She tried to laugh, but it came out choked because—in truth—she was a little broken hearted. She liked Dade. Sure, he was distant, cold, and a bit of a stick in the mud, but he was also kind, caring, and sexy as hell. Some part of her felt a real connection between them. She had been excited to see where it would go.
Stupid part, she admonished.
Anger flared once again in those sky blue eyes at her insult. He took a step forward. Hands braced on each of her chair arms, he leaned down until they were nose to nose. She could smell hay, dirt, and that sexy, earthy scent unique to this man.
“It wasn’t lousy and you know it,” he said roughly. “It was hot and wild and much more of it would have landed us flat on our backs in bed with me buried so deep inside you, you’d never walk the same again.”
Well, that certainly denoted interest. So, why the hell was he denying it? He painted a mental picture that caused her nipples to harden and heat to gather between her legs. Damn him for turning her on when he planned to do absolutely nothing about it.
“We’d set fires together, Elizabeth.”
Holy moly, when he said her name like that it felt like a caress.
“But fires die, and they leave a path of destruction in their wake.” His heated gaze searched her face. “It wouldn’t work, and when it was over, people would be hurt. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
Too late.
“I’m trying not to be an asshole here.”
“Too late,” she repeated aloud.
He frowned.
“You’re ending things before they even begin because you’re afraid of what might happen. That not only makes you an ass, it makes you a coward.”
His nostrils flared, and for a moment, he looked as if he was going to shout at her, but then he stood, slammed his hat on his head, and stormed past her out the back door.
“See,” she said to her empty office. “Coward.”
Good grief, you’d think she had proposed to the man or something. All she wanted was to see where this intense attraction went.
That wasn’t true. She knew where it would lead. Right to her bed, or the floor. Anywhere she could rip his clothes off. What guy had a problem with a little fun between the sheets?
Now, she was being the coward and the liar. It wouldn’t be just a fling or a little fun. She liked Dade, liked who he was as a person. If they started getting physical, the emotions would inevitably follow. She guessed in his world that was a bad thing.
Did he cut things off because he didn’t want to get involved with her or because he didn’t want to get involved with anyone?
She thought back to their hike and his cryptic comment at the waterfall.
“Not everyone gets a happily ever after.”
Did he have his happily ever after taken away from him? Was that why he said he didn’t do relationships?
The man was driving her insane. She needed to find out more about him.
“Hey, Jamie?” she called out.
The young girl popped her head around the corner. “Hey, Lizzy. What’s up?” Her tone was soft, cautious.
A sigh escaped. “You heard didn’t you?”
Slim shoulders shrugged. “Not all of it, but enough to know Dade’s being an idiot.”
A chuckle escaped her lips. “Thanks, he is being a bit hardheaded at the moment. Any idea what that’s all about? I mean, have you ever seen him date anyone?”
The girl leaned against the wall, a contemplative look crossing her youthful face. “Not really. He mostly works. I’ve never seen such a workaholic.” Her brow furrowed. “I think I remember my mom talking about some woman in Aspen a few years back that he was seeing, but I guess it didn’t work out.”
Hmm, and why was that? Bad breakup? Big heartache? Might be the reason Dade was so reluctant.
“Thanks, Jamie.”
“No problem. Hey, if you’re not busy tonight, why don’t you come by Buck’s? It’s line-dancing night, always a blast.”
She arched an eyebrow. “You got a fake ID I don’t know about?”
Her brown ponytail whipped back and forth as the girl shook her head. “In this tiny town? It would never work.” She smiled. “It’s eighteen and over night. I turned eighteen a few months ago, and I go every time they do it. It’s a blast!”
Ah, she remembered those days. Getting into the clubs. Feeling all grown up. Being with the adults. Then realizing that most of the people there were creepy old men looking to get underage girls drunk and take them home. Yuck. She supposed Peak Town was different. A lot harder to be creepy when everyone in town knew you and would be talking about your actions at the bar for days. Still, she wasn’t really in the mood for going out.
