Okay, she’d offered him sex. A morning romp, but he’d clamed up and left for work.
If he hadn’t been so attentive during the night before, or taken such pleasure in her body, then she would’ve been offended. But deep down, she knew that wasn’t the case. She’d seen the look before. The tensing of muscles, irregular breathing, dilated pupils. He was having a ‘moment.’ A pretty strong one at that if he was passing up sex, because she got the impression from their time together he liked having sex with her…a lot.
The feeling was mutual. Dammit.
Deciding this was one of those roll with the punches moments, she nodded to the men. “Hi, Cole. Kade, you’re just in time. Maybe you can convince the sisters here that we’re not in a relationship.”
He stared right at the girls. “We’re not in a relationship.”
Jordan laughed, Kerri smiled and Cole closed his eyes and shook his head. She had no idea what that meant, but was more than ready to get back to work. All this talk about non-relationships was one thing when she said it, but a completely different feeling in her gut when the man who melted her from the inside out with just one look spoke the words.
Maybe the chicken was bad in the salad. Yeah, that was probably why her stomach felt like lead.
“Not in a relationship, right,” Jordan scoffed. “Even though you’ve spent the night at her place.”
Cole shot forward and cupped Kade’s shoulder. “Okay, going to have to intervene here. Keep your mouth shut, buddy. Trust me.” The CEO cowboy glanced around at everyone and nodded. “If you’ll excuse us. Kade came over to check out the horses I got at the auction yesterday.”
And just like that, both men nodded, then left through the back door.
She was going to give that tactic a try. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I really do need to get back to work. Thanks for lunch.”
Setting her dishes in the sink, she held her breath, waiting for a retort. None came. Breathing a little easier, she headed for the hall, thinking she was home free.
“You two are in relationship denial,” Jordan smirked. “It’ll go easier if you just admit it and give in.”
Kerri nodded. “Yeah, admitting it is your first step to a happily-ever-after.”
Snickering commenced throughout the kitchen.
“You two are so full of shit.” Brandi swiped a cherry tomato off the counter and threw it in the girls’ direction.
She had no idea why this relationship discussion had started. But she was not in one with Kade. Yes, she liked having sex with the guy. Okay, she loved having sex with the guy. He didn’t mind her curves. Heck, he loved her curves. Embraced her curves. He’d practically worshipped her curves.
And now she was getting hot again.
Still, great sex did not a relationship make.
Cripes, now she sounded like one of those doctors on television. Not that she was knocking great sex. Hell no. It certainly made her feel good. And that was all she was looking for right now. There was no need to introduce her family to the guy she’d had great sex with the past week.
Playing the violin at the Dining Out was enough of a stress maker. Thank goodness Kade was not attending the dinner. That would be just a wee bit awkward.
Chapter Eleven
Although sharp, Dress Blues were not Kade’s favorite uniform of choice—he’d much prefer the comfort of the Army Combat Uniform or ACU’s. Too bad a Dining Out dinner required more formal attire. Tonight, he’d donned the blue uniform with gold stripe down the side of the pants, double-checked his medals, stripes and insignia to make sure they were all up to date on his jacket—all while silently cursing his luck that a family emergency had forced Colonel Dwyer to call him to take his place at the last minute.
So, here he was, driving up to Houston with barely ten minutes to spare. Had he known ahead of time, he would’ve scheduled it in, and made plans to commute with a few of the other guys attending from the unit.
Not to mention, leaving Harland County in the hands of Skippy didn’t sit well with his stomach. He hoped to God nothing major arose. The kid barely handled a skunk intrusion, speeding tickets, lunch…and Kade didn’t even want to think about the cat-in-the-tree call the other day. Thanks to the deputy’s stellar response, the department now had a hefty vet bill. Poor cat would be stuck in a cast for another two weeks.
Donny wasn’t allowed anywhere near Ace. Make that Shadow Rock. He shuddered to think of the havoc the kid could inflict on livestock. Not good.
