Page 15 of Unexpected Sweetheart
“What is it?” I quickly tuck myself in, button up my fly, and open the door. Lorelei is on the other side in a gray velvet tracksuit, her dark hair damp from showering before me.
Don’t even get me started on what knowing she’s naked in the shower does to me.
“There’s someone here to see you. Says his name is Holden.” She blinks up at me and I notice just how tired she looks. Either she’s not sleeping, or I’m working her too hard. Either way, I feel like an ass for not noticing sooner.
“Holden Summers?” She steps to the side as I step out of my room and find my old high school buddy, now captain of Sweetheart Fire Department, standing in the foyer. “Long time, no see.”
“Ryan Oakley.” He grins and holds out his hand to shake mine, those ice blue eyes of his crinkling at the corners, the only thing giving away his age besides a slight streaking of white through his dark hair. “Heard you were back in town. Thought I should come and see it with my own eyes.”
“Yeah.” I run my hand through my dirty blond hair and sigh. “About that. I know I should have dropped around for a beer or something. I’ve just been run off my feet with the ranch.”
Holden lifts his hand to wave my apology away. “No hard feelings. I know how it is. Been working far too many shifts myself of late. Although, I’ve gotta admit I’m not just here for a friendly hello. A mutual friend of ours sent me.”
“Let me guess? That mutual friend is Elaine?”
A chuckle rumbles in his chest as he nods. “She needs your help chaperoning the Sweetheart dance. Now, I know you’ve already said no. But you’d be helping me. For once in my life, I have plans come Valentine’s Day.”
My brow lifts. “Who’s the lucky lady?”
“Never said it was a date.”
“Oh, come on. Fess up. What’s her name?”
The edge of his usually stoic mouth kicks up. “Her name’s Riley. Runs the flower shop in town. But it’s new, and I’d really like not to have to disappoint her by having to chaperone this dance. You’d be doing me a personal favor if you could step in. The proceeds are going to the FD this year to help upgrade the truck’s water pump.”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I find myself nodding. As much as I don’t want to chaperone this thing, spending the nightawayfrom Lorelei is probably safer than spending the most romantic night of the year trying not to drag her into my bed. “Sure. Tell Elaine I’m in.”
He holds his hand out again, beaming as I shake it. “Thank you. You’re really helping a guy out.”
I’m helping myself out. But it’s definitely more magnanimous if we put it that way.
When I see him back outside again, I close the front door and find Lorelei standing in the archway that leads from the foyer to the kitchen. “Are we going to a dance?” she asks, her dark eyes bright and hopeful.
“We?” I move past her into the kitchen, pulling the chicken and vegetables from the fridge so I can make a stir fry.
“Well, yeah. You’re not leaving me here on Valentine’s Day by myself, are you? It’s my last weekend here. It’d be nice to go somewhere. Do something...together.”
“It’s chaperoning a bunch of high school kids so they don’t end up a teen pregnancy statistic.”
“I don’t mind. Any excuse to wear a dress.” She presses her lips together before she smiles, and God help me, I should be telling her no. But instead…
“Of course you’re coming to the dance, heiress.”
“Yes!” She bounces on her toes then launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck as she thanks me profusely. “I’ll be on my best behavior too. I promise.”
Swallowing hard, I nod. “You always are, heiress. From where I stand, you’re pretty darn near perfect.”
Rory
Inever thought I’d be twirling around in a tiny bedroom feeling excited about a high school dance, but here I am, going through my suitcases to find the prettiest,hottestdress I brought with me. God only knows what made me decide to put clubbing clothes in my luggage when I knew I was coming to a small town without clubs. But I’d had hoped that something exciting might happen and I’d get to dress in something other than jeans and sweats.
And now I’m glad I did when I pull out a deep red figure-hugging dress made of velvet strips across my chest and hips, and see-through panels for the neckline, midriff, and an inch of space running down my sides. I put it on and it fits like a glove. There’s no way I could ever wear underwear with a dress like this, so if I want to drive Ryan wild, cause him to lose that tight grip on his control, then I think this is the dress to do it.
“Final chance to get what you want, Lorelei,” I say to myself in the mirror, my cheeks brightening when I realize I just called myself by my full name. Up until recently, I hated the way it sounded. I loved the simplicity that came from my nickname. Rory made me feel more approachable and regular. But when Ryan calls me Lorelei, suddenly, I don’t hate it anymore. It sounds like the name of a woman who should be loved. And that’s exactly what I want from him. His love.
And I want his body too.
Giggling to myself, I spin in a circle, around and around, my hands above my head as I delight in this moment of joy. We’re going dancing. Sure, we have chaperoning duties to perform, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun too. I can’t wait to be back in his arms. That day when he scooped me up like a baby, all because my finger was bleeding was the most swoon-worthy moment of my life. It was a total overreaction, but my god, it was glorious. I want him to hold me close like that again, and without injuring myself, this Sweetheart dance is the best place to do it—and on Valentine’s Day no less.