“I have no idea how to line dance.”
“I can teach you.” The young girl blushed. “I’m teaching Tony tonight, so it’s not a big deal.”
Oh great, she could be the third wheel. Watching two puppy love teenagers flirt all night would not help her forget her own romantic foibles.
“Ah, no thanks. I don’t want to horn in on your date.”
The blush deepened. “It’s not a date. I mean, not really.” Lips, unmarked by makeup, turned down in a little frown. “I’m leaving in two months, so it would be stupid to start anything.”
The poor girl looked so sad. Lizzy wanted to say something to encourage her. “Long distance can work.”
Jamie shrugged. “I guess, but Harvard is going to require a lot of my time, and Tony is working on getting his citizenship and…it’s just really bad timing.”
Looks like she wasn’t the only one with male troubles.
“So, will you come? I promise it will be fun. At the very least, you can get your flirt on. Show Dade your hot stuff doesn’t need him.”
She laughed out loud. Jamie was truly unique. She was a great girl, and Lizzy could see why Maggie liked her so much.
“Sure. I’ll come. Thanks for the invite.”
“Awesome. Eight?”
She nodded. “I’ll be there.”
The young girl made her way back to the front of the shop. Lizzy sat back in her chair. It wouldn’t be so bad. She always wanted to try line dancing. Bear could make her that yummy lemon drink again. Maybe with enough of them, she could forget Dade and how he made her feel.
She glanced around the corner to the front. Jamie was laughing at something Tony said. The girl was smiling so big she was glowing.
Yeah, she could ignore her feelings. Seemed like that’s what everyone was doing in this town anyway.
Chapter 13
Buck’s looked much different from the last time she stopped in. The dance floor was full of people swaying in lines, kicking up their feet, slapping their heels, and doing simultaneous steps Lizzy was positive she could not follow. A small band consisting of a banjo, fiddle, and guitar played on a raised dais in the corner. The music was bouncy and fun. Some of her bad mood started to dissipate.
“Lizzy!” Jamie waved from the middle of the dance line. Hopping out of place, the girl ran to her side. “I’m so glad you came.”
She was starting to feel glad, too. Maybe a night out would help her forget her Dade troubles.
“Ms. Haywor—Lizzy,” Tony said, sliding up behind Jamie.
“Hi, Tony.” She motioned toward the dance floor. “That looks complicated.”
“Please, it’s easy.” Laughter bubbled up from the young girl’s throat. Tony grimaced, shaking his head behind Jamie’s back.
Laughing, she nodded toward the bar. “I think I should go get some liquid courage first.”
Line-dancing night was popular. It looked like the whole town over the age of eighteen was here.
Guess there’s not much else to do in Podunk Town on a Saturday night.
It took her a few minutes to make her way through the crowd to the bar. Bear was there along with a woman who had short, dark hair and looked to be in her mid-thirties. Lizzy motioned to Bear.
He smiled and winked. “Ludicrous Lemon,
right, Lizzy?” he shouted over the noisy crowd from the other end of the bar.
“You got it, Bear.”
“Lizzy! You’re here!”
She didn’t know many people in Peak Town yet and since Jamie already said hi, there was only one person that female voice could belong to.
“Maggie?”
Turning, she saw her best friend sitting two barstools down. Colton sat on the stool next to her. Yup, everybody in town was here. Well, this night just got better.
Making her way over to the two, she gave Maggie a squeeze. “What are you two doing here?”
“Ugh, I needed to get out,” her best friend said, with a roll of her eyes. “I can’t dance, but watching is just as entertaining.”
They glanced at the dance floor and noticed Jamie trying to teach Tony a kicking turn. The young man tried the move, but accidentally kicked the shin of the person next to him. Luckily, the other man didn’t seem too upset about it. Tony, however, looked mortified.
Entertaining indeed.
“I tried calling you to see if you wanted to come out, but I couldn’t get a hold of you.”
She winced. “My battery died this afternoon, and I left my phone charging on vibrate. I must not have heard it.”
