say no if she wanted to, he set the box on the island and stepped into her personal space. Her soft perfume wafted around him and she looked sweet and rumpled after their fun in the kitchen.

“I want to kiss you, Tori. Stop me now if it isn’t what you want.”

His voice sounded slightly desperate and that was exactly the way he felt. He’d been hard pressed to keep his hands off of her all evening and he simply had to touch her. Now. His palms slid down her spine to the sensuous curve of her bottom while he bent his head to capture her lips with his own.

Lightning in a bottle.

She tasted of lemons, sugar, and the coffee they’d drank after dinner. He tipped her head back farther, needing and wanting more. Kissing would never be enough. He wanted to be deep inside of her until they were both sweaty and satisfied.

Her fingers were curled into his hair and her body was pressed against his, their flesh heating at the contact. Her belly rubbed his hard cock pressing against the zipper of his pants and he had to suppress a groan as sparks zipped through his veins at the contact.

His fingers slipped down her thigh to burrow under the skirt of her dress when sanity returned. They’d agreed that sex was off the table until they got to know one another.

Was one date enough?

He pulled away reluctantly and her mouth clung to his for a moment. He licked his lips to savor her taste before setting her away from him. Having her close was too much of a temptation and he was feeling weak. It wouldn’t take much to convince him to take her right here and now on the cold marble kitchen island.

“I shouldn’t have done that.” He pushed the words out over a lump in his throat.

Her whiskey-colored eyes were dark with passion and she shook her head, the curls on her head bouncing with the movement. “It was inevitable, I think. I wasn’t exactly pushing you away.”

“It only made things harder,” he observed.

Laughter bubbled from her lips and he frowned, not getting the joke. “It certainly did. Very hard.”

Her gaze rested on his crotch where it was obvious something was still quite hard. Drake felt himself relax and chuckled right along with her. He loved that she could laugh at a tense moment.

“And painful.” He grimaced at the tent in his pants. “Maybe we should get some air.”

She tucked her arm into his and handed him the box of cupcakes. “Air is a good idea. I could use some myself. You can use this box to cover your, uh…”

They walked out into the warm night, Drake making sure Tori locked up behind them. Keeping out of Tori’s bed wasn’t easy but it was worth it. He was starting to fall for her and he wanted her to know he took this seriously. He took her seriously. She wasn’t just another woman—that was clear. Tori Saunders was special.

Chapter Seven

“S
o you told him?” Kasi asked as she and Tori relaxed over dinner at the diner. It had been another hectic day getting the bakery ready for its grand opening.

“Well,” Tori hedged. “I said I’d had a crush. I was all ready to tell him the extent of the crush when we were interrupted.”

Kasi tapped her chin, her eyebrows pulled together. “So you really didn’t tell him the whole truth? He has no idea that you’ve picked out a house and named your children?”

Tori ignored Kasi’s sarcastic tone.

“I’m not proud of being a total chickenshit. I’ll tell him. Eventually. Things are just going so well. I don’t want him to think I’m creepy or anything. He brought me flowers, Kasi.” Tori sighed as she remembered the kiss from the night before. She liked this Drake James more than her fantasy man. He wasn’t as perfect but he was real.

And she was afraid. If she told him the truth, would she lose him?

“You’re not creepy. Just a hopeless romantic. It does sound very nice.” Kasi sipped her drink. “Drake seems like he’s a good man. I’m happy for you, but I wish things would look up for me as well. I must be the dumbest woman on the planet.”

Kasi’s words were bitterly spoken. The man she had been previously dating that turned out to be married was calling her night and day, making a real nuisance of himself. He kept saying he was going to leave his wife and Kasi didn’t want to hear it. He’d already shown up at the office where she was a legal secretary and almost got her fired.

“You are not dumb. Not even close.” Tori reached across the table and squeezed Kasi’s hand. “You’re not the first woman to be taken in by a husband cheating on his wife and you won’t be the last, I’d wager. Just keep ignoring him and he’ll eventually get the message.”

The bell above the door rang and Sheriff Logan Wright and Drake walked in. Tori’s stomach tightened pleasantly as her gaze roamed his handsome figure. When he passed their table, he pushed up the brim of his hat and shot her a wink and a grin before heading to the other side of the diner with his boss.

“Is that why you were free tonight? Drake’s on duty?”

Tori dragged her attention from his wide shoulders. “I didn’t even know he was on duty this late. He did tell me he had to be at work this morning by eight. Maybe they’re finishing up?”

