Page 3 of Filthy and Fierce
He leans down, and he’s going to kiss me. I’m so sure of it, I go on my tiptoes, and our lips are inches apart. We’re sharing the same air, and I can almost taste the beer he’s been drinking. When he doesn’t move any closer, I whimper, almost begging for his lips. “Dixon?”
He inhales and lets it out, low and slow. He’s barely holding on, and I’m just standing here, body vibrating, waiting for him to give in.
Just when I think he’s about to, he jerks backward, breaking the connection that was burning between us.
“Does your dad know you’re home?”
I shake my head. “You already asked me that, and no, he doesn’t. I didn’t tell him.”
“Surprise?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No, it’s not a surprise. I knew if I told him I was coming home, he’d try and talk me out of it.”
His forehead creases, but he doesn’t say anything else. He points to the bags next to my feet. “These yours?” He doesn’t wait for me to answer. He puts my bag over his shoulder and then grips the handle of the suitcase and picks it up. “Let’s go.”
I let my head fall back. Truth is, I should fight him on this. He can’t just go around thinking he can tell me what to do and I’m going to do it, but my body is still recovering from the almost-kiss. Damn, I can just imagine what would happen if he actually did kiss me. I don’t know if I could survive it.
I follow behind him, seeing the curious looks from everyone around us. As soon as we’re outside, I catch up to him. “What if I’m not ready to leave?”
He lifts the suitcase into the back of his truck. “Tough. I’m ready to leave, so that means you gotta go too.”
I block his path. “I wasn’t kidding back there, Dixon. You’re not my keeper.”
He leans down and looks me in the eye. “Princess, as long as you’re here, I’m your keeper. Wanna know what that means? I’ll be keeping the cowboys away from you and keeping you safe. You don’t like it, then leave town.”
Instead of waiting for him, I jerk open the passenger side of his truck. “Oh you would love that, wouldn’t you? What is it with men that I lo—” I catch myself before I give something away I can’t take back. “Men that I like that want me gone? I mean, am I that much of a pain to be around or what?”
I don’t wait for an answer. I get into the truck and slam the door because I’m done dealing with Dixon Chase and his hot and cold. I had high hopes when I came home, but I’m quickly learning that I should have just stayed away because so far Dixon’s not happy to see me, and I’m pretty sure my dad is not going to be either.
CHAPTER 3
DIXON
Do not touch her. Do not touch her.
That’s the mantra that I keep telling myself as I drive us through town. We get to the outskirts before I try to talk to her. “So what’s up with the trip to Whiskey Run? Missing small town life where everyone knows your business, need a little roughing it, or?—”
She cuts me off. “My father’s ranch is state of the art in ranching standards. There’s nothing rough about it.”
I grip the steering wheel. “Fine. Why are you here?”
She turns in her seat, and I don’t have to look at her to know she’s glaring at me. But this is better than her tempting me with her filthy mouth. “I’m sorry, do I need a reason to come and see my dad?”
I shrug. “You haven’t been here in five years. You out of money?”
As soon as I say the words, I wish I could take them back. I know Faith is not like that, but I’ve tried everything to figure out why she never comes to see Charlie. Not Christmas,Father’s Day, nothing. I’ve asked him about it, but he just smiles and says she’s living her life.
She sits up a little taller next to me. “I’ll have you know that I haven’t taken a dime from my father since I left here. I received scholarships for college and my dorm, and I worked part-time jobs to pay for living expenses, so yeah, Mr. Know It All, I am not out of money, and I’m offended that you think so little of me.”
I shake my head. I don’t know what it is, but it’s like I’m just trying to piss her off. Without looking at her, I apologize. “I’m sorry, Faith. I shouldn’t have said what I said.”
She has her arms crossed over her chest, and she doesn’t even acknowledge my apology. It’s like I can’t stop pissing her off.
The rest of the ride is silent. When I pull onto the Allen Ranch, Faith leans forward to look out the window. She’s taking it all in, and there’s been a lot of changes since she’s been gone. She must be keeping up with it all if she knows her father’s ranch is state of the art. The need to apologize again is overwhelming, but I don’t. Maybe it will be better if she’s a little mad at me because there’s no way I can take more of what she was giving me at the bar. I can only be so strong.
I park up at the main house, and I want her to stay in her seat so I can walk around to help her out, but she’s already out before I can get to her. “What kind of men you been dating?”
She stumbles, and I loop an arm around her waist to stop her from falling. With her ass tucked against my thighs, I have an instant reaction to her touch. I have to force her away from me and release my hold on her once she gets her footing. Needing to put some distance between us, I grab the suitcase from the back of the truck and then grab her bag, putting it over my shoulder.
