by Peyton Banks
“Candi!” he called out.
A smile spread across her face in recognition. His gaze slid down her body, and his cock strained against his jeans. Her shirt showed off her midriff, and the shorts revealed her brown thighs.
Suddenly, he was no longer tired.
“Dallas?” She moved closer to the vehicle and paused at the door. Her face was free of the makeup she usually wore at the bar, and even though she had tiny bags beneath her eyes, she was still just as beautiful to him.
“Need a ride?” he asked. He certainly wasn’t like Tanner who was smooth with the ladies. His friend always had a woman hanging off him and pretty much took a different one home each night. Dallas was more of the direct and to-the-point type of man. He’d had his share of one-night stands, and the woman from his last long-term relationship couldn’t deal with his absence when he’d been in the military.
“I wanted to thank you for the other night.” Her southern roots came through when she spoke.
She leaned against the truck, and his gaze dropped down to the sight of her teeth nibbling on her lip.
“That’s what I’m here for,” he muttered. It had taken everything he had to keep himself from breaking the guy’s arm who had grabbed her.
Kicking them out of the bar had been very generous.
Dallas had seen red when he’d made his way to her. Ever since the men had entered the establishment, he’d had a bad feeling about them. When his gaze had landed on her, it had been easy to see she’d been frightened and the men were not backing down from her.
We’ll make sure you are paid well.
He’d almost forgotten every oath he’d ever taken.
“I know, but I just want to let you know that I really appreciate everything.”
They stared at each other for what seemed like forever, before Dallas hit the unlock button on his door. “Let me take you to breakfast.”
“I have to get home. I have these groceries.” She held her hands up to show off the bags.
“Come on, Candi, let me take you for breakfast.” He leaned over and opened the door. “Your bags will be fine. Think of this as a way for me to thank you for keeping the coffee coming.”
She grinned and nodded. “Okay.”
Candi slid into the truck, and Dallas’s heart rate increased hearing the door shut.
“Anywhere special you’d like to go?” He pulled the truck from the curb and into traffic.
“I don’t know. You pick, and I’ll treat.” She laughed.
His gaze flew to hers, and he shook his head. There was no way he’d be letting her pay.
Dallas McNeil never let a woman pay for anything.
“You don’t have to treat. Your coffee is payment enough.” He chuckled.
Her gasp filled the air. His gaze cut to hers, and a shocked expression appeared on her face.
“What?”
“I think that is the first time I’ve heard you laugh.” She placed a hand on her chest and feigned amazement.
“I laugh.” He smirked, focused on the road. He knew of a small diner that had good food and strong coffee.
“In all the time I’ve known you, I have never seen you smile.”
He tore his attention from the road to look over at her.
“I’m not that bad,” he muttered, gripping the steering wheel tight.
“It’s okay. I know you are working a lot, and moonlighting at the bar can be tough,” she said, starring out the window. “That’s why I keep the coffee coming, to make sure you’re on your A game.”
He barked another laugh and shook his head. They arrived at the diner, and he guided the truck into the parking lot.
“We’re here,” he announced. He turned the car off and exited it. He narrowed his eyes on the sight of her opening her door. “What are you doing?” he snapped, watching her step from the cab.
Hoisting her purse on her shoulder, she shut the door to the truck and spun around with her eyes wide with confusion. “Um, aren’t we going to eat?”
He stepped closer to her until his body touched hers. A gasp escaped her lips as he pushed her back against the truck, leaving no space in between them. He gently tipped her chin up with his finger so he could stare down into her eyes. He ran his fingers along her bottom lip. It was plump, and he was dying to take a taste of her.
“We are, but I just want to let you know, Candi, that a man like me will treat a woman with respect who allows me to take her out.”
Her hand slid up to cup his that held her in place.
“What are you saying, Dallas?” she whispered. Her eyes searched his.
His gaze dropped down to the pulse at the base of her neck, and he watched it race.
He met her gaze, and a small smile played on his lips. He wanted Candi but he didn’t have much to offer her. A sweet, beautiful woman like her didn’t deserve a man like him.
“I open doors for women,” he murmured. The sounds of cars passing behind them faded off. It was as if the two of them were in their own little world. Her smooth brown skin drew him to her. “I like to treat a woman like she should be treated.”
Her mouth flopped open and shut before she jerked her head in a nod.
“Okay, Dallas,” she breathed.
“Good. Let’s go eat.”
Candi had to beat down her libido. Dallas sat across from her in a tight, navy-blue LVPD t-shirt that perfectly outlined his muscular physique. Her body was in overdrive, and it was letting her know that it had been entirely too long since she’d known the pleasure of a member of the opposite sex.
A man like me will treat a woman with respect who allows me to take her out.
His words echoed in her mind on repeat. She’d practically melted against the truck. At that moment, she would have done anything he’d asked of her.
Apparently, it bothered him that she hadn’t waited for him to come open her car door.
She couldn’t even remember a time when Lamont had opened her car door for her.