Pulling up at the venue held in a popular hotel and convention center, Kade put the deputy out of his mind and parked. It was only for a few hours. The county would be fine. He hoped. Right now, he had to switch hats. Literally. Sliding out of the truck, he swiped his beret off the seat and straightened.
“Hey, Top. Didn’t know you were coming,” one of his lieutenants said, stopping by the truck with a pretty blonde on his arm.
“Neither did I. Colonel had an emergency.” He donned his beret, shut the door then turned as the lieutenant introduced his girlfriend.
Some soldiers brought a date to the Dining Out and some didn’t, he observed as they walked inside. If he’d had more notice maybe he would’ve…what? Asked Brandi? Probably not. According to the designer, they weren’t in a relationship. Which was true. He’d more than made that clear when he’d walked away from her naked, willing body the other morning. So why he was a bit put out by her public admission of their non-relationship status at Cole’s a few days back was puzzling.
Maybe he actually wanted a relationship?
His chest squeezed tight. That would be a negatory, Sergeant. He shut that train of thought down fast. No relationship. No date. No hassles. Tonight was a night to reunite with old comrades. Men and women from across the country who’d participated in one of the operations a few years ago. Even though he hadn’t originally planned to attend, he was there now and would enjoy the evening’s events.
Removing his cover, he tucked the beret in his belt and joined some of the familiar faces gathered near the cash bar.
A good twenty-minutes had passed and he was enjoying the conversation, nursing his seven and seven, when one of the men let out a low whistle.
“Damn, how the hell did Ben land someone like that?” one of the guys questioned.
Kade turned with the others, and his heart literally rocked in his chest.
Brandi?
Wearing a knee-length, black dress with sheer sleeves, she was elegantly dressed, and even though her neckline wasn’t low cut, just enough of her luscious curves showed to raise his temperature.
Then his gaze travelled down her gorgeous legs to her shoes. Black, high and strappy, with her toes peeking through. Ah hell. She’d painted them a pale pink. They reminded him of her…
He cleared his throat and sipped his drink. He wasn’t going there. Wasn’t thinking about how her do-me-shoes made him want to do just that…right now…in one of the rooms upstairs…with just those damn shoes on.
He downed the rest of his drink. Didn’t help. He was now sporting a raging hard-on, in the middle of a Dining Out, thanks to those damn shoes.
“Yeah, she’s hot,” someone else exclaimed.
Since the men hadn’t said anything derogatory, he deduced the anger heating his blood must have something to do with the woman who wasn’t crazy about soldiers showing up with a soldier. One he didn’t know.
He cleared his throat. “Who’s she with?” he asked in his best matter-of-fact tone.
“One of the PA soldiers,” the guy replied.
Jesus. He hoped to God it wasn’t that stupid ex of hers. Surely she was smarter than to hook up with the jerk again.
Flexing his shoulders to alleviate a sudden tightness, he told himself he had no reason to be jealous of the dark-haired, green-eyed guy who had an arm slung around her waist. But, dammit, he was.
“Yeah, that’s Ben. You remember, Top. He’s the supply guy who performed miracles and saved our asses several times when he
helped fill our shortages,” the lieutenant informed.
And his fuzzy brain got a clue. He nodded. “Right, Sergeant Wyne.”
Wait…Wyne? Was Ben one of her four National Guard brothers? It occurred to him he didn’t really know much about the designer’s family, and what little he did know, he’d learned from Mrs. Masters.
She never mentioned anything about her brother coming down.
Did you give her a chance to?
No. He’d pretty much avoided the woman all week. The way they seemed to fall into bed lately, he figured it was better for them both if he kept some distance. Last thing either of them needed was to become dependent on each other. That was a fast track to a relationship…which they didn’t want. Or need.
“Hey, Ben, over here,” the lieutenant called out.
The guy smiled and headed over, Brandi in tow. She nodded at the others, smile sweet and unsure, until her gaze fell on him, and her warm brown eyes widened. Yeah, imagine seeing him at a Guard function. Did she think he wouldn’t find out? And what did it matter, anyway? It really was no big deal, his brain reminded.
