Chapter seventeen Dallas #2
I cast my eyes over the restaurant, confirming that we are definitely the topic of discussion as my customers glance in this direction.
So that’s when I reach down and grasp her chin softly, forcing it back up.
“They are. They’re taken back by the beautiful woman that just walked into my restaurant, the woman that doesn’t look frigid with a chip on her shoulder like the first night you walked in here.
” Willow continues to stare up at me. “You aren’t wearing shoes that cost more than their mortgages anymore.
Your hair is down instead of pulled back in that bun that must give you a fucking headache, and you’re smiling easily.
You look human. Beautiful. Like you’re one of us.
” Her eyes move back and forth between mine. “You look happy, Willow.”
I can see her fight the curl of her lips, like she wants to smile but won’t let herself. “I don’t know about happy…but I am definitely optimistic for a change.”
Hell. I’ll take what I can get. “Optimistic is a far cry from frigid.”
“Did you think I was a bitch?” she asks, her voice just a whisper now.
“At first, I wasn’t sure what to think of you.” I drag my finger down the side of her face. “But now? Now I just can’t stop thinking about you, in multiple ways if you catch my drift.”
Her arms move around my neck. “Perhaps you can share those thoughts with me sometime.”
“I’ll do you one better. I’ll show you just what I’m thinking later.”
“Yes, please,” she whispers before kissing me again.
“Fuck. You know what those manners do to me, Willow.” I press my hips into hers so she can feel what she’s been doing to me since the moment I met her.
“I do. So I’m ready to beg later if that’s what you want.”
“Hell yeah, I do.”
Giggling, she takes a step back. “I do want to go check on the house first and drop off my stuff.”
Disappointment rolls through me that she doesn’t plan on staying. “Aren’t you hungry?”
“I picked up some food on the way down here.” She pushes my hair back with her hand. “Don’t worry. I promise I’ll be back.”
“Okay. I’ll be here.”
She starts to back away from me. “I’m counting on it.”
***
I’m finishing up balancing the register when I hear a knock on the back door.
It’s way past closing, and the only people that use that door are my employees.
For a moment I wonder if someone forgot something or needs some kind of help, but when I exit my office and walk back to answer it, I realize the person standing on the other side is exactly the surprise visitor that I was waiting on.
“Hey, Goose.”
Willow stands there in the same white tank top and jean shorts from earlier, looking like a delectable treat, her hair down around her face still and her smile bright and wide. “Hey.”
“Fuck. Get in here.” I pull her inside by her arm, slam the door behind her, and then press her up against it, covering her mouth with mine.
“You act like we didn’t see each other a few hours ago,” she mumbles against my lips as my hands cup her ass and pull her closer to me. “I take it you’re happy to see me again?”
I thrust my hips into her stomach. “I don’t know. You tell me.”
Her eyes bounce all over my face as she drags her nails through my beard. “Well, if it’s any consolation, I’m happy to see you too. Thankfully alone this time.”
Our mouths meet once more as I push her against the door, showing her how much I’ve thought of her for the past two days and ready to make good on my promise.
She tastes like chocolate and bad decisions, warmth and sin, and her body in this outfit is the perfect kind of trouble that I want to get wrapped up in.
Unfortunately, she detaches her mouth from mine. “Not that I’m not enjoying our reunion, but I’m really thirsty and need to pee.”
“I’ll meet you behind the bar then.”
Willow heads out toward the bathrooms while I adjust my dick in my jeans and make my way to the bar.
But when I get out to the front of the restaurant, I notice that one of the tables has chairs that weren’t put up.
Walking over there, I flip the chairs over and rest the seats on the tabletop, making the floors clear and easier to be mopped in the morning.
When I turn around, I find Willow standing behind my bar with a coy smile on her mouth and a sparkle in her eyes.
“You look good standing there,” I say, watching her every movement.
“Do I now?” She purses her lips and spins a glass in her hand, attempting to be fancy as she moves to fill a drink. But then she almost drops it on the floor, saving it at just the last second. “Um, just pretend you didn’t see that.”
Chuckling, I reply, “No can do, Goose. That image is now tattooed on my brain among the others.”
She rolls her eyes, but then smirks in my direction again. “That’s fine. Let me give you another one to add to the collection then, shall we?”
Slowly, she drags her tank top up her torso, extracting it from her body, leaving her standing there in a simple white bra that looks so good against her tan skin.
Next, she unbuttons her shorts and shoves them down, shimmying her hips as she does so, and then stands tall again, licking her lips seductively.
And I’m instantly hard again, contemplating just how fucking lucky I am to be here with her, and not questioning how we got here.
Because all I see in front of me is not a practically naked woman whom I’m about to devour.
No.
I see a woman rooted in place.
She looks happy.
She looks like she belongs there.
She looks like she’s mine.
And I show her how much I like that idea all night long.
***
“I wasn’t sure if you were going to make it.” My mother treads across the sand to where I’m standing with my team, waiting for the first game to begin. The Carrington Cove Games are about to be underway and we couldn’t have asked for better weather.
The sun is shining, the ocean breeze is light but strong enough to ward off the heat, and the crowd of spectators is growing by the minute.
“You know I wouldn’t miss the games.” She pats me on the shoulder before pulling me in for a hug.
“I know. It’s just the first one since Dad died, and…”
She straightens her spine. “I can’t be afraid to live because of the emotions that are going to pop up, Dallas. Your father may not be here, but I still am.”
I pull her closer and kiss her temple. “Yes you are, Mom.”
As I go to release her, Willow approaches us from behind, her voice causing me to spin around. “Sorry I’m late.” But before she gets close to me, she freezes. “Oh. Um, hi.”
My mother clears her throat. “Hello there.”
My eyes bounce back and forth between them, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that Willow is nervous about meeting my mother. I didn’t exactly tell Willow that she’d be here, but I knew this meeting was inevitable.
This is a small town after all.
“Willow, this is my mother, Katherine. Mom, this is Willow, the woman…”
“Who inherited the Bayshore house,” my mother finishes for me. “I know.”
“You two have met?” I ask, staring at them both.
“Not officially,” my mother answers. “But you know how people talk, Dallas, and a name like Willow isn’t one you hear very often.”
Willow tucks her hair behind her ear even though most of it is pulled back in her signature low bun. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Sheppard.”
“Please, honey. Call me Katherine.”
“If you insist.” Willow turns to me now. “Anything you need me to do?”
“Actually there is.” I reach down to the bag by my feet and pull out the shirt I brought just for her. “You can put this on.” Holding up the navy blue t-shirt with the Catch & Release logo on it, I study her face for her reaction.
Her eyes bounce between me and my mom. “You want me to be on your team?”
I cup the side of her face. “Yeah, Goose. I do.”
My mother clears her throat. “I’ll give you two a minute.”
I watch her walk away and then pull Willow into my chest. “What do you say? Wanna help me bring home the cup?”
She gnaws on her bottom lip. “I’m honored, Dallas. I am, but I’m not a resident of Carrington Cove…”
“Yes, you are, Willow,” I cut her off. “You can fight it all you want, but you own a house here now, which makes you one of us. And the best way to experience the Carrington Cove Games is to participate.”
Her smile slowly takes over her face. “Okay, but I’m warning you. I have the athletic ability of a giraffe that’s just been born, so don’t get upset if my lack of physical prowess prevents us from winning.”
I give her a quick kiss. “Don’t worry. Something tells me you’re stronger than you think.”