Heels soundedon the hardwood floor, and I looked up from my phone. My muscles wound tight as I drank Grae in. Her pale blond hair framed her face in loose waves that I wanted to tangle my fingers in. Her eyes were rimmed in something that made the blue impossibly brighter.
But the dress she wore had me nearly swallowing my tongue. It was some sort of halter deal that tied behind her neck, dipping low in the front and giving me a peek of her cleavage. It hugged her body in all the right places, stopping at mid-thigh. And then she had to cap it all off with a pair of cowboy boots.
“Where did you get that?” I croaked.
She eyed me carefully. “I had some stuff at my parents’. Nash brought it over when he came by the other day.”
I closed the distance between us, my hands skimming down her sides. The pale pink material was silky to the touch. “Are you trying to kill me?”
A smile curved Grae’s lips. “Maybe…”
She stretched up onto her tiptoes and brushed her lips against mine. “Let’s go, or we’ll be late.”
I groaned as Grae ended the connection, walking toward the front door. The view from behind was even worse. The dress dipped low, exposing her gorgeous back. I mentally began reciting football stats and started after her.
The drive into town was quick since tourist traffic had eased up for the day. Grae played DJ, switching from one station to another. I parked in the lot next to Dockside and climbed out of my SUV. By the time I’d rounded the vehicle, Grae was already opening her door.
I held out a hand to her, and she took it with a smile. “I think this is our first date.”
I stilled for a moment. “I’m an ass.”
She frowned. “What are you talking about?”
I tugged her against me, brushing the hair out of her face. “I haven’t even taken you on a proper date.”
“I don’t care about that stuff.”
I bent my head, taking her mouth in a slow kiss. “You deserve the world, Gigi. To be taken to dinners, on trips, to drown in flowers.”
Grae’s fingers wove through mine. “I don’t need fancy. I just need you.”
I stared down at her, seeing nothing but the truth in her eyes. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
Her lips twitched. “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, Caden Shaw. I just want to enjoy having you.”
Something lurched deep in my chest. It let loose a fierce wave of panic, but I shoved it down. Instead, I wrapped an arm around Grae and guided her toward the restaurant. “You’ve got me.”
By the time we reached the front door, I could already hear the music pouring out into the night. It sounded like some cover band, but they weren’t half-bad. The bouncer gave me a chin lift and smiled at Grae. “Have fun, you two.”
We stepped inside. The place was packed with a mix of tourists and locals. Some were eating, more were drinking, and the dance floor was already full. I caught sight of Rance and some other guys on the fire crew and inwardly groaned. We did not need drama tonight.
“In the back corner,” Grae said over the music, oblivious to Rance’s presence. And maybe that was for the best.
I followed the incline of her head to see Holt, Wren, Nash, and Maddie taking up a table. I maneuvered us through the crowd, keeping an eye on everyone who passed.
Grae slowed at a table. “Looks like triple trouble.”
Eddie grinned. “You know it.”
Noel took a long pull of his beer. “Lookin’ good, G.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said with a mock curtsy.
“Hey,” Jordan greeted, but I didn’t miss how his eyes hardened a fraction as he took me in.
Nash waved to us from his table, and Grae turned back to her friends. “Gotta go, boys. See you on the dance floor?”
Eddie did some sort of bizarre shimmy shake. “You can’t handle my moves.”
