Their date wasn’t off to the best start in the world, but Bryce had been set up on worse dates, like the woman who was anti-establishment everything. Amazing in bed. Crazy as hell once she found out he was a cop.

“I had to keep a straight face while questioning this guy at the ER, and none of those questions could involve his ass or how he’d gotten a light bulb up it without it breaking.”

“Are you serious?” Her nose wrinkled, making those adorable freckles dance.

He glanced at her, and then back at the road. “What do you think?”

“Either you have a very sick and vivid imagination, or you were watching reruns of Sex in the ER.”

“Those are based on fact, sweetheart. I really did have to question patient number six sixty-nine. It was awkwardly painful. For both of us.”

“Are you serious—ohmygosh, you are serious.” She burst into peals of laughter. She shook her head, curls bouncing as she did.

It was hard for him to keep his eyes on the road when he all he wanted to do was stare at her. “Swear. I’d never lie to you.”

They both became quiet. He wasn’t ready for quiet. Quiet meant thinking, and that line of thinking could lead to her dwelling on her rat bastard of an ex.

“Or about what people get stuck in very uncomfortable places,” he added.

She snorted.

He relaxed.

“Where exactly are you staying in Holland Springs?” she asked.

“No more ER talks?” he asked lightly to judge her mood further.

“I prefer to have an appetite when we arrive at Pier 12.”

He sliced his gaze to her. “You didn’t have your friend do a background check to find out all the dirty details?”

She held out two fingers, pinching them together until hardly any space was between them. “Maybe a little. But that’s hardly an efficient use of law enforcement resources.”

“Wow, who drilled that into your head?”

She laughed. “Isn’t that something you’ve heard from your superiors?”

“On a daily basis.”

He pulled into the parking lot of Pier 12 and parked the Jeep near the front. “Guess there’s no valet tonight.”

Kayla craned her neck and gestured to the empty parking lot. “I can see why that would be a problem. Where would we park in the off-season?”

“Smartass,” he said affectionately. “I’m on the north end. Only place for three miles in either direction. It bumps up to the National Park on one side.”

Her eyes lit up. “You live at Village End. I love that old place.”

“It’s my grandparents.”

“Did you come here a lot growing up?”

He shook his head and said, “Give me a minute.” Shoving open his door and slamming it behind him, he darted to her side, opening hers with a flourish. “Can I be of assistance?”

This time, she put her small hand in his and he felt it, that slow slide of heat from her skin to his. Although it wasn’t that slow and it was more like a burn. He heard her sharp intake of breath as he pulled her to him.

Taking a chance, he caged her within his arms and dipped his head, his hands coming to rest on the flare of her tiny waist.

“I’d really like to kiss you.”

Her lashes fluttered. “Are you asking for permission?”

“Should I?”

She closed her eyes, tipping up her chin. He took that as a no.

Taking possession of her mouth, he reveled in the feel of her arms as they wound around him. She made a small noise in her throat, that familiar small noise to let him know she wanted more. Then she pressed closer, more firmly to him, and deepened their kiss.

A groan tore from him.

Taking back control, he nibbled on her top lip until she gasped, and then slid his tongue inside. She met him head on, her tongue gliding over his. Twisting and sliding, her hands moved from his neck to his chest, the material pulled tight by the tight fists she made.

Desire rushed through him, followed by a swift kick of lust. He backed her into the side of the Jeep, his hands caressing her. He wanted her. This instant.

Clarity returned and he forced himself to stop, resting his forehead against hers. “Damn.”

She pulled away slightly, denying him the feel of her lush body. Her lips were swollen, and her eyes were heavy lidded.

“Do that again,” she whispered.

Eyes closing momentarily, he shook his head and got a vise grip on his raging emotions. “After dinner,” he said. He couldn’t believe what he was saying, but he wanted to do right by Kayla. He truly wanted to take her to dinner.

And have her for dessert.

Shut up.

“Dinner.” Her brown eyes cleared. “Right, dinner. I’m so hungry. Are you?”

He liked her like this, all soft and slightly befuddled. He really liked that he was the one to do that to her. For some reason, she didn’t strike him as a woman who was easily dazzled.

Or maybe it was because he suspected her ex-boyfriend had not only taken her money, but the stars that used to be in her eyes as well.

“Starving,” he murmured, unable to press one last kiss against her lips.

“Famished,” she replied, taking his lip between her teeth.

“Hungry.”

She smiled against his mouth. “I already said that one.”

“Blood’s not running to my brain right now.”

Her hips shifted slightly, and damn if she didn’t hit his dick. “I can feel that.”

“Sassy little tease,” he said.

