Sapphire Falls: Going My Way? (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Samantha Chase

  Dylan glared at him. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Will chuckled and took a pull from his beer. “Okay. Sure. You keep telling yourself that. But I’ve been watching the two of you all week. You’re constantly watching her and she does the same thing to you.”

  Dylan perked up a bit. “She does not.”

  Nodding, Will grinned. “She does too. As a matter of fact, when you’re working on her car and bent over the hood, she spends a little extra time watching you. If I had to take a guess I’d say she’s particularly attracted to your ass.”

  Dylan couldn’t help but chuckle. “Don’t be a dick.”

  “Just calling it as I see it.”

  “Yeah, well…it’s not gonna happen.”

  “And why is that?”

  Rolling his eyes, Dylan opted not to answer and took another long pull of his beer. Chloe was laughing at something some guy was whispering in her ear and Dylan felt an overwhelming urge to stalk across the room and put an end to it.

  “Look, I get it, man. You’ve got this plan in your head about your life. You always have,” Will said. “But sometimes it’s okay to go off-script. Take a chance.”

  Without looking away from Chloe and the guy who wasn’t going to live to see the festival, he replied, “She’s leaving.”

  “That’s what I’m saying,” Will said with a loud sigh. “She doesn’t have to be your freaking wife, Dylan. It’s okay to have a little fun once in a while without it being part of some master plan.”

  If only it were that easy, Dylan thought. But he knew if he had one night with Chloe he’d want two. If he had two, he’d want four. And after that…hell…he’d want forever.

  He already did.

  “I…I can’t, Will. It’s hard to explain but…it’s just not me. Not anymore.”

  “Your loss then,” Will said as he stood and walked away.

  Dylan watched him go – figuring he was going to grab a beer. But then…oh, hell no. He was walking up to Chloe and…asking her to dance? What the hell?

  That was it. He was done. Tossing back the rest of his beer, he stood and strode across the bar. It seemed a little weird how a path had suddenly cleared for him – a little like the Red Sea parting for Moses – but he couldn’t focus on that. He had to get to her, to Chloe.

  When he reached them, he heard Will say, “Hey, Dylan. Chloe and I were just…”

  He never let him finish. Without even looking at his friend – because his eyes were set on her – Dylan took Chloe’s hand in his and gently tugged her to him. “Dance with me.”

  She didn’t speak. She simply nodded.

  As soon as they were on the dance floor, Dylan pulled her even closer and…wait…when did the music change to a ballad? Strange things were happening here tonight, but still Dylan didn’t want to think about them. Chloe was here, in his arms and it felt just as good as it had the previous night.

  This was crazy, he thought. Why was he fighting it? Fighting himself? Sure he wanted forever. Temporary relationships always left him feeling empty and he had a feeling temporary with Chloe may even kill him, but…

  “Dylan?” she whispered his name but he heard it – even over the music.

  He looked down at her and knew his expression was fierce.

  “I don’t want to dance,” she said softly.

  And just like that his heart kicked hard in his chest. For a minute there, he’d thought they were on the same page. And after that kiss last night, he had seriously hoped they were. But now…he swallowed hard and realized she was looking up at him expectantly. What the hell was he supposed to say?

  “Okay,” he said stiffly.

  And then, in a move that took him completely off guard, Chloe took him by the hand and started to lead him toward the door. Wait…what? And once again, there was a clear path. He couldn’t find his voice until they were out the door and standing in the parking lot. “Chloe?” he said, his voice gruff.

  She stopped and spun around to face him. “Where are you parked?” She started glancing around the crowded parking lot.

  “What’s going on?”

  “We’re going home.”

  “Um…okay. You didn’t have to leave just because you didn’t want to dance with me. I didn’t mean to be presumptuous or anything. I just thought…”

  “Dylan?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Stop talking.”

  “What?”

  She huffed with frustration and pulled her hand from his. “Do you seriously not get this?”

