Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
SAM
Sam
Sorry, I’m not going to be able to make it to poker tonight
Greg
Why not?
Not feeling so hot
Dennis
Hot date?
Mark
Oh, he’s definitely got a date
Greg
Anyone we know?
Like I said, I’m not feeling so hot
Catch you next time?
Dennis
Only if you tell us about her
Jesus. I hate that my friends can read me like an open book. They don’t even believe the lie I’m telling them about why I’m not making it to poker. And of course Greg has to ask if it’s anyone they know.
It’s definitely someone you know, Greg. Like your daughter. I don’t know how to tell him she’s the best fucking woman I know without destroying our friendship. Hell, our friends would probably side with him and I’d be run out of town.
No wonder I don’t want to tell anyone we’re dating.
Joey is running late for our date tonight. I was early. Probably too early, but I don’t care. Not when I get a night out with Joey. I want it to last as long as possible. Because these moments with her are fleeting.
My phone buzzes from where it’s sitting in the cupholder. Seeing it’s Lennox, I answer.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“Hey, Dad. How’s it going?”
“Good. How’s the job hunt?”
She sighs. “Do you always have to ask that?”
“You’re the one that told me to keep you honest about it,” I say.
“Ugh.”
I can picture her face. One of annoyance as she flips her blonde hair over her shoulder. Exactly like her mother used to do. While that used to hurt, it only fills me with affection now.
“I take it not great then?”
“No. No bites at all.”
“You sure you don’t want to come work at the ranch?” I ask, not for the first time.
“No, Dad. I’m sure. I want to get my first big-girl job on my own.”
“Well, the offer stands if you want help.”
“Thanks. Are you staying in tonight or going out riding?”
“Just hanging out.”
It’s not a total lie, but I don’t need to go into details with her. Considering Joey is only a few years older than she is, it’s not a conversation I’m ready to have.
“Want me to bring you dinner?”
“That’s okay,” I lie. “I’m probably going to muck out the barn. Unless you want to help.”
“Eww, no thanks.”
I knew that’d be her response. Sure, she doesn’t mind horses, but she doesn’t like everything that goes along with them.
“I thought so. Why don’t you come by this weekend and we can have lunch together?” I offer.
“That sounds good.”
A car pulls up next to me and I smile when the woman steps out.
Joey.
“Listen, I have to run. I’ll see you soon, okay?”
“Okay, bye, Dad. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I end the call right as Joey hops into the truck.
She looks sexier than anyone has a right to in a short, white dress covered in small flowers with a pair of brown cowboy boots on.
“Hey, darlin’.”
“Hi.”
Her smile stretches across her face. I want to lean over and kiss her, but in case of any curious eyes, I don’t.
“You’re looking pretty handsome over there.”
“What, this?” I glance down at the old jeans and worn flannel I’m wearing. Nothing fancy. But based on how she’s looking at me, she likes it.
“Yeah.” She digs her teeth into her bottom lip. “You look good.”
I start the truck and pull out onto the street.
“Not as good as you.”
Reaching across, I rest my hand on her bare knee. Her skin is soft and warm as I trace circles into the tender flesh.
“I’m glad you invited me out,” she says.
“Me too.”
“You know…” Joey turns ever so slightly to look at me, clasping her hands over my forearm. I love the contact. Like she can’t be near me and not be touching me.
“What?”
“Chase and Rylee are taking Max on a camping trip in two weeks. The last one before he starts Pre-K in the fall.”
“He’s starting Pre-K?”
“Yes, it’s hard to believe he’s at that age already. He’s been going a few mornings a week to preschool, but going full time will be a big change.”
“That old saying is true. The days are long but the years are short.”
“Yeah. He’s excited to start school, but he’s even more excited about his camping trip with them. S’mores. Sleeping under the stars. Bonfire.”
I look over at her as the road opens up ahead of us. “Are you wanting me to take you camping?”
“God, no.” She laughs. “I hate bugs.”
“How do you handle them on your own?”
“Badly.”
“Well, no camping then,” I state.
“But maybe an overnight together?”
“Yeah?”
“If you want. I’ll be free and have the weekend off work.”
Fuck. My mind is already working. I think I can shift things around to have an uninterrupted weekend with Joey. Being with her without a single care sounds fucking amazing.
“I’ll make it happen, darlin’.”
“Good.”
She slides closer to me along the bench seat as she turns the music up. Some new country song I’m not familiar with. If it’s not the oldies, I don’t pay attention.
Conversation with her is easy as we put more and more miles between us and Pinecrest. There’s something mesmerizing about her voice. About the way she talks.
I could sit and listen to her for hours and not get bored.
As I pull into town, the bar comes into view and I find a parking spot around the corner before getting out and helping Joey out of the car.
I don’t let her get far. Shutting the door behind her, I tug her in close. Her eyes are wide and full of desire as I capture her chin with my fingers and seal my lips over hers.
So. Fucking. Good.
