by Jeannie Watt
“Uh-uh,” Chad said, shooting his attention back to her.
“Then what do you propose?” Gabe asked from behind Dani, just so the asshole would know that Dani wasn’t alone. He was surprised at just how badly he wanted to do the guy some bodily harm for what he’d done to Dani—and then he had to remind himself that if Chad hadn’t cheated, he and Dani probably wouldn’t be together right now.
A tapping of a coin on the bar interrupted them. “Bartender!”
“I’ll get them,” Burt said, looking happy to escape. Quickly he squeezed past Dani and headed for the small group of customers.
“You and I can work the shift,” Chad said to Gabe in a take-command voice. “Who are you anyway?”
“Gabe.” He didn’t offer either his hand or his last name.
“Maybe we should all work together,” Dani offered in a flat voice. “The four of us crammed back here. That could be entertaining.” She let out a sigh and then called toward the closet, “You can come out, Megan.”
The door opened the rest of the way and Megan stepped out with a stack of clean bar towels, looking sheepish as she walked over and planted herself under Chad’s arm. “I didn’t want to be in the middle of a scene.”
“Oh, that’s rich,” Dani muttered.
“Hey,” Chad said, his arm tightening protectively around Megan.
“Well, we are in the middle of scene,” Dani said, cutting her eyes toward the milling crowd, some of whom were watching them surreptitiously, while others were openly staring. “And you had to be well aware that this would happen when you moved back.”
“I never thought you and I would be at the same events.”
“Why not?” Dani asked, propping her hands on her hips.
“Because you were never interested in being social.”
“But I live here,” she said on a low note of outrage. “How could you possibly think this wasn’t going to happen?” She gave her head a disgusted shake. “You thought I’d stay out of your way.”
“I know I was going to stay out of yours. You wouldn’t have seen us at any horse shows or rodeos.”
“That is ridiculous,” Dani said. “And I suppose I was to stay away from what...football games and all community events? Grocery stores? Service stations?”
“Excuse me,” an older woman said from the other side of the bar, apparently oblivious to the drama playing out on the other side of the bar. “Can I please have a Coors?”
Gabe reached down into the icy cooler beneath the counter, pulled out a beer and popped the top. “Four dollars.”
She counted out the bills, then put a tip in the jar. After a moment’s hesitation she put in another.
As soon as the lady was gone, Dani pointed a finger at first Chad and then Megan. “You cheated on me. You get no courtesy. I’ll go any damned place I want to go.”
“Scotch, please?” A soft male voice came from the other side of the counter. “Oh, Dani. How are you? And...Chad,” the guy added on a startled note. “How are you?”
Dani rolled her eyes and reached for the Scotch bottle. “I’m fine, Gerry. How are you?” Gabe took it from her and poured the shot.
“Five dollars.”
“I thought we could be civilized...and stay out of each other’s way.”
“At least until Chad gets promoted to regional manager and then we’ll be gone,” Megan said as if it was going to happen tomorrow.
“What if he doesn’t?” Dani asked.
Megan’s mouth fell open as if the possibility had never occurred to her.
“Why don’t Gabe and I work this shift,” Chad said.
“And Megan and I can go powder our noses?” Megan drew closer to Chad and Dani said, “I’m kidding.”
“Easy solution,” Gabe said. “Dani and I will tend bar. You guys go and schmooze and everyone can be relieved that the first awkward big moment is over.”
“It’s true,” Dani said lightly. “Now you can go to rodeos and I can go to the grocery store.”
Chad lifted his chin in a quick movement of agreement and steered his bride out from behind the bar and into the kitchen.
Once they were gone, Dani pushed her hair back from her forehead with her wrist. “That sucked. But it’s over.” She stepped toward the bar as a group of people approached, pasting on a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, but she was more relaxed than she’d been since walking in the door. And no blood had been spilled. Yet.
“Would you mind taking care of these guys?” Gabe asked, settling his hand on her lower back for a brief moment. “I’ll be right back.”
“Gabe—”
He smiled reassuringly, then headed out from behind the bar toward the coat check. Once he was out of sight, he doubled back and went into the kitchen, where Chad and Megan stood close to the exit, deep in conversation.
“Would you excuse us?” he said to Megan as he approached.
“I will not,” she said, flashing him an indignant look.
“Honey, let us talk,” Chad said without taking his eyes off Gabe.
“Sweetheart, I don’t think—”
“Please.”
“This won’t take long,” Gabe said before turning his attention back to the hometown hero.
“What the hell do you want?” the hero growled.
“I’ll tell you what I want,” Gabe said as he moved closer. “I want you to stay the hell away from Dani. If you see her in a store, I want you to go the other way.”
“It’s a free country.”
“Which means I’m free to cause you pain if you mess with her in any way.”
“Pain?” Chad sneered.
Gabe said nothing. He just continued to stare the bastard down the same way he’d stared down more than one purported badass who’d lived in his neighborhood during the bad old days. Finally Chad cleared his throat and Gabe stepped back. “I’m glad we understand each other.”
He started to turn, caught movement out of the corner of his eye in time to duck, then righted himself and sank his fist into Chad’s gut.