Her friend just smiled because that was something Lizzy had done numerous times over the years. She almost missed a rescheduled job interview because of it once. You’d think she would have learned her lesson by now.
“Ludicrous Lemon for the lady.” The beefy man slid the yellow concoction across the bar.
“Thanks, Bear.”
She took a sip of the tangy drink. Yummy!
Maggie gaped at her. “Lizzy, you drink those things?”
“What?” She shrugged. “They’re yummy.”
“And potent.”
Colton smiled. “I remember Bear making me one of those on my twenty-first birthday. Puked my guts out. Of course, that was after the two shots of tequila and pitcher of long island ice tea.”
Gross. She didn’t even want to think about her twenty-first. She and Maggie had driven to Vegas. After the third margarita, the night got a little fuzzy. Thankfully, she didn’t upchuck, well, not until the next day. It was a right of passage she was never tempted to do again.
“I think I’ll just stick to this, thanks.”
They settled in, enjoying the music and watching people dance. It was fun. It seemed like ages since she had been out with Maggie, and Colton was a blast. She was really glad she decided to come out. The night was going great.
“Hey, she wasn’t at home so—”
Oh crap. Spoke too soon.
“Oh, you’re here.”
Finishing off her drink—for courage—she glanced up into a pair of beautifully irritating, sky blue eyes. “Hi, Dade.”
Odd, but he almost looked happy to see her. Pfft. Wishful thinking. She really needed to stop that.
“When I couldn’t get a hold of you, Dade offered to stop by the apartment to check on you,” her friend explained. “Sorry, Dade. We should have called to let you know she was here.”
The tall cowboy said nothing, continuing to stare at her. His relief was soon replaced with annoyance. “What are you doing here?”
Of all the nerve. He didn’t own the bar. Even if he did, it was a free country; she could go wherever she wanted.
“Knitting throw pillows. You?”
He didn’t appreciate her sarcastic humor. Not many people did. Except Maggie; another reason why Lizzy loved her.
“Jamie invited me,” she finally answered. “She was going to teach me to line dance, but now I’m not so sure.” She glanced at the dance floor, mostly so she wouldn’t have to stare at him anymore. The man was too sexy for his own good. Too bad he was such an ass. “It looks complicated.”
A voice behind her rumbled, “It’s not really that hard once you get the hang of it.”
“Hey, Ryder,” Maggie said, cheerfully sipping her drink.
Good grief, did everyone in this town come to line-dancing night?
Lizzy turned to find Jake Ryder standing behind her, a beer in his hand and a smile on his face. He was handsome, with his long, midnight black hair, dark eyes, and those amazing chiseled cheekbones. He was also nice and fun. Ryder was the kind of man she could see herself with. So, why didn’t she feel any spark around him?
“Sheriff.” Dade’s deep voice held a none-too-friendly tone.
Oh, that’s right, there was no Ryder spark because she was crushing on a sexy, brooding, jerky cowboy.
“Dade, Colt. Maggie, how are you doing?”
“Just fine, thanks. You come out to dance tonight?”
He smiled. “Well, I was just going to enjoy a beer before heading home, but now I think I should continue some dance lessons.”
“Dance lessons?”
“Last time I was in here, I was teaching Lizzy how to two-step.”
She laughed, remembering how many times she stepped on his toes that night. “Yes, and I was awful at it.”
“Naw, you were great.”
“Flattery will not get you free cupcakes,” she and Maggie replied in unison. She glanced at her friend and they both burst out laughing.
“All I’m after is another dance.” Ryder put his beer on the bar and held out his hand. “Lizzy?”
The sheriff was nice, but she didn’t want to lead him on. At her indecision, he stepped forward, leaning close to whisper in her ear.
“Come on, it will make Dade mad as hell. Just look at the steam coming out of his ears.”
Shocked, she pulled back a little.