Her lips taste like watermelon lip gloss. She tightens her grip on my shirt as I push her silky hair off her shoulder. Her pulse is throbbing as I brush my finger over it.
“Mmm,” she purrs as I pull back.
Her eyes are still shut, lips now a mess. When she peeks one eye open, she laughs.
“What?” I ask.
“You’re a bit of a mess.” She wipes the gloss from my lips, but I don’t care. Not one fucking bit. Not if it means she’s marked me as hers.
“C’mon, darlin’.”
I link hands with hers and, checking both ways, dart across the street. There’s a few people lingering on the sidewalk, but we’re able to get right inside, where it’s filled to the brim with people.
We squeeze through to the bar and I order us some drinks.
“I see a table over there. I’m going to go grab it,” Joey says.
I nod at her and pass over my credit card to the bartender.
“Open or closed?”
“Keep it open.” I nod at him before grabbing an ice cold beer and Joey’s wine. I shouldn’t already know what she likes, but I do. Whenever there are big events at the ranch, she’s always sipping on a glass.
“Here you go.”
I pass her glass and scoot my chair closer to her.
“How’d you know what I drink?”
I sip my beer, looking around the crowded bar. Old hardwood lines the walls. Christmas lights are strung up around the place. A stage is on one side with a large open dance floor.
Not quite The Dusty Spur, but pretty damn close.
“I’m observant.”
“Observant?” Joey questions. “I don’t know one single man who can remember a woman’s drink when they haven’t officially been out.”
I turn her chair to me, pulling her legs between mine. “When it comes to you, Joey, I notice everything.”
Joey brushes her fingers over my cheek before leaning in to kiss me. She slides her tongue along my bottom lip and I open. I’ll give this woman anything.
Her touch is soft. It’s slow. Nothing heated, but damn if it doesn’t stir my dick into a frenzy.
“You can’t keep doing that,” I breathe against her lips.
“Why not?”
“Because I want it to lead to a hell of a lot more.”
“I think we might be able to squeeze some of that in.” Her eyes are playful as the band starts playing and she takes a few sips of her drink before grabbing my hand. “C’mon. Time to dance.”
She worms her way through the crowd and finds a spot big enough for the two of us. It takes a minute to get in sync with everyone around us, but when we start moving, it’s hard to take my eyes off her.
She’s a natural. I shouldn’t be surprised. She moves her hips in time with the music as she eyes me.
“Here I was thinking I’d have to teach you to dance,” she says.
I wink at her. “I wouldn’t have offered to bring you here if I couldn’t dance.”
Her eyes track me as I follow along to the dance that everyone is doing. Two steps right. Two steps left. One forward, one back. A tricky move with your ankle and crossing it over the other before changing sides.
“I think you might need to teach me then.” Her head is thrown back in laughter and there is nothing sexier than seeing how happy she is.
I pull her back to my front and start dancing with her. I don’t care if it’s awkward or bumpy. I want Joey right where she is.
Her hands cover mine as they rest on her hips. The longer we dance that way, the more I can feel that sweet little ass of hers grinding into me.
Fuck.
It’s creating a problem that we can’t take care of at the moment. A problem that seems to arise anytime I’m around her.
“This shouldn’t be this good,” she says, reaching behind her to wrap her hand around my neck.
My hands slide down, playing with the hem of her dress as we start moving to our own beat.
“You make it easy to dance like this.”
She says something I don’t catch as the music changes and people start to move around us. I don’t care what we look like, dancing to a beat only the two of us hear.
“Sam,” she purrs.
I spin her in my arms and capture her mouth with mine. I can’t take it anymore. I need this connection with her. To feel her on a deeper level.
Her mouth tastes like the wine she was drinking as I explore her. Each stroke of her tongue against mine heightens everything inside me.
I don’t care that we’re in the middle of a crowded dance floor. Everything fades as her fingers dig farther into me.
“Fuck, Joey.” I drop my forehead to hers. “We can’t keep doing this.”
“Says who?”
Her lips are swollen. I nip at her bee-stung bottom lip.
“Me. I don’t fancy getting arrested tonight.”
She drags her fingers along mine as she starts dancing again. “Shame. I wonder what kind of trouble we could get up to in a jail cell.”
“You’re a bad influence.”
I swing her around as we dance to a new song. The evening becomes a blur as one song blends into another and we have a few more drinks at the bar.
By the time the set ends, sweat clings to my brow from the crowds inside. Joey’s cheeks are flushed; she looks fucking radiant.
We don’t have much time together tonight, so I want to make sure we make good use of every minute.
“Want to get out of here?” I ask.
“God, yes.” She nods. “Let me go freshen up first.”
I nod, kissing her before I head to the bar to settle the tab. I leave a nice tip and stuff my card back into my wallet.
My eyes find Joey’s as she saunters toward me.
I don’t know what’s going to happen with the two of us, but right now, I can’t fucking wait to find out.