*

He called her a tease...and she liked it. Maybe it was the affection in his voice, or the way he was holding her close.

Whatever it was, it made Kayla’s heart careen wildly out of control. She was out of control. Not only had she revealed her deepest secret to Bryce, but she’d almost climbed him like a tree in the parking lot of the village’s most popular restaurant.

Anyone could have seen them.

But, really, at the age of twenty-six, should she care what other people thought? Unfortunately, she had to, her family connections to the town being what they were.

Don’t rock the boat. Keep your friends close, and your problems buried in the sand.

Except the truisms that had been handed down generation after generation were hurting the very people they were meant to protect. Tommy Boone’s family was proof of that.

It had taken Bryce—an outsider—to get the confession out of him. Well, that and some good food. Maybe someone willing to listen...

She sighed. “It’s best if we go inside.”

“You don’t sound too happy about that,” he said, but when she glanced at him, he looked happy about it. Oh good grief, he was happy that she was unhappy about stopping.

“I did enjoy kissing you,” she said as they walked up the stairs and inside of the restaurant. “But I have more pressing needs than a little tongue action with you, Detective.”

Bryce pulled her over into a dark corner. His silver eyes flashed under the romantic lighting. “After dinner’s over, I’ll give you all the tongue action you need. Anywhere you want. I have my favorite places I’d like to explore, too.”

Her knees went weak. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. “I want—”

“Kayla,” a familiar voice called. “Is that you?”

Bryce let go of her, only to place a very possessive hand on her lower back. Men didn’t touch women there unless they were lovers, or wanted to be. She was pretty sure Bryce was in the latter category.

Turning, she came face to face with the hostess of Pier 12, a moon-faced woman with vibrant green eyes and a perpetual frown. “Hey, Wanda.”

“We have reservations for two, at seven thirty,” Bryce said.

Wanda’s frown grew. “And you would be?”

“My date,” Kayla said. “Could you seat us? We’re starving. Your brother’s cooking tonight, right? Love his clam chowder.”

Wanda managed a smile. Sort of. “You won’t ever guess all the ingredients, Kayla White.”

Kayla tilted her head to one side. “Wanda, I didn’t come here to steal y’all’s recipe.”

The woman’s eyes narrowed in disbelief.

Bryce hauled Kayla to him. “We’d really like to be seated. I’ve been after Kayla to go out with me for a while now, and she finally said yes.”

To her surprise, Wanda blushed.

Kayla eyed Bryce.

He winked at her, then at the hostess. “C’mon, pretty lady. Help me out. Besides,” he nodded at Kayla, “she claims her seafood platter is bigger than yours.”

She didn’t serve a seafood platter. “Uh, Bryce?”

“But I said,” he leaned in closer to Wanda, “there was no way hers were bigger than yours. Prove me right, why don’t you?”

Wanda snapped to attention. “Right this way.”

Bryce grinned. “Flattery will get you places, but competition will get you even further.”

“Bigger seafood platter,” Wanda grumbled as she gave them the best table in the house. “I’ll show her who has the biggest.”

Wanda all but slapped the menu in her hand and almost read Bryce’s to him. Kayla bit her lip and looked out the window to keep from laughing.

“Penny for your thoughts,” he said.

“Just admiring the beautiful view.”

“What a coincidence,” Bryce murmured.

She turned her attention back to him, only to discover he’d been staring at her. Suddenly shy again, she looked at the table, then at him again. This wasn’t like her. She was confident when it came to men. Sure of how to handle them. Heck, most men were scared of her. Or they used to be.

Well, they were still scared of her dad.

As for the other, her ex had taken that spark of confidence with her heart and her money. Out of all the things she wanted to recover from him, her heart and confidence were the most important. If she could rediscover those, then she’d never worry about the ten grand again.

“Wanda left. I ordered for you. Hope you don’t mind.”

“There’s not much I don’t eat.”

“What a coincidence—I can’t stand to eat seafood.”

Her jaw dropped. “Then why are we here?”

“Nicest place in town.” He grinned. “Don’t worry. I ordered surf and turf. Figured you could eat the surf portion.”

“Are we really ready for that kind of commitment—sharing meals?”

He covered her hand with his. “I’m ready to try anything once.” His hot gaze promised more than just what was happening now. “What about you?”

Could she hold him to that promise? Maybe take a chance on a guy, who by all accounts, was completely honest about who he was and what he wanted.

She knew he was looking for a good time, and maybe, just maybe, she could handle that.

“I might be convinced with the proper motivation,” she said, her decision made. “At least once.”

Bryce gave her a wicked smile. “I dare you.”