21. Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-One
Dallas
W hen I wake up the next morning, I have a plan in place to show Blaire that I’m not going anywhere. I shower and get ready for work, dressing in a pair of denim jeans and a button-up shirt, and pull on my boots as I slip out the door. The drive into town this early in the morning is always beautiful, and I know that I take it for granted. Being born and raised in Aspen Ridge, with the mountains surrounding our town, I got used to them hovering over our existence.
Today the sun is peeking over the mountain range, casting a bright reflective glare off the snow in front of me. We’re typically under constant cloud cover, which I thrive in, but the sun is welcome. I wonder what Blaire prefers. I pull onto Main Street and into a parking spot before pulling out my phone to text Sawyer.
Me:
Walking into Bean Haven. You want anything?
Sawyer:
Nah. Was already there this morning.
How fucking early does he go in to work? I grab what I need from Hannah and head to the distillery, slightly nervous about surprising Blaire but knowing that I need to do this. I want this woman to realize that she isn’t alone anymore, that I want to take care of her—that I enjoy it. The drive to work goes by in a blur, the roads still heavily caked with dirt and salt.
I stop by my desk, grab a Sharpie, and write on the side of her cup.
Not pumpkin spice
Picking up her chocolate croissant, I head to her office in hopes of beating her there. I knock softly on the door, and when I don’t hear anything, I hesitantly open it. Free of her beautiful face, I slip into her office and leave her black coffee and pastry on the center of her desk before slinking back out and shutting the door softly behind me. Once back in my office, I settle into my chair and open my laptop to get to work when my phone chimes with an incoming text. My heart flips in my chest as I anticipate a text from Blaire about the surprise I left her, but it isn’t her. My face falls in disappointment.
Ivy was added to the chat
Me:
What is this blasphemy?
Sawyer:
Be fucking nice, dickhead
Kins:
Aww, sis! Why didn’t I think to add you to this?
Carter:
Cause you’re too busy with a bunch of snot nosed kids all day
Kins:
Har-har. And why didn’t you add her, lover boy? Too busy getting your rocks off?
Carter:
Kins:
Ivy:
I wanted to invite you all to Barrel House for New Year’s Eve. I officially have the go-ahead from the owners to create my own menu and I thought you all would be good guinea pigs.
Ivy:
You can bring a guest obviously, but I’d love to have you
Sawyer:
They’ll be there, baby, don’t worry
My excitement is short-lived when I realize I can’t bring Blaire as my date since she wants to keep us a secret. I’ll have to figure out a way for her to get an invite from one of them. Ivy seems to really like her, so it’s not far-fetched that she would extend an invitation.
Me:
Who’s all going to be there?
Ivy:
Outside of Sawyer and I? You all, the Haven sisters and maybe Levi and Blaire who might bring Cole but I haven’t asked her yet.
One problem averted only to stumble into a new one. Like fuck she’ll be bringing Cole. She isn’t seeing that dumb fucker again and she had better make that damn clear to him and everyone else. My blood pressure starts to rise at the thought of my beautiful girl bringing Cole with her. I’ll break his hands, finger by finger if he ever tries to touch her again. Blaire may not understand the relationship, or lack thereof, between Cole and me, but even without that knowledge, she dodged a bullet. He’s a goddamn twat.
My phone chimes again, but this time Blaire’s name pops up, and just like that, my mood is settled. Her text comes right after a photo of her coffee and pastry sitting on top of the white pastry bag.
Blaire:
Was this you?
Me:
And if it was?
Blaire:
I’d say thank you.
Me:
No need, princess. I hope you have a good day.
The next text is a photo of her smiling while holding the coffee cup. I bite my lip hard to stifle the groan that wants to release. This woman. She has no idea what she does to me. My cock hardens behind my zipper, pressing painfully against the fabric. I’m half tempted to fuck her senseless bent over her desk, but I control my urges and continue to check my emails. One in particular stands out to me.
Wes Draven info you requested
A little late, asshole. I open his email to a link to download the file he put together on Blaire. Downloading the info, I save the file to my desktop. I don’t have plans to open it, there’s no need to breach her trust and privacy, right now at least. But if there’s a rainy day and I need to in order to protect her, I won’t hesitate, and I’ll deal with the repercussions later. There isn’t anything I won’t do to keep what’s mine safe. And she is.
Mine.
