Page 21 of It’s Only Love (Citrus Pines #1)

Dean walked into The Rusty Bucket Inn and had a cursory look around for Beau, but he hadn’t arrived yet.

He made his way over to the bar, perched on a stool, and watched Taylor serve a couple of her regulars.

He frowned, noticing the dark circles under her eyes.

She looked like she hadn’t slept, although he hadn’t slept much either.

Every time he drifted off, a blond-haired cherub-cheeked vixen invaded his dreams and did things to him that left him hard and aching when he awoke.

He couldn’t get that kiss out of his mind, could still taste her sweet flavor in his mouth and was dying for another hit. Her delectable curves pressed up against him, rubbing him just right as he swallowed her moans. He shifted uncomfortably on his stool.

She had wanted him. She just hadn’t wanted to want him.

He had watched as she fought her urges. He smiled, remembering the look that crossed her face before she surrendered to him.

That had been the best kiss of his life and he was desperate to do it again.

He sobered at the thought, reminding himself that she was seeing Beau, so it couldn’t happen again.

He put her in an unfair situation and swamped by guilt, he told Beau straight away.

He felt like a creep doing that to his friend.

What had surprised him was that although Beau seemed annoyed and had laid into him, there hadn’t really been any heat to his words.

Dean’s own temper had risen just seeing the looks that other men in the bar had given Christy that night, let alone if any of them had tried anything.

“Hey, Dimples,” Taylor called, and leaned over the bar offering Dean her cheek which he leant forward to kiss.

“Evening, Trouble. You look tired,” he said, and she rolled her eyes.

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re just too charming?” she asked dryly, but avoided his gaze. He knew her too well.

“All the time. What’s going on?”

She continued to bustle around the bar, fetching him a beer he hadn’t ordered yet and putting glasses away.

“Tay, what’s going on?” he pushed, concern furrowing his brow. He knew she wouldn’t lie to him, but he would have to press her for the info. “I’m gonna keep asking until you ’fess up.”

After a moment she huffed and turned to face him. “Just my ex, Dale. He isn’t happy about being my ex and wants to get back together. He showed up after the bar closed last night, wanting to talk and I couldn’t get him to leave.”

“What?!” Dean exploded. “Did he try to hurt you? ”

“No, I was home. He tried to get in, but I had locked the doors already. I threatened to call the cops and he left, it’s fine.” She shrugged like it was no biggie, but it was.

“You know I don’t like you living out here all alone and this is exactly why!” Dean was practically shouting, getting some looks from the other patrons, but he couldn’t help it.

“This is the first time something has happened, Dean!” she replied, the volume of her voice rising to match his. Taylor would never be outdone in an argument.

“I want you to come and stay with me, okay? Pack a bag and I’ll pick you up after your shift. You know I’ve got plenty of room at the house.”

“I’m not leaving, and you have Beau staying with you already.”

“Exactly, we’ll be one big happy family.”

“No, Dean. I can take care of myself,” she said firmly.

He was torn, but he knew how stubborn she was and that he wouldn’t be able to force her. He didn’t want to force her, didn’t want to drive a wedge between them. He was just worried about her.

“Fine,” he grumbled reluctantly. “But if this asshole shows up again you immediately call the police and then me, you hear me?”

“Sure thing, bro.” She grinned at him. “You just stopped by for a visit?”

“Nah, I’m meeting Beau. He should be here soon, probably just got held up at Christy’s.”

He took a swig of his beer, and she fixed him with a hard stare. “What?”

“I saw you. The other night, down the hallway, with her.” she said.

Dean swallowed audibly and felt himself blush, feeling like he’d been caught red-handed by his mom.

“What’re you doing? Don’t mess around with Christy.

You’re looking for something serious and she’s only sticking around for a couple of weeks at the most. There’s no point in getting anything started and I love you, but if you hurt her, I’ll never forgive you.

She’s been treated badly by men her whole life,” Taylor said quietly.

Now he felt like he was being scolded by his mom, and he immediately went on the defensive.

