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Anger flared in his eyes, then he blinked it away. He smiled. She didn’t trust that smile one bit. It was the one he’d give her when he was determined to get his way. Danny was a gorgeous man...almost too pretty. Black hair, smoldering black eyes that could melt a girl’s panties off, high cheekbones, and pouty lips.
When he’d turned his attention to her, she’d felt breathless. He’d relentlessly pursued her, and she’d learned the hard way that his beauty was only skin-deep. Underneath the façade was a vain, selfish, immature man-child.
Tristan wasn’t gorgeous like Danny, but he was definitely easy on the eyes. Real easy. There was also a ruggedness about him missing in Danny. He wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, and she liked that about him. Another difference, Tristan had kind eyes, and he cared about people. Take Melissa. Danny would never inconvenience himself with taking the time to help a teenager get on the right track. How had she ever thought Tristan would, for any reason, try to ruin her the way Danny had?
A group of laughing people came out. She recognized them and shook a finger at them. “I hope one of you is a designated driver.” She already knew this group of friends took turns being responsible when out partying, but she was tired of talking to Danny.
Jeff Blair pointed at his chest. “That’s me tonight, Sheriff. Only had one beer.”
She gave him a thumbs-up. The two girls eyed Danny, and appreciation lit their eyes as their gazes slid over him. “Enjoy the rest of your evening,” she said to encourage them on their way.
As they walked away, Danny put his hand under her elbow. “Let’s go back to your place, babe, where we can talk in private.”
“Nothing to talk about.”
“Babe,” he said in that sultry voice that used to make her feel gooey inside. He stepped in front of her and pulled her to him. He crashed his mouth to hers as she pushed against his chest.
Furious, she bit his bottom lip. When he let go of her, she fisted her hand and punched his chest. “Don’t ever touch me again.”
The anger that had flashed in his eyes earlier returned and stayed. He rubbed his bottom lip. “Why do you have to be such a bitch?”
Fuzz growled, and she rested her hand on top of his head. “You need to leave before I tell the dog he can bite your ass. And don’t come back.” With Fuzz at her side, she walked back inside.
It still puzzled her as to why he’d shown up after all this time, but one positive thing came from his visit. Tristan wasn’t like Danny. Maybe it was time to let herself have some fun with a sexy police chief. But only if he would agree to her conditions.
Chapter Seventeen
It had been damn near impossible to stay behind and let Skye walk outside with that man. Tristan was good at reading people, and the man claiming to be her fiancé wore an air of entitlement and ownership. Tristan knew there were men who thought they had the right to own a woman, but that was bullshit. The problem was, men with that attitude could get mean.
He’d wanted to walk out with her, but he understood it was something she needed to deal with on her own. In her place, if an ex—there was no way the man was her fiancé—showed up, he’d want to deal with the situation on his own. He didn’t trust the man, though. It hadn’t occurred to her to include Fuzz in her command, so he’d sent his dog to watch over her.
While he waited, he went to the bar, choosing a stool where he could see the door. As much as he believed Skye hadn’t been happy to see the man, what if she wanted him back? He had to admit the guy could have stepped off a calendar of hot dudes.
“If you ever looked at me the way you do her, we’d have about ten kids by now,” Jessie said as she set a beer in front of him.
He laughed. They’d lost their virginity together on senior prom night. Jessie was an awesome girl...woman now, but they both knew they hadn’t been meant for each other. Her taste ran to men like her husband; inked from neck to ankles and who Tristan would go to if he ever decided to get a tattoo. The man treated her like a princess, and Tristan loved knowing she was happy.
“You probably shouldn’t tell Ben you said that.”
She grinned. “Ben knows he’s my forever man, but I use you to get him hot and bothered.”
“Huh?”
“Yeah.” She winked. “He knows you took my cherry, and all I have to do is remind him how hard I once crushed on you for him to prove he’s all the man I need. So, thank you, cherry stealer.”
Tristan was seldom at a loss for words, and also... TMI. He could have gone forever without that bit of information. As he struggled for something to say, something over his shoulder caught her attention.
“Here comes your girl and dog,” Jessie said. “Let me know if she wants my special send-the-bastard-on-his-way drink.”
“You’ve gotten weird, since you were that nice, quiet girl I took to the prom in high school.”
“Weird can be good,” she tossed over her shoulder as she walked to the other side of the bar.
He swiveled on the bar stool when Skye and Fuzz walked in. She marched straight to him, and he thought... She’s magnificent. As much as he wanted to go to her and demand what dragon she wanted slayed, he stayed still.
Skye could slay her own dragons, and that made her the hottest woman he’d ever had the honor of knowing. As she walked to him, her eyes capturing his, something was different. The woman who’d shied away from him since the moment she’d realized she’d spent an amazing night with Marsville’s police chief was coming at him, clearly on a mission. Whatever that mission was, he was onboard.
She stopped in front of him, leaving only inches between them. “You ready to get out of here?”