She blinked and pushed her ex-husband from her mind. Sitting across from her was a relaxed Dallas, enjoying a cup of black coffee with sugar only.
At the bar, he was usually quiet and constantly moving around to keep the establishment secured. She always felt safe while he was there.
But here, she had him all to herself, enjoying brunch.
Their conversation had been steady, and she couldn’t help but smile. This was the most she’d ever heard him speak.
“Is your brother a cop, too?” she asked, pushing her plate away from her. She reached for her glass and sipped her water. The diner was small and bustling with activity.
“No. Dalton is a firefighter.” He chuckled.
“What’s so funny about that?” She tilted her head to the side, staring at him.
He was an intriguing man, and she couldn’t get enough of him. The memory of his thumb sliding along her lip had her licking her lips. She had thought he was going to kiss her, and she had been disappointed when he’d pulled back from her.
“My brother can’t shoot a gun for shit.” He laughed then gulped his coffee. His deep baritone voice washed over her, and his laugh was infectious.
“And you are a perfect shot?” She lifted an eyebrow at him, leaning forward and resting her elbow on the table.
Any little morsel of his life that he shared with her was absorbed. All she had known before was that he was a cop. It was rumored that he’d been in the service, and now she had it confirmed.
“As perfect as a human can be,” he admitted, sitting his mug down. His heated gaze took her breath away. “Someday I’d like to take you to the shooting range and show you.”
“Is that a date?” Her eyebrow rose even higher. She bit her lip and knew she was flirting.
She couldn’t stop herself.
Dallas McNeil was a man who had her full attention, and she intended for him to put her out of her misery.
He was a good man.
He was safe.
And he
was the sexiest man she’d ever laid eyes on.
Her attention moved to his hands, and the air escaped her lungs. They were large, powerful, and she knew they were the hands of a man who would know how to work her body.
His eyes darkened, and his gaze dropped down to her breasts. Her nipples grew into taut little buds, pushing against her shirt as if vying for his attention.
“Will you, Candi? Go out with me?” he asked. His voice grew husky, and he flickered his gaze to hers.
Her core clenched with the pure hunger in his eyes.
Movement at the checkout counter snagged her attention. She froze in place, recognizing the man who was not hiding that he was staring at her.
Moody Perlino.
He was an associate of her husband’s, and him seeing her out with another man was news she was sure would get back to Lamont.
She’d heard things about Moody and how he’d come by his name. A shudder rippled its way through her body. Before her husband had gone to prison, he had begun hanging with a rough crowd. She wasn’t sure what he was involved in but knew it wasn’t legal.
“What’s wrong?” Dallas asked.
Moody’s gaze shifted to Dallas who returned the stare. Moody broke off the staring contest first when the young woman behind the counter brought him his order. He grabbed the bag and once again glanced over at Candi.
His head tipped into a slight nod, then he was gone, disappearing through the front door.
Her heart slammed against her chest. She stood abruptly from the table, her hands visibly shaking as she grabbed her purse.
“Candi.”
“I have to go,” she muttered. She dug through her bag trying to find her wallet. Seeing Moody had brought back too many memories of her husband and was a reminder that she should have left Las Vegas once Lamont had gone to jail. She blinked back tears. She had been a fool to try to stay here. “Here, I’ll pay for breakfast—”
“No.” The hardness in Dallas’s voice snapped her out of the fog.
His eyes narrowed in on her. He stood from their booth and grabbed her hand. His eyes searched hers, and a storm rolled in on his face.
Dallas was pissed.
“I told you I wanted to repay you for everything you’ve done.” She tried to push the hysteria down that was growing inside her chest. Her hand connected with the few bills that were sticking out of her wallet, and she pulled them out.
“And I told you to just keep the coffee coming,” Dallas murmured. He gently pushed her hand back until it met her chest. “If you need to leave, I’ll take you home.”
She nodded and allowed him to guide her to the counter. Too embarrassed to say anything, she waited by his side while he paid the bill.
They left the diner and made their way back to his truck. Dallas escorted her to the passenger side of the vehicle and opened the door for her. Helping her in, he shut the door and walked around the car. Her gaze followed him, and she swallowed, knowing she’d probably just messed up whatever chance she had with him.
The trip to her apartment building went by in silence aside from her occasionally murmuring directions. She clutched her bags in her hands, waiting for the moment that she could jump out.
“Who was that?” The deep baritone of Dallas’s voice broke through the uncomfortable silence.
“Nobody,” she breathed. She didn’t want to explain the whole my-ex-husband-is-in-prison-and-that-was-his-shady-ass-friend situation.
“It didn’t look like nobody.”
He turned into her parking lot and pulled up to the building.
“Thanks for the ride and the meal,” she muttered before grabbing her bags and bolting from the truck.
6
Dallas strode through the door of The Commoner. He was in a shitty mood. He was early but didn’t care. He had to see Candi. He scanned the bar, but she was nowhere to be seen.
His gaze met Van’s who tipped his head in a nod. Security would be upped now that the weekend was upon them. Most of the shifts Dallas picked up at the bar were on the weekends.