  Honestly? He didn’t. And now he felt stupid admitting it.

  “Let me make it easy for you,” she said and then pretty much threw herself in his arms. Dylan was quick to catch her just as her lips met his. Her legs wrapped around his waist as she threw his entire world off its axis. His hands grabbed her ass and held her close and it wasn’t until he heard a round of applause that he remembered where they were.

  They broke apart and both turned their heads toward the bar. Chloe laughed and then hid her face in the crook of his neck.

  And then he was done thinking about his plans, her leaving and just about anything else. With a quick wave to the crowd, he turned and stalked over to his truck and quickly got them settled before heading for home.

  Thank God for small town living because they were pulling into his driveway in less than five minutes. Neither spoke. Actually, Dylan was afraid to. He didn’t want to break the spell or give either of them a chance to overthink this.

  Okay, he was pretty sure Chloe wasn’t going to do that, but he might.

  So instead, he shut off the truck and climbed out. She met him in front of the hood and Dylan instantly clasped her hand in his and gently tugged her along behind him. As soon as they were through the front door, he spun her around so her back was against the wall and kissed her.

  Claimed her.

  Devoured her.

  He lost all concept of time as he just took his time tasting her, touching her. When it was no longer enough – when his legs no longer felt as if they could hold him up – he lifted his head. His breath was coming out raggedly as his eyes met hers. “You sure about this?”

  Licking her lips, she nodded. “Definitely.”

  Dylan took a step back and kept walking backwards toward his bedroom, his gaze never leaving hers. If he touched her again right now, they wouldn’t make it there and he really wanted her in a bed.

  His bed.

  All night.

  There was a small lamp next to his bed that was lit and that was all he wanted. Once they were in the room, he pulled his t-shirt up and over his head – kicked off his boots. Chloe stood and watched him. He liked that.

  “I wanted you here last night,” he admitted.

  “All you had to do was ask.”

  That shocked him. A lot. “But…you said…”

  She chuckled softly and shook her head. “I never said I didn’t. I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page. But you bolted from the room so…” She shrugged. “I thought you weren’t interested.”

  Walking up to her, he took her hand in his and placed it over his straining erection. “Does this feel like I’m not interested?”

  Her smile was slow and sweet and sexy all at the same time. “Oh, I’d say you’re definitely interested.”

  Now it was his turn to smile. “How about I show you how interested I really am?” He lowered his head and began to lick and kiss and suck his way up the slender column of her throat.

  “I thought you already were,” she said breathlessly.

  Then Dylan lifted his head and gave her a heated grin. “Sweetheart, that is only just the beginning.”

  And just as she had earlier, Chloe threw herself into his arms and willingly gave herself over to him.

  Six

  It was almost five and Chloe looked at the clock and almost groaned. It was too early. And there was no way she was ready to even think about getting out of bed, especially this bed.
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  Dylan’s bed.

  Holy. Hell. The man certainly knew what he was doing in here and she felt sorry for any woman who was crazy enough to let him get away.

  Like you’re going to do?

  She yelled at her inner voice to shut up. She wasn’t ready to go there yet. Everything was still all sweet and dreamy and…yes, Dylan’s hands were currently caressing her from knee to breasts and back again.

  Best. Wake up. Ever.

  She actually purred.

  “I like the sound of that,” Dylan murmured next to her ear.

  “How about we make a deal? You keep touching me like this and I’ll keep sounding like that.”

  He chuckled softly before leaning in and nuzzling her neck. “You’re on.”

  You had to love a man who was so completely agreeable, she thought to herself. Well, that and the fact that he was clearly a man hell-bent on giving her pleasure. She wasn’t normally a morning person – for any reason – but with Dylan’s hands stroking her body Chloe knew she totally could be.

  Somewhere beside them, Dylan’s phone beeped with an incoming text, but they chose to ignore it. It was early. Too early. And whoever it was trying to get in touch with him would just have to wait. If he stopped what he was doing to her right now, she just might cry.