Barrel House is located in the cellar of an old brick building on Main Street. It’s the only fine dining restaurant in Aspen Ridge and is open for lunch and dinner service. Ivy was hired there shortly after she returned to AR and is the head chef. Gotta give props where props are due, the girl can cook and create in the kitchen. The entrance is on the side of the building, down a set of stone steps that lead to a heavy steel door. Its speakeasy vibe is elegant while also being edgy. With exposed brick walls, hanging lighting, and emerald-green tufted booths, it fits with the Pacific Northwest vibe. The bar and tabletops are dark cedar wood with a matching green epoxy river through the center, similar to the one Blaire had installed in the distillery. By the time I walk in, everyone is already here. My eyes immediately spot Blaire, dressed in a pair of tight denim jeans that fit her curvy body like a glove, black boots that come to her ankles, and a leather jacket. My mouth salivates as I take her in. Her fiery red hair is down, framing wildly around her face. She’s standing at the bar, her head thrown back in a laugh. Ivy touches her arm, laughing just as hard. My heart warms, satisfied and happy that she’s finding her home here.
Kinsey and the Haven sisters are sitting on stools next to them—Hannah, Harlow, and Hailey. I wish I was joking. Their parents really did a number on those girls. The women all seem to be getting along, so I walk up to them to find out where my brothers are hiding. Blaire’s eyes light up momentarily as she sees me approaching and it makes me feel damn good.
I lean in and give my sister a quick half-hug.
“Hey ladies, how are you tonight?” I don’t miss the way that Hannah’s sister, Harlow, checks me out, and apparently Blaire doesn’t either. Her face morphs into one of jealousy and annoyance.
“Hey, Dallas. Haven’t seen you since before Christmas. How are you?” Harlow asks.
I chance a look at Blaire, her face paling slightly before she turns to face Hannah, asking her something I didn’t catch.
“I’m doing pretty great lately, Harlow. You doing good? When are you heading back to school?”
“I’m free until mid-January,” she nearly purrs. Right in front of everyone, shamelessly. She’s in her last year of college and it must be doing good things for her confidence.
“Well, enjoy your break,” I say, my tone kind but clipped. I turn to face my sister-in-law. “Where are my brothers? Or did I just crash a girls-only New Year’s Eve?”
“They’re in the kitchen pulling out drinks and food. Sawyer was being his overprotective self and wouldn’t let me carry the beer out.”
“Good. I agree, gotta keep my niece or nephew safe in there. I’ll be back. Ladies, good seeing you. I’m going to go find my brothers.”
I excuse myself and walk through the large dining room and back to the kitchen where all of my brothers are, plus Reid. Lucky for everyone here, especially Blaire, Cole-fuckface-Barnes is nowhere in sight. Hopefully he’s spending his New Year’s Eve rutting into the hollowed center of a fucking tree stump.
“Hey, boys! How’s everyone doing tonight?”
“Hey, man. ’Bout time you made it. Girls still keeping it together out there?”
“Got held up taking care of a few things. Yeah, they’re doing good.”
“Good, now help us carry all this out.”
“Jesus, she made a damn feast of appetizers,” I joke. But honestly, there’s tray after tray of food. She must think she’s feeding an army, cause there’s no way all of this will get eaten.
Sawyer points at each of us before speaking. “Yeah, she’s been working hard on it, so you assholes better fucking eat it all.”
We each grab what we can and carry it out to lay on the bar top. She’s made cranberry brie bites, bacon wrapped dates, various dips, crab stuffed mushrooms, breads, tarts, crème br?lée, and so much more. Everyone praises Ivy before digging in.
“Okay, Blaire, why didn’t you bring Cole?” Ivy asks, and I can’t help but listen over my shoulder even though I’m a ways away from them and straining to hear.
“He’s not my type. We went on one real date, and he was just a little pushy after, and I can’t stand men who are so forward,” Blaire says, and I snort.
“So, the date wasn’t good? You brought him to my wedding, I kinda assumed . . .”
“He brought me to The Night Owl for our first date. Which is fine, I guess. But not my ideal first date.”
“Okay, now I want to know, what is Blaire’s dream date?”
“Oh gosh, that’s actually pretty easy. He’d take me somewhere new, someplace that shows me who he is, somewhere I could experience what he likes through his eyes.”
“Well, Blaire Hollis! I was not expecting that. I like it!”
And just like that, I know I’m taking Blaire on our first date and exactly where I’m taking her.
“What about you, Kinsey?” Ivy asks my sister.
“I’m so lame and such a homebody. Probably something intimate and quiet? I don’t really date.”
“What?” all of the women snap in unison at my sister. Her face pales and I stiffen, not liking her being put on the spot. My brothers all seem to feel the same as their body language changes as well.
