Heart of Dixie (Moreover #1)

by Ruthie Henrick

  Never to the one person I cared to impress.

  I lifted my chin and met Blake’s concerned gaze. “I just found out it’s the same event I’m supposed to give my presentation at next month.”

  He grinned. “So? This will be your chance to see her again on her own turf. That’s what you want, right? You want to make it work, you’re gonna have to spend some time together.”

  “I don’t think you understand.”

  “Wait. You don’t seem happy about this at all. You go to California. You dazzle her with your brilliance. You haul her to her beach house and strip her down to her tan lines. I don’t see the problem.”

  “The problem is she doesn’t know I’ll be there. She started talking about the celebrity chef she had lined up, and all the A-listers who’ve already RSVP’d. I choked. I fucking forgot how to talk. Why would they want to listen to me talk about solar systems for automobiles? I’m not interesting.”

  Blake leaned back in his tiny plastic chair and laughed. Like that would suddenly give me the confidence I needed. “Deke, did you hear yourself this morning? Nobody commands a crowd the way you do when you open your mouth. And no-fucking-body knows more about your shit than you do.”

  I just stared. “What if I blow it? What if I bomb my presentation? What if—”

  “The people who’ll be there are the people who care about the future of the world. You’ll own that room. I goddamn guarantee it.”

  Silence. I’d lost my words again. I hated when the doubts overshadowed my knowledge. When my insecurities reigned.

  But Dixie believed in me.

  “This is your chance, man. You want Dixie to see you’re not just a hillbilly from out in the sticks? This is your chance to make the grand gesture. Go to the big city. Let her show you her town. Act like you belong there. Sweep her off her feet. Own it.”

  “Own it. Right. One slight problem.”

  “Only one?”

  “I might own the night, but I don’t own a tux.”

  “Dude, even this hayseed knows how to call the concierge and let him do his thing.”

  My heart was only dinged up and bruised. A little bent this time, but it wasn’t broken. Dixie had been gone for weeks, but I knew where she was. I hadn’t been discarded. I hadn’t been abandoned. We’d both simply gone back to our lives.

  But how did she turn my life so dull in only four days?

  For the millionth time, I refocused on my computer screens in order to finish the project at hand before the day’s end. My day had been fraught with interruptions, and it wouldn’t do to let my customers’ work fall behind so I could fly across the country. My cell phone dinged to indicate an incoming text. Without looking, I turned it over to hide the screen and avoid temptation. Blake had been a couple of those interruptions, calling with last minute pep talks. The last time he called, I answered to a most unexpected question.

  “Did you remember to buy extra condoms? Like extra? You know you’ll get lucky. Several times over would be my bet.”

  My eyes hit the ceiling, where there was no help at all. “Yes, Dad. I’m fully supplied. And now that you’ve jinxed me—”

  “And ribbed. You know, for her pleasure.”

  Of course. “Yes, Blake. And in a variety of flavors.”

  “You’re a worthy student, grasshopper.”

  He was so ridiculous, I had to laugh. “Blake, I’m not going to California to get Dixie. I’m going to speak at a conference Dixie’s company is representing. If I have a chance to spend time with her, it will be a bonus.” Then I said the words I’d kept shoved down my throat for weeks. “I think she has a boyfriend. Some hotshot ballplayer from out there.”

  But he only scoffed. “Bullshit, Deke, it’s you she wants. Drag her back to her place by her fucking hair if you have to. Then don’t let her out of bed until it’s time to make her eggs.” Life was so simple in Blake’s world.

  The message reminder pinged on my phone. Probably him again, suggesting I serve her pancakes instead of eggs. The urge to roll my eyes died when I picked up the device and saw the message was from Dixie.

  Dixie: I miss you.

  And there went every chance of getting anything accomplished for the rest of the day.

  Deke: I was just thinking of you.

  She’d been forefront on my mind all day—the scent of her, the feel of her hair beneath my hand. And now her voice flowed through my veins.

  Dixie: Oh yeah?

  Deke: Yeah. I went to Break an Egg for dinner and Ruby served me meatloaf. I survived.