Chad let out a low groan as he doubled over. Gabe stood where he was, hands at the ready, just in case the asshole wanted more. Chad wretched again, as Megan rushed between Gabe and Chad, putting her hands out to push the two of them apart.
“I’ll call the police,” she said.
“He swung first,” Gabe replied coolly, thinking that Stewart was going to kill him.
“No police,” Chad said slowly, straightening back up, Megan clinging protectively to his arm.
“So we have an understanding?” Gabe asked.
Chad gave a short nod, then brushed by him. It was then that Gabe noticed Dani standing near the kitchen door leading to the bar, looking none too happy. Gabe idly rubbed his knuckles—Chad had a serious six-pack—then gave a shrug. “Who’s minding the bar?”
“We are,” she said, giving her head a quick shake before pushing her way back through the swinging door.
The rest of their hour-long shift passed quickly and uneventfully, but Dani spent most of the time seemingly lost in thought. Gabe didn’t push. The band started playing just before their shift ended. Chad and Megan danced the first dance and Dani leaned back against the wall, folding her arms over her chest as she watched.
“How’re you doing?” Gabe asked, mirroring her position, leaning against the wall next to her.
“I’ve been better, but I’ve also been worse.” Her shoulders rose, then sank again. “I’m glad it’s over.” She turned her head to look at him. “I’m glad you were here.”
“You didn’t need me.”
“But you needed to threaten him anyway?”
“Pretty much, yes.”
She leaned closer and lightly touched her lips to his. “I don’t approve, but I forgive you.”
He tilted her chin up and couldn’t help lowering his mouth to hers in a light kiss. “Good.”
“Our replacements are coming now.” She softly nipped his lower lip and Gabe started plannin
g their escape when she said simply, “Let’s go.”
She didn’t have to ask twice. Gabe took her hand and wound his way from behind the bar to the door and blessedly fresh air. Once outside, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her long and hard.
“Let’s go home.”
Gabe didn’t know what she considered home, but had the sudden and disconcerting feeling that it didn’t matter as long as he was with her.
* * *
DANI OPENED HER eyes when Gabe parked next to Dani’s good truck near his walkway. They hadn’t spoken much on the drive to his house, but it hadn’t been an uncomfortable silence. If anything she felt better than she’d felt in the past several days and the nerve jangling sexual tension building between herself and Gabe only added to her sense of well-being. Tension and well-being didn’t normally go hand in hand in Dani’s world, but they seemed to do just that when Gabe was involved.
Only now she wasn’t certain what her next move was. Did she go home? Ask to stay?
Gabe did. “Want to come in?”
“Yes.”
“Stay put.” Surprised, Dani took her hand off the door handle then watched in some amusement as he crossed around the front of the car, opened her door and put out his hand to help her out. He kept her fingers in his as he shut the door, then led her up the walk to the front door, where he stopped to dig out his keys.
He’d barely escorted her inside when she framed his face in her hands and kissed him. She heard the keys drop on the counter behind her, then he wrapped his arms around her, one hand threading through her hair as he kissed her back. Dani started unbuttoning his shirt between kisses, as he brought his hands up to slide over her silk dress, his thumbs brushing against the undersides of her breasts. It felt so good to touch a man. No, it felt good to touch this man. She couldn’t think of another guy she’d want to be doing this with.
And, bless him, he didn’t ask if she was sure. She wouldn’t be doing this if she wasn’t. There was a reason she’d only had the one bourbon before shifting to water. She wanted her head clear enough to deal with Chad, if necessary, and to drive home from Gabe’s place, if she so chose. She didn’t. For the first time ever she wanted to sleep with someone just for the experience. And if the hard length of him pressing against her lower abdomen was any indication, this was going to be an experience to remember.
He pushed the silk straps aside and pressed his lips to her shoulder, sending a shiver through her. Dani drew herself up straighter as her breath caught, then she tilted her head sideways, giving him access as he continued moving his lips along the side of her neck, his hands moving lightly over her breasts then skimming down her sides. Dani leaned against him, again feeling his erection pressing against her. She reached behind her to place her palms on the sides of his lean hips, pulling him even closer as her head came back to lean against his shoulder. He gently squeezed her breasts, then curled his fingertips under the edge of the slippery fabric, caressing her skin.
Dani reached up to release the side zipper and the fabric slid to her waist, allowing him full access. He turned her in his arms, leaned back to take a good look, then smiled. “Oh, yeah,” he murmured, gently weighing her breasts in his hands, his thumbs moving over the nipples before he lowered his head and gave them his full attention.
“Don’t stop,” Dani muttered, her fingers tangling in his dark hair.
He laughed against her skin, and Dani sucked in a sharp breath as his hands slid down over her ass, then lifted her onto the counter behind him. She automatically opened her knees, pulling him forward. He leaned in to claim her mouth, his hands resting on her thighs, his thumbs moving against the sensitive skin close to her core. She inched forward, increasing the delicious contact, until she had his fingers exactly where she wanted them. She knew she was hot and damp against his hand, her breathing became shallow as he moved against her. She was being totally, selfishly hedonistic, but he didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he seemed to be getting into it.
