Sweet Hill Homecoming (Sweet Hill 1)

Chapter Eleven

For the past week, Tate had gone to Sweet Hill High and established a presence and in those few days, Kyle came home after practice unharmed. Kyle had also received clearance from the doctor to play in tomorrow’s game, which Tate knew Mia was worried about. The kid seemed tough though. And it was playoffs, the game Kyle had been waiting for.

It was late, Tate had taken his gun off hours ago, and he was the only one in the office. Everyone in town seemed excited for tomorrow night’s game and Santa’s Sleigh Drive. Tate’s only regret was that he hadn’t gotten to see Mia much. Between prepping for the event and his shift, on top of spending extra time at the high school, he was missing the sassy blonde that brought color to his life. The one woman who made him feel like a man.

He wanted to give her space though. He knew he fucked up a few days ago. She had told him not to worry about the coats, that she had it covered, and he had to believe her. He put it all on the table. He wanted to take her out, date her, whatever she wanted to call it. So long as it involved her, that’s what he wanted.

A light knock came from the front doors of the lobby. It was so soft, Tate barely heard it from his office. He walked through the reception area to the front entrance.

As if like an angel hearing his thoughts, she was there.

Mia.

Good god she was gorgeous. A dark, long-sleeved dress hugged all her curves and hit mid thighs. She wore the same boots she had the night at the bar. Black leather. Leaving just a peak of her knees showing and that small glimpse of skin was enough to make Tate instantly hard.

He unlocked the door and opened it. “Hey, what are you doing here so late?”

She handed him a dish. “Figured you were hungry,” she smiled.

He let her in and locked the door behind her. Lifting the tin foil he grinned. “Macaroni and cheese. My favorite.”

“It’s the name brand box so you know it’s good,” she said.

“Thank you.” He led her back to his office.

“I was hoping we could talk?”

Tate’s chest stalled. “Yeah, of course.”

He shut his office door and put the food on his desk. Mia put her small purse next to the food. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, just wanted to see you.”

He glanced down, not knowing how to broach the topic that had been on his mind, but figuring the truth was best.

“Things have been a little crazy. I wanted to stop by but I didn’t want to put more stress on you,” he admitted. And by “stop by” he meant camp out. Because every time he patrolled, somehow he wound up on Mia’s street, wondering if she was thinking about him.

“Good thing I stopped by then.” She gave a sexy little grin. “I was missing you.”

He liked the sound of that, because she was all he thought about. And he was so far out of his league in this matter with this woman he didn’t know how to take it. Other than he wanted her and didn’t care who knew it.

“I also wanted to tell you that Kyle has been smiling this past week and it’s because of you,” she said. “I think he feels truly safe. Like someone is watching out for him.” Her turquoise eyes ensnared his. “Thank you, Tate.”

“I told you before, Mia. You don’t have to thank me.”

“No, I do. And I want you to know that what you’ve done, to go out of your way to help Kyle means so much to me.”

He nodded. It was obvious she cared about her brother.

“Tate?” she whispered and his gaze snapped to hers. “I’m done thanking you now.” She stepped closer and ran her finger over the button of his uniform. “Because there is another matter I want to discuss. Something I’m having trouble with.”

He swallowed hard and tried like hell not to close the few inches between them and take her like he’d been imagining the past few days.

“I’m all ears, Miss Blake. What troubles you?”

That sexy grin made a small appearance and Tate held back a groan. “You.”

Tate frowned and her hand traveled down his torso to the next button. “I want you all the time. So much I’m on the brink of thinking it’s not just a want anymore. It’s a need.”