I froze.
“He’d be lucky to have you.” She smiled at me, and I struggled to respond.
“Maybe I’d be the lucky one.” I choked the words out but somehow sounded smooth and conversational. It wasn’t possible. Patti didn’t know it, the town didn’t know it, Bayden didn’t know it, but things would never work between us. No matter how badly anyone wanted it to happen.
She laughed. “Oh, you’re so sweet, and I love that.”
I wished I could feel half as lighthearted as she seemed. As the world crushed down on my shoulders, the struggle between what I wanted and the right thing to do became painful. I had to remind myself that it didn’t matter what everyone else thought—they didn’t know the complete story.
“I’m sorry I’m such a meddler. I don’t mean any harm.” She seemed to grow serious for a moment.
I didn’t mean to upset her or make her feel bad for trying to set us up. “I know, and it’s sweet! Bayden is a great man.”
“How about you?” I asked, and her attention jumped to me again. Her feet shuffled on the pavement, and she shifted her weight to the side. A slight breeze ruffled her free-flowing navy shirt, and her dangling silver earrings swayed a bit as she turned her head.
She was a handsome woman, and I didn’t know how or why she was single.
“How about me? Are you trying to set me up with Bayden?” she snorted. “He’s too young for me, love.”
I shook my head. “No, I mean, is there a special man in your life? Met anyone promising?”
She paused, and I wondered if anyone ever asked her about herself. I knew she was busy, that she prided herself on knowing everything about everyone, but what about her? Maybe listening to her tell me more about herself would force Bayden from my thoughts. I’d be grateful for any reprieve from his hurt eyes and wounded walk as he left my step for his truck.
“I … No.” She paused and let out a sigh. I sensed her guard drop at the same time and focused wholly on her. “I’m happy helping people, you know?” she lifted her shoulders. “I love my job and this town, but it can be lonely if I’m honest.”
I nodded. I understood loneliness all too well.
“I’m not getting any younger, but I am worried that I might never meet the right guy.” Her hazel eyes traced the sun as it sank ever closer to the mountains.
I thought about it a moment. “Have you considered online dating?”
She glanced at me, and I hustled to explain.
“It’s not as dangerous as it used to be. I can give you some information to help keep you safe. But there’s not an endless pool of bachelors here, so meeting someone outside Cross Creek might be what you need.” I flashed a smile as her expression shifted to one of stunned amazement. Her mouth went slack, and her eyes widened.
“I never even thought about online dating,” she said.
I leaned in, and stage whispered, “You can do it on your phone.” It was amazing to me that such a simple solution had never occurred to her. I was glad to assist her for once. I knew Patti did her best to help everyone and anyone. I mean, it wasn’t even the first time she’d offered me a free haircut. It was a long-standing offer. She never charged me, but I always tipped her well. Patti did a fantastic job.
“Thank you!” She said, leaning in and hugging me.
“Let me get you that info before you start, okay? I want you to be safe.” I caught her eyes, and she nodded.
“Now, why didn’t I think of that?” She still seemed stunned.
I shrugged. “Sometimes, when we’re close to something, it’s easy to overlook.” As I said the words, I thought about Bayden again. If only there were a simple solution for us. Not that online dating was always a piece of cake, because obviously, it had its unique challenges, but it wasn’t impossible like Bayden and I were.
“I hope I didn’t upset you by pushing you so hard.” She studied my face, and I smiled.
“No worries. I’m not upset.” And I wasn’t. I knew she meant well. Heck, I agreed with her. If I didn’t know better, I’d think Bayden and I were a good fit too.
“Thank you for helping me.” She lowered her voice as if she was about to reveal a secret. “I have been worried that I’d never meet someone. Nobody wants to grow old alone, right?”
Her words landed like a sucker punch to my gut, and the air whooshed out of my lungs. I didn’t want to grow old alone, but what choice did I have? I pretended her words didn’t affect me and smiled while answering. “Right.”