  Dixie: LOL

  Deke: She rearranged the place. It looks good. She said to tell you thank you. Why is she thanking you?

  As if I didn’t already know. Ruby had plopped herself across from me while I finished every bite of my smothered meatloaf and the mac and cheese side dish, then devoured a slice of apple pie a la mode. She described her remodeling efforts in great detail, and mentioned she was already seeing better profits. And all of it Dixie’s engineering.

  Dixie: It’s nothing, really. We shared some ideas.

  Dixie was playing modest. That was okay.

  Deke: I have some ideas to share with you, too. They involve you and me and horizontal surfaces.

  Dixie: I like the way you think. Where are you?

  Deke: In my office, why?

  Dixie: Why don’t you go somewhere a little more . . . horizontal.

  Was she suggesting what I . . .?

  Deke: Dixie?

  Dixie: I miss you, Deke.

  My cock sprang to life. He knew exactly what she had in mind and he was ready to fire up the laptop. Could I do this? Could I fucking do this? My eyes remained glued to Dixie’s words on the tiny screen, as if they held the answer. She missed me. She wanted me.

  I could tell her I’d be there tomorrow and we’d have all night in whatever size bed she had in her house—or the king-size bed in my suite, for that matter. But my fun, impetuous girl came looking for me. Could I really turn her down?

  Hell, yeah, I could. But I wasn’t near that stupid.

  And even I knew you didn’t put your girl on hold when she was ready to drop her panties for you.

  Deke: Dixie, where are you?

  Dixie: At home.

  Deke: Get on your bed with your laptop, baby. I’m with you.

  The idea of Dixie climbing on her bed and taking off her clothes scrambled my brain as I hurried to shut down the work I had in progress and log on to the online chat.

  Her clothes!

  Deke: Leave your clothes on! I want to watch you take them off!

  I kicked my office chair aside and scanned the room for the best place to sit. Should I move the cushioned love seat in front of the computer? It was probably too low. My gaze landed on the reclining office chair I’d just shoved away, and brought it back into position. I paid for all the features this chair boasted. It was about time to put them to use.

  The computer was finished doing its thing, and within moments we had a connection. I lowered myself into the padded leather seat and smiled at Dixie, sitting cross-legged on the bed in nothing but a robe. She squirmed as if she was nervous, and the movement shimmied one side down over her shoulder until it was barely held in place by the slope of her breast. I was really doing this!

  Oh, crap, one more thing! “Hold on, princess! I’ll be right back!” Before she could respond, I ran to the door and locked it. It wasn’t unusual for Cody to appear unannounced, which would be traumatic for both of us. But if Shane showed up, I’d never live this down.

  I got back to my chair. There was music playing in Dixie’s room now, something erotic with a heavy bass, and she was just climbing back onto the bed. I had a long look at her tight ass through the flimsy material, and then her slim calf as she got back into position. I gave my dick a sympathy squeeze, which drew her eyes to my crotch. She licked her lips, and then met my gaze. “I want to see.” She grinned, as though we were a couple of children playing show and tell. Fuck, maybe we were.


  I pulled the lever for the footrest and drew it up so my legs were elevated, then reclined the chair back, but only partway. I needed to see my girl. “You want me to go first?” She nodded. I lowered my shorts over my hips and my cock sprang free to land on the tank top covering my belly. I stripped it off and tossed it to the floor. Her eyes were huge. “You like that, princess?”

  Her answer was in the heaving of her breasts against the inside of her slinky robe, her nipples beaded and scraping in wide arcs.

  “I remember how your nipples taste on my tongue, baby. Drop your robe and show them to me.”

  “You mean like this?” She lowered one side of it off her shoulder in slow degrees. My chuckle came out as a strangled groan.

  “So you’re feeling playful.” I lifted my hips to raise my shorts. “Maybe I should put this away again.” Her robe landed in a puddle around her hips, and her breasts hung free. “Jesus, Dixie, you’re naked under your robe! Well done, princess.”

  She fiddled with the tie that held the sides together over her lap. “I thought you might like that.” She let the two ends slide free as she slid back against the mound of pillows piled along her headboard. The robe separated and bared her like a gourmet buffet. All my blood drained to the center of my body. I kicked my shorts the rest of the way off and grabbed my cock at the root.

