Vanishing Dreams: Vanishing Dreams (Devil's Bend #2)

by Nicole Edwards

  “You lookin’ for a manager?” Dalton spared him a glance.

  “You offerin’?” Brett countered.

  “I might just know someone who’s lookin’ for talent.”

  “And you think I’m that talent?”

  Dalton liked the guy already. His straightforward responses were a nice change of pace. He hadn’t had many conversations with up-and-coming artists, but the few he had encountered were usually either hotheaded, thinking they deserved to be in the spotlight, or they were too star struck to have a legitimate conversation. Brett was neither.

  “It’s possible,” Dalton answered. “I’ve got someone I’d like you to meet.”

  Brett didn’t answer, just tipped his beer back again and kept his eyes trained on the bar below.

  “Do you live here?” Dalton inquired when it was obvious Brett wasn’t going to say anything.

  “Austin,” Brett answered simply. “Spend a lot of time checking out the bars in surrounding areas.”

  “You’ve been here before,” Dalton said.

  “A couple of times. One of the better places to hang out.”

  Dalton agreed with Brett on that count. He’d actually been impressed with the place from the moment he’d stepped foot in the door. Since his career had taken off, he didn’t get to spend much time in the small-town bars, but he tried to get back to them any chance he had.

  Then again, The Rusty Nail had become one of his preferred hangouts for more than just the stage. Katie was more of a lure than the chance to get up on stage these days.

  Dalton continued to watch out the window when he noticed Jack heading toward the back. He figured the guy was sneaking outside for some air. He spared a look at Brett, noticing the man was following Jack with his eyes as well.

  Part of him wanted to say something to Brett, to encourage the guy to go talk to Jack. The other part knew he had to keep his mouth shut. Despite his realization after the altercation on Sunday, Jack Rollins hadn’t come out of the closet. Nor did he know whether the tall, blond cowboy standing beside him was actually gay. Most important, none of that shit was his business, and he’d do them all a favor if he just kept his opinions to himself.

  “If Coop shows up, I want you to talk to him. He recently changed managers.”

  “His father, right? David Krenshaw?”

  So the kid kept up with the local news. That was good. “Yep. His ol’ man will be in town for the holidays. Be a good idea for you to meet with him.”

  “Why’re you doin’ this, Dalton?” Brett asked, turning his dark blue eyes on him.

  “David’s lookin’ for some talent. If you ain’t interested, just say the word. I’ll drop it. Ain’t no skin off my nose.”

  “I’m interested,” Brett said firmly.

  Dalton slapped the guy on the back before turning back to the door. “Good.”

  He didn’t wait for Brett to follow, but he knew the guy was close behind him. When he reached the main floor of the bar, he peered over his shoulder to see Brett going out the back exit.

  Dalton smiled again. Looked like Brett needed some air, too.

  Another thing those two had in common.

  Now it was time to mind his own business. And his business was the black-haired, gray-eyed waitress who was casting him a look that spoke of some serious promises for later tonight.

  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

  Katie wasn’t surprised to see that Dalton had hung around after closing time. He had spent most of the night sitting at the bar, chatting with Eric and Jack and then Cooper when he’d arrived a couple of hours ago. She’d noticed when he’d slipped off to the office with the cowboy who’d been center stage most of the night twice, once alone and then again with Cooper.

  Not that she was keeping tabs on him or anything.

  The thought made her smile. Yes, she was tracking his every move, memorizing every smirk, every look he sent her way. Her smile faded as she realized their time together was coming to an end. He was going home for the holidays, and she had made up her mind. She was going to insist that he move on when he came back.

  Her secrets were weighing heavily on her heart, and the last person she wanted to hurt was Dalton. She loved him. There was no doubt about that. He was the only man she’d ever loved. Possibly the only man she would ever love. But he deserved better. He didn’t need the baggage she carried with her, and she wasn’t going to be his burden.