“Well . . .” Kinsey sweeps her hand out to all of the men standing around with their arms crossed, visibly agitated. “I’m a Hayes, first of all, and second, I’ve got those four brutes for older brothers. No one has had the balls to touch me. And the ones who have? Well, why don’t you ask Sawyer.”
Ivy’s head whips to her husband. But it’s Harlow’s big mouth that keeps Sawyer from being able to defend how he broke Alex Ford’s hand when he caught him grabbing Kinsey’s ass after a football game she cheered at in high school.
“Wait, you’re not a virgin, are you? There’s no way!” Harlow practically yells.
“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!”
“What the fuck?”
“Nope! Do not answer that, Kinsey!”
“Shut your mouth, Lo!”
Our voices fight over each other as we all shut it down. Even Reid bristles, standing up straighter and clenching his fists.
“Lo, I love you, you’re my friend, but definitely not a conversation to have in front of these four.”
“Okay, so point made,” Ivy declares, and at least everyone can laugh.
“How are things with Levi, Hannah?” Blaire asks innocently, probably not realizing it’s another hot topic in the family. I look over at Liam as he tosses back a shot and pours another. He’s been best friends with Hannah since we were all kids. While Levi has been out fucking around and skipping out on his parental duties to Charlie, Liam’s been there. He’s never admitted to having any feelings for Hannah, but I know he’s just as protective of her as Sawyer and I are about our women.
Our women.
“Oh, it’s rough. Per usual,” Hannah declares.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” Blaire says sweetly. It’s such a contrast to the tone she reserves for me.
“Oh, god, it’s fine. Why would you? No harm done. Levi is a selfish asshole. I was forced to grow up when Charlie came, and he chose not to. He’s just never around. He’s a smooth-talking deadbeat and most days I feel like I’m trying to force a square peg into a round hole.”
I watch as Liam downs another shot.
The conversation flows the rest of the night, and I fall harder for Blaire. Watching her let loose and hang out with my family and friends, seeing that she fits so easily, fills me with pride. The only thing that’s killing me is that I can’t touch her. Can’t pull her into my lap. Can’t kiss her neck, or breathe in her sweet, sweet, jasmine smell. It’s crazy that this wild woman ever drove me mad to the point that I didn’t want her around. Even if the only reason I fought her presence was because I craved her, and it took everything in me to fight that desire.
Blaire excuses herself to the restroom and I wait for the break to sneak in behind her. Everyone seems occupied with conversation, so I slip off my stool and go after my girl.
I step into the women’s bathroom, locking the door behind me while she’s at the sink drying her hands.
“Dallas! Oh my god, no. Someone will catch us,” she hisses, and she tries to shove me back out the door.
“Baby, no one is coming.”
I stalk her until she’s up against a wall, my hands going straight to her tits, massaging and lifting them. I love their heavy weight in my palms.
“Do you know how good it feels to be here with you this time and be able to touch you, knowing you won’t push me away? All those other times I cornered you, fuck, it was so hard to hold back.”
Her eyes flutter closed at my words, and when she opens them, she leans forward, wrapping her arms around my neck and hauling me closer. Her lips descend on mine, licking into my mouth and sucking my tongue into hers. I moan, deep and long, while pressing my hard-on into her abdomen. I push her backward, severing the connection of our mouths. Leaning into her space, I nuzzle into her neck, loving the evidence of me that she’s been hiding all night with her hair. My love bites are peppered all over her, I know this isn’t the only spot.
“You’re coming home with me tonight.”
“It can’t happen, they’ll know something is up.”
“Did you honestly think I was going to let you go home by yourself? Or that I’d let you leave here with another man?” I growl into her ear while running my hand over her denim-clad ass, squeezing a palmful.
“I wouldn’t leave with anyone else except for Reid. He’s just a good friend.”
“Not gonna happen, baby. The only man you’re leaving with is me.”
“How’s that going to work when no one can know we’re sleeping together?”
“Just trust me. I’ve got plans for how you’re going to ring in your New Year, baby, and all of them involve you tied up on my bed.”
“Fuck, Dallas, when you talk like that,” she moans, pushing her chest into me, lifting her leg and trying to pull me in.
“Be a good girl and wait. It’ll be worth it.”
I give her ass one last squeeze before turning and walking out of the bathroom. I adjust my stiff cock behind my jeans before joining my family and friends back at the bar, ready to get the night over with so I can celebrate alone with my girl at my house where she belongs.