  “This might have been a terrible idea, princess.” Disappointment immediately clouded her eyes, and I rushed to explain. “You look so good laid out like a fucking feast, and I want to put my mouth on you. I want to taste every part of you with my lips and my tongue, feel your skin beneath my fingers.” I reached out my hand and spread my palm on the monitor. She leaned closer and pressed her hand against mine. “I want to hold you.” Her nipples were up close and magnified. If I used my imagination—

  “I want to feel you, too, Deke. I want to touch your warm skin. Your firm muscles. I want the bristles on your cheeks rubbing against my stomach as you kiss your way down my body. I want to feel myself stretch as you slide into me. I want the taste of you as I suck you off—”

  “Fuck, princess. Lay back. Open yourself up for me. Show me how you pleasure yourself when I’m not there to do it for you.”

  And Jesus, let Blake be right and there’s no fucking boyfriend.

  The fingers of one hand glided down her stomach and through the trimmed patch of curls until they reached the area she held open to my view with her other hand. So pretty and pink, swollen and glossy with her desire. She easily located her clit and rubbed in slow circles. Her breathing immediately picked up. “Show me, Deke. Show me how you get yourself off when I’m not around.”

  My eyes were glued to the movement of her hands. My hand slid up and down my cock, slow at first, and then faster and faster as she picked up her speed and her head fell back. “Fuck, princess, that music. Huge turn on.” My hips bumped against my hand; my cock shuttled through my fist.

  One of her hands shot from between her thighs and grabbed her breast. She twisted her nipple as her hips bucked against her hand. Her fingers rubbed and circled, then she dove two fingers into her channel and pumped. Her thumb massaged the swollen nub of her clit. My dick swelled in my hand. “Deke!”

  Her breaths expelled in choppy pants. I found her eyes through the distance between us and held her. “I’m right here, princess. Are you close?” It was miserable that I had to ask. I should be there. My mouth sucking her tits. Her pussy squeezing my dick. My arms holding her to me. I’d know when she was close. “You look beautiful, princess. That’s me with you, baby. Inside you. Making you feel good. Do you feel me there?”

  Her lids closed, then opened wide. Her hips jerked, and her thighs trembled. “When I put my fingers inside, I feel you. I’m close, Deke.”

  I jacked my cock, found leverage with my feet, and threw my head back. The huff of Dixie’s irregular breaths over the speakers had me on the edge. I didn’t have long, but she didn’t need much more. “Roll your nipples, princess, then give them a pinch. The left side.” She moved her hand to her left breast and did as I directed. Immediately, her back came off the bed. “Deke, I’m coming!”

  “Good girl, princess, I’m right there with you. Keep your eyes on me.” Tingles rolled down my spine and into my balls. My load shot over my stomach and up my chest in thick jets.

  Dixie lay panting against her pillows, her fingers removed and laying casually over her belly. “What do we do now, Deke? I want to kiss you. I want you to wrap me in your arms and lie in bed with me. I don’t want to say good-bye and hit the power switch.”

  “Would you come visit Moreover again? And next time, no fucking around with the lodge, or staying with Beth. You stay with me.”

  “I just left there, Deke. I don’t know if I can make it back anytime soon. What if you came to California? You could stay with me.” What kind of fucked up was this? I should tell her I was leaving for the coast tomorrow. But I held my tongue. Part of me wanted my trip to be a surprise. But part was still worried she had someone else. “Deke? If you don’t want to stay with me, LA has about a million hotels.” She offered a light laugh, but it seemed nervous. After what we just shared, that was a dick move.

  “If I came to California, I’d definitely stay with you. That is, if you’re sure I wouldn’t be imposing.”

  Her laugh was more natural this time. “You asking a question, Deke? If you want to know something, just ask straight up.” Fuck.

  “Okay, you busted me. But you spent a lot of time talking on the phone to a guy named Drew. I got the impression—”

  This time, Dixie’s laugh was completely natural and put me at ease. “As much as Drew would like to think all women fawn over him, this woman is not a victim to his charms.” She laid her hand over her bare chest “Relax, country boy, this heart is still on the market.” She moved closer into the camera and lowered her voice. “Now move closer and close your eyes.”

