Page 7 of Her True Blue
Bella’s ears perk up and she cocks her head from side-to-side. “What is it, girl?”
She runs to the door, letting out a tough-ass bark that would frighten anyone away. But I know it’s Cord because I heard his car pull up in my driveway.
Grabbing my purse, I sling it over my shoulder and pick up my sweater as I walk out the door. I catch Cord off-guard on the first step of my porch.
He looks up at me and rears back, reaching for the handrail to stabilize himself. His reaction has me grinning.
“Wow, you look beautiful, Jordana.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, adjusting the sweater over my shoulder. “I wasn’t sure what I should wear tonight. So, I went with casual.”
His gaze drinks me in from head to toe. “You’re perfect.”
Tingles climb up the back of my legs, up my spine and then back down again, settling low in my belly. I haven’t had someone look at me with that much appreciation for a really long time. Maybe not ever.
“Here, let me help you in the car.” Cord reaches for my hand, placing his palm in mine and escorts me down the steps and to his vehicle, opening the passenger side for me.
As I stoop to get in, I notice this sports car isn’t his typical vehicle. “Aren’t these the types of cars most police officer target and pull over?”
He laughs at my comment, leaning his head in through the open door, one hand on the car roof, the other on the door frame. “Yes ma’am, you’re right about that. Good thing I know a few people in blue that can help me out if I get a speeding ticket.”
Cord’s eyebrows raise in mirth and then he shuts the door of the Dodge Challenger and swings around the front into his spot.
As he settles in and turns on the motor, which I swear causes Bella to howl from inside the house, he swivels his head to look at me. I notice the light stubble left over from his razor, whether on purpose or it’s the type of growth that immediately returns no matter what he does. Either way, I like it a lot. Dark and delicious.
“Do you like surprises, Jordana, or would you rather know in advance what I have planned for us tonight?”
I take a second to think about it before I respond. “When I was younger, I loved surprises. But now after experiencing a few too many unwanted bombshells, I’ve become a bit more skeptical. So, I’d have to say I’d prefer knowing, if that’s okay with you.”
Cord winks with a tip of his chin. “Exactly as I thought. Okay then, here’s the plan for tonight and you can feel free to override anything you don’t agree with.”
He backs out of my driveway and pulls onto the main road. The sun is just beginning to disappear behind the mountain range to the west, leaving the night air cool against my skin.
“First, let’s go pick up some barbecue at Fred’s BBQ Shack. Then, we’ll do a brief stop up at Tillman’s Ridge Point to watch the sunset. It’s a sight that does not grow old. And then, we’ll head down to the Town Square, play some carnival games, where I’ll win you a gigantic prize I’ll carry for you the rest of the night, and then, we’ll watch the fireworks as we listen to the country band at the band shell. How’s that sound?”
I can’t help myself as I reach for his hand, removing it from the steering wheel, interlacing my fingers with his.
“It sounds absolutely perfect.”
The night is perfect,just as he designed.
Although through no fault of his own, I made a mess and spilled barbecue sauce on my dress, right at the top of my boob requiring that I awkwardly scrub at it with a napkin. But the food was delicious at Fred’s, just as he promised. In fact, I ate so much I was glad I wore a sundress to cover the food baby in my stomach.
After dinner, Cord drove us up to the point overlooking the small mountain town below. The normally busy view point is surprisingly deserted tonight, since most everyone else is down in the center of town at the festival. We’re alone in a secluded spot, with the lights of the town below twinkling up at us.
“Have you always lived in Milltown?” I ask, as we sit on top of his hood, still warm from the heat of the engine.
“Yes, ma’am. Third generation resident and police officer at your service.” He winks and gives me a proud salute. “I joined the Army, served my country and then returned home.”
Cord leans back, propping his head up with his arm as he lays on his side to face me.
The chill at this elevation and this time of night is a bit more than I had planned and the sweater I brought along isn’t cutting it. I shiver as the breeze blows across our bodies.
Cord shifts, sitting up and taking off his leather jacket, settling it around my shoulders
“Here, this should help.”
I inhale deeply, the spicy, masculine scent of him mixing with the sweet aroma of his warm leather. I like having him wrapped around me in this way.
