By the time Mike set dessert in front of them—blueberry eclairs topped with edible violets—he knew he was falling in love with her, if not already gone.
She was the one.
He should have been worried that it was too soon, that they didn’t know each other well enough yet. But Wilde men fell hard and fast when they recognized their soulmate.
Now how to get Morgan to want some strings attached to him, because he wanted to tie her to him in the worst way. Which meant he couldn’t sleep with her. Not yet. Maybe not until he actually dragged her to the altar.
Christ, he actually had the marriage word pop into his head and it didn’t make him want to run. If anything, it filled him with warmth and a feeling of rightness.
Their plates had been cleared and cups of coffee set in front of them.
“Anything else I can bring you?” Mike asked.
“Just the check,” Dare said.
“You know your money isn’t any good here,” Mike returned.
“Your mom has to quit doing that.”
“You want to tell her?”
Dare blanched at the thought of confronting the little powerhouse.
“Yeah, me either. Good to see you, Dare, and Morgan, it was my pleasure to serve you tonight.”
“The meal was wonderful.” Morgan beamed. “One of the best I’ve ever had. Thank you, and thank your mom for me too.”
“See.” Mike slapped Dare on the back. “That’s the only payment we need. You two have a good rest of your night.” He winked.
Dare waited a beat and then leaned forward. “Is he gone?”
“Mike?” She looked around the dining room. “He just ducked into the kitchen.”
“Good. Let’s go.” He stood and reached for his wallet, taking out two hundred dollars bills and leaving them under his coffee cup.
“You’re sneaky,” she said with a smile.
“You have no idea.” He hurried her out of the restaurant and into his truck, knowing that if Mike saw the money before he was out of the parking lot, he’d be chased down.
“How many people know you are part owner in a restaurant?” Morgan asked once they were safely headed down the ridge.
“Not part owner, just a small investor,” he corrected.
“Why don’t I believe you?”
He flashed her a smile. “Hey, I’m trustworthy, and I’m smarter than most people give me credit for. Each of us kids received some money when we turned a certain age from a trust my mom set up before she died. I decided to invest some of it in the Wild Rose.”
“Very smart. With the view and the food, the place is going to make a killing.”
“I thought so. Are you up for some dancing?”
She groaned. “Do we have to?”
“I want to hold you in my arms, and if I do that with people around, I won’t get you naked.”
“But I want you to get me naked.”
The truck swerved at her words. Christ, he wanted her naked too. In the worst way. But if they slept together, she wouldn’t have any use for him anymore. He needed time for her to care about him, because he already cared too much for her.
“It’s dangerous to say things like that to a man operating machinery. All his blood leaves his big brain and his little brain takes over.”
She laughed at his words, the sound lighthearted, reminding him of the sound icicles made when they clinking together. “Men are complicated creatures.”
Creatures being the right word, but complicated not so much, not compared to women.
“Would dancing with me be so bad?” he asked when what he really wanted to know what were her objections over being seen with him. Was it just Gabi’s opposition, or did Morgan object to others in town knowing?
“I think I can stomach it.”
“High praise. Thank you for that.”
“You know what I mean.” She gave a heavy sigh. “It’s just the rest of the town, your family, mine. I don’t like people in my business.”
“Yet you live in a small town.”
“In other words, are you saying I should be used to it by now?”
“Well.” He shrugged. “You said it, I didn’t.” He parked on the street near the Pump House. Since it was Friday night, and Brey was singing, the place was packed.
Dare climbed out of the truck and walked around to the other side to help Morgan out. This time she had no problem waiting for him. She really didn’t want people seeing them together. Well, too bad. The only way he knew to stake his claim, was to be here where most of the townsfolk frequented. And he wanted the town to know she was with him. Hell, the world.