My walkie keyed up. “Miranda?”
I lifted it and pressed the button. “Here,” I said, taking a few steps away from Patti.
“We have a report of a suspicious vehicle out on Creekside Road.”
Damn it, Bayden.
Chapter Six
Bayden
Saturday had dawned bright and warm, so I decided it was now or never. I’d make my move, and she’d either shoot me down, or we’d wind up enjoying quality time together.
I regretted how our last conversation had gone, and I wasn’t sure how to fix things. I planned an apology and something special. I would do my best to show Miranda I was serious.
The sound of her tires on the dirt warned me she was on her way up the drive, and I calmly watched her come into view. She parked, waited a few moments, then got out. The annoyance on her face told me a lot about her state of mind, and I reminded myself to be patient.
She slammed the SUV door and made her way toward me with an assured stride that was as no-nonsense as I’ve ever seen. She spoke quickly with her thumbs tucked into her belt and a strange refusal to meet my gaze while scanning the fields. The sun was finally settling down over the mountain ridges, and the glow from my truck grew more pronounced with every passing moment.
“What the hell are you doing, Bayden?”
I glanced at my truck; I was pretty sure it was obvious what I was doing. Refusing to be thrown by Miranda’s clipped tone and frosty greeting, I headed for the back of my truck. “Well, I figured you could use a break. You have your walkie, and this is a great chance to unwind. Plus, if I’m not mistaken, you’re at the end of your shift, so...” I glanced at her as I lowered the tailgate.
I’d strung little, fat round bulbs along the truck’s bed for light. In the bed was an air mattress that I’d already inflated and covered in fresh sheets and blankets. I placed a stocked cooler in the back seat of my king cab. We could reach through the open back window and grab a beer or snacks.
It was a date night setup and perfect for the two of us to enjoy our privacy. I wanted to spend some quality time with her, and given how our last attempt at a date had turned out, I decided it was time to try a different tactic.
“No, I mean, what the hell are you doing?” Exhaustion wrapped around her words like a wet blanket, and I struggled to keep my enthusiasm. Damn, I was striking out left and right with this woman.
“Well, since our last date ended in disaster.” I met her gaze finally, but hers skipped away. “I tried something different.” With a slight smile, I ran my hand through my hair. Was she going to tell me off? She looked like she wanted to tell me off. But as I watched, she inhaled as if to speak, but held the breath a moment, then slowly deflated.
“You’re cute, you know that?” Her tone wasn’t exactly friendly, but my smile stretched across my face.
“Thanks. Right back at ya.” Was I mistaken? Was that a positive response? She leaned away from me; her expression suddenly troubled. “Look, I’m sorry for upsetting you when I showed up at your place. That wasn’t my intention. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
She gave a slight nod. “I know. And I’m sorry for popping off at you.” Her tired eyes met mine, then left again, and I sensed there was more she wanted to say. “This is sweet.” She nodded at the back of my truck.
“What you can’t see is the cooler in the back seat. It’s loaded with beers and snacks.” I let out a slight chuckle, and a smile slowly spread across her lips. “What do you say? Are we going t
o give this dating thing another go?”
The struggle in her body language was clear. She leaned toward her vehicle as if internally telling herself she should go, but something seemed to pull her back in my direction as if she wanted to stay. Her features tightened as if the walls had come up. She didn’t want to share this fight with me.
“No pressure. If you want to leave, I’ll go first so you can make sure the hoodlum is off the property and your job is done.” I offered a grin and shoved my hands deep in my pockets. She always had me feeling like a damn teenager.
She lifted her shoulders, then headed back to her Tahoe. My heart dropped, and I waited; she was going to leave. A few moments passed, and the engine didn’t start. I headed to my truck and grabbed my water bottle to give her more time to decide, but inside I was at war. If this didn’t work, how would I come back swinging? Was she interested or not? Had I been reading her all wrong since the beginning?