  It didn’t take long for her breath to quicken, her back to arch. Dylan was still pressed up against her back – his erection nudging her – but his hands and his mouth were doing all the work. She wasn’t one for begging, but as he reached down and teased her to orgasm, Chloe cried out and told him explicitly what she wanted.

  Dylan gently rolled her onto her back and covered her lips with his. This kiss was deep and wet and held all kinds of promises. Chloe wrapped her legs around him and arched against him to bring him as close as she possibly could. She smiled against his lips when he did his best to stay pressed against her even as he reached over to the bedside table for a condom.

  And then he was back and kissing her and she barely registered the tearing of the wrapper or the brief moment he moved away from her because in the blink of an eye, Dylan sank into her. The sensation was so intense that she let out a very loud sigh. A happy one. They moved together perfectly and if they never left this bed, Chloe knew she’d be a very happy woman.

  He whispered in her ear how good she felt, how much he wanted her and before she knew it, her body was on the verge of another orgasm that wasn’t going to be put off no matter how much she tried. She gave in to it and soon Dylan followed her over the edge, calling out her name.

  Breathless, Dylan rolled to the side and tucked Chloe in close beside him, placing a kiss on the top of her head. “Best alarm clock ever,” he murmured.

  “I’ll say.” She snuggled close. “Who was texting you this early in the morning?”

  “Oh, shit…I completely forgot about that.” Reaching over, Dylan picked up the phone and tapped the screen to pull up the text. He chuckled and put the phone back down before getting comfortable beside her again.

  “Is everything all right?” she asked, curious as hell to know who the message was from.

  “Mm-hmm.” Dylan hugged her and seemed in no rush to get up or even give her more of an explanation.

  “Um…Dylan?”

  “Hmm?”

  With a loud sigh, Chloe started to roll away but Dylan held her tight.

  “It was Will,” he said and then yawned.

  She lifted her head and looked at him. “What did he want this early?”

  A slow grin spread across Dylan’s face. “You sure you want to know?”

  Her mind began to race. Was it bad news? Was he ill and not coming to work today? Wordlessly, she nodded.

  Opening his eyes, Dylan looked at her with amusement. “He told me to sleep in today since he figured I didn’t get a whole lot of sleep last night. He’s got everything under control at the shop and said you should probably come in late too. With me.”

  Chloe’s eyes went wide and she felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment. “Oh my God…”

  He laughed. “After the show we gave everyone in the parking lot, you didn’t think people were going to notice or say anything?”

  “Honestly, I wasn’t even thinking about it at the time! I didn’t care what everyone was thinking then! And I certainly didn’t consider what they’d all be talking about today!” She buried her face against his shoulder and wanted to die of embarrassment.

  “Chloe,” he began softly, “people have been grilling you about us all week. It will be no different today.”

  “Yes it will,” she mumbled against him.

  “Why?” he asked, doing his best to maneuver so she’d have to look at him.

  When she finally looked at him, she knew her cheeks were still red. “Because now they know there’s something going on. There’s no more speculation. I’m…I’m not used to making such a public spectacle of myself or being the talk of the town. And yet…ever since I arrived in Sapphire Falls it seems like that’s all I’ve been.” She sighed and lay back beside him, her head on his shoulder.

  “Believe it or not, they’re not doing it to make you feel uncomfortable. We’re just all pretty close-knit around here. I guess I don’t even think about it because it’s all I’ve ever known.” He paused. “I’m sorry if it upset you. I’ll take care of it.”

  Now she felt bad. “No, no, no…and besides, it’s not like it’s going to be forever. I’ll be leaving soon and I’m sure with the festival and everything they’ll be something new to talk about.”

  Was it her imagination or did Dylan seem to tense up beside her?

  Swallowing hard, she forced herself to speak. “Don’t you think?”

