by Krista Lakes
“It’ll be fine,” Dylan promised, but he didn’t sound terribly confident about it.
They got out of the car and walked into the restaurant. The night before, they’d walked in and sat right down, but tonight they could barely get in the entrance.
“Do you want to wait?” Bonnie asked as someone jostled her shoulder. Being in the crowd made her nervous. She didn’t like crowds since it was too hard to see if someone was watching her. “Maybe we could go someplace else?”
“No,” he said firmly. “Green chili burger, right?”
She nodded, keeping her arms wrapped around her.
“I’ll be right back,” he told her. He touched her shoulder gently, but it didn’t put her at ease. She put her back to the wall so she could watch everyone else. She wasn’t hungry anymore. Not with this many people around. The space between her shoulder blades itched like someone was watching her.
She knew it was silly. No one knew she was in town here. No one was even paying attention to her, but she still felt like she was wearing a neon sign with an arrow pointing to her for the mob to see.
Dylan made his way to the bar. She recognized the bartender as Elena. Her long dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Dylan said something to her, and she looked up, meeting Bonnie’s gaze. She smiled and waved. Bonnie did her best to return the motion. She hoped it looked friendly enough.
Dylan said something more to Elena before making his way back through the crowd to get to her.
“Elena says she can get us the burgers to go in ten minutes,” he said, leaning over and speaking quietly into her ear so the other patrons wouldn’t hear. She liked how it felt intimate, even if it wasn’t.
“Seriously?” Bonnie pulled back and looked around. The place was packed. Ten minutes was barely long enough to get the food cooked, let alone cook it with all the orders the restaurant had to be receiving.
“There are perks to having someone on the inside,” he told her. “I have friends in high places. I don’t know if you know this, but I’m kind of a big deal.”
She raised her eyebrows at him. “I’m sure you are.”
“I’m basically a king in Silver Springs,” he replied, brushing his shoulder in an exaggerated motion as he puffed out his chest. He winked at her.
She laughed, feeling a little more at ease with him near her. “Or Elena is just awesome.”
“That’s possible too,” he agreed with a smile. “Can I get you a drink? I happen to know someone.”
She thought about it. A drink sounded great, but ever since the fire, she didn’t like the way alcohol made her feel. She needed to stay sharp and in control. “I’m good. Thanks.”
“Okay.” He shrugged and leaned against the wall next to her.
It was hardly three minutes before Elena reappeared at the bar and held up a large paper bag. Dylan touched Bonnie’s shoulder with a smile before heading through the crowd to pick it up. Bonnie hesitated for half a second before following him.
“Thank you for calling in your order, Mr. Abbott,” Elena announced. She winked at Dylan as she handed him the bag.
“Thanks, Elena,” he replied, handing her a couple of crisp bills. “See you later.”
“No problem.” Elena waved to Bonnie before going back to serving drinks to the people at the bar.
Dylan led the way through the crowd to the front door with Bonnie right behind him. She was glad they were leaving the restaurant. The crowd and the noise had her nerves on high alert. She was actually glad they weren’t getting a table because she wasn’t sure she could have eaten comfortably in there with that many people.
Outside, the air felt crisp and clean. She took a deep breath in and felt less like throwing up. She wished she didn’t have to feel so afraid all the time. After the trial, she told herself, everything could go back to the way it was before.
“I know a great place we can go to eat this,” Dylan said, holding up the bag of food. “It’ll take just a couple of minutes to get there.”
“Okay,” Bonnie agreed. They were halfway to the car when Bonnie realized he’d paid for her meal yet again. “You didn’t have to pay again, you know. I should pay you back.”
He shrugged. “I can afford it. Promise.”
She crossed her arms. “No.”
He turned and looked at her. “Okay.” He smiled as if he were pleasantly surprised at her insistence. “Next time is on you. Sound good?”
She nodded curtly. “Yes.”
He chuckled and opened up her door for her. She slid inside, and he handed her the food. She put on her seat belt as he got in and started the car. The food smelled so good it had her mouth watering before they’d even left the parking lot.
Chapter 16
Dylan
Dylan revved the engine and headed out on the main highway before turning off onto a small side road. It was one of his favorite places to watch the sunset. He hoped Bonnie would enjoy it. The sports car didn’t struggle to speed up the big hill even a little bit. Dylan was fairly certain he would be pushing her car at this point. He still needed to put in the new equipment he’d ordered for her.
The road curved and wound its way through pine trees and aspen. They passed some large houses before coming to an open space where he pulled off to the side of the road.
“Here we are,” he announced, putting the car in park and stepping out.
He quickly went over and opened her car door, barely making it before she opened it herself. He enjoyed being a gentleman. She smiled as she got out of the car, even though she shook her head a little. She was her own woman.
Her eyes went wide as she saw where he had brought her.
The view was amazing. Spectacular, actually.
There was a wooden bench that sat perched on the edge of a cliff. The cliff gave way to a valley that then turned into the Rocky Mountains. He loved to sit here and contemplate the ancient peaks. It was always quiet and beautiful here, and he’d timed the sunset perfectly.
