Whiskey and Country

22

NICHOLAS

Dahlia and I didn’t see each other for four days. Not since our intimate night at the barn. Between being a mom to Jack, the store opening, and spending time with her friends—Stud and Belinda were still in town—she’d been too busy to see me. The replay of that intimacy we shared had kept me going. Days later, I still held on to her words.

Wanting to show Mike just how much of an asset I could be to the company, I used the time to work my butt off. And I was pretty satisfied with the way the construction had been coming together so far.

My boss called me as I unclasped the tool belt around my hips and was about to call it a day.

“Nick, still on site?”

“Leaving now. Why?”

“You’re aware you can leave when everyone else does, right?”

“I know, but I like to set the next day before going home.”

“Speaking of home, on your way there, could you stop on Main Street? We’ve got a service call, and you’re the only one still on the clock.”

“Yep, no problem. It’s on my way. What is it about?”

“A front door requiring some adjustment. It shouldn’t take you long.”

“No problem, boss. Text me the address.”

“I’m very impressed with your work dedication, son. Tucker was right. I’m glad you’re here. Keep up the good work. You and I will do great things together.”

Mike’s words reached my heart. I blew a silent breath, cheering inside.

Yes, I fit right in.

I parked my truck in the spot facing Dahlia’s Bridal Shop, waiting for Mike’s instruction. In the meantime, I hoped to catch a sight of her. Four days without seeing her seemed like an eternity after the night we shared. I was about to call Mike when Dahlia walked on the sidewalk, her curled hair over one shoulder reflecting the low sunlight.

She spotted me, and a wide smile spread across her lips. She gestured for me to join her, and I waved back, exiting my truck, light on my feet.

“You’re here,” she said as if she’d been waiting for me.

“Yeah. Doing a service call and waiting for instructions from Mike.”

Dahlia’s lips stretched wider. “I know. I’m your call.”

“You’re my call?” I asked with one tipped brow.

“Yes. I can’t lock the store because the front door is giving me trouble. A delivery guy bumped into it earlier with a buggy, and now it won’t close properly.”

“You know you didn’t have to place an official request for me to come to check the door, right? I would’ve done it on my time if you’d asked.”

Dahlia grinned.

“I know. But it’s more thrilling this way. With you coming to my rescue without knowing it. I asked Mike to send you but to not tell you it was me who made the call. Thought I needed to witness your manual talents before helping you renovate the interiors of your house.”

I neared her, erasing the gap between us until we breathed the same air.

Tension rose between us.

Electric.

Dahlia’s eyes sharpened with interest.

My voice sounded rough. “You’re right. You haven’t experienced any of my manual talents so far, Dahlia.” Her face turned crimson. “Red looks good on you, by the way. I’ve wanted to tell you since the day we met.”

She brought both hands to her face. “Nick Peterson, you’re doing this to me on purpose. And that whiskey voice of yours isn’t helping.”

“Whiskey voice?”

“Yeah. It ripples. Like when you have too much liquor to drink. It’s husky and gives me goosebumps. Every time you speak. Like whiskey, it’s pretty strong.”

“Oh, my voice has an effect on you? Now that I’m aware of it, I’ll have to tease you all the time.”

“Stop. Or I won’t tell you the proposition I have for you after we’re done here.”

“Dahlia Ellis, you want to proposition me? I like the sound of it.” She pushed at my chest, her grin disarming as I continued, “Let’s look at that door while you tell me all about your devious plans for tonight.”

I got to work, and she watched me, looking as beautiful as ever, her purple top making her green eyes pop. My body vibrated at her frequencies. Standing too close to that woman was troubling me. In the best ways possible. But also, the most frustrating, since I told her we’d take our time.

“Here’s the proposition. Would you like to have dinner with Belle and Stud tonight? It’s their last night in town. They’re leaving tomorrow.”

I caught her gaze.

“Oh. So, you want me to entertain your friends?”

Dahlia let out a warm laugh. “Oh God, you won’t make it easy on me.” She grimaced, and I laughed too. “We’re meeting at six at that pub. Nick, would you be my date tonight?”

She glanced at me with a mix of heat and nervousness, chewing on her bottom lip.

My tone lost its playfulness. “Woman, I’d like nothing more than to be your date for the night. Any night, in fact.” Just ask and I’ll come running. Yeah, I had become that guy.

Dahlia jumped, and her arms circled my neck. “Great. Stud has been texting me all day, begging me to invite you.”

“Oh, so I’ll be more like his date then? Because he’s the one who wants me there.”

Dahlia shook her head, her lips still tilted up. “No. You’re coming with me. Stud is just annoying me because he likes to. And he likes you too. You’ll be my date. No one else’s. For the record, I wanted to invite you face to face.”

We stared at each other’s depth, neither of us brave enough to break the moment. Our faces almost touched. I held my breath. Dahlia’s chest rose and fell against mine. Her words were so soft-spoken I almost didn’t hear them.

“It will be fun.”

My torso was on the verge of bursting open, freeing my wild heart in an explosion of fireworks.

The idea of a double date acted like a cold shower. A one-on-one date would have been a better fit. Because the way Dahlia’s presence heightened all my senses could barely be contained. And I feared the dam could rupture anytime, exposing my desire.

Every spot where our bodies touched seared. As if she was the gasoline my body required to combust.

In the privacy of her bridal shop, I yearned to kiss her and more. To take her and make her mine. Throw caution to my stupid, reasonable principles. And lose control for once. To let go. And enjoy the ride. See where it’d take me. Take us.

But a voice in my head told me to be patient. To wait for the right time. When it would make sense to break loose every rule I forced myself to follow. Relieving me of the suffocating need to confine my passion.

I parted my lips, fighting with myself to keep my control.

“Yes,” was all I said.

Derek’s Bucket List –19. Nick: Share something with someone I cared about that can’t be described with words