by Mari Carr
Of course, it wasn’t like Porter had given any indication of wanting to sleep with her anyway. They’d probably moved from acquaintances to friends simply because they were together more these days. After all, his best friend was married to her sister.
He chuckled. “Pretty sure I’m not a vampire. I just don’t need more than six hours sleep a night.”
Adele feigned a shudder. “Jesus. I’m a complete wreck on anything less than nine hours of shut-eye.”
Porter shook his head and grinned, drawing her attention to the deep dimples by his mouth. Ever since that first dance, she’d started noticing a lot of things about Porter she’d never seen before.
Like his dark brown eyes surrounded by laugh lines, earned through years of genuine, easygoing smiles.
Like his tanned complexion, thanks to long days spent working outside in the Texas sunshine.
Like his large, muscular frame that seemed to fill any room he walked into. He was half a foot taller than pretty much everyone around them, and his shoulders were broad, his hands huge. She could still remember the way his big hand had felt on the small of her back when he’d wrapped her up in his arms and twirled her around the dance floor.
Enough, Adele. Stop looking at the pretty cowboy.
“Night, Adele. Money’s on the table,” Mr. Powell called out from across the restaurant.
“Thanks. Y’all drive safe,” she said.
Porter rose and was just about to walk toward the door to lock it when the bell above it jingled and Nick walked in.
“Shit,” she muttered under her breath, loud enough to capture Porter’s attention, provoking a frown. He knew she’d been going out with Nick, but she wasn’t sure if he knew she’d broken things off.
Although Macie had probably told him.
Her sister told everybody everything.
Every-fucking-thing.
She forced a smile, though she was sure she’d missed the mark by a mile. “Hey, Nick. I was just about to close up.”
Nick nodded. “Yeah. Closing time. I was hoping…” He glanced at Porter. “Hoping to catch you alone so we could talk about some stuff.”
She didn’t have the energy for this. She really didn’t.
Adele shook her head. “I think we’ve said all that needed to be said.”
There was something in her genetic makeup that ensured she was always going to speak her mind in a disagreement, and she’d spoken her truth the night she’d broken things off with him. If there was one thing she couldn’t stand, it was people who minced their words. Nick was a big old mincer, the king of tiptoeing around his real thoughts, instead, trying to say what he thought she wanted to hear.
Although, she was aware she’d blindsided Nick when she’d called a halt to the whole relationship two seconds before they were about to hop into bed. He’d hemmed and hawed, completely gobsmacked as she’d hastily thrown her clothes back on before tossing his jeans at him.
She’d explained to Nick that while she thought he was a nice guy, she believed they’d be better off as friends. Granted, her timing hadn’t been great, considering she’d pulled away in the middle of a lame, uninspiring kiss. But given his lacking foreplay, she wasn’t about to go through with what was obviously going to be lackluster sex.
Life was too short for that shit.
She had genuinely liked Nick and had thought they might have a good time between the sheets, but that attraction had dried up after the twelfth time he’d asked, “What now? Tell me how you want me.”
Jesus, the guy had actually expected—needed—her to spell it all out for him, step by step, and that was when she realized they’d never work in the bedroom because they both resided on the submissive side of the equation, neither of them interested in the dominant role.
Adele didn’t let her thoughts linger on the fact she’d never even considered dominance and submission until Porter.
She really needed to stop listening to all the Porter stories.
“We were having such a good time.” Nick glanced at Porter pointedly, but the rugged cowboy wasn’t budging. Hell, he wasn’t even pretending he wasn’t listening to the entire conversation.
Adele fought not to laugh, grateful he was sticking around. She was dog-tired, and she hoped that Porter’s presence would discourage Nick from dawdling too long.
Of course, this was more backbone than she’d seen in Nick, which would have been helpful in her bedroom a couple weeks ago.
Now it just was annoying as hell.
She’d made the break and she wanted it to stay broken. As it turned out, hashing out why a relationship was broken after an eternal day at work landed at the very top on her list of shit she despised—right before pap smears and eating liver and onions.
Who knew?
“Nick,” she started.
“I want a second chance,” Nick interjected. “I can…do better. I’ve been…researching.”
Adele bit her lower lip, uncertain if she wanted to laugh or cry.
Was Nick trying to subtly tell her he’d been watching porn?
Fuck my life.
This was ranking as one of the most uncomfortable moments of her life, which was saying something, considering the fact she was sort of professional when it came to doing stupid shit.
After she’d called a halt to their awkward beginning in the bedroom, Adele had tried to explain that she preferred a lover who was a bit more “take charge” in the bedroom and that it was obvious he wanted the same.
When he asked what she’d meant, she’d come a hell of a lot cleaner than she probably should have, telling him she preferred a dominant man with a kinky side.
Then, fool that she was, she’d listed the kinks the Maris grapevine had supplied about Porter’s bedroom proclivities, including spankings, bondage, hair pulling, and toys. Nick had looked like a fish out of water, his mouth opening and closing without sound for several minutes.
He hadn’t managed to find his voice until they’d both put their clothes back on and she was pushing him toward the door.