He opened her door and helped her down, not moving back to give her room, instead trapping her against the seat. Bracketing his hands around her upper arms, he leaned in. “I want people to see us together. I want to be with you, Morgan. I want more with you than just sex.” Then he kissed her, silencing any protests she might utter. She melted into him, giving him the courage to go through with this.
More than once he’d thought about calling it off, taking her somewhere else or taking her home. But something inside him told him to hold his ground. Well, he was holding it—barely—and she was kissing him back. That had to be a good sign, right?
He reluctantly broke the kiss, breathing hard, his body tense with needing more of her. He stepped back, shut the door, and took her hand in his. “Come on.”
Chapter 14
Deafening noise greeted them as they entered the Pump House. It had been a low thrum outside, but inside, a party raged. Rather than finding them a table, he helped Morgan out of her coat and then slipped out of his, tossing them at an open-mouthed Gabi and Ryder stationed at a booth with Sorene and Ash, and swung Morgan out onto the dance floor.
He did want to dance with her, wanted to hold her close, but he also wanted to show her a good time. There was much more to him than she believed, and he wanted to show her everything. Lay himself bare, which was a first for him. Now, if he could only get her to do the same. He’d been encouraged at dinner, with her revealing the bullying she received in school, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted to know everything.
Again, another first for him.
He twirled her around, and they danced to an old eighties song from Journey playing through the sound system. Brey hadn’t taken the stage yet, but he would soon. He only liked to do these impromptu visits, and he never played more than four or five songs. Mostly ballads. It was a good set up for Avery Dawson, the owner of the Pump House—and soon to be his brother-in-law as he was engaged to Cat—to close the night out with Brey, since it calmed the rabble-rousers down, giving him an easier time clearing out the bar without mishap.
“I need a drink,” Morgan shouted over the music.
He guided her toward the bar, where Avery was acting as bartender. Dare knew that this was Avery’s favorite part of his job. He loved the people and the work—counseling the customers, mixing them drinks, and brewing his microbrews—much more than running the business end of the Pump House.
“Well, you two can sure cut a rug,” Avery said. “What can I get you?”
“Just water for me,” Morgan said, catching her breath.
“Same,” Dare said.
“Water? Seriously? I have a soon-to-be wife to support,” Avery said with a mock frown.
Dare laughed. “Like my sister would ever let you support her.”
Avery shrugged. “You’re right. That woman of mine has a better mind for business than I do.”
“I don’t know,” Dare said. “I see the two of you being a power couple in this town.”
Avery smiled. “You know, you’re right. For that, drinks are on the house.”
Brey walked on stage with his guitar to a round of applause and a few hoot and hollers. Then everything went quiet, waiting for him to start strumming.
Gabi sidled up to Morgan. “Can I have a word with you?”
Dare grabbed Morgan’s hand, barely giving her enough time to s
et her glass down without spilling what was left of her water. “Not now, Brey’s about to play my favorite song.”
He dragged Morgan away from her sister and wrapped his arms around her as Brey began singing his soulful song about love lost. Dare hoped someday that Brey would write songs about love gained.
He pulled Morgan close and slowly moved against her.
“You know, Gabi isn’t going to stand for that,” Morgan said, her arms wrapping around his shoulders.
He was all about delaying that confrontation and hopefully dumping it in his brother’s lap. Let him deal with Gabi. He had enough on his plate with Morgan.
Wrapping her closer to him, he got lost in the lyrics. She must have too, as she cozied closer, until there wasn’t enough space between them for light to slice through.
The song ended, and Bart tapped him on his shoulder. “Mind if I cut in?”
“Yes, I do.” Dare stood his ground. What the hell was Bart up to?
“Well, it really isn’t up to you, now is it?” Bart looked at Morgan.
“Dare, give us a moment,” she said, her eyes imploring him to understand. Understand what? “Please,” she added when she assumed correctly that he wasn’t about to share her with Bart.
Reluctantly, he released her into Bart’s arms, even though everything inside him told him not to. He moved aside, off the dance floor where Ryder met him.
