He shrugs like it’s no big deal, but just the fact he’s willing to give up control and let me drive makes me feel special. He doesn’t seem like the type of man that likes to be driven around.
“Put your seatbelt on.”
When he does as I ask, I start off down the road. It takes us a lot longer than ten minutes to get to The Whiskey Whistler. I drove around town and then he let me open it up out on the highway between here and Jasper. Driving around town with a man I just met has been the most fun I’ve had in a long time.
Tate
I knew this was a bad idea. I knew when she asked to go to the bar it wasn’t a smart move to bring her here. But there’s no way I was going to let her come on her own. And I don’t really know why. It’s not like Whiskey Run is a high crime area or anything. But just the thought of her being on her own without me by her side bothers me.
“Uhhh,” she says as she spins around, looking at the bar. “Are you kidding me?” She moves in close and puts her hands back on my shoulders.
I have no clue what she’s going on about. I haven’t even been able to form a complete sentence since she walked into my arms. We’ve been dancing for a little over a half hour, and for someone that doesn’t like to dance, I sure as hell don’t want this to end.
“What? Am I kidding you about what?”
She moves in closer, and her breasts brush across my chest. I can’t stop myself. I grip on to her hips, pulling her into me until our bodies mesh together. Everything I’ve said about not getting close has completely gone out the window because there’s no way I could push her away right now if I wanted to. Which I don’t.
She’s looking up at me. “Okay, maybe... just maybe, by looking at the outside of the building I can see why it may not be safe for a woman to come here alone. But the inside. This place is faaaancy. I’ve been in five-star restaurants that don’t even look this nice.”
“Yeah, Malcolm really did a great job on remodeling this place...”
“Uh-uh, no way mister, you have to explain yourself...”
I bring my hand up between us and tuck a hair behind her ear. I should let her go, but the urge to brush my knuckles across her smooth cheek is too powerful.
Her face turns into my hand, reminding me of a cat that wants to be petted. “Explain what?” I ask her huskily.
“Why you said I couldn’t come here alone.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her. But before I get the chance there’s a tap on my shoulder. “Hey Tate, I’m cutting in.”
I loosen my hold just enough to see who’s bothering me. “Willie, forget it.”
The Whiskey Whistler is Willie’s favorite hangout. When he’s not working over at the lumberyard, he’s here drinking. And usually he’s a smart man, but today must be an off day for him.
“Come on, Tate. Everyone knows you’ll be done with her by tomorrow. Give someone else a chance.”
Lakelyn gasps and tries to pull away, but my hold on her tightens. I slide my hand into hers and hold on. Only when I know she’s not going anywhere do I turn to Willie. “Willie, now I know you’ve probably already had two too many. I suggest you walk away before I do something that I’m sure you’ll feel in the morning.”
“But...”
“Get out of here, Willie,” I tell him, and finally he listens. He walks away grumbling, but I forget about him and turn back to Lakelyn.
The trust in her eyes is gone. In its place is disgust. She tries to pull her hand free. “I should probably go back to the B&B.”
“No.”
Her face transforms, and she gets even angrier. “No? What do you mean no? I want to go.”
I pull her back into my arms. “And I want to finish this dance.” And even though I shouldn’t, even though she’ll probably leave here in the next few days and completely forget all about me, I do it anyway. I lean down and brush my lips across her cheek, and when that’s not enough to satisfy the hunger that is raging inside me, I press my lips to hers. We both stop moving, and I swear I even stop breathing. Her lips were made for mine. I move against her, tasting her, and when I stroke my tongue across her bottom lip, she gasps. I take full advantage. I poke my tongue inside her mouth, and I’m sure that I’ve died and gone to heaven.
It’s like everything around us ceases to exist. Her arms come back up around my neck, and I clasp mine at the base of her back. I know she can feel my erection against her belly, but I don’t care. I couldn’t hide my reaction to her if I wanted to.