by Regina Cole
“Hope I go for at least half as much as you, rookie, or I’ll hear about it tomorrow.”
“You’ll be lucky to go for a Benji, you hairy bastard,” Drake grinned. “Go get ‘em.”
As Kyle and his four-legged companion made their way down the catwalk, Drake looked down at Gossamer. “Let’s go find our date, shall we?”
The ugly little dog shook vigorously, sending her glittery wings askew.
He couldn’t pretend he wasn’t worried about Belinda’s possible retaliation. Another reason to go find Everly. As if he needed one. His body had no problems remembering how good Everly had felt in his arms earlier, and he wanted to repeat the connection.
As they weaved their way through the crowd, Drake’s anticipation grew. Everly. She’d been so nervous, and then so cute when she thought she was pulling one over on him with Gossamer, and then so passionate when he’d kissed her. She felt things deeply.
He liked that. A lot.
Belinda had never been what one could consider “deep.” She was much more concerned about people’s opinions of her than anything like emotions or real personal connections. Her opinions changed like the wind, depending solely on who was surrounding her and what the mood of the crowd was. She had a deep-seated need to be in the center of the attention, with the adoration settled squarely on her. Anything different than that could send her into a towering rage, or worse, buckets of tears.
She’d been different when they were younger. Sweeter, less calculating. And, he could admit, he’d let his dick do the thinking for many years of their relationship. She was beautiful, and it was nice to think that someone who looked like her was his. But her beauty was skin-deep, and her ugly went down to the bone.
He was just glad he’d ducked out before he put a ring on it.
Eventually, he’d figured out that her mercurial moods had much more to do with manipulation than true hurt feelings. But she’d had his number, all right. One thing he couldn’t stand? A woman crying. And she’d used that to her advantage more than once. It had taken him a while to realize just how wrong they were for one another. His pigheadedness had almost lost him his best friend in the process. Hunter hadn’t been able to take how wrapped up Drake was with Belinda, and rather than watch his buddy self-destruct, he’d skipped town.
But Everly was completely different. She and Belinda were like night and day, and he was loving the sunshine. He couldn’t help but think he was making a much better decision than he ever had with Belinda. Everly was genuine, and he wanted to know a lot more about her.
Several women in the crowd stopped him, congratulating him on his winning bid, admiring his muscles, commenting on Gossamer’s costume and, erm, unusual looks. He did his best to be polite and charming—he was there as a representative of the department, after all—but inwardly he chafed at the delay. He really just wanted to find her and make sure that she was smiling again.
But with the bidding for Kyle over, the emcee was wrapping things up, and people were starting to leave. Drake frowned as he stood beside the nearly-empty cupcake display. Where was Everly? This was her event, she’d bid on him, and now where was she hiding?
“Hey, you’re Drake, right?”
At the sound of his name, he turned. The girl at the payment table with the thick blonde braids and a Hopeful Paws shirt was smiling at him. He’d seen her somewhere before, but he couldn’t place it.
“Yeah, I am. Sorry, we’ve met, right?”
She nodded, flashing a dimple as she smiled. “Yeah. I’m Charlie. Saw you at the shelter the other day. I walked in while you and Everly were swapping spit.”
He laughed at that. “Funny way of putting it, but yeah. That was me.”
Charlie twirled a pen through long, slender fingers. “Thought you might like to know that she’s behind the building loading up the crates to head back to the shelter.”
“So she’s avoiding me?”
Charlie nodded. “Yup! I’ve never seen her act like this over a guy. It’s kind of cute. So you should go get her.”
“Thanks,” Drake said, and patted his leg. “Come on, beauty.”
At that, Charlie laughed. “Nobody could ever mistake Gossamer for a beauty. She’s sweet as a peach, but I’ve never seen an uglier dog.” She rose, rounding the table and leaning against it as she leaned down to scratch Gossamer behind her floppy ears. The dog grunted and leaned into the touch.
