CHAPTER 2
PHOENIX WATCHED THE woman’s face, not wanting to take advantage of her considering she didn’t know he was staring, but he couldn’t help himself. She was adorable from the way she worked her bottom lip and her delicate, almost flirtatious, laughter, and because she had no clue that he was Sheriff made things even better. He didn’t like being devious, and he wasn’t ashamed of his career, but a lot of women he met only saw the badge and not the man. He’d never had a problem getting a woman and he couldn’t count the number of times he’d had women flirting unabashedly to get out of a ticket or trouble, but he’d found it important to keep the lines drawn between personal and professional. The line was not only there, but as thick as a steel wall. He saw men he’d graduated with in tech school who got caught up in messy situations. Phoenix refused to find himself involved in something out of his control.
Tate was right though. Phoenix needed to leave the past where it belonged and give dating, maybe even love, another try. He wasn’t old, but he wasn’t getting any younger either. Katy had moved on, remarried, and probably had a kid by now…and Phoenix was married to his job without any chance of kids in his future.
Being here and having easy conversation with the petite blonde reminded him of the things he missed about having companionship. Of course, having a healthy libido, he couldn’t deny parts of him were on high alert, maybe even hoping they’d get to play.
When he saw her sitting across the room he’d instantly been attracted to her, and finding out that she was blind had made no difference at all. He’d cared more in how her hair hung in soft waves down her back. How she seemed vulnerable, and yet guarded. How she asked if she could take his arm and yet seemed irritated when he’d asked if he needed to help her. She sent a message that she was quite capable.
They weren’t standing too close, she’d made sure of that, but when he’d pulled her to him, he’d gotten a feel of her soft curves. Undeniably, he hadn’t felt such nice curves in a long time—not since Katy. There were a lot of things she took with her when she left. She had damaged him, treated him like yesterday’s trash. He’d loved her, wanted to spend his life with her, have a couple of kids. From the moment they’d met, he’d been intrigued by her brains and beauty. She also had confidence which she used defending victims in court.
Intelligence…something that he always found attractive. He’d never really had a type of woman he liked more than another, but no doubt, Maria was his type, whether he knew it before now or not. He liked holding her. Talking to her. Watching how her expressions changed. He could have easily led her back to her table, bid her good evening and gone home, but he stayed here on the dance floor getting to know her better.
Phoenix shifted in his worn boots and reminded himself that he needed to tread carefully. Getting a hard on while dancing with a woman made him seem desperate, and until this very moment he hadn’t realized he was, a little. Not that Maria wasn’t beautiful and seductive and could cause a stirring, but he hadn’t been with a woman in so long that he was registering dangerously high in sexual tension.
He noticed how beads of sweat developed on her forehead and her cheeks flushed. “It’s warm in here,” she said. He had sweat on his brow too. Damn, would she want to sit down? She swayed just a bit, but he held her close. “I think I’m getting a delayed reaction from the cocktail I was drinking.”
“Would you like a glass of water?” he offered.
“I think I need a breath of fresh air.”
“Should I get your sister?”
“No, please no. Let her dance. Will you help me to the door please?”
“Sure. Do you need your cane?”
“Yes, thank you.”
After grabbing her cane, he led her to the front door. “Watch your step.” He made sure she didn’t trip over a raised spot on the entrance floor. There was no way he was going to let her stay outside alone considering there were a hundred and one ways for her to get hurt. So, he stepped through the door with her, continuing to keep his hand on the small of her back.
“This is definitely what I needed.” She lifted her chin, her face illuminated by the bright lights of the overhead sign.
He certainly needed the fresh air too. Thankfully, the cool of the night and the breeze helped ease some of the growing pressure in him. “It’s a lovely night. The stars are bright.” But not as bright as her eyes that were twinkling.
“How about the moon?”
“It’s full. I could lasso it for you.”
“That’s a movie I’ve watched a hundred times.”
“Me too. As kids we gathered around for movie night. My mom is into all the classical flicks. She was an actress in theater when she met my dad and then traded in her roles for diapers, soccer, and PTA.”
“Your mom was an actress? I love theater. What’s her name?”
“Beatrice Wilder.”
“Your mom is the Beatrice Wilder who played parts in Almond Grove and Tether Fields?”
“That’s her.”
“She’s amazing.”
“True. She is.”
The door swung open and two drunks staggered out, but Phoenix was one step ahead and pulled her out of the way before she was hit with the door. Her free hand pressed against his chest and her chin came up, her bottom lip trembled slightly. It felt like she could see him without seeing him and the feeling made the hair on his neck stand. The corner of her mouth played with a smile. “I’m losing count of the times you’ve protected me…and held me.”
“Must be in my blood,” he teased. He noticed the goosebumps on her arms. “It’s getting a little nippy out here. I think snow is in the forecast. Take this.” He unbuttoned his long-sleeved shirt and dragged it off his shoulders. “Here’s my shirt.”
“Uhh…won’t you freeze?”
“I have a T-shirt on. I can handle the cold.”
She accepted his offer. “I’m a little stunned.”
“Over what?”
“Are you for real?”
He laughed. “Yeah…I’m real. You have a little something on your cheek.” Before he contemplated the consequences of his action, he leaned in and swiped his finger along the smooth, delicate line of her jaw. “I think it was glitter.”