It was a Friday night, and the basketball playoffs were starting this weekend. The bar would be packed with people coming to watch the games and have a good time.
He was certain Candi would be working. She was one of the best servers, and tips would be great tonight.
He didn’t know what had spooked her the other day, but he knew he didn’t like it. The guy at the diner had certainly frightened her. Something had changed about her. Everything had been going great. He’d even gone ahead and asked her to go out with him, but her answer had never come.
The fear in her eyes didn’t sit well with him, and he would get down to the bottom of it.
Making his way past the bar, he walked down the corridor for employees only. He watched Kay come from out of the back storage room.
“Kay, where’s Candi?” he asked.
She paused and eyed him up and down. He bit back a curse at the defiant look that crossed her face.
“What do you want with her?” she asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Her long blonde hair was pulled up in a bun on top of her head. She was a pretty woman but she didn’t do anything for him.
“That’s none of your business. Is she working tonight?” he asked, trying to keep his voice low.
Kay stepped close to him and narrowed her eyes on him. “She’s been through a lot, you know. You’re too intense, and I’m not sure she’s ready for the likes of you.”
She reminded him of a momma bear protecting her cubs. Fierce, loyal, and would probably scratch his eyes out.
“I’m not going to hurt her. I just want to talk to her,” he said, running a hand along his jaw.
Her scowl grew, and he rolled his eyes.
“I promise. I just want to talk to her.”
“Fine, but if you hurt her, you’ll be answering to me!” she snapped. Kay stepped to the side and waved him past.
He brushed by her, determination set in his stride. He pushed the door open. Candi teetered on a ladder, pulling a large box off the shelf in front of her.
“Dammit,” she cursed, tugging on it. She gave it one good yank, and the ladder wavered away from the wall.
She shrieked, and Dallas flew across the small room.
“Gotcha,” he announced.
She turned to him with wide eyes. Her chest was rising and falling fast. Dressed in a dark shirt and skin-tight jeans, she made his heart race. He shifted to put his body in front of the ladder and held his hand out.
“I’ll take that.”
“Thanks,” she breathed.
She handed him the box, and he set it down on the floor. She turned on the ladder, facing him, and stepped down the few rungs until she was trapped in his arms. He bit back a groan at the feeling of her breasts pushing into his chest.
“Wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself,” he murmured. His cock strained against his jeans. He wasn’t ashamed of how his body reacted to hers.
She smiled and tilted her head back.
“Always protecting me.” She chuckled. Her face was relaxed and her smile genuine.
He released the ladder and slid his arms around her. Ever since she’d run from his truck, she’d filled his thoughts and dreams. He couldn’t ever remember being this infatuated with a woman before.
“Seems like I’m always around when you need me,” he whispered, drawing her close.
She leaned into his arms as he lowered his head to hers.
Damn talking to her.
A kiss could say so much more.
He crushed his mouth to hers, which immediately opened for him. He slid his tongue between her soft lips, and the taste of her exploded on it. She was just as sweet as her name implied. Thoughts of licking her slick folds had a growl ripping from his chest.
It hadn’t been his intention to touch her, but he couldn’t control his hands.
A moan slipped from her, and it fueled his desire for her. Her hands trailed up his chest, and her fingers di
sappeared in the hair on the nape of his neck. Her large breasts were crushed against his chest, and he knew one thing.
He wanted more.
Dallas slid his hand down to her ass and gripped it. He angled his head to deepen the kiss. He loved how her ass filled his large hands. He pulled her closer, pressing his length into her belly.
He needed the woman in his arms and he would have her.
“Dallas.” Candi drew back, breathing hard. Her large brown eyes stared up at him. Her lips were swollen from his kiss.
He leaned his head down and rested his forehead on hers. “Yeah, Candi?”
“I don’t know what we’re doing, but I do have to tell you that I’m complicated.”
He chuckled and gathered her close. Little did she know, he was, too.
“Hell, I am, too.”
“So what is this between us?” she asked, stepping away.
He shook his head, unsure himself. “I don’t know, but there is one thing I do know, Candi.” He paused, lifted his head, and stared down into her eyes.
Her lips curled up into a soft smile.
“And what is that?” she whispered.
The trust in her eyes was almost enough to bring him to his knees. Panic settled in, heavy on his chest from that blind trust. It was almost like an elephant had decided to use his chest as a chair.
He swallowed hard and dragged air into his lungs.
The last time someone had put their trust in him, he’d failed. He brushed that aside. Candi wasn’t a soldier putting her life in his hands. She wasn’t a team of men being led into a desert full of enemies set on annihilating them.
“I want you, Candi.”
Her gasp filled the air.
He rushed to continue, “You never answered me at the diner, and I want to do it right. A real date. You and me.”
He paused and glanced down at her, finding a wide smile on her lips.
“I’d like that, Dallas. Very much so.”
“What did Dallas want?” Kay asked.
Candi couldn’t keep the smile from spreading across her face. It was almost closing time, and the bar crowd was thinning out. She walked over to one of her empty tables with Kay behind her.