“What can I say? She enjoys the irony.” Drake said.
“You know she’s going to try to get out of the date, right?” Charlie said it matter-of-factly.
“Is she?”
“Oh, hell yes. She’s going to pretend the whole thing never happened.”
Drake knew she was right. He hadn’t known Everly long, but he did notice that she could be goaded into making rash decisions that she’d try to renege on later.
“You should get her out of here right now. I’m covering the cleanup from tonight, and I’ve got a big batch of volunteers. If you don’t do this now, she’ll never go.”
Drake grinned. “I owe you one.”
Charlie’s braids swung as she shook her head. “Nah. Everly’s good people, and she deserves to be happy. And she likes you. So go make her happy.”
“I intend to.” He waved to Charlie and then he and Gossamer escaped through the back door.
He spotted his quarry by a large van parked in the shade. Her cheeks were flushed and she gave an audible grunt as she loaded an airline crate into the back of the van.
So, she thought she could just pretend her bid never happened, and she didn’t have to actually go through a date with him? He was all too happy to prove her wrong.
6.
What the ever loving-hell was wrong with her?
Everly coaxed Paddington, a Shar-Pei mix with a weight problem, into his crate inside the van. He was the last to be loaded for this trip back to Hopeful Paws. Sure, there were about seven other volunteers who could have done this job, but she needed to keep herself occupied until she reconciled her actions with her thoughts.
She’d just dropped most of a month’s paycheck on a date with Drake Hammerfell.
Despite her decision to keep a strict line between her personal finances and the running of the shelter, she’d just made a $1,600 donation in order to keep that ridiculously beautiful blonde woman from finding out exactly how firm and defined those beautiful abs actually were.
She was certifiably insane.
The van doors clanged shut and she waved to Tony, who’d been sitting in the driver’s seat since she’d chased him off. He put the van into gear and Everly watched as he pulled away.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
That voice. Everly closed her eyes and fisted her hands at her sides. She’d have to figure out some kind of shielding mechanism to keep that deep, velvety voice from rumpling up her insides like a load of forgotten laundry. Steel? Plutonium? What was Superman’s Fortress of Solitude made out of, and where could she get some?
“Sorry, I’m fresh out of pennies. I just used them all to buy a guy.”
His laugh did even more internal damage than his voice. Reluctantly, she turned.
God damn it. She was hoping he’d found time to change, or at least put on a shirt. Nope. He stood there in his fireman pants, suspenders over his incredibly well-muscled and naked shoulders. His torso had been oiled slightly, the glistening skin and faint smell of coconut beckoning to her. His smile revealed white teeth that contrasted with his beautifully tanned skin.
And beside him, Gossamer sat and panted with her too-long, curled-up tongue.
Everly couldn’t help but laugh.
Drake tilted his head slightly. “What is it?”
Shaking her head, Everly reached out and took Gossamer’s leash. “The sight of this little creature beside you. She’s a character.”
“We make a good team,” Drake said, kneeling down and scratching Gossamer around her neck’s rolls. “I think she likes me.”
Watching the dog’s buggy eyes roll back in her head, Everly couldn’t help but agree. “That’s obvious. Thinking about taking her home?”
“Honestly? It did occur to me.” He glanced up at Everly, not stopping his petting. “She’s fun.”
“She’s been in our care for about six months now. If you’re interested, drop by and fill out the paperwork. We’ll be here through the festival, and you know where the shelter is.”
Drake straightened and grinned. “I don’t think I can forget that tree out front.”
Damn him. Her cheeks got warm and she kicked a piece of gravel in front of her shoe, wishing it were his face. Just when she’d started to feel comfortable around him. Served her right.
“Well, I need to load up the rest of the dogs at the booth. Thanks for volunteering. Come on, Gossamer.” Patting her thigh, she began to walk briskly toward the building.
“Wait a minute. Stop.”
