Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
TEMPERANCE
The night of my date with Hayes had finally arrived, and I’d spent the past several hours feeling like a nervous school girl.
When the knock came on my front door, I nearly jumped out of my skin, but all thoughts of nerves and freak-outs quickly fled my mind when I finally pulled it open.
My jaw nearly dropped to the floor as soon as I caught my first glimpse of Hayes.
I’d seen him in a suit at Aunt Reenie’s funeral, but that had been at a distance.
Now, seeing it up close and personal, it was a wonder I didn’t swallow my tongue.
The suit he was wearing was a simple black with a white button-down beneath, however, the way it fit his body made it look anything but simple.
I wanted to run my hands along the fabric, feeling all those strong, defined muscles beneath.
I wanted to lean in and taste that small patch of skin at his throat exposed by the two open buttons at his collar.
I wanted to fist the material of his shirt in my hands and rip it open, sending the buttons flying along my floor.
“Damn.”
At his whispered word, my eyes shot up to his. The brown in them had gone even darker, and I could practically see fire dancing in their depths as he scanned the length of me, making my skin break out in goose bumps.
It was the exact reaction I was feeling at the sight of him, the very reaction I’d been hoping for when I decided on this dress.
The material was a deep red that clung to my body like a second skin.
The front came up high, stopping just below my collarbone, and was held up with two thin straps that circled my shoulders.
While it may have seemed like a conservative choice from the front with its high neckline and hem that reached an inch or two below mid-thigh, the view from behind was a totally different story.
It was completely backless, exposing every inch of skin from my neck to the very small of my back.
I’d bought it on a whim a year earlier after walking down the street and spotting it on a mannequin in a storefront window.
It was one of those impulse purchases that you usually end up regretting, and that was exactly how I felt almost immediately after shelling out a small fortune for the scrap of fabric.
But once I’d tried it on, I just had to have it.
And seeing Hayes’s eyes now, I knew the purchase had not been in vain.
I slowly turned, making sure to brush my hair over one shoulder to give him the full effect as I opened the closet to grab my coat.
At the new view, a deep, gravelly growl rumbled from his chest.
Turning back to him, I offered a smile and asked, “So I’m guessing you like my dress?”
His gaze lifted to meet mine. “Hell yeah, baby,” he said, his voice thick like honey. “I fuckin’ love that dress.”
I had to clench my thighs against needy ache building in my core. “You don’t look too bad yourself, honey.”
He took the coat from my hands and held it open so I could slip my arms into the sleeves.
Once it was in place, he moved his hands to my shoulders, leaning in and pressing a kiss to that spot on my neck that always drove me crazy.
His lips brushed against my skin as he declared, “Just a warning, angel. I totally intend on fuckin’ you in that dress tonight. ”
A tremble worked its way up my spine and a flood of arousal soaked my panties.
I couldn’t freaking wait.
“Holy shit,” I breathed as Hayes divested me of my coat and handed it to the hostess. “Who knew a place like this was tucked away in these mountains.”
Hayes’s warm palm pressed into the small of my back as we were led to a cozy booth. “Just wait ’til you taste their steaks. Best you’ll ever have.”
My stomach let out a loud rumble in anticipation as I slid into one side.
Instead of taking the other bench, Hayes slid in next to me and extended an arm along the back.
His fingers sifted into my hair, twirling it around softly as the hostess passed us each a menu and offered a polite smile before taking off.
I used to see couples sitting just like this and make fun of how ridiculous they looked sharing the same side of a booth.
Same Side Sitters, I called them, and I always imagined I’d hate eating a meal like that.
But as Hayes’s strong, warm body caged me in, I suddenly couldn’t imagine ever wanting to sit any other way.
Dinner progressed, and we lost ourselves in quiet conversation and soft, intimate touches as we enjoyed our evening.
The wine was delicious, and the steak really did melt like butter in my mouth.
Hayes was calm and relaxed as he recounted me with stories of his time in the Marines, stories I’d desperately wanted to hear but hadn’t felt it was my place to ask before we got back together.
He went on to tell me about his time serving with the police department, sticking with the lighter stories, such as heading out on a drunk and disorderly call to find Old Man Wilson dancing around his front yard completely naked with a mostly empty bottle of Jameson in his hand.