The sun blazed its final glory behind the tallest peak as it settled in for the night. The color was breathtaking. Orange and blue clouds filled the sky and reflected off the mountain peaks. Everything was bathed in color and light.
“It’s a Bronco sunset,” Dylan remarked. He stood next to her, looking out at the view.
“A what?” Bonnie asked, confused. She didn’t look at him but rather continued to stare at the sky.
“A Bronco sunset,” Dylan repeated. “The Denver Broncos are the football team here. Their colors are orange and blue. When the sky is like this, the locals say that it proves God is a Bronco fan.”
She looked out at the blue sky and the orange sunset. “I’m certainly a fan now.”
He chuckled and held up the bag of food. She’d forgotten it in the car, but he hadn’t. “Hungry?”
“Yeah. Sorry,” she said. He loved the soft blush that flattered her cheeks. She moved to the bench so they could sit and eat.
“Don’t be. You were looking at the scenery.” He pulled out a neatly wrapped burger and handed it to her before pulling out a container of food for himself.
“What did you get?” she asked, peeling back the paper and taking a bite of her burger. She groaned a little with pleasure. The sound went straight to his groin, and he had to concentrate on his food instead of her.
“Jambalaya,” he said, taking off the lid and showing her the inside. The spicy scent of the mixture of rice, shrimp, and sausage made his stomach growl. He was hungrier than he thought. “Want some?”
“Um, sure,” she said. He handed her his fork, and she took a small bite. She made that noise again, and he had to think of baseball stats. “Oh, that’s spicy. But definitely good.”
He nodded. “I know, right? Sandy’s is the only place out here that I’ve found that even gets close to the real thing.”
“Did you grow up in the south?” she asked, taking a bite of her burger.
He shook his head. “No. But, my grandfather is from New Orleans
, so we used to go every summer when I was a kid. He made the best jambalaya I’ve ever had.”
He smiled, thinking of his grandfather. Those summer trips were some of his favorite times.
“Sounds like a good memory,” she said, watching him as he took a bite of his food. “Do you ever go back?”
He nodded as he ate. It tasted like home. “I try and go once a year. It’s a great city.”
“I’ve never been,” she said.
“Really?”
She shook her head. “My parents moved all over the place when my brother and I were kids, but it was mostly in the Midwest and then the East coast. My dad was a salesman.”
“My dad was an electrician,” Dylan said. “Then a farmer once he met my mom. But, he loved automating the farm for her.”
“Makes sense that you got into computers then,” she replied. “My mom was a nurse. I think I got the helper gene from her.”
Together they ate their meal, watching the sunset. As the sun dipped lower, the colors of the sky became more vivid and colorful. Dylan wasn’t sure he’d ever seen such deep oranges and such vibrant blues in the sky before.
“Where did you grow up?” Bonnie asked after a quiet moment. “I’m guessing not New Orleans since you said you went there to visit.”
“Kansas,” he replied. “It’s where my mother’s side of the family lives. My sister’s still out there. She married a farmer. She calls me the black sheep of the family since I didn’t go into farming.”
She looked over at him, her warm brown eyes taking him in. He liked the way she looked at him and wished again he could kiss her. He had almost done so earlier, but they’d been interrupted. He wanted it to be memorable since he had a feeling he’d never have another first kiss again after kissing her. He didn’t want another first kiss. Just her kisses.
“You could have been a farmer,” she told him. “You certainly work hard enough.”
He chuckled. “My dad used to say I got my mechanical brain from him, but that I got my work ethic from my mom’s side.”
She smiled. “He must be very proud of you.”
Heartache hit his chest. He looked out at the mountains and sighed. “He died just before I sold my company. He was proud of me even though he didn’t know exactly what I had made.”
She put her hand on his knee. Heat rose at her touch. “I’m so sorry, Dylan.”
“His death was actually a big part of why I sold FirmHard Tech,” he explained. Guilt wound in his stomach. “I was so busy. I knew he was sick, but I was working. I didn’t have time to visit him, even when we knew it was the end. I had to work. I was working in the backseat as they drove me to his funeral.”
He could still see his sister shaking her head at him. He could hear his mother asking him to come and stay before his dad went to the hospital. He said he was too busy. He was always too busy. And for what? His company didn’t save the world. It simply made tech companies more money.
“You miss him,” Bonnie said quietly. “I’m so sorry, Dylan.”
“Thank you.” He still wasn’t sure how to respond when people said that. Her hand was still on his knee. He put his own hand on top of hers. Her hand was small beneath his, and he never wanted to let go. “What about you? Do you have any family?”
“My parents are currently touring Europe,” she replied, letting him change the subject. “My brother... um, well, he’s in security. He’s figuring things out, but he’s really smart.”
“I’m guessing he’s younger,” Dylan said. He recognized the way he talked about his sister. She smiled as she spoke of him.
She grinned. “Yup. He’s always getting into trouble. He’s got a good heart, though. I think you’d like him.”
“If he’s like you, I’m sure I would,” Dylan replied. He liked that she flushed at the compliment.
“So, do you bring girls up here all the time?” she asked coyly. She pointed to the view of the mountains. The sun was almost set, but the sky was still filled with swirls of gold, orange, blues, and purples. “It seems like a great way to make an impression.”