Shit. It wasn’t working. Pretending she didn’t hear him, she walked a little faster. Had to get away before he brought up the one thing she was dreading.
“Everly, wait.”
His hand closed gently around her wrist and he turned her to face him. Her eyelids slammed shut in self-defense. Being this close to him, smelling how beautiful he was, if she saw him too? She was a goner.
“You bought me tonight. That means we’re going on a date.”
“No, I just made a donation.” She spoke quickly, without opening her eyes. “You don’t have to go out with me.”
His breath blew across her lips as he answered.
“But I want to.”
The heat from his body burned her up from the inside. She knew without looking that he was only centimeters away. Leaning forward just the slightest bit would let her touch that beautiful, hard body. Being in his arms again had consumed her dreams ever since he’d kissed her the first time.
“Everly.” Her name sounded so beautiful on his lips.
She couldn’t stand it any longer. She opened her eyes. There he was, head tilted slightly, lips aligned with hers perfectly, just waiting for her consent to kiss her.
God damn his chivalry.
Slamming the door on her logical brain, she gave in. Arms twining behind his neck, the loop of Gossamer’s leash sliding up her arm, she pressed her lips to his. As if he’d been waiting all day for the opportunity, he devoured her.
Lips, tongue and teeth explored her, his deep groans wrenching answering pangs low in her belly. Her blood pulsed and roared in her ears as his broad, strong hands swept down her back to cup her ass and lift her high and hard against his erection.
Jesus, he felt thick and hot against her belly. Her panties were damp against her slick skin as she pressed her hips harder into him.
His fingers dug into her ass as he lifted her higher. Mouth on mouth, he tasted her deeply. She tangled her own fingers into the hair at his nape, the tousled, dark strands silky to her touch. He possessed her, her every nerve singing with his touch. The feel, the smell, the taste of him, all of it blacked out her senses until he was the only real thing in her world.
That is, until he pulled away.
She blinked, and blinked again. Her brain came online in segments. First her sight, and there he was, gorgeous, but smiling ruefully. Then her balance, as she swayed slightly, remembering she was standing on her own two feet. Finally, her ears came back online.
And then she heard the last catcalls from the door of the building.
“Woo-hoo! Way to go, Everly!”
Shit. Shit, shit shit. Charlie was there, along with Hannah, Frieda, and Roger, all of them Hopeful Paws volunteers. They were grinning at her, waving and jumping and generally making a massive deal over what they’d just seen.
“This is—I—” Everly stopped, her face burning like mid-July in the desert. “Fuck.”
“That was sixteen hundred well-spent, huh, boss?” Charlie laughed as she and the rest of the volunteers walked toward the extra van they’d rented to bring the pups to the festival. “Don’t worry about the rest of the loading, we’ll take care of it. You go and enjoy your date. Leave your car at the shelter, I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”
Everly’s mouth fell open, but coherent words refused to come out. Charlie grabbed Gossamer’s leash and gave her a wink before walking away.
“Come on,” Drake said, and Everly didn’t have the presence of mind to refuse when he led her away.
What the actual fuck?
The stunned look on Everly’s face was actually pretty cute, but Drake had a sneaking suspicion that once she could think again, she was going to be pretty upset at her staff seeing their make out session. Only one thing he could do.
He led her to the parking area and unlocked the cab of his pickup. Helping her up into the passenger seat, he stayed quiet.
The engine rumbled to life, and he put the truck into gear.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere so you can have your meltdown without an audience.”
“Meltdown? I’m not going to have a meltdown. Why should I have a meltdown? Because everybody and their brother saw me shoving my tongue down a sexy, half-dressed guy’s throat?” She dropped her face atop her knees and groaned. “Jesus fuck.”
“Exactly,” Drake said, a knowing smile escaping as he turned from the lot. “Go ahead, baby girl.”
Her grunts of outrage and embarrassment were muffled by her hands, and he tried not to laugh. He really did. Biting his cheek kept the worst of the sounds from coming out, but she heard him anyway.
