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He chuckles darkly and pulls away, helping me to my feet.
“How about we get to your dinner so we can get to the dessert part of tonight?”
My eyes meet his. He holds me close, and standing like this, our body heat as one, I can feel the steady beat of his heart against my palms. It’s calming and helps ease my nerves for what’s about to come.
“The steaks and vegetables can wait. Wanna skip to that dessert? But real dessert. I made something special for you. Come take a seat.” I pull him to the head of the table where I have everything set out and love the deep growl of appreciation he gives when I head back to the fridge.
The dangling tassels of the apron fall right over the crack of my ass, and I give a little more shim to my shimmy.
“Close your eyes,” I call out and don’t move from the fridge until he complies.
“Ok, open them. I found the perfect place with fresh coconut and the ripest cherries. When I told them it was for you they gave me a little extra.” I lean in and place a tender kiss on his cheek, but there’s no reaction. No nothing. He’s not even blinking.
Miles’ perfect tanned skin turns pasty white in a matter of seconds as he sits speechless, staring at the banana coconut cream dessert with five cherries lined across the top.
I go to put a hand on his arm but he’s out of his chair and across the kitchen before I can blink like hell is on his heels.
I freeze in place, kind of puzzled at his freak out. “What? What’s wrong?”
“How did you know? Who told you?”
His words are abrupt and curt. He paces back to the table, eyes glued to the dessert platter, but I can tell it’s not the sweet treat he’s seeing. Jaw muscles bunch and release.
“Mrs. Malone. She thought it would bring us closer.”
He doesn’t say anything just scrubs a hand over his face, and I can physically feel him withdrawing from me.
“Miles, talk to me.”
My eyes start to water and I’m starting to freak the hell out from how white the man who spends hours upon hours in the sun is turning.
“I...I have to go.”
“What?” He pulls me into a hug and if that isn’t confusing enough it feels like it’s a goodbye hug. I don’t know how I know. Call it a woman’s intuition. I gave my mother one right before packing up my car despite her not wanting me to and pointing my car toward Cherry Falls.
This is like that, but ten times worse.
“Miles, please. Talk to me.”
Dark eyes flash my way, and I’m rooted in place. There is a different fire in his eyes now. One of such deep emotions, I am left speechless.
Just then the static of his radio goes off, and he swipes it off the top of the bag he came in with.
His eyes are level on me, and I feel torn between wanting to run to him and throw my arms around him, kiss away the pain and just packing up and heading back to my place. Indecision blazes through my nerve endings.
“This is the chief.”
More static. “You need to come in. There’s been an accident up on the main highway. Three cars.”
“On my way.”
Long legs eat up the distance between me and the back door. He takes my chin in hand and forces me to meet his gaze.
“I can tell what you’re thinking. Don’t you dare leave this house, Bela Andrews. Or I will chase you down and bring you back to me. When I get back, we’ll deal with this.”
Holy hell, I believe him. What does it say about me that I’m tempted to put him to the test?
He walks past me and heads for the door. I take a step toward him but I pull back. Letting him go hurts, but he has people depending on him, too.