  So, when he had asked her if she’d stay the night with him tonight, she had given it serious consideration and decided she would. But this really had to be the last night she spent with him.

  Sure, she was probably inviting more heartache, but she just couldn’t say no to him. Not when he was the one person plaguing her every thought from the moment her eyes opened in the morning to the instant they closed at night.

  Well, maybe not the only person, but he was certainly taking up a lot of the real estate in her mind at the moment.

  “Did you decide?”

  Katie turned around to see Dalton standing behind her. She had just tossed the dishrag into the bucket beneath the bar.

  “Yeah,” she told him. “I’ll stay.”

  The smile he gifted her with had her heart ripping in two.

  “Wanna follow me back to my place? Or I’ll take you and bring you to pick up your car in the morning.”

  “I’ll follow you.” She wasn’t sure when she would leave, but she needed her car or she would have to depend on him. Since she was contemplating sneaking out, she had to think about the easiest way to do that.

  “Good night, kids,” Eric called out as he emerged from the back room.

  “Night,” Katie replied. “I’ll see you on Friday night.”

  Eric nodded as he moved toward them. “I’ll be here.”

  After Dalton said his good-byes to Eric, he took her hand and led her out through the back door. She had parked in the back lot, knowing that the place would be full. It always was when they had live music.

  Dalton helped her into her car, and she waited to pull out of the parking space until he was in his truck, his headlights shining through the darkness.

  The bar wasn’t far from his place, and at three o’clock in the morning, there wasn’t anyone else on the road, so it took all of ten minutes to get to Dalton’s, including the slow drive down the narrow dirt road that led to his house at the back of Cooper’s ranch.

  Dalton was faster than she was and opened her door for her, helping her out and then holding her hand as they made their way inside.

  “You hungry?” he asked, locking the front door behind them.

  Katie took stock of her surroundings, noticing there was more furniture. It wasn’t filled to capacity, but there were a couple of additional pieces. She followed him into the kitchen, noticing there were small appliances — a toaster oven, can opener, and a coffeepot — set out on the black granite countertops.

  “I could eat,” she told him, setting her purse on the breakfast bar.

  “Scrambled eggs and bacon?” he asked, opening the refrigerator and peering at her around the door.

  “Sounds perfect.”

  Dalton nodded toward the room behind her and Katie turned. “The television is set up. We can eat in there.”

  “Okay.”

  While he worked in the kitchen, Katie kicked off her shoes as she fumbled with the remote. While she hit button after button, she slid into the brown leather recliner, noticing that it was big enough for two people to sit comfortably. It took her about ten minutes to figure out the system, but she managed. She was pretty sure she had heard Dalton chuckle at her as he cooked, but she pretended not to notice, keeping her smile to herself.

  After finding a movie channel, she placed the remote on the small table beside the chair. A few minutes later, Dalton joined her with two plates overflowing with food. He handed them over and then retreated to the kitchen once more, returning with two glasses of orange juice.

  They discussed his less-than-adventurous tri
p to the grocery store while they ate, and when they were finished, Dalton took the dishes to the kitchen, but he wasn’t gone long before he plopped down beside her once again. She curled up against him, completely aware of his body beside her; the scent of his cologne, mixed with beer and cigarette smoke from the bar, wafted in her direction, sparking her awareness even more.

  Turning her head, she noticed he was watching her, not the movie. There was an intensity in his gaze, one she hadn’t seen before. Not like this.

  “Come here,” he murmured, readjusting his position so that she was straddling his lap, staring down at him while he looked up at her. “I’m gonna miss you.”

  “And I’ll miss you,” Katie replied honestly. Although she had the end of their relationship in sight, there was no need to deny the truth. She would miss him. Terribly.

  But they still had tonight.

  And Katie wanted to take advantage of every second.