“What’s so funny?”
“You are. You’re cute when you’re pissed.”
“I’m not pissed, I’m mortified. And it’s your fault.”
“My fault?” They were stopped at a light, so he took the opportunity to hike an eyebrow in her direction. “You kissed me, sweetheart.”
“I only did it because you’re gorgeous, half-naked, and you were about a quarter-inch from my face.”
“If you want to blame anything, blame your lips for being so kissable. I was helpless against you.”
Everly slumped back against the truck’s bench seat, her skull thumping against the headrest. “What am I going to do?”
“Well, right now, we’re going back to my place so I can shower and put some clothes on. And then we’re going to figure out where to go on our date tonight.”
“Wait, what?” She sat up ramrod-straight, nearly choking herself on the seatbelt. “What do you mean, date tonight? We’re not going on a date tonight.”
“Charlie told you she was handling the rest of the tasks tonight, and we’ve already left the festival,” he pointed out. “Makes sense to make our date right now, doesn’t it?”
She bit her lip, and it was easy to see the wheels turning in that beautiful head of hers.
Go ahead. Try to weasel your way out of this, sweetheart. I’m not going to let you.
“I should really get back to the booth and—”
“Charlie’s handling it.”
“But I should go to the shelter and—”
“Charlie. Handling.”
“You’re not going to let me off the hook, are you?”
He shot her a glance. “Why would I? All I want to do is make sure you get your money’s worth.”
She stuck her tongue out at him, and he laughed. Damn, she was fun. It wasn’t nice of him to constantly compare her and Belinda, but the differences were stark. Everly clearly enjoyed life, living it honestly and passionately. Her reactions were unscripted and genuine, and the way she tried to resist him—and failed—made him want her all the more.
His original plans for tonight were no good. Once the gavel fell with Everly as the winning bidder, he’d been seized by the desire to make this night with her as special as he could. It wasn’t just some society woman with a dose of boredom and a surplus of cash he was entertaining tonight. It was Everly. And he wanted to make sure she got a taste of what Drake was all about. After all, it might be his on
ly chance.
His tires bumped over the concrete entryway to the apartment complex’s blacktop lot. As he pulled under the shade of the old oak that constantly littered leaves onto his pickup, Everly shifted in the truck’s seat beside him.
“So, this is your place?”
“Yep,” Drake said as he opened the door and released the latch on his seat belt. “It sure is. Chief helped me find it. It’s small, but it’s close to the station and I’ve got a little patio and a patch of grass out back. Nice enough, for a bachelor.”
“It’s cute,” she said as she shut the truck’s door behind her and fell into step beside him. Their footsteps made soft thumps against the concrete walkway as they walked up to his door. “You haven’t been here long, right?”
“About ten days, now,” he nodded as he opened the door, holding it for her as she stepped into his living room. Cool air swirled around him as he shut the front door behind them. “It’s nice. I’m liking it so far.”
“That’s good,” she said lamely, standing awkwardly in the center of the room as if unsure of where to go. Drake smiled. Damn, she was as jittery as that cat had been when it ran up the tree. He guessed he should be grateful that she hadn’t set her sights on the oak outside, otherwise he might be calling the station for help retrieving her again.
“Why don’t you sit down and relax for a few,” he said, leading her to the overstuffed recliner which sat directly across from his flat screen. “There are the remotes. Make yourself at home. I’m just going to grab a quick shower to get rid of this coconut oil and then we’ll head out for our date.”
Everly sank onto the chair, looking down at her outfit as she did. “I’m not exactly dressed for a night out.”
Drake pressed his palm to her cheek, turning her upward to face him. “You look beautiful to me. Don’t worry, you’re dressed just fine for the night I have in mind.”
As he moved down the hall, he though he might have imagined the shaky sigh that followed him. Probably not. Despite her nerves, she was as excited about this as he was.