Just before leaving, he’d told her he wouldn’t mind exploring those kinks with her, but she’d known—without a shadow of a doubt—that he still hadn’t gotten it. There was no question in her mind that his idea of exploring meant a tit-for-tat situation where they’d take turns on the receiving end.
She had zero desire to play dominatrix to some weak-ass CPA, and she thought she’d done a great job of explaining that in a kind way. The truth was they were too much alike in their sexual desires to ever be truly compatible.
Obviously, she hadn’t done as well setting him straight as she thought.
“Nick. Please. I really think it would be smart to just leave—”
“I can give you what you want.” He lowered his voice when he added, “In bed.”
Porter’s eyebrows raised, a slight smirk tilting his lips upwards.
Adele narrowed her eyes, suddenly feeling the slightest niggling of annoyance toward the hot cowboy.
After all, he was the reason she was in this predicament to begin with.
Him and those damn dances.
Maybe him sticking around wasn’t such a great thing after all.
Adele shook her head, trying to figure out how the hell she could get out of this mess without hurting Nick’s feelings and showing Porter more than she wanted him to see.
“No,” she said as gently as she could. “Please don’t make me say it all again, Nick.”
“Give me a chance. To prove I can do it.”
Adele closed her eyes, aware there was no easy way out of this. She hated hurting anyone’s feelings, and she’d been pretty proud of her breakup track record, managing to remain good friends with both of her previous ex-boyfriends, parting amicably with Alex and Keith.
Hell, Alex was still on her Christmas card list, and she and Keith chatted on the phone every now and again. They’d spoken weekly after he left town, but lately, she’d started hesitating to answer when she saw his n
ame on her cell because the conversations invariably led to him asking her to move to St. Louis, and with each failed date, it was getting harder and harder to say no.
Before she could figure out what to say next, Porter spoke up.
“I’m afraid you’re too late, Nick,” Porter said. “Addie and I are going out now.”
Nick frowned, clearly confused, considering she’d only dumped him a couple weeks ago. “Addie?”
Porter nodded.
“Going out? You mean you’re on a date right now?” Nick asked.
“No. I mean we’re dating. She’s my girlfriend.”
“But…I…I mean…you…Porter, you don’t…” Nick stammered.
Adele understood why Nick was struggling. Everyone in town knew Porter didn’t date and he’d never had a girlfriend.
Ever.
And while she appreciated Porter’s efforts on her behalf, Maris was a small town, and it wouldn’t take more than five minutes for Nick to figure out Porter was lying.
Porter smiled at her, his expression genuinely affectionate.
Talk about a great actor.
“What can I say? I found out she was single and decided it was time to strike fast before some other young buck snatched her up.”
Porter reached across the counter, palm up, and before she could consider her actions, she found herself taking his proffered hand. His hand was large, calloused, warm. He squeezed hers and gave her a wink that she suspected was supposed to be playful or friendly, but it missed the mark because she found it ridiculously sexy. Her body reacted before she could give it the old “down, girl” command, all her pertinent parts suddenly tingling, tightening, clenching.
Adele realized she was staring at Porter, so she forced herself to face Nick, pasting on a smile as fake as her so-called relationship with the sexy cowboy. “It took me by surprise too, Nick.”
She tried to pull her hand away from Porter because touching him was making it very difficult for her to concentrate on the task at hand, which was letting Nick down gently.
Porter tightened his grip, refusing to relinquish it. She shot him a look that he not only ignored but answered with one of those dimpled grins that sent a shiver of arousal down her spine.
Her panties were suddenly very, very damp.
Nick glanced from her to Porter and back again, and then his shoulders slumped. She didn’t have a clue what Nick saw, but it was apparently enough to convince him that Porter was telling the truth.
He gave Adele a rueful grin as he shrugged. “Guess I missed my chance. Sorry for interrupting.”
Nick gave Porter a quick nod of goodbye before leaving the restaurant.
She had to hand it to Porter. He’d helped her dodge a bullet…for now. She hoped Nick wouldn’t be too hurt or angry when he discovered they’d been lying.
Adele tried to pull her hand away again now that they were alone, but Porter held tight.
“You can let go. He’s gone now.”
Porter shook his head. “No. If I want to hold my girlfriend’s hand, I will.”
She laughed and rolled her eyes. “As far as unbelievable lies go, that one might just take the cake. You know it won’t take Nick long to figure out everything you just said is a pile of shit.”
“What did he mean when he said he could give you what you want in bed?”
Adele wasn’t the type of woman to embarrass easily, so she could probably count on one hand the number of times she’d blushed. Porter’s question sent a flood of heat to her cheeks, and she didn’t need a mirror to know her face was probably blood red. “None of your business.”
Porter gave her a shit-eating grin. “Now that I’m your boyfriend, I think it would be helpful to know exactly what it is I’m supposed to be researching.”
He was having way too much fun at her expense. She tugged her hand away, putting enough force behind the pull that Porter had no choice but to release his grip.
“Very funny. You don’t need to research a thing.”
She meant he didn’t need to research because they weren’t dating, but it was clear that wasn’t how Porter had interpreted her comment, when he wiggled his brows suggestively. “Good to know I’ve already got the appropriate skill set.”