“I don’t like this,” Ryder said, watching Bart enfold Morgan in his lumberjack arms.
“And you think I do?”
“I know you don’t. I can feel it down to my bones.”
“Where’s Gabi?”
“Stewing in the corner. Don’t worry, I’ll deal with her. You’re falling in love with Morgan, aren’t you?”
The twin thing was alive and well as always. “Yeah, I am. Just realized it tonight when I could see myself married to her. Tell Gabi that. It might help.” He hoped it would, and maybe get Gabi on his side.
“They’re a little too familiar, don’t you think?” Ryder said, referring to Bart and Morgan. “Think there’s some history there?”
History.
Oh, God. The reason why.
“Shit, he’s the one.”
“One what?” Ryder asked.
But it was too late. Dare strode toward the two of them, getting close enough to overhear Bart say, “I was too hasty that night, and I shouldn’t have done what I did. I’d like to give it another try.”
That night? What the hell did he do to her?
“You’re too late,” Dare said, grabbing Bart’s shoulder and swinging him away from Morgan.
“What the hell?” Bart said, confused.
“You should be asking what Hell has in store for you for what you did to her.” Then without thinking, testosterone pumping, he threw a punch connecting squarely with Bart’s ironclad jaw, bones cracking in his hand. Bart threw the next one, among screams from Morgan and the surrounding couples.
The music stopped as Dare recovered from the jaw-splitting punch and head-butted Bart’s middle. Bart was a bear of a man, with shoulders that plowed through many games of football, but Dare was quick.
“Knock it off!” Avery hollered, grabbing Dare’s collar and choking him with it. “What the hell have I told everyone?” He yelled to the surrounding crowd. “No. Fighting. Inside. Take it outside.” He tossed Dare toward the door.
“No problem,” Dare croaked out, getting his breath back.
“I’m fine with that,” Bart agreed. “But I’d like to know why first. I thought we were buddies?”
Dare had thought of Bart as a friend and an all-around good guy, but that was before he saw him with Morgan and knew Bart was the reason she’d set off on her deflowering path.
“We were, until I figured out what you did to her.” Dare pointed to Morgan.
Morgan’s face turned ashen, and he suddenly realized he’d stepped in it. Not only had he stepped in it, but he buried himself in a hole that might be bigger than he could climb out of.
Morgan backed away from him, shaking her head, tears filling her eyes. “Why? Why would you do this? You knew I didn’t want to come here, and then you did this?”
“Morgan.” He moved toward her, his hand reaching out for her.
She threw hers up in the air to avoid him. “No. Don’t. Of all the things I wanted from you, this was certainly not on the list.”
Gabi appeared, followed by Ryder who gave him a gloomy look.
“Come on, Morgan,” Gabi said. “We’ll take you home.” Gabi bundled Morgan up in her coat and guided her toward the door, all the while giving Dare the evil eye.
Yep, he was really deep in the shit.
“Morgan,” Dare called. “Please.”
She swiveled around. “Please what? Ruin my reputation and any chance I have?”
Have?
She certainly didn’t mean that he’d ruined her chances at losing her virginity? Holy shit. One look at her said exactly that.
Well, in for a pound…
“I want to marry you!” he shouted in front of everyone, including his dad, who had moved toward the front of the gathering crowd.
“Marry you?” Morgan said. “Are you insane?’
“Yes, insane about you. Morgan Waterman, you’re the one, the one I’ve been waiting all my life for.”
“How can I be? You didn’t even know I existed until a few months ago.”
She was kind of right about that, which made him flinch. He’d known who she was, but not her personally. “When you know, you know,” he finished lamely.
“When you know, you know?” Morgan parroted. “Let me tell you what I know.”
Oh shit. He braced himself.
“You dated my sister, hell, pretty much every woman in this town. How the hell do you know anything?”
“I just…know. You’re the one,” he finished lamely.