  She reached down, unhooking his belt buckle and then releasing the button and zipper while she kept her eyes locked with his. When she had his jeans released, she eased her hand inside, stroking him slowly. Velvet-covered steel slid against the palm of her hand. Dalton’s eyes closed briefly but then opened, gazing up at her as though she controlled his destiny.

  And maybe, for tonight, she did.

  They could be Katie and Dalton, two people who were attracted to one another. They could leave the rest of the world outside of Dalton’s front door for just a little while. And tomorrow…

  Tomorrow, they would both move on and have the memory of tonight to hang on to.

  Chapter Eleven

  Dalton wasn’t familiar with the emotion that was consuming him. He’d never felt anything like this, and he wasn’t referring to the physical reaction his body was having to Katie stroking his dick in her soft, smooth hands, either.

  Although that was incredible.

  But the way she was looking at him, as though she could read his thoughts or see into his soul… That was what threatened to choke him up.

  He was tempted to tell her that he loved her, but he bit his tongue, holding the words in. He didn’t want to spook her, didn’t want to send her running. He wanted to make her feel the same way he did, make her want him until there was nothing more important in the world than what they meant to one another.

  She wasn’t there yet. He could see it in her stormy gray eyes. She was holding back, for whatever reason. And he was okay with that. For now.

  “Oh, damn, baby,” he said through a sharp exhale.

  Katie was sliding off his lap and onto the floor, his dick still in her hands. She was blinding him with a need so fierce he wasn’t sure he was going to survive it.

  Assisting her, Dalton lifted his hips and pushed his jeans and boxers down his thighs. Katie pulled them the rest of the way off while he tugged his shirt over his head and tossed it onto the floor with the rest of his clothes.

  And then he watched her.

  With one hand, she was stroking his cock slowly, gently, the other cupping his balls. He spread his legs farther apart, giving her better access, keeping his eyes on her as she leaned forward and wrapped her lips around the engorged head of his cock. The only thing sexier than her mouth wrapped around his dick that he’d ever seen was when she came. Which she would do very, very soon.

  In the meantime, Dalton sucked in a breath, enjoying the raspy sensation of her tongue against the sensitive underside of his shaft, the way she sucked on the swollen head every so often.

  Dalton reached for the ponytail holder at the back of Katie’s head, sliding it off so he could slip his fingers into the silky strands, holding her head gently while she took him into her mouth, deeper with every downstroke.

  His cock was pulsing, his balls drawing up against his body, but he wasn’t ready to come. Not yet. He wanted to be inside her when he did. And the only thing stopping him from doing that was the panties she had on beneath that skirt.

  Gripping her hair more firmly, he halted her motions, her eyes widening as they met his. “As sweet as your mouth is, and as much as I’d like to watch myself come in your mouth, that’s not in the cards tonight. Come here.”

  Katie got to her feet, but she didn’t join in him the chair immediately. She stood in front of him and slowly stripped off every stitch of clothing she had. First the sweater and skirt, then her bra and panties.

  He observed every move she made, grazing every smooth inch of her skin with his eyes as she bared herself to him. And when she was as naked as he was, he reached for her hand, pulling her back onto his lap. She straddled him, her eyes meeting with his once again.

  For the first time since she’d walked in his house, she kissed him, the thrust of her tongue into his mouth obliterating his senses. She tasted so damn sweet. And when she lowered herself onto his cock, taking him in hand and guiding him into her scalding-hot depths, he feared he was going to come far too soon.

  Gripping her hips to keep her from moving, he plundered her mouth with his tongue. He wondered whether she realized they weren’t using a condom again. He knew he should’ve mentioned it, should’ve taken the precaution, but he was immobilized by the overwhelming pleasure, his brain cells scattering.

  When she cupped his face in her small hands, pulling back and staring down at him, he knew he was a goner. And then she smiled, her eyes lighting up as she said, “Make love to me.”

  He damn sure wasn’t about to tell her no.

  Releasing the grip he had on her hips, he returned her smile. “Ride me, Katie.”