“You know what I mean,” she attempted to clarify.
Not that it helped.
Porter’s tone was deeper and too knowing when he said, “Yeah. I think I do.”
She decided to take a big step away, unable to talk to Porter about anything even remotely sexual, lest she be tempted to climb over the counter, crawl onto his lap, and beg him for one of his infamous one-night stands. Common sense be damned.
“I don’t want you to think I don’t appreciate your help. Honestly. I’m done in tonight, and the idea of rehashing all the reasons why Nick and I weren’t working out was too exhausting to consider. I’m glad for the reprieve, though I suspect it will be brief when he realizes I’m still very single.”
Porter’s grin faded, replaced by a scowl she couldn’t understand. “You’re not single.”
Adele frowned. “I’m pretty sure I am.”
“Nope. I meant what I said, Addie. You’re my girlfriend.”
She laughed, enjoying the joke. Porter loved to tease her, and he was really milking this one for all it was worth. “Oh yeah?” she said, playing along. “Since when?”
He didn’t even crack a smile, his tone way too serious to be teasing. “Since that first dance last spring.”
Adele gasped, shocked, waiting for him to get to the punch line.
He simply held her gaze, daring her to contradict him again.
“Porter,” she said.
“Take a second, darlin’, and let it sink in.”
Adele was pretty sure she looked like a deer in the highlights, but his low baritone voice and the conviction behind his words had her doing exactly what he told her to despite her better judgment.
She was letting it sink in.
Chapter 2
Porter didn’t bother to hide his grin as Adele stared at him. Though her face was expressionless, he could practically imagine the wheels spinning like crazy in her brain.
It hadn’t been his intention to stake his claim tonight—or so assertively—but he didn’t like the change he’d seen in her the last few weeks.
Adele, like her sister, was rarely without a smile, easy to laugh, and always armed with a joke or a funny story. However, while Macie tended to tell everyone every thought she was having as she had it, Adele was more reserved when it came to the personal stuff.
“I’m still waiting for the punch line,” she said.
“I wasn’t telling a joke.” Porter stood up and walked over to the table the Powells just vacated, picking up the plates and glasses and trash. Adele followed him over with a clean dishcloth, wiping down the table while he carried the dirty dishes to the sink. The rest of the restaurant had already been cleaned up, and like Adele, he’d been waiting for the Powells to leave so he could call it a night.
He knew she’d be working the late shift due to Macie coming down with the flu, and he hadn’t liked the idea of her being alone at the restaurant so late even though crime in Maris was practically nonexistent.
She’d called him a vampire earlier and he figured she wasn’t too far from the truth with that. God knew he was starting to feel like one. More and more, he found himself at Sparks Barbeque on the nights Adele was scheduled, staying until close even though he knew he’d pay for it the next day at work.
“Thanks,” she said softly, dropping the dishcloth in the sink. She rinsed the dishes but left them. “Sydney will wash those in the morning. I appreciate you sticking around to help out. You keep this up, we’re going to have to put you on the payroll.”
She laughed, and Porter could tell she was trying to avoid talking about his declaration. He’d told her to let it sink in, but obviously she wasn’t having much luck with that yet.
She’d get there.
Eventually.<
br />
He’d make sure of that.
Adele grabbed her coat, smiling almost shyly when he took it from her, helping her put it on before spinning her around to face him and fastening the buttons for her.
“Come on. I’ll walk you home.”
Adele shook her head as she hit the light switch. “It’s only a couple of blocks.”
“I know.” He grasped her hand after she’d locked the door, holding it tightly when it was obvious she intended to pull it back.
“But your truck is parked here.”
“Know that too,” he said.
“Porter, listen—”
“No. I’m gonna need you to listen. We’re going on a date this weekend. You’re off on Saturdays, right?”
She nodded slowly.
“Fine. I’ll pick you up at six, take you to that Italian place over in Douglas for dinner. After that, we can go to Cruisers for a drink.”
“And after that?” she asked, her tone challenging.
He chuckled. “What do you want to happen after that, darlin’? Spell it out for me nice and specific. Just in case I need to do a little research.”
She flushed for the second time tonight. Porter wasn’t sure he’d ever seen Adele blush, but damn if he didn’t like it. Then he considered how much he’d like seeing that pretty pink hue on the nice, round cheeks showcased so perfectly by her tight jeans tonight as well. He’d overheard Adele bitch about what she called her “fat ass” a few times to her sister, but as far as he was concerned, hers was perfect just the way it was, plenty down there to grab hold of.
Adele turned her face away from him, looking ahead as she said, “Feels like a loaded question, so I’m pleading the fifth. I’m not about to feed your twisted fantasies.”
“How do you know they’re twisted?”
“We live in Maris, which means no one has a secret. No one.”
Porter frowned. He had a couple things he thought were probably a secret to most people around town. What he wasn’t sure of was if Adele knew them.
“So what are these so-called twisted fantasies of mine?” he pressed.
She lifted one shoulder, a casual shrug that made him think she wasn’t going to answer for a second. He was surprised when not only did she respond, but she stopped walking and turned to face him as she did so.