“Well, I’m not ready for what you think you want.” She gestured to Ryder. “Yeah, I figured out that what Ryder has you want. Well, I’m not willing to settle for that. I’m not willing to settle for any man. I have dreams, my own career, and I won’t allow… any limitations I have stop me.”
Virginity wasn’t a damn limitation, he wanted to fire back at her, but he wisely kept his mouth shut.
Then she was gone. Swept out by Gabi, with Ryder following behind. He stood there on the middle of the dance floor, Brey frozen in his act of strumming, and everyone else with their beers halfway to their mouths.
Avery saved him. “Come on. I think you need a drink and we’d better get you some ice for that hand.”
He had a feeling he needed more than ice. He needed x-rays, and maybe his head examined while he was at it.
Chapter 15
“What were you thinking?” Sorene demanded. Dare’s oldest sister was in full mom mode, her hands on her hips and furrows wrinkling her brow. He wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to ground him.
Currently, he cooled his heels in an examination room at Mercy Heartbreak Medical Clinic, waiting for Gideon to bring back the results of his x-rays. He already knew his hand was broken. He just wished half his family hadn’t decided to tag along and then proceed to drive home how stupid his actions—in front of a good portion of the town—had been.
“It was apparent to everyone at the Pump House that he wasn’t thinking,” his dad commented. “Wild Streak, you don’t ask a woman to marry you that way, right after decking her ex. Have I taught you nothing on how to treat a woman?”
“I know, Dad. I screwed up.” Royally. And why hadn’t anyone told him Bart Bruhn was Morgan’s ex?
“That you did. Now what are going to do about fixing it?”
Hell if he knew, but he needed to figure it out somehow, and fast. He wondered if he could implore his dad and maybe Morgan’s dad to perform their matchmaking mojo. Lord knew, he was going to need all the help he could get. First, he needed to get his hand casted so he could get the hell out of here.
How had he not kn
own Bart and Morgan had dated? It was a goddamn small town. He should have known, or he should have at least investigated. The Heart to Heart Network could have helped him, for once in his life. It wouldn’t have taken him long to figure out that Bart was the one who had hurt Morgan. But exactly what had Bart done? He should have found that out, too, before going after him in front of everyone. Morgan had his thinking all twisted.
“You’re lucky Bart isn’t pressing charges,” Sorene said.
Gideon returned with his x-rays and held them up for them to see. Luckily, Gideon had only allowed two of his family members into the exam room. The others were cooling their heels in the waiting room, most likely waiting their turn to give him a piece of their minds.
“It’s broken,” Gideon stated the obvious.
“I told you it was,” he mumbled.
Gideon raised a sardonic brow as if to say, “I’m the doctor here, and I’ll determine if its broken or not.”
“Fortunately, it’s a clean break of the third and fifth metacarpals, and you won’t need surgery,” Gideon said. He looked at Sorene and Jack. “You two might want to step out for this. I need to set the bones, and it’s not going to be pleasant.”
Sorene visibly shuddered. “Yeah, I don’t want to see that.”
“I’m staying,” Jack said. “With Kennadee on call tonight at the fire station, you need a nurse to help you out.”
“This isn’t my first broken bone,” Dare said. It was more like his fifth, or maybe sixth. No, scratch that. How could he forget breaking his collarbone? That break had really sucked. So, this made his seventh. Geez, the way he was going, he’d be plagued with arthritis before he was thirty. “I don’t need anyone to hold my hand.”
Sorene patted his shoulder. “I’ll be back when the deed is done. Hang in there, Dare.”
Like he had a choice.
Gideon produced a needle, and Dare shied away from it, cradling his damaged hand in the crook of his other arm, his body breaking out in a cold sweat at the sight of the wicked thing. “What are you going to do with that?”
“Believe me, you want me to numb your hand up before we do this.”
Wild Streak (Alaska Wild Nights Book 6) Page 7