  Her smile turned a tad wicked, but her hips moved, and his breath caught in his throat. She started off slow, her pussy gripping him as she took him as deep as she could.

  “Oh, fuck,” he growled. “That’s it, darlin’. Ride my cock.”

  Her movements quickened, the way she rocked her hips back and forth, taking him in and slowly releasing him. And Dalton did his best to withstand the sensual torture for as long as he could, but he knew he was about to reach the point of no return. She felt too damn good.

  He assisted her by guiding her hips, pulling her down onto his cock as he thrust up into her, fucking her harder and harder.

  “Dalton,” she moaned. “Oh, God.”

  Her fingers slid behind his head, her nails digging into his skull as she tipped her head back, her breasts jutting out toward his waiting lips. He sucked one beaded nipple between his lips, gently nipping her with his teeth. She cried out, her grip on his head tightening as her pussy clamped down on him.

  “Rub your clit, Katie. Make yourself come on my dick.”

  Katie released one hand from behind his head, reaching down between them. Dalton followed the movement, watching as she used her middle finger to seek the hardened nub hidden between her swollen folds. He lifted her hips slightly, his feet planted firmly on the floor, his body sliding down into the chair as he used all the traction he could find to fuck her, watching his cock tunneling in and out of her while she teased her clit.

  “Oh, damn, baby.” Yeah, he wasn’t going to last long. It was too much.

  “Dalton,” she cried out, her internal muscles clamping down on him almost painfully.

  He didn’t slow his thrusts, pulling her toward him as he pushed deep inside. “Fuck, Katie. Come for me, baby.”

  He was tempted to close his eyes, but then he didn’t need to, because Katie’s entire body went rigid, her fingers pulling his hair, her nails digging into his scalp as she shattered right there in his arms. Unable to hold back any longer, he let go, his cock pulsing deep inside her as he pulled her down onto him one last time. He held her there, his hips flexing as he buried himself as deep as he could.

  Cupping the back of her head, he held her against him, listening to her breathe as he tried to sort out the emotions that were boiling inside him. Now more than ever, he wanted to tell her that he loved her. But he knew now certainly wasn’t the time. Never in the heat of the moment.

  He would tell her.


  Eventually.

  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

  Katie spent the night wrapped in Dalton’s arms once again. However, she didn’t sleep. Not a wink.

  No, she lay awake and thought about everything that had happened between them over the last few months. She thought about all the good times they’d had and her reasons for why it all had to come to an end.

  As much as she wanted to pretend to be someone else, she knew she couldn’t. Her secrets would catch up to her. There was no doubt about that.

  She’d spent too much time shucking her responsibilities as it was, and she had more important things to worry about than Dalton or the love she’d developed for him. In another life, maybe they could’ve had something, possibly something that defied any love ever established.

  But not this life.

  Her cards had been dealt, and she couldn’t change her hand at this point.

  It was time to move on, time to end this before he learned the truth.

  She glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was already after six, and the sun would be coming up soon. She couldn’t be there when Dalton woke up. He was leaving today, and she didn’t think she was capable of saying good-bye to his face. Not without revealing how she truly felt about him.

  Easing out from beneath his arm, she took her time, not wanting to wake him. And when she was free, she dropped her feet to the floor and stood. Glancing back at him one last time, she admired him. He was truly the most beautiful man she’d ever met. Inside and out. And her love for him would never die, but he deserved so much more than what she had to offer.

  Katie tiptoed out of his bedroom, not bothering to close the door behind her. She didn’t want to risk any unnecessary noise. As it was, everything she did seemed to be amplified, at least to her ears. Instead, she hurried to the living room, pulling on her clothes as quickly as she could, grabbing her purse, and walking out the front door. As she sat in her car, she stared back at the house for a moment.

  And when the single tear slid down her cheek, she knew it was time to go. She’d already gotten in over her head, and she wasn’t strong enough to resist this man, so she had to do things her way.