Whatever happens with Rhett Dillon will happen. I want everything in this life with him, and I’m going to try my hardest to abandon everything Mama drilled into me. I want this man more than anything in this world, and I’m pretty sure he wants me, too.
Chapter Fourteen
Rhett
By the time Brynlee and I finally untangled ourselves from each other, it was well past time for me to run home to shower and change before taking her out like planned.
“Are you sure?” I ask as I park and turn to her. “We don’t have to eat here. We can go somewhere else.”
Brynlee nods and gives me a reassuring smile. “I’m sure, and I’m starving.”
I’m willing to bet at least one of the women she overheard talking today is in the bar right now. The last thing I want is Brynlee feeling uncomfortable because I need her to know she can thrive here. If she can’t, I’ll surely lose her.
Kissing her hand, I open the door and slide out, holding my hand for her to slide out on the driver’s side. “Come on, you little sex vixen.”
“Better than inexperienced one, I suppose. Are you getting lazy on me, Rhett Dillon?”
“Just savin’ time where I can,” I say, kissing her and sliding my tongue into her mouth as I pull her to the edge of the seat. Her legs press against my sides, and I groan. “This may have been counterintuitive because now I don’t want to go inside. The bar. I’d like to be inside somewhere much more fun.”
She giggles and shakes her head. “Nope, I need sustenance. I’ll faint soon otherwise.”
I look at her with concern. “Are you kiddin’?”
“No, I learned a long time ago that I’m just not built to go too long without eating. Don’t worry, I’m usually able to keep myself sustained, but I haven’t eaten since breakfast. I’m getting shaky.”
She holds her hand out to show me, and I all but carry her into the bar, opening the door for her as we slide into a booth. “Do you need me to run and grab somethin’ from the store? The pizza can sometimes take a while.”
“I’ll be fine.” The way she smiles at me makes me want to kiss the ground she walks on. “I just need a soda to help level out my blood sugar.”
I slide out of the booth and walk up to Jake. “Hey, man, I need a beer, a soda, and a large pepperoni.”
He lifts his brow as he pours the drinks and hands them to me. “Couldn’t wait for Heidi to take your order?”
“She’s hungry,” I say. “Hasn’t eaten most of the day. Figured it would be faster to order here.”
“You got it,” he says. “I heard about the grocery store incident. They’re not here. Darla and Carter walked in about fifteen minutes ago, and the women hightailed it out fast. For what it’s worth, no one believes a thing they said.”
“Do you know what they said about her?”
He won’t meet my eyes and just says, “Nothin’ worth repeatin’, believe me.”
I take the drinks and head back to the table where Carter and Darla have now taken up residence. So much for our date night.
“I thought you were takin’ her out,” Carter says, letting me slide in across from Brynlee.
“You took her on a datehere?” Darla asks. “Dude, come on.”
Laughing, Brynlee shakes her head and takes a drink of her soda. “I’m starving, and I demanded food now. The only thing I have at home is tater tot casserole, and I’m not sure I could stomach another helping even if I hadn’t eaten in a week.”
“Martha forgot to tell you her recipe feeds a small army,” Carter says. “Rookie.”
“How are you doin’?” The look Darla gives Brynlee softens my annoyance at being disturbed.
She smiles. “I’m okay. I normally have thicker skin, so I’m not sure what happened.”
“You had to hear nasty bitches talkin’ shit, that’s what happened.”
“Jake says they’re gone. Took one look at you and left skid marks leavin’ the bar,” I say.
