As I watch Mia, the bell of the café door rings, and Hank strolls in. He’s a tall man whose sexual appetite has the folk of Noir Valley blushing. That’s the ones who haven’t succumbed to the sheriff’s wooing. Shit, even Firebird has watched the man have sex on more than one occasion. Hank nods and says something to Mia, his gaze scanning the café. When he sees me, he says something to his sister, then he’s heading in my direction.
“Alex. Mind if I join you?”
I grew up with Jono and Hank. We played soldiers and basketball together. As we hit our teenage years, we drifted into a different lifestyle. “Sit. Want a coffee?” Hank nods, and I mime to the waitress for another coffee. “What can I do for you, Hank?”
Hank removes his hat, running his hand over his crewcut. His hazel gaze intent as he studies me. So, like his sister’s, but there’s no lust in them for me. They are cold and hard. “Years ago, I warned you to stay away from Mia. When she returned to Noir Valley, I told you to stay away. That I’ll be watching.” Hank looks at the waitress and winks at her as she pours his coffee. When she has the coffee pot hovering above my cup, I shake my head. The dog is warning me about Mia while blatantly flirting with the waitress who responds in kind. As she sashays away, we watch her hips and only once she is behind the counter does Hank’s gaze returns to me. The warmth that was there moments ago is missing. “It’s now been brought to my attention; you and Mia have a dinner date tonight.”
I lean back, and under the table I stretch my legs out in front of me and cross my ankles. “Mia tell you?”
Hank shakes his head. “All of Noir Valley and anyone else who reads that blasted blog of hers, knows.”
I raise my coffee cup to hide my smile. I’ve read that blog. Some of the things she’s been up to have earned her a spanking I’ll be happy to deliver. And if I ever bump into NOLA Boy, I’m gonna blacken his eye. “She mentioned me by name.”
“Nope.”
“She could be talking about lover boy over there.”
Hank looks over his shoulder and shakes his head. “She’s describing her latest boyfriend as blond and blue eyed. Cole’s dark haired in case it’s slipped your notice.”
“She could be talking about NOLA Boy. Maybe he’s visiting from New Orleans.”
Hank’s smile deepens, crinkling the fine line round his eyes, and my stomach coils. His eyes tell me he knows a secret and I want in on it. “By NOLA Boy, I take it you mean Dale?” I nod. “Dale never comes to Noir Valley.”
And that explains why I’ve never met him. I shrug, “we’re having dinner. Nothing more.”
Hank’s blond eyebrow rises. “Dinner and nothing more. Then why were you coming out of Doc Holden’s place and what the fuck where you and Jono talking about.” Hank leans forward. His nose almost touching mine. “I don’t want any trouble in my town. The first sign of anything that’s not right, I’ll throw you and Jono in goal. No questions asked.” Hank stands, shakes his hat, caresses the rim, then places it back on. “Especially if either of you drag Mia into your petty war.”
As I watch the sherriff stroll towards the door, I rub my forehead. Shit, why the fuck have I got myself mixed up with the Cartwrights.
My gaze switches back to Mia, and I find hazel eyes watching me and my heart skips a beat. Blond and unblemished by life. I want some of that innocence which surrounds her. Shit, for someone who has a brother sitting on either side of the fence, Mia is still untouched and that’s what I want, and that’s why I’m willing to get myself mixed up with the Cartwrights. Mia is mine.
Chapter 10
Mia: Her home Noir Valley
“Shit, Mia, you’re acting like you’ve never had a date before.” Poppy said as she lies on her stomach on my bed, munching on a bag of chips.
I drop the black trousers on to the floor and turn to glare at her, l “I haven’t with Alex. Do you think I should dress like the whores at Demon’s Lair?”
“Depends on where Alex is taking you.” Poppy blinks, “or what you want from him.”
I shrug, “I don’t know. Maybe I should have asked.” I pull out a red dress and scrunch my nose as I eye it critically. The soft jersey material clings to every curve I own, and the deep vee would display my tits to Alex. I dismiss the dress, returning it back to the wardrobe and pull out a pair of jeans. “Do you think he’ll take me to Demon’s Lair?”
Poppy’s delicately threaded red eyebrow rises. “Which part. The casino or the club’s private room.”
I reach for the red dress again. “Maybe I should pack the dress. I can change if I need to.”
“Or you can wear the dress and Alex will decide from there where to take you.”
“Yeah, but what if he turns up on the bike? I can’t wear a dress on that.”
“Then you’ll have to take your car.”
I sit on the edge of the bed, hugging the dress. “I should have insisted on meeting him somewhere. Then I wouldn’t have this problem.”
Poppy reaches out and strokes the dress. “The dress. It’s that tight. You’ll have to go commando.” Her warm chuckle matches the wicked gleam in her gaze. “And that’ll torment Alex. After all, haven’t you put a sex ban on