“Hello, Brandi,” he said, rather enjoying the pink tint creeping into her face.
“You two know each other?” Her brother’s gaze bounced between them before skittering to Kade’s chest. A slow smile spread across the man’s face as he lifted his gaze and held out a hand. “You must be Kade. Nice to meet you, Sheriff. I’m Ben, Brandi’s brother. I heard so much about you.”
Now it was his turn to raise a brow. Ignoring the looks from his men, he shook hands, and knew by the grip, he was getting that watch-your-step brotherly warning. And judging by the gleam in the green eyes, the guy was somehow teasing his sister in the process.
Never one to turn down a tease, he played along. “Hopefully, it’s all good. Brandi’s a sweetheart.”
Her blush deepened, but she remained quiet. He decided to give her a break and talk shop.
“It’s nice to meet you in person, though, Sergeant,” he said, releasing the man’s hand. “Good to have this opportunity to thank you. Any supplies my men needed back then that I couldn’t get, you came through. It was much appreciated.”
Ben shrugged. “No thanks necessary, First Sergeant. It was my job. Soldiers always come first.”
“Unfortunately, not everyone has that attitude, so thank you.”
Brandi stepped closer to her brother. “Ben has always taken that attitude. And now that he’s the Battalion S4, more people will benefit.”
Kade’s brows rose again. “Battalion supply? Good for you.”
A big grin split the man’s face. He nodded and turned to his sister. “Nice try, Brandi. But you’re not going to change the subject. I’d love to hear more about you and Sergeant Dalton.” The green gaze returned to him, a serious glint present underneath the twinkle. “Why is it you didn’t ask her to come with you tonight, First Sergeant?”
Brandi’s indrawn breath echoed around them. Kade immediately liked the guy. He cocked his head. “I wasn’t supposed to be here. I’m a last minute fill in for Colonel Dwyer.”
“I see,” Ben said, still holding on to the woman gazing longingly toward the hall. “Then you won’t mind sitting at our table? I’m sure my dad would love to meet you.”
Her dad? Okay, this wasn’t so funny anymore. But, he’d made his bed. Damn. Poor choice of words.
“Oh, that’s not necessary,” Brandi spoke up. “I’m sure Kade…I mean, Sergeant Dalton would like to sit with his men.”
“Top sees us all the time. It’s okay.” The damn lieutenant decided to speak up. “You sit with Brandi’s family, sir.”
And before he could reply, his men walked away. Deserted him.
Bastards.
Calling on his reserve manners, he turned to the Wynes and smiled. “Looks like you’re stuck with me. Lead the way.”
“First…” Ben took Brandi’s hand and placed it on Kade’s arm. “That’s more like it. Brandi can guide you to our table up front. If you’ll excuse me, I see some more guys I wanted to say hello to.”
And with a nod, the man was gone, leaving him alone with a red-faced designer. She tried to pull her hand away, but he covered it with his free one.
“Hold on there, honey. Where are you going?”
“Look, Kade. I’m so, so sorry. And so embarrassed. You go on and sit with your unit. It’s okay. You don’t need to sit with me just because my brother said so.”
He turned to face her. “Hey, make no mistake. I’m sitting with you because I want to.”
“Oh…” Big brown eyes blinked at him. “Y-you do?” She was nearly eye level, thanks to those sexy shoes.
His insides warmed, and he rode out the tide. “Yes,” he replied, smile tugging his lips. “You look incredible tonight.”
She blinked again, pink returning to her cheeks. “I do?”
He nodded and leaned closer. “Good enough to eat.”
Her lips parted and blush deepened as she swayed into him.
“Now, that’s what I like to see. A happy expression on my daughter’s face,” an older man said as he approached, arms behind his back. His crisp stance and sharp gaze commanded attention.
“Oh, Dad.” She jumped back and pointed to him. “This is Kade Dalton. Sergeant Dalton. First Sergeant Dalton,” she corrected twice.
Her father smiled and held out a hand. “Nice to meet you, son.” He covered Kade’s hand with his other and continued to shake. “Hell of a job you did over there, son. Hell of a job.”
