Chapter Five
"Damn, girl. I mean, damn, how many times in life do you have a view like this?" Lula grinned and raised her glass. Josie raised hers in a toast.
They were sitting on the back deck of what was once Lula's rental house. Lincoln bought it for her and at present, he, Mathias, Riggs and Dillon Walker were busy adding on to the dock. "There seem to be quite a few hot men in this town," Josie commented. "And I thought you said Reese was coming?"
"She is, but it'll be later. Which is kind of fortunate because I wanted to ask you about the assignment. I honestly don't know how you're bearing up. Girl, Dillon's got that I'll take you there vibe hovering around him like an aura. So, are things heating up?"
Josie considered lying but that wasn't in her nature, particularly with a friend and especially since she so badly needed to talk to someone she could trust. "I swear I think he's trying to make me so nuts I'll make a real move on him."
"You want to elaborate?"
"Look, it's been a month and I haven't seen or heard anything that leads me to believe there's anyone here who poses a threat to him. But his father and uncle aren't about to pull the detail. One of the protection detail is a guy posing as a maintenance worker at the football facility, and believe me, he isn't bitching. It's pretty much a cush job. Likewise, with the guy who follows Dillon to and from work and rents the house across the street. As far as Dillon knows, Carl works in Rock Ridge at the feed plant."
"So, he doesn't interact with the other two at all?"
"Nope. Just me. And I swear to all that's holy, it's like he turns it on wide open every time we're out somewhere. Sometimes even when he walks in on a training session or when the team is in a drill. Those damn teenagers think we're doing it like monkeys in the trees at every opportunity."
"Monkeys in the trees?"
"You know what I mean."
"And?"
Josie looked at her. "He's wearing me down, Lula. IA woman can only take so much until she needs some release. You know what I mean?"
"Oh, yes indeed. So, what are you going to do about it?"
"Get into the game. If he wants a challenge, then a challenge it'll be. He can dish it out, that's for sure, but I'm not that green. I've decided that I am going to sleep with Dillon Walker and if you repeat that, you know I'll have to shoot you."
"You'd sleep with someone you're supposed to be protecting?"
"Not while I'm on the job. But this gig won't last forever and when it's done..." She looked at Dillon, shirtless and sweaty. "When it's done, I'm gonna rock his world."
Lula laughed. "I don't doubt that for a second. So, aside from sex, how about the rest of it?"
"The rest is great. He knows football and I mean knows it. I've never known anyone aside from my Dad who loves the game as much. And he's damn good at strategy. I think my Dad would be impressed.
"Sounds like you are."
"I am. I think his talents are wasted here, to be honest. Dillon could go toe-to-toe with any NFL coach and I don't say that lightly. I talk to my Dad every week and tell him some of the things Dillon says and he's impressed."
"That's pretty major coming from your father."
"Yep."
"And it makes Dillon all the more appealing, doesn't it?"
Josie looked out at the subject in question again. "Unfortunately. But it doesn't change anything. As long as he's under my protection, the hands-off policy stays in place."
"Unless you're in public."
"Yeah. Damn, do you have any idea how truly screwed up that is?"
"Why? Because it makes you want to go out to dinner every night?"
That question slapped Josie square in the face. How had she not noticed before? Had she been so wrapped up in controlling her own feelings and being over-zealous about having eyes in the back of her head when they were out, that she was blind to what was right in front of her?
Since the end of her second week on the job, Dillon had started making excuses about not having dinner at home. He was in the mood for pizza or steak or barbecue or whatever, and either didn't want to have to cook or liked it better from some place in town. And every time they went out, they ended up making out in a parking lot or on the dancefloor at the Honky Tonk.
The only conclusion she could surmise from that data was that he wanted her, but wasn't about to admit it, so going out served two purposes. It allowed him to satisfy at least some part of the urge he had for her and it piled pressure on her. Josie made up her mind then and there that as soon as they were home, she was going to have a frank discussion with him about their situation.
It was time to put their cards on the table.
*****
Dillon saw her watching as he and the other guys headed to the deck for a cold beer. The dock was close to being completed. All Lincoln had left to do was finish the hand rail and mount some cleats for docking a boat.