Her door closed—much less forcefully this time—and I glanced in her direction. She’d taken off her belt and jacket. The white tank top was much more relaxed, and she arched a challenging eyebrow at me as if daring me to say something.
“I’m off duty,” she said with a slight lift of one shoulder.
My abs tightened, but I internally cautioned myself that she might not be staying.
“What now?” she asked, studying my face.
I nodded to the back of the truck, my hopes rising another notch. “We climb in and talk and laugh and eat snacks and drink beer.”
Her lips twitched. “I’ve never been on a date like this.”
Neither had I.
Her voice softened. “I’ve never been with a guy like you.”
I could only hope that was a good thing. “Little secret?” I asked, leaning in as if to tell her some juicy gossip. “I’ve never been with a guy like me either.”
She chuckled at my nervous joke. I gave her a hand into the truck and climbed in behind her. As she settled onto the bed, her fingertips traced one of the fat bulbs. “This is great, you know.” She glanced at me as I settled in next to her.
“Thanks. Want a beer?” I reached in and offered her a cold one. She took it, and I grabbed mine. Together, we popped the tops and clanked our bottles before we let the refreshing amber liquid quench our thirsts. “How was your day?” I asked, hoping my cheesy question would elicit another laugh from her.
“Actually, it was strange. Patti tried to set you and me up, and I helped her get into online dating.” She laughed and gave a little head shake as if the world was going to hell.
“Maybe the universe is trying to tell you something.” I took a drink of my beer and offered her a smile.
She lifted her beer with a slight shrug. “Maybe.”
“Tell me more about yourself.” I wanted to know what made her tick. I wanted to know what made her who she was and everything she was willing to share. But at my question, she tensed up.
Her voice lowered. “I was an average kid, loved horses, and grew up in a home with both parents.” She swallowed hard. “I was all around pretty normal.”
“Were you an only child?”
She didn’t answer. Instead, she took another drink and stared off into space. A minute passed, and then two. She spoke while staring at her bottle and scrubbing the corner of the label with her thumb. “What was it like, growing up with three brothers?”
I grinned. “Loud. Chaotic. Busy. Still is.” I loved my brothers, even though they drove me nuts most days.
She smiled, but it looked more like a sad expression that tugged at something deep inside me.
“What brought you to Cross Creek?” Maybe pushing was a bad idea, but I was interested in her. In her life, her past, everything about her.
Her eyes ticked to mine. “The chance to start over.”
That heavy answer told me it was time to change the subject, but I couldn’t help but try to lighten the moment. “Why? Are you secretly a bank robber?”
The corners of her lips lifted, and she shook her head.
I leaned in a little closer. “No, you’re a gunslinger. The scariest, and I bet there’s still a ‘wanted … dead or alive’ poster out there with your picture on it.”
She laughed. “How old do you think I am?”
“You’re right. It can’t be that. Maybe you’re a child star who grew up and hid out in a small town hoping to stay unrecognized and live a private life.” I leaned in a few more inches, and she lifted her hands, beer carefully held in one.
“You got me.”
“I hope so,” I said. Because every moment together was so comfortable and natural, I didn’t want to let that feeling go. She wasn’t throwing our fight back in my face like other women would have done in the past. We weren’t holding grudges; we were communicating, having fun, and enjoying each other.
Her breath caught, and the hollow of her throat bottomed out as her gaze ticked back and forth between mine. I could smell the beer on her breath and the soft citrusy smell of her perfume. That combination of grapefruit and something else made my mouth water, and I wanted to taste her.
I knew she wasn’t telling me everything. Maybe she didn’t want to tell me everything about herself. That was fine; she didn’t owe me anything. If and when she decided she wanted to talk to me about her life and past, I’d be here. But I’d wait until she was ready. I might pry a bit, but never enough that would make her uncomfortable.