Ryder continued to speak in a soft voice so the others couldn’t hear. “I’m no fool, Lizzy. I see the way you look at him, and the way he stares at you when you’re not paying attention. Let’s make him see what’s he’s missing.”
How he knew what was going on between her and Dade, she had no idea, but if the man wanted to put on a show, who was she to say no? It might be petty and immature, but she was hurt and wanted to give Dade a little payback.
“Okay.” With a dazzling smile, she slipped her hand into his.
As he pulled her off the barstool and on to the dance floor, she could swear she heard a deep male growl behind her.
****
“Would you stop glaring daggers into Ryder’s back and just go over there?” Colton yelled.
Dade gripped his beer harder, ignoring his brother and continuing to glare at the damn sheriff. The man had his hands all over Lizzy. Sure, he was teaching her the dance and helping position her, but still…he didn’t like it.
He had no claim on the woman. Hell, it would be better if she started something up with another guy. Then maybe he could forget about her and the way she made him burn inside.
Ryder’s hand slipped to her waist, inches above her ass.
He ground his back teeth, almost breaking the beer bottle with his death grip. Yeah, maybe not.
Like it or not, he had a thing for Elizabeth Hayworth, and seeing another guy all over her just made it worse.
“It’s nice to see Lizzy out having fun,” Maggie commented from her seat beside his brother.
“You two didn’t go out in LA?”
“Oh we did.” His future sister-in-law smiled at his brother. “But not very often, and even then, Lizzy usually didn’t dance with very many guys.”
Lizzy didn’t have a million guys after her? Yeah right, and he could shoot rainbows out of his ass.
“I find that hard to believe.” Colton echoed his thoughts.
“Plenty of guys offered, but she’s pretty picky.” She took a sip of her drink while they continued to stare at the two on the dance floor.
“Her parents have a sham of a marriage. I don’t think either one has ever been faithful, but they stay married, for appearance sake, I guess.”
That was stupid. If you weren’t committed to your partner, why stay with them? Didn’t the affairs look worse than just calling it quits? He would never understand t
he logic of some people.
“Lizzy has some trust issues when it comes to relationships, but she’s fun and friendly. Sometimes, guys take that the wrong way.”
The way Maggie said that made his stomach turn. Had some guy taken Lizzy’s friendly attitude for more than what it was? If some asshole had hurt her, he would find the son of a bitch and pummel his ass to the ground. Calm was his middle name, but the thought of Lizzy being hurt set off all his protective instincts.
“Some guy hurt her?” He managed to get the words past the seething rage brewing inside him.
“Oh please.” A light laugh escaped her smiling lips. “Any guy would be an idiot to try. Lizzy has a black belt in tae kwon do. She could lay a man out and be halfway home while he’s still crying for his mommy.”
A black belt, huh? The woman just kept on surprising him.
“It would be nice to see her happy with someone.” She sighed, looking forlornly into her drink.
“She’ll find someone, Magpie.” His brother wrapped an arm around his fiancée and sent him a meaningful glance. “Don’t you worry.”
Dade took another swig of his beer. Why was it when two people got engaged they started zeroing in on all their single friends, trying to auction them off on the happily ever after love block? Why couldn’t they just be happy in their bliss and leave everyone else alone?
He tried for his happy ending and didn’t get it. Now, he just wanted to live his life in peace. Not everyone was meant to spend the rest of their lives with the person they loved. He resigned himself to living the rest of his days without romantic love.
Then Lizzy came along…and started stirring up all these…feelings inside him. He didn’t like it, and he didn’t want it.
Too bad his brain couldn’t get that through to the rest of his body.
Ryder said something to Lizzy, speaking too damn close to her for Dade’s comfort. She smiled, nodding her head. The sheriff placed a light kiss on her cheek, and he almost jumped up from his seat to deck the guy. He managed to stay on the barstool as Lizzy made her way through the crowd and back over to them.
“Where’d Ryder go?” Maggie asked.
Lizzy signaled Bear. The bartended nodded and started to make her another drink.
Love on the Wild Side Page 8
