“Why is that, huh? Because you want to make a difference? Be a better man than Branch?”
Tate looked almost shocked but he recovered quickly. “Branch is a good man.”
“I’m not saying he isn’t, but I can see the guilt in your eyes. I don’t know the details of your life, but if you want something, want to be the better Sheriff? The better man?” She stopped and looked him dead in the eye. “Then act like it. Because that’s what people will see.”
He glanced down at her. “Is that what you do? Just act? Unfortunately it’s easier to make a difference when you can actually inflict change. And persona matters. Do you get to be who you want and it doesn’t matter how people see you? No forethought into any of your decisions?”
She wanted to snap at him, but refrained, because the truth was, “Yes, sometimes I do.” But when she committed, she went all in. “I’d rather do that, than live in a constantly calculated world.”
He looked at her for a long moment then the strangest thing happened. A kind of warmth and candor laced his features. As if he was impressed with her.
“Ambitious, Mia,” he said and Mia swore she heard praise in his voice.
But part of her wanted to scoff because all that ambition got her was right back to where she started. Sweet Hill. She couldn’t outrun who people thought she was. She couldn’t outrun parts of her reputation she actually earned. But she could be proud of herself now. Kyle was an ambition of hers. This job was her ambition. She may struggle in areas of her life, but Mia always owned herself, her sexuality, and her environment. She could commit and that’s what she did when Kyle needed her.
Kyle was forever to her, but Sweet Hill was a place she could rebuild. It offered an opportunity she could earn and make one-hundred percent hers. And not anyone, including the Deputy with his fear that she’d stain his precious reputation, could derail her.
“I’m going to rock the shit out of this event,” she said. “I hope you can keep up.”
He smiled. “I believe that. You have some valuable skills that…” he glanced away and she smiled.
“Why, Deputy, are you stalling because attempting to compliment me is that unappealing?”
He looked at her, seriousness in his eyes. “I stall because it’s difficult to stop at just one.” His gaze slid over her the way it had a few times now, and every time it made her hot. Her skin tingled with awareness of just how close he was. “And there are several things appealing about you, Mia.”
And just like that, with one admission, he changed her night. Changed her year if she were honest.
The way he said her name, as if admitting some dark truth, made her heart beat a little faster. Maybe it was the cold air nipping at her nose or the heat from Tatum’s presence, but her body couldn’t get a grip on itself.
They walked up to her door and she fished out her keys. Tatum set the crate of apples right inside by the entrance.
“Thank you, for carrying the apples and only being a borderline jackass tonight,” she said.
Tate smiled. The first real smile she’d seen. Like her words actually made him happy. She braced herself for the witty comeback he was likely to dish but instead he simply said, “You’re welcome.”
He didn’t move and she didn’t either. He stared at her. Like he was seeing all of her at once but unsure what, if anything, to say next.
Everything in her body was willing him to stay right there, maybe even come a little closer.
She opened her mouth to say something, anything, but instead he cupped her face in his hand, leaned in, and snagged her lips with his.
Her brows shot up, but the hot sweet taste of him melted every ounce of will she had and flamed her desire. Placing her palms on his chest, she kissed him back. For weeks, she had been walking around with pent up anger, aggression, lust…and last weekend at the bar only made it worse. It was like having a taste of the sweetest chocolate and ripping it away before you could fully enjoy it.
His mouth was slow, taking deep licks, then trapping her lower lips between his two. This was the kind of kiss that had no beginning and no end. The intensity just kept ratcheting up with every sweep of his tongue. She groaned and fisted the material of his uniform. His chin gently tickled hers and she couldn’t help but slide her hand up and brush her fingers against his jaw.
The barest hint of stubble was forming. She knew he must shave every morning, but the slight scratch of his skin made every nerve ending spark. He thrust deeper into her mouth, working his lips over hers like sampling his last cool drink of water. She knew because that was exactly how she felt. She needed him to help her breathe, help her heart beat. She was ready to burst and beg for him.
If she didn’t think his kiss could grow any deeper, it did. He growled a little and consumed her mouth. Wrapping his strong arms around her waist and tugging her closer. One hand glided up to grip the back of her neck while the other stayed low on her back. Angling her and controlling her how he wanted.
Mia felt his dominance flood her. Overpower her. Somewhere in her foggy brain she was aware she wasn’t running the show this time. He was.
He drank down every gasp she let out. Slow, hard, friction between their mouths made cracks of pleasure tingle her lips and she lapped at him for more.
While intense, Tate remained controlled. Calculated. Just like he approached everything else, she was learning.
She wanted more. Couldn’t stop. The fact that she kind of hat
ed him and kind of liked him didn’t seem to combat her emotions. It fueled it. She wanted to consume and be consumed. And it felt like Tate was looking for the same thing.