“We certainly can’t complain about how hard law enforcement works in this town,” Kasi replied. “Pretty much every time I see them they’re in uniform.”

Drake had impressed her by how hard working he was. He eventually wanted to be sheriff of his own town. He’d had a few offers but they had never been quite right.

“My dad is always saying Logan is the best sheriff we’ve ever had,” Tori observed. She hoped her father’s enthusiasm would extend to Drake. If things worked out, she might be introducing him to her parents before long.

“Son of a bitch,” Kasi hissed, slumping down into the seat of the booth. “It’s Larry. He’s crossing the street and heading right here. Shit!”

Tori’s friend was practically cowering under the table as her ex-boyfriend pushed open the door of the diner. He wasn’t a bad-looking man although he was cursed with a weak looking chin. He looked like your average business man with neatly trimmed brown hair and a blue suit, his tie askew.

His pretty boy features were scowling as his gaze swept the diner before resting on Tori and Kasi’s booth. He strode over to the table, ignoring Tori completely.

“We need to talk,” he stated.

Knowing hiding wasn’t going to work, Kasi backed into the booth to put distance between them. “It’s over, Larry. Go back to your wife and leave me alone. I mean it.”

“I don’t accept that. I said I’ll leave Nancy for you.” He made it sound as if Kasi should be grateful.

“Don’t bother,” Kasi said dryly. “I’m not interested in getting involved with a cheater. Shove off.”

Kasi’s rude words didn’t even faze the man. Instead, he leaned forward, placing his palms on the table. “You don’t mean that.”

“Yes, she does,” Tori said hotly. It wasn’t her nature usually, but she’d taken an instant dislike to him.

“Shut up.” Larry hardly spared Tori a glance. “This doesn’t concern you.”

“She’s right. I mean what I’m saying. Get out and don’t come back. Don’t call me. Don’t text me. In fact, don’t even allow a memory of me to cross your mind. Forget I even exist. That’s what I’m going to do with you.”

Kasi’s tone dripped disgust and for a moment it seemed to disconcert Larry.

“I love you,” he said desperately, his cheeks red and his forehead shiny with perspiration.

“You don’t love anyone but yourself,” Kasi scoffed. “You just can’t stand that I ended it before you did. Go home, Larry.”

“No—,” he began before a large hand came down on his shoulder. Larry started and his face turned white. Drake was standing on one side of him and Logan on the other.

“Is this man bothering you, ladies?” Drake asked, his tone abrupt and hard.

“Yes, he is,” Tori responded quickly. “He won’t leave Kasi alone.”

Larry was gaping like a fish at Drake and Logan. Drake shook his head and grasped Larry by the arm. “Not again. This has to stop. Every time you get involved with a young lady, you never seem to know when to back off.”

“Maybe we should drive you home to Nancy and the kids and let her know that you’ve been a bad boy. Again.” Logan’s expression was menacing, his blue eyes cold and stony. “I’ve about had it with you. Leave this woman alone or deal with me and Drake.”

Larry nodded, his hands shaking. “I was just leaving. Really.”

“Funny it didn’t sound that way,” Drake observed mildly. “It sounded like you’re being obsessive. Get out of here and don’t bother her again.”

Drake got nose to nose with the trembling man. “You’ve got some bad habits. Cheating on your wife is one of them. Not understanding the word ‘no’ is the second. Fix them or you’ll be dealing directly with us.”

Larry practically bolted out the door of the diner and down the street. Kasi sighed as she watched him disappear around the corner.

“I’ve never seen him move that fast. I take it from what you said that I’m not the first poor girl who has fallen for his pathetic lines?” Kasi asked.

Drake hooked his thumbs in his gun belt. “No, you’re not, unfortunately. Larry McLean is one bad apple. The women of this town should give him a wide berth. I have no idea why Nancy puts up with him.”

“She’s got three small kids at home and no job.” Logan shrugged. “Hell, she probably loves him although he sure as shit doesn’t deserve it.”

“Love makes women stupid.” If anyone knew that, Tori did.

“Amen to that,” Kasi agreed. “What an asshole. Thank you for intervening. He’s been driving me crazy. Calling all the time. He even showed up at my office. He almost got me fired.”

Drake waved away the thanks. “Just doing our job. If he calls or shows up again, just let me know. I’ll make sure I make a personal visit to his residence.”