“I visited my friend earlier. She has kids and they use glitter by the gallons. I told her she should buy stock.”
Her skin was so warm and soft. She smelled so good and, although he knew he shouldn’t, he couldn’t think of one reason why he shouldn’t follow his gut. “I’d like to kiss you,” he whispered.
“I’d like that.”
~~~**~~~
“You did what?” Kora squealed from the driver’s side.
“You heard me, and please don’t make me repeat it. Not ever. I’m humiliated.” Her stomach rolled and gurgled. She pressed her forehead against the cool glass of the window to help ease some of the rumbling in her stomach. “I know I’m coming down with the flu.”
“The most horrible time to be sick. I can’t believe he was going to kiss you.”
“I can’t believe I threw up. Probably all over his shoes,” she groaned, another bout of queasiness coming over her. The stifled chuckle from her sister made Ria sigh in mortification. “I can hear you laughing. You aren’t the least bit sorry for me. I think I’m getting a fever.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I’m not laughing at you. I’m entertained at the image of you barfing on his shoes.”
“I just remembered I’m still wearing his shirt. How will I get it back to him? I don’t have a clue how I can find him.”
“Are you kidding? You didn’t know he’s the Sheriff?”
“Wait.” Shifting in the leather seat, she sighed. “Cade, as in Sheriff Phoenix Cade?”
“Yes. Sheriff Cade that bad boys are afraid of and single women want to dig their claws into.”
“No. He told me his name is Cade.”
“Well, it is.”
“He intentionally left out the fact that he’s the Sheriff.”
“And you didn’t intentionally tell him your name is Maria? It’s your real name, that no one uses, just as Cade is his last name.”
“Whose side are you on?” Ria groaned.
“No one’s side. I’m just saying…you told him your name is Maria because you always throw up those roadblocks.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If you told him your real name there would be the chance that he would see you again. That proves that you found him attractive.”
“I couldn’t see him. He could have no teeth, warts, and green skin for all I know.”
“Trust me, honey. Wrong.”
“Just so we’re clear, the only reason I said yes to dancing with him was to appease you.”
“Why didn’t you ask him to be your date for the wedding?”
“Ridiculous. I don’t know him.”
“Aren’t you the least bit interested in what he looks like?”
“Not at all. If I ever see him again it would be too soon.” She lifted the lapel of his shirt and breathed in the masculine scent lingering in the material. “Okay. I’m a bit curious what he looks like.” Not that it would change the fact that she wouldn’t see him again. Once a woman humiliated herself by vomiting on a man’s shoes there was no coming back.
“He has short, thick brown hair that he always hides under a white Stetson. Nice eyes, strong features, sometimes he wears a thin beard. He’s tall…like real tall. Probably at least six feet two, and he has very wide shoulders. And dimples. Should I mention that I know a handful of single women who’d like to test out his handcuffs?”
“Except for you? If he’s so sexy why aren’t you interested?”
“He’s not my type.”
“In what way?” Ria’s curiosity piqued.
“Trust me, he’s sexy, but in a brooding, focused sort of way. How can I describe him…,” she sighed. “He’s an easy-going man who’s always in a rush.”
“He mentioned an ex named Katy. Know anything about that situation?”
“Not only is she his ex, but from what I’ve heard, their marriage was short-lived because she was sleeping with another man.”
So that’s what he meant by baggage. Ria understood all too well.
“Let’s change the subject. When do you leave on your trip?”
“Maybe the trip isn’t such a good idea.” Kora’s voice quivered.
“What are you talking about? You have waited years for this opportunity. It’s what you’ve saved up for. You can’t pass up a chance to visit Paris.”
“Yes, but when I made those plans…”
“I wasn’t blind and you didn’t think you would end up seconding as my sitter.” When they were little they’d made a pact that they’d travel to Paris together for Kora’s twenty-sixth birthday. They’d even started saving up babysitting money in their teens and they continued saving into adulthood. After the accident, Ria’s savings had been spent on medical bills.
“Ria…”
“Don’t, sis. Please, just don’t. We’ve been through this so many times. Maybe I needed you when the accident first happened, but it’s been long enough that I can stand on my own two feet now. You must let me try just as you have to continue living your life. Nothing would make me happier than knowing you get to live out a life-long dream in Paris, where romance is alive.”
“But I’ll be gone for a month. A month, sis,” she said in a drone tempo.
“And that’s not forever.”
“No, but…”
“This isn’t up for debate. You’ve already made the travel plans.”
“Yes, but…”
“Oh my gosh! Are you afraid to go alone? Is that it?”
“Maybe some, but mainly this was our dream. It’s not as fun without you.”
“Go for me, Kora. Do this for me.”
“Fine, but only if you promise to call me if anything should happen. I will be on the first flight home.”
“As much as I’ll miss you, I won’t need you. I’ll have Phyllis if anything comes up. Now promise me that you’ll not worry and go have the best time of your life. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet a Frenchman and he’ll give you a tour of the city.”
“The chances of that are slim, but a girl can dream, can’t she?”
“Yes, she can.” In the meantime, Ria would dream about the Sheriff, even if some fantasies weren’t meant to come true.