“Don’t come yet,” he murmured against her mouth. “Wait for me if you can.”
“No. Promises.” Dani let her head fall back against the counter, thinking it was no fair for him to make demands like that when his fingers were clearly on a mission to drive her over the edge.
Suddenly she sat upright and scooted a few inches back, breaking contact. She met his eyes, swallowed and then said, “Let’s go to your room.”
“Excellent plan.” He slid her forward, then swung her into his arms, carrying her across the dim living room to the short hallway that opened into the master bedroom, where a single lamp was lit near the bed. Dani had the impression of dark wood and cream-colored linen, but her focus was on Gabe and getting him out of the confines of his clothing.
He covered her hands as they began working on his remaining shirt buttons and pulled them low to cup against his erection through his pants. He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again as Dani started working on his belt. He didn’t move as she undid the buckle, then the buttons and zipper beneath it. Seconds later she had the long hard length of him in her hands. She closed her eyes as she caressed, savoring the feel of him.
“I need you inside of me,” she murmured. “Now.” She stepped backward, sinking down onto the bed, bringing him with her, moving her hips to free the dress fabric that had gotten caught beneath her as he pushed her skirt aside.
Seconds later he pushed into her, hard and deep. Dani gasped, then slowly exhaled as he pulled out, then pushed in again, his movements slow, controlled. She arched her back and pressed against him, needing more. Gabe obliged. Her legs wrapped around him, clutching him against her, and he began to move more rapidly. He was losing control and Dani found herself reveling in it, moving with him, meeting his thrusts. Rising. Falling. She tried to hold off, truly she did, but on one particularly deep thrust, she lost it as she arched hard against him, a silent cry caught in her throat as waves of pleasure crashed over her. Gabe made a sound low in his throat as he felt her response, then thrust one last time, hard and deep, before emptying himself into her.
His damp forehead came down to rest on hers as he fought to catch his breath. Then he rolled off from her, pulling her against his side so that she was half-sprawled over him. Her skirt tangled around her legs.
He let out one last breath, then said, “I never even got my pants off.”
Dani laughed, her voice low and husky as she said, “I’ll pay for the dry cleaning.”
He brought a hand up to smooth her hair. “Oh, no. Etiquette demands that I pay.”
“And why is that?”
He gave her a wicked look. “Because I wanted you to keep that dress on. All night I watched you and a good part of that time I was thinking about hauling you off into the backseat of a car and making out—high-school style.”
“You should have told me. I would have taken you to the parking spot.”
“I think this might have been a touch more comfortable, even with the belt involved.”
Dani smoothed her hand over his chest, loving the feel of the flat, hard muscles beneath the curling dark hair. “Maybe next time.”
He rolled his head to look down at her. “Next time.”
She smiled lazily up at him. “Any idea when that might be?”
“As in how long from right now?” His hand moved over her hip, cupping the curve of her ass.
She laughed. “What are your capabilities?”
Lightly tracing the curve of her breast, he said, “Give me a moment and perhaps we’ll find out.”
“Perhaps?”
He tipped her chin up to kiss her. The heat was already starting to flare again. “Strike the perhaps.”
* * *
DANI PUSHED HERSELF up on one elbow, smiling at Gabe as he lay sleeping in the tangle of sheets. She ached in places she hadn’t ached in a while and she realized that while she wouldn’t mind aching there some more, she needed to get back to her place to feed hungry mouths and get ready to meet with th
e client stopping by to pick up her mare in exactly four hours. She slipped out of bed and found her underwear and dress. She picked up her shoes by their sling-back straps, then walked to Gabe’s side of the bed to sit on the edge. Instantly a strong arm came around her, pulling her down.
Dani laughed and pushed herself upright. “I’d love to stay but I have a client coming soon.”
He smiled sleepily, but it still managed to look awesomely wicked. “I won’t keep you...unless, of course, you want breakfast.”
Dani leaned down to touch her forehead against his. “I’d love breakfast, but I do have to go.”
He kissed her and it was all Dani could do to pull herself away and not crawl back into the bed and have her way with him.
“See you later?” he called as she approached the door.
“I’m working Molly at three o’clock like usual.”
“I’ll be there.”
She certainly hoped so. One thing she wasn’t going to do was to let herself think too much. For once in her life she was going to be more like Jolie, living moment-to-moment, day-to-day, certain that everything will work out. She didn’t even know how she wanted this to work out. More data was necessary, so for now she’d follow her gut.
And right now her gut was saying to clear some time in her schedule for Gabe.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
GABE GOT UP shortly after Dani left, wandering out to living room to stare across the field at her house. He’d known going in that he was complicating his life, compromising his mission, but he’d do it all over again. He reached down to shift himself. Dani knew what made her feel good and she wasn’t shy about asking and he loved that. He’d done everything she asked—and more—and he was more than ready to do it again. If and when he had the chance.
But as he turned away from the window and headed to the bathroom, where he cranked on the shower, he knew he’d be spending more time with Dani. She didn’t seem to be a hit-and-run kind of girl and all of a sudden he didn’t see himself as a hit-and-run guy.