  He made a non-committal sound and then they were both silent. Chloe wasn’t sure what she should do – go back to sleep? Get up and make coffee?

  The decision was taken from her hands when Dylan hugged her and maneuvered them so she was on top of him.

  “Dylan? What…?”

  He silenced her with a kiss.

  And it was noon before they made it to the shop.

  ****

  For the first time in years, Dylan didn’t want to be at work. He couldn’t focus on what he was doing and he couldn’t care less about engine issues.

  He wanted to be back in bed with Chloe.

  Damn.

  The woman had pretty much turned his entire world upside down and he couldn’t find the strength to care. Except…she was still leaving. Not that he thought one night of incredible sex was going to change that, but…okay. He kind of did. When she had mentioned that she was leaving soon, Dylan’s heart had stopped. It wasn’t rational, but there it was.

  They hardly knew each other.

  She had plans for her life and so did he.

  It just sucked that those plans involved two completely different locations.

  With a sigh, he finished tightening the bolt on the Mustang’s radiator, the last bolt. The last…everything. Her car was fixed. And it was fixed to his standards – and not just to make it to Oregon or wherever it was Chloe was heading. He’d done the extra work and absorbed the cost himself – not that she needed to know that. This was who he was, a man who helped people. Besides, Dylan had a feeling she’d be pretty pissed off if she found out he’d done all the work they had originally talked about without talking to her about it first.

  He looked toward the office and smiled. He could see her through the sliding glass window that divided the spaces. She was talking to someone at the desk – he couldn’t see who – and she was laughing. God she had a great laugh! And a beautiful smile. And…

  “Man, you have it bad.”

  Dylan turned and looked at Will who was grinning like a loon beside him. “Excuse me?”

  “You,” Will said simply. “You have it bad for her. I didn’t really expect you to come in today at all.”

  “Really?” Dylan replied sarcastically. “Because I’m so prone to taking days off for no reason?”

&n
bsp; “Dude, you totally had a reason and no one would blame you. Hell, you’d be doing us all a favor by staying home.”

  Dylan looked at him in confusion. “How is that?”

  “You’re distracted. She’s distracted. I’ve had to go into the office about a dozen times because Chloe’s jammed the printer or she’s forgotten how to do even the simplest of tasks. It’s kind of amusing.”

  Annoyance and then anger began to fill Dylan – he didn’t want anyone making fun of Chloe. He could handle it about himself, but after their conversation this morning, he certainly didn’t want anyone making stupid comments around her that were going to upset her. “Don’t you dare say…”

  “This is what I’m talking about,” Will interrupted. “You’re not a defensive guy, Dylan. Hell, you go with the flow. Nothing ever upsets you. But ever since Chloe arrived, you’ve been a little more…on edge. I would have thought last night…”

  “Shut up,” Dylan growled.

  “Dylan…”

  He stepped menacingly close to Will and had to refrain from grabbing him and shaking him. “I don’t want you or anyone around here talking about Chloe or about anything that happened last night. Do I make myself clear?”

  Will’s eyes went a little wide and his grin slowly faded. He took a step back. “Crystal.” He cleared his throat. “I didn’t mean any harm, Dylan. Honestly. I…” He held out his hands helplessly. “I just thought it was great. You deserve to be happy and…well…it looked like Chloe was the girl to make that happen. I’m sorry.” And then he turned and walked away, leaving Dylan feeling like shit.

  Turning, he shut the Mustang’s hood and stalked across the garage and nearly pulled the door to his office off its hinges in his haste to escape. Slamming the door behind him, Dylan collapsed in his desk chair and groaned. What the hell was he doing? Arguing with his friends and employees…coming in late to work…and for what? A relationship that was going to be over practically before it even began.

  He pulled off the cap he was wearing and tossed it across the room. Glancing at the clock he saw it was after four. The day was almost over and maybe if he played his cards right, he could just stay in here and hide out until everyone left.