Her father was Major Wyne? Tough but fair Major Wyne? Of course he was… Idiot. Why the hell the praise hit deep, Kade didn’t know. Fighting unexpected emotions, he pushed aside the ghosts, held himself erect and met the man’s gaze. “Thank you, sir.”
“I was prepared to come down here to talk my daughter out of her silly notion of staying in Texas, but now I’m not so sure.”
He met Brandi’s startled gaze. She no doubt had her hands full butting heads with the Major, but the woman possessed the backbone necessary to stand her ground. She could certainly be stubborn.
“Your daughter’s nothing if not tenacious, sir,” he remarked. And when she deployed that tendency during sex, damn, he was a lucky man.
And this was exactly the wrong time to have those thoughts.
“That she is, First Sergeant. That she is,” the major said, slapping Kade’s shoulder. “What do you say we all take our seats? I believe this shindig is about to get started.”
Seated between her and a corporal, Kade had just finished his appetizer when her brother looked up from his plate and stared at him from across the table. “So, Sheriff, when did you and my sister first hook up?”
“Really, Ben? Give it a rest, will you?” Brandi shook her head and stabbed at a cherry tomato which promptly flew off her salad and landed on his empty plate.
“Actually,” the major glanced at him. “I’d like to know that, too.”
Great. Tag-team interrogation.
He plucked the tomato from his plate and set it back on her salad, then glanced into her apprehensive gaze. “A few weeks back.” In the barn, on a hay bale. He kept that last part to himself, but knew she’d caught his thought by the heat entering her gaze.
“Well, I’m glad, son. It’s good to know my daughter has someone down here she can count on. That I can count on,” her father corrected with a smile, then set his attention back to his plate.
With the subject dropped and their entrées in place, Kade concentrated on his prime rib and listened as the others chatted.
That she can count on...
The words echoed in his head, bouncing back and forth like a ball in a pinball machine. He wasn’t the best person for her to count on. Hell, he was no longer blemish free.
And now the delicious steak tasted like dirt.
Swallowing the last mouthful with a sip of water, he set his fork down and tried to regroup. Now was not the time to give into the feelings of inadequacy suddenly tightening
his chest, and her father was no doubt waiting for a response. Glancing at the man, he nodded, but didn’t offer anything more. Like a promise. That would be stupid.
“I heard some good things through the scuttlebutt about you, son.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ve heard the same about you. You have a reputation for getting the job done.” Which was true. No matter how tough, Major Wyne delivered. Some people complained, usually the slackers, because the man rode their asses and forced them to do their jobs, and others praised the ethics.
“Why thank you, First Sergeant, I appreciate that,” the man said, his direct gaze serious. “I’m sorry you had a loss. It’s tough to lose a soldier. It’s happened too many times in this damn war. From what I hear, you handled it well, kept the men going, and to borrow your phrasing, got the job done.”
Got the job done…
Well, wasn’t that just swell? An invisible vice squeezed his chest tight. Too bad he couldn’t have gotten the job done without Sergeant Nylan dying. Then it would’ve been a good job. Hell, it would’ve been fucking great. Everyone could have really sung his praises then.
Warm fingers tugged his fist open at his side and wrapped around his hand. It took him a full minute to realize Brandi had not only unclenched his fingers she’d taken over the conversation, asking questions about her brothers back home.
Her grace, her warmth…her unwavering calm seeped into him, and he slowly regained the ability to breath, and his body eventually relaxed enough to hear the exchange.
“…then he turned to me and said, Uncle Ben, when can I be Batman?”
Brandi’s laughter was sweet and genuine, and warmed the last of the chill from his bones. He even sensed a slight longing in the tone, and guessed the conversation was about her nephew. Sitting back, fingers still entwined—apparently he wasn’t the only one reluctant to let go—he listened to the banter between siblings, and couldn’t help but think of his cousins and their dinner table discussions while growing up.
Her Uniform Cowboy (Harland County Series Book 3) Page 19