Chapter Eight #2
How the fuck does she know my dog's name, and why the hell do they seem as if they recognize each other?
"You two familiar?" If I wasn’t analyzing her every move, I’d probably miss Jo stiffening the tiniest amount.
"Nope, we've never met, but it's not hard to tell he's a good boy."
"How'd you know his name, Joey girl?"
With a roll of her eyes, Jo pushes off her knees and stands to face me. Her jaw is set and her shoulders squared.
Guess we're diving right into this fight. Never thought it would start because of my damn dog, though.
"Aspen Hollow is a small town, Beau. People talk all the time, and I've seen you around with him. I don't remember exactly who said it or when I heard his name, but I must've at some point. It's not my fault my brain latched onto that useless information."
I suppose that could be true, but I don't know if I want to let her off the hook so easily. Besides, something in my gut is telling me she's not telling the truth—at least, not the whole truth.
"I think you know exactly when you found out my dog's name but are too embarrassed to admit you've been snooping for information on me because you like me."
I sing-song the last bit, which makes fire blaze in Jo's eyes.
I've never pushed a woman so much in my life, but there's just something about seeing that fire in her eyes that lights me up.
"Oh, get over yourself, pretty boy. Sure, you're hot as fuck, but looks aren’t everything. I don't need to snoop to find shit out in this town. Everybody is a busybody, and gossip is the best currency. Get over yourself."
Jo brushes past me as she moves further into my cottage. She scrutinizes everything before flopping down on my couch, where she pulls her boots off.
I can't help the laugh that slips free when I see her ridiculous socks, and it's not long before Jo's anger is fading and her smile joins my own.
"Aren't they the cutest?" Jo lifts her legs in my direction so I can get a better look at her socks.
They're neon pink with pigs all over them. But not any pigs. No, if I was a betting man, I'd say her socks are covered with pigs from her farm.
"They're something, alright. " I walk closer, then plop on the other end of the couch. I pull Jo's feet into my lap.
"Nana and the internet for the win. She got them for me last Christmas, and it only seemed fitting to honor them tonight since two of these hogs ended up as our dinner."
"I suppose that's fitting, then."
Jo goes to pull her feet away, but I keep them in my grasp. She glares at me, but I've got her putty in my hands only moments later when I start massaging her feet. Her head falls back as her eyes close, and she sinks further into the couch.
Maybe I'll have better luck getting some information outta her this way than trying to argue it out of her. Lord knows she's stubborn as hell. Can't hurt to try my luck.
I stay quiet for a bit as I work Jo's feet one at a time. Her eyes are still closed, but I pay attention to her face and how she fully relaxes when I hit just the right spot.
Fuck me, having my hands on her has me hard enough to pound nails. She's sighing and sinking into the couch, and I know now's my chance if I’m going to find her off guard.
"What the fuck were you thinking tonight?"
Jo's eyes fly open as her entire body stiffens.
"Beau Calhoun, I thought you were smarter than this, but it looks like I was wrong." She tries pulling her foot from my hand, but I don't let go.
"Easy, kitten. I'm not trying to start a fight. I genuinely want to know what happened tonight. Hell, I'll need an answer since, technically, your ass should be down at the station in an interrogation room instead of here on my couch."
Her gaze is steely as she tries to assess my angle and puzzle out where I'm going with this. "So, what? You thought you could bring me back here and use our attraction towards each other to get me to spill my guts? Fuck. You." In a flash, she's off the couch.
I'm not letting her go that easily, though. I leap up and lunge for her, hitting her in the back, which sends us tumbling to the ground. I get my hands down and break our fall, so I'm not squishing her when she moves.
Fuck me. Jo is fast and trained well. She thrusts her hips up hard, toppling me to the side, then slips her leg around me and flips us. I'm now on my back with Jo under me, her legs wrapped around my waist and her arms in a chokehold around my neck.
Why the fuck am I so turned on right now?
It isn't until my vision starts to fade that I realize she's not going to let up. I try flipping over, but she's got me tied up real good.
"You better try harder than that, pretty boy, or it's going to be lights out for you." The glee in her voice shines through.
"I’m n-not gonna … hurt ya, Joey girl," I pant out as I waste my precious breath.
"Beau, Beau, Beau … I guess it looks like nighty-night for you." She kisses my cheek as my vision fades more.
By some miracle, I get my hand in between her arm and my neck, which allows me just enough room to suck in a breath. I'm feeling along her side to gain purchase when she squirms. No way could she be ticklish enough for me to use that against her.
Testing my theory, I dig my fingers into her side, which makes her yelp, then giggle and loosen her grip. I seize my opportunity and break free, rolling away as I suck in much-needed oxygen.
Meanwhile, Jo is on her ass, her hands planted behind her keeping her upright. Her expression morphs from pissed to complete disbelief. "I can't fucking believe you just tickled me. Who does that in a fight?"
"A guy who has zero desire to hurt a woman, even one as fierce as you."
"You really wouldn't hit me even on the verge of passing out, would you?"
"No, I wouldn't."
I don't know who moves first, but we're lunging towards each other. Jo’s eyes heat with determination and confidence that have me rock hard and dying to get my hands on her again.
I want her in my arms, my tongue down her throat and my cock buried in her hot heat, but I don't know if Jo's mind is on the same track.
We collide as we both fight for dominance.
Jo is fierce, but I use my size to my advantage.
I hook an arm under her thigh as the other reaches over her shoulder.
Her back is pinned to my chest as I pull her leg up and connect my hands.
I don't know how long I'll last like this with her hands free, but at least I can force her to listen to me for a minute.
"Do you know what it was like seeing that fight break out and not being able to find you?"
"I can take care of myself." She's fighting to break free, but I've got an iron grip on her.
I need her to fucking hear me.
"I saw that, Jo, but that still didn't stop me from losing my shit when those farm boys descended on you and I wasn’t able to get to you," I pant out as she continues to fight to get free.
"When that douchebag's fist connected with your face, I saw red.
I would've murdered him if you weren't okay. How the fuck would that have looked, if I’d done that as the chief of police, huh? "
Jo goes still under me. I don't let up for a minute, not trusting her for a second. I'm surprised when she relaxes back into me.
"It probably wouldn't have looked good," she murmurs.
"Not good at all."
"But it doesn't make sense, Beau. We're nothing. We've hung out one time and had one kiss. It doesn't mean anything."
"We're anything but nothing. I know I'm not the only one who feels this pull. It's like we're tethered together. If you're near, I can feel you pulling me into your orbit. It's been like that since the moment our eyes connected that first time over a year ago."
Jo stills in my arms, but I can feel the weight of my words weighing on her. She's breathing heavily as her pulse races.
What I wouldn't give to be in that beautiful mind of hers.
She starts to squirm, which makes me tighten my arms around her. Jo surprises me when she turns in my arms and aligns our bodies, proving how well we fit together.
My hands slide down her back and wrap together on the top of her ass.
She rests her elbows on my shoulders and props herself up to look down into my eyes.
So many emotions are swirling in those baby blues that I'm afraid to break the spell.
I try to show her everything I'm feeling, which is fucking hard, due to years of practice of shoving everything down and wearing a mask of indifference.
"I don't know what this is, but I feel it too." Her whispered words send chills racing down my spine. "I'm sorry, Beau. This is so damn hard for me. I've never met anyone like you. I’ve definitely not felt like this. I don't know if I want to fight you or fuck you when we're together."
Her smirk makes me smile. I know that feeling all too well.