I told him about some of the wild, crazy things I’d seen in my time as an emergency room nurse, and we both spent the majority of our dinner laughing our asses off.
I was having an incredible time, and I knew he was too.
“Do you know a guy named Cord?” I asked after we gave our waiter our dessert order? “He’s a big guy. Like, really big. Kinda has the look that he could snap a tree in half?”
Hayes looked at me with a curious grin, and chuckled. “Hope to hell none of the cases I work ever hinge on you needing to give an ID, angel.”
“Shut up.” I gave him a playful smack and tried again. “Do you know him or not?”
“Only one Cord in town, and yeah, sweetheart. I know him. Full name’s Cord Paulson.”
Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I bit down gently before asking, “How well do you know him? I mean, is it like a lot, or just a little?”
Hayes twisted to face me, lifting his draft glass to his lips and taking a pull of his beer before answering.
“I know he’s one of Linc’s men. I know he was in the Army for a while, moved his way up the ranks and eventually became a Ranger before he retired from the service.
He was part of Eden’s security detail a few months back.
Took three bullets to the chest and gut tryin’ to protect her when she was taken and nearly died. ”
“Holy shit,” I gasped.
“Not exactly best friends with the guy, but I know him well enough to know I respect the hell outta him, and that he can hustle most anyone at pool.”
“Do you know if he’s a good guy?”
His forehead pulled into a frown and his head tilted to the side. “As far as I can tell. Why are you askin’ me about Cord Paulson, Tempie?”
I pushed out a sigh and picked up my wineglass, taking another sip of the delicious red. “He came into The Tap Room yesterday when I was visiting with Rory and Nona, and lets just say, the interaction between him and Ror was... strained.”
“Ah,” he stated with a curious nod of his head.
My eyelids narrowed into slits as I studied him. “You know something, don’t you?”
He faced the table once more, his teeth flashing with a quick grin as he took another pull of his beer. “I know I’m not gonna sit here and gossip with you about the two of them.”
“Hayes!” I cried, giving him another smack. “You have to tell me. It’s the very first relationship commandment. “Thou shalt always tell your woman any gossip you find out!”
His loud, rich laughter filled our booth and made a warmth bloom in my chest. “Relationship commandments, huh?”
“Yep,” I returned with a big smile. “Now spill.”
“Sorry, angel, but that’s not gonna work on me. All I’m gonna tell you is to stay out of it and let whatever’s gonna happen happen.”
My mouth sank into a frown. “But she’s my best friend,” I argued petulantly.
Hayes’s fingers sifted into my hair until his palm came to rest at the base of my skull, his eyes going gentle as he said, “And she’s a smart woman. She’ll figure it out. You just have to let her do it on her own.”
I wanted to keep pushing, but Hayes’s stubborn streak was even worse than mine, and I knew I didn’t have a shot at getting it out of him.
“Fine,” I relented, albeit grumpily.
He chuckled again and pressed his lips to mine in a soft kiss that heated my blood. I was just about to suggest we take our desserts to go when a man I vaguely recognized stopped at the end of our table and interrupted us.
He was an older gentleman, well into his sixties, and had a hardness to him that you could just tell was ingrained in not only his expression but his entire demeanor.
“Detective Walker,” the man said in a flat, unpleasant greeting.
Hayes’s entire frame locked tight as he turned to the man. “Mr. Mayor.”
My ears perked at Hayes’s return, and I turned my full attention to the man standing over us.
“If it’s not too inconvenient, I’d like to have a word with you about the encounter you had with my daughter at the Evergreen Diner the other day.”
Oh shit. Recognition hit like a lightbulb flicking on above my head, and I suddenly remembered where I knew this man from. He was Harley Madison’s father. Crap. The mayor of Hope Valley was Harley freaking Madison’s father. Something told me this conversation was not going to be pleasant.
“As you can see, sir, I’m on a date, so I’d say it’s pretty damn inconvenient.”
Oh shit. Mayor Madison turned his mean eyes to me. “Well, seeing as what I need to say involves both of you, I think now’s as good a time as any.”
Oh shit!