“Are you impressed?” he asked. She still had her hand on his knee.
“Maybe a little,” she replied with a smile.
Her lips were perfect. He wanted to feel the shape of her lips under his own. To taste her sweetness. He knew she would be sweet. He could feel it in his bones that her kisses would be the sweetest kiss he’d ever known.
There were no people here. There was no one to walk by and disturb them this time. He had wanted to kiss her all day. He had nearly kissed her in the shed, but he didn’t want her to get in trouble with Mia for kissing on the job.
But here, she could be his.
He reached out and cupped the back of her neck in his hand. Her skin was so soft. He loved the way her breath caught as he touched her. The sunlight gleamed in her hair, bringing out the golden highlights in the dark waves.
Their mouths met, and he was right about her sweetness. Her lips parted, a tease of tongue and teeth, and the lovely liquid weight in his belly increased. The warmth of her kiss heated him straight to the core. Primal desire flooded through him, but he kept himself in check. He wanted to do this right with her.
“Wow,” she whispered as he drew back from the kiss. Her eyelashes flickered on her cheek as she kept her eyes closed. When she opened them, he could see the world in her eyes, and it was beautiful. Wow indeed.
She bit her bottom lip and smiled at him. “I liked that,” she told him softly.
So, he leaned forward and did it again. It was as good as the first time, if not better. This time she flicked her tongue against his lips, taking his taste for her own. Heat coiled in his belly for more than just a kiss.
He pulled back, and she smiled at him again, making his heart thump in his chest. His attraction to her was so much more than physical. It wasn’t just the kiss that had him wanting more. It was her. Her smile, her conversation, her desire to help others. He wanted all of her.
She shivered, and he realized the sun was gone. The sky was dark as stars came out and twinkled in the twilight. At this elevation, once the sun disappeared, it got cold fast, and she didn’t have a jacket.
“Let’s get you to the car,” he said, rising from the bench and offering her his hand. She took it, making his stomach do the happy flip-flop again.
She held his hand all the way to the car and the entire way home. He wanted to take this slow. He wanted to make this feeling last. The tension between them was sweet and yet so delicate. He didn’t want to rush this and fall into bed and find they’d gone too quickly.
He wanted to woo her. He wanted to take care of her and make her his forever. Immediate gratification was always good, but this had the potential to be so much more. He wanted it to be so much more.
He dropped her off at her cabin. Part of him hoped she’d ask him inside to continue what they’d started. To be honest, most of him hoped for that. She didn’t though. She simply leaned over in her chair and kissed his cheek.
“Thank you.” Her voice was soft. “Will I see you tomorrow?”
His voice came out husky. “Yes. Most certainly.”
She grinned and bit her bottom lip again as she smiled and got out of the car
He watched as she went to her door, pausing before going in to smile at him.
Yes, he thought to himself as he watched her and felt his heart pound in his chest. She was worth taking it slow.
Chapter 17
Bonnie
“Thank you, Tyson.” Bonnie took the new roll of paper towels from him with a smile.
“You’re welcome, Bonnie,” the boy replied. He flashed her a shy smile, his brown eyes happy. “I really liked today.”
She gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I thought you might. Was it worth missing our swim lesson for?”
Tyson nodded enthusiastically. “Definitely.”
He looked over at the table where his creation lay drying. Bonnie had set up pudding painti
ng for any kids who were interested. She’d been surprised at the amount of kids that had opted to give up their free time before bed to do an art project. Granted, it was painting with pudding, so it was art and a snack.
It was just Tyson and Bonnie now. He’d wanted to stay and help her clean up before getting ready for bed. She appreciated the company and loved the way he smiled at her. He was a great kid.
“Is Dylan going to be at our swim lesson tomorrow?” Tyson asked. “I know he’s helping Ms. Laura do something for the horses tonight. But what about tomorrow?”
“I think so,” she replied. “He wanted to come paint with us, but Ms. Laura needed his help to take one of the horses into town. I’m sure he’ll come tomorrow.”
She had hoped to see him today, but an emergency with one of the horses had kept him busy. She wanted to kiss him again. She wanted to talk to him and make sure that last night wasn’t just a fluke. She liked him and not getting to eat dinner tonight with him had been strange. At least Tyson had kept her company.
“Okay. Good. I really like having him around,” Tyson said with a smile. “What else can I do?”
She smiled at him. He was such a good helper. “We need to bring those empty bowls back to the kitchen,” she told him.
“I can do that,” he announced. He carefully picked up a stack of empty pudding bowls and balanced them in his hands as he walked to the kitchen. His little tongue stuck out as he concentrated on what he was doing.
She smiled at him as he worked hard not to spill the bowls. She’d made sure to spend some extra time with him today, and it was obvious that the attention was appreciated. He was smiling and had even tried a new food at dinner. She was excited to see what a little more work with him could accomplish. He was such a great kid.
She looked around the room, making sure they had cleaned up the cafeteria after their pudding painting. The only thing left in the room was the picture Tyson had painted. She went over and picked it up.