"It really looks good," Lula commented. "Thank you for coming over to help, guys. Dinner's on us by the way. How do you feel about ribs at the Honky Tonk?"
"I could eat ribs," Mathias commented.
"I'd love to, but I have a date and need to split." Riggs replied.
Lula stood and offered her hand to Riggs. "It's a real pleasure to meet you, Riggs and we owe you."
"Happy to help and the pleasure is mine." He picked up his discarded shirt and shrugged it on. "Y'all have a good weekend." He then looked at Dillon. "See ya, brother."
"Yep. Keep it between the ditches."
"Always. See ya, Josie Harper."
"Bye, Riggs."
"I'll walk you out," Mathias replied. "Oh, Reese texted and said she got hung up with Wiley. How about we meet you at the Honky Tonk?"
"Sure. Seven?" Lula asked.
"Works for me. Later Linc."
"Thanks, bro."
"You bet."
Josie stood and tossed Dillon his shirt. "Why don't we head on home and get cleaned up?"
"Sounds good."
"See you at seven?" Lula asked.
"Sure," Dillon agreed and looked at Josie. "You ready?"
"I am. See you later, Lula."
Neither one of them said a word the entire way home. Josie considered opening a discussion with him about their situation and the roles they were playing but decided it would be best to do that at a time when they were not planning on being around other people. When they walked into the house, Josie headed for the stairs, paused at the bottom and looked at Dillon. "It was really nice of you to volunteer to help. I know Lula and Lincoln appreciate it."
"They seem like nice people, and it was good to see Mathias again. He used to come home with Riggs now and then and I haven't seen him in a while."
"Well, it was nice. I'm going to get cleaned up."
"Okay."
Josie hurried upstairs, went straight to the bathroom, stripped down and got into the shower. Normally, when they went out, she dressed in jeans and a top, nothing really sexy, just comfortable. Since she wasn't trying to seduce Dillon but was trying to play the part of his girlfriend, she figured she'd pull it off better with a subdued look. After all, women tend to stop glamming it up after they land their man.
Tonight, she was going to change it up. She took her time in the shower, spent extra time on her hair and makeup and then started going through her clothes. "Well, hello old friend." She pulled out a hangar bearing a black skirt. Simple but clingy and short. Top it with an equally clinging top and a pair of boots and tada, casual seduction. At least she hoped because tonight she was going to make the people at the Honky Tonk believe beyond all doubt that she and Dillon Walker were indeed, getting it on.
Josie dressed, turned in front of the mirror mounted to the closet door, then nodded and grabbed a leather jacket to complete her outfit. When she walked down stairs, she saw Dillon sitting on the couch.
He looked up and his eyes widened. "I—um, you ready?"
"I am."
"Then let's go."
"Okay." She smiled as he stood and gestured for her to precede him. She did, and he walked her to the passenger door of his SUV.
She turned in a bit toward him and smiled. "Thanks."
He nodded and stepped back, waited for her to climb in then closed the door. Josie was a bit disappointed in his reaction and the fact that he had nothing to say on the drive. She took the time to remind him of something she'd said every week since she took the assignment.
"You remember what to do if I call you QB, right?"
He smirked. "Why'd you choose that?"
"Because you were—Quarterback, I mean. So it fit and no one would think to question it. The important part is, do you remember what to do?"
"How could I forget, you drill me on it every damn week. If you call me QB, I am supposed to look for any opportunity to get out of wherever we are and to remember that my best weapon is my arm so if I can find something to throw at anyone who threatens me, I should do it."
"Excellent." She smiled. "Thank you."
He didn't say another word and she got the idea that he was now feeling a bit peevish. Once they reached the Honky Tonk and were out of the car, his behavior changed.
His hand went to the small of her back as they walked to the door and she couldn't help but notice that the position was low, nearly on her ass, a clear signal to others she was his. At least while they were here.
Once they were back at his place, however, it was going to be her turn and she fully intended to send her own clear signal. Namely, that if he wanted to play the game of who caves first, she'd do everything she could to make sure it was him.