Something ignited in her eyes as her gaze lowered to my lips. Her tongue traced her lower lip and left a slight sheen behind that made me desperately want her. “Can I kiss you, officer?” I asked, somewhat teasing, partially asking permission, and absolutely wanting to press my lips to hers.
Her eyes drifted across my face as if she were buying time to answer. “I’m off duty; it’s Miranda right now.” A slight glimmer of humor sparked in her eyes, and I knew she was leaving me hanging for giggles.
“Can I kiss you, Miranda?” The joke was on her. I could see the craving in her eyes, the heat, the passion, and knew this was as much torture for her as it was for me.
With a slight growl-like sound deep in her throat, she leaned in and kissed me. Her lips, warm and soft, and faintly beer-flavored, packed more of a punch than any fight I’d ever been in. She parted for me, inviting me in, and my tongue met hers. The silken slide woke a slumbering hunger in me, and I leaned into her. Her arm slipped around my shoulder, and she pulled me closer as the kiss deepened. As the sun sank out of sight and night sounds met my ears, I got lost in her.
She broke the kiss, then planted a chaste peck on my lips.
I kissed her again, then pulled back a little.
With a slight smile, she took another drink of her beer. I followed suit. A moment later, she leaned into me again. “I like kissing you,” she whispered.
“I like kissing you too,” I shot right back. Our lips met again, and that same heat blazed to life inside me. I was right; there was something different about Miranda. Because no other kiss had felt like this before, and I couldn’t get enough of her. I knew then that I would break down every wall to get to her and to keep her safe from whatever was holding her back.
Chapter Seven
Miranda
It was stupid of me to let my guard down with Bayden last night. I awoke Sunday morning with nightmares that I didn’t want to think too much about, so I let my thoughts shift to the previous night as I dragged myself into the shower.
He’d asked some questions I couldn’t answer. But when I didn’t answer, he didn’t push. Instead, he left me with the feeling that not only could I tell him anything, but that he’d be ready to listen when I came to him. That made me somewhat hopeful, but even more terrified.
Cold water hit me square in the face before turning warm, and I stood there in shock for a moment as memories crashed back through my brain. The water was so cold…
Shaking my head, I forced my attention back to Bayden. Back to our date, our time together, and the sweet gestur
es he’d shown me. The date idea was the sweetest thing anybody had ever done for me. Talking with him was less stressful than I’d imagined or expected. And his kisses…
Heat flowed through my veins as I remembered his sky-blue eyes while he asked my permission to kiss me. There’d been something gentle, but something hungry in him. I sensed his control and respected that he didn’t take what he wanted. I knew Bayden enough to see that he’d never get deterred, even when there were roadblocks, so I fully expected him to go for it and ravage me.
He’d surprised me.
I scrubbed my hair, trying to keep those other evil thoughts from creeping in; they had a way of nagging at the edges of my mind like demons waiting for the cover of darkness.
Although time with Bayden was enjoyable, I knew better than to get into a personal relationship because of all the things that haunt me. Besides that, I also needed to set a good example, and I let him sweep me up into breaking the law. Last night we were trespassing, and I let it go when it is my duty to do the right thing.
Despite the fact that everything inside me was telling me to stay away, part of me still hoped I’d bump into him again, or that he’d set me up like he had last night. There was something so fun and unexpected about that date that I was still replaying it in my mind. Nobody had ever done anything like that before. He’d considered everything and turned the night into something special, even though we didn’t do more than kiss and drink a beer before deciding to turn in for the night. Partially because it got chilly quickly, and also there were the mosquitoes, but mostly it was because I got drowsy.
He’d driven behind me to be sure I got home safely, and that tiny gesture meant so much. He’d waited until I got inside and turned on my lights, then his truck pulled out and drove off. When he got home, he sent a text to let me know he was home safe too.
I readied myself for bed with a warmth in my chest and a newfound respect for him, and then I fell asleep quicker than I could remember in a long time.
Fearless Hart (A Cross Creek Small Town Novel Book 2) Page 4