  I moved closer, eyes wide open. “What’s up?”

  “Close your eyes. I want to pretend to kiss you.”

  The coffee pot was empty, so I muttered and mumbled and finally rummaged around the lower cupboard until I found what I needed to get it brewing again. I still had hours of work to do before tonight’s event; coffee was a necessity.

  Madyline appeared in the doorway to our tiny kitchen. “Is that really necessary? Aren’t you wired enough?” The sound of her voice registered over the thoughts in my head, and I spun to catch her raised eyebrow.

  “What? It’s only two and I’m starving, but if I eat anything resembling calories there’s no way my dress will fit over my hips. Where’s Carrie? She usually keeps this full.”

  Madyline gave a light laugh. “She left at noon. She has a special date so she wanted extra time to get ready. It was so cute.”

  My heels clicked as I crossed the floor to adjust the horizontal blinds in the west windows, then walked back to my desk and opened the Montrose contract. Only minutes later I clacked my way back down the hallway to the kitchen for a refill on my coffee. On my way back to my office, Madyline called to me from across the hallway. “Hey, Dixie, got a minute?”

  I leaned against her door jamb and sipped from my cup. “Sure. What’s up?”

  She held a scrap of paper in her outstretched hand. “I forgot to tell you, but some lawyer called this morning. Left a message.” She lifted her eyebrows. “Anything you need to tell me?”

  I took the paper, noted the details. Tig Jamison. “Thanks, Mads. This is the guy from Tennessee. Apparently, Cooter had all his property in a trust so it didn’t have to go through probate. Mr. Jamison was working on the paperwork to transfer everything into my name. I’ll give him a call back.”

  I returned to my office, where the Montrose file was spread out on my desk in neat piles covering the entire surface. This work was important and needed to get done, but each time I picked up a stack to make some sense of it, I ended up laying it back down unchanged.

  I glanced at the message I’d le
ft tucked under the edge of my desk phone. Why was I putting off calling him back? Was I worried about bad news? Or was I concerned about hearing something good? Either way, it wouldn’t change simply because I didn’t make the call. I picked up the telephone receiver and punched in the digits.

  I yawned, then took another sip of my now-cool coffee as I made it past the receptionist and waited on hold for Mr. Jamison to finish his earlier call. I picked up my cell phone and scrolled through my photos to pass the time. I didn’t get far.

  “Miss Dixie, is that you? Thank you for calling me back. I almost gave up on you today.”

  I laid my phone on the desk. “I’m sorry, Mr. Jamison. I forgot about the time difference.”

  “No harm, Dixie. And I’ve got good news! Paperwork’s complete; property’s all yours free and clear. All I need’s your John Hancock and it’s a done deal. And now that you’re a property owner and a taxpayer, you’re free to vote in the upcoming mayoral election. I understand you have a dog in this hunt.”

  “A dog? Oh, you mean Deke. Hmm. No, not really.” Not from clear across the country. “Mr. Jamison, can you FedEx the papers to me to sign? I really can’t get away anytime soon.”

  Mr. Jamison chuckled. “Now, little missy, I guess maybe that’s how you do business out there and in the city, but here in my office, I want to see the whites of your eyes when I sign a legal document with you.” He paused for another chuckle. “You just tell me when you can make it out to my office again. The papers will be waiting for you. Just remember, that election’s just around the corner. I’d hate to see your boy miss out on something that was truly his calling.”

  Well, hell. It wasn’t as though my vote would be the deciding factor. “I understand, Mr. Jamison. Thank you. I’ll be in touch.”

  “Thank you, now. Y’all have a good evening. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  I picked up my phone again and found the pictures I’d been looking for. Deke at the lake, the afternoon we went for a picnic. That day had been warm and sunny; he had that outrageous bucket that he endlessly pulled items from. And he made me start remembering what I loved about Moreover. The cell phone rang and the photos disappeared, replaced by the video call app. I pushed to accept. “What’s up, Drew?” Madyline poked her head in the door as she passed by. I shrugged.