“It was a mistake, it’s nothing serious and I was so drunk that night-” he started, but she interrupted him.

“No, you weren’t.”

He pursed his lips shut before another lie slipped out. He could feel himself getting hot under her stare.

“It was just a stupid moment and I had been drinking. It was a mistake, she pushed me away and I’ve already told Beau about it and apologized,” he explained.

She nodded, seeming satisfied with this. “She pushed you away? Interesting.” She smirked.

“Yeah, yeah laugh it up, I got rejected.” He took another swig of his beer.

“Good.” She lifted her stare to focus on something over his shoulder. He watched her face brighten briefly before her expression blanked and she turned away. A moment later a large hand clapped him on the shoulder, and he turned to see Beau easing down onto the stool next to him.

“Hey, man.”

“Sorry I’m late, I got held up at Christy’s,” Beau replied, trying to get Taylor’s attention to order a drink but every time he waved at her, she turned away and conveniently didn’t see him.

“No worries. Is she okay?” he asked. He felt weird asking Beau about Christy, but he wanted to show he was supportive of their budding relationship, even though it killed him.

“Yeah. We decided to just be friends though.”

A frisson of excitement rushed through Dean at the news.

She was unattached, free, which meant… nothing .

His eyes flicked over to Taylor as he remembered what she said.

He couldn’t get involved with Christy even if he wanted to.

He clenched his jaw in frustration. Christy was officially off limits.

He took a swig of his beer, trying to act nonchalant.

“Oh yeah? That’s a shame, buddy, what happened? Shit, did I mess things up between you?” he asked, guilt pouring from his words.

“Nah, we just work better as friends. I was pretty disappointed to be honest. I had a crush on her for so long and when I saw her again, I really thought it meant something for us. But we kissed and there was just no spark, it felt like kissing my sister,” he sighed.

Dean choked on his beer. No spark? No fucking spark?! Christy’s kiss damn near sent him up in flames. She was passion incarnate. She kissed him with her whole body, nothing held back. He shook his head as his jeans tightened against his crotch.

Don’t think about that now . He wiped his hand over his mouth.

“Aw that sucks, man, sorry to hear that. Was she upset when you ended things?”

“Me? Oh no, it was her, she said she felt nothing either. It’s the darndest thing,” Beau chuckled to himself.

Dean was lost in thought as Taylor came over.

“Taylor, so glad you finally noticed you had a customer,” Beau said dryly.

“I noticed, I just didn’t care,” she smiled at him tightly.

“There’s that five-star customer service I keep hearing about,” Beau deadpanned.

“What can I get you?”

“How about a smile?”

“I’ll smile non-stop as soon as you leave.”

“Do you know what’s funny?” Beau asked.

“Your dating history?” Taylor shot back, fire crackling in her eyes.

Beau chuckled darkly then raised his eyes to meet hers. “I thought I saw someone from school earlier. What’s his name again, oh yeah, Bobby Bryson. Didn’t you used to date him, Taylor?”

Dean felt the air between them thicken with tension.

Taylor blinked, momentarily shocked. She just stared at Beau and then grabbed a beer, slamming it down in front of him, suds flying, and stormed off.

What the hell was that? Dean thought, staring at Beau as he calmly lifted his beer to his mouth. After a beat Beau turned to him.

“Anyway, there’s a lot to do at Christy’s house. I’m gonna need an extra hand if you’re up for it? I know you offered the other day but if the garage needs you, that’s cool.”

Dean could feel someone staring at him, he looked up to see Taylor at the other end of the bar glaring down at them. It was true he had offered to help but that was before Taylor’s warning. But he didn’t want to rescind his offer as that was just downright dickish behavior.

“Sounds good,” he smiled. “When do we start?”

*

Christy was up and dressed early, ready for her and Beau to start working on the house.

She was actually excited about it; she loved having a project to throw herself into and God knows her writer's block wasn’t going anywhere.

Maybe some physical labor would work something loose.

There was quite a bit of renovating to do, and Beau was fine for it to be done.

She thought that he wouldn’t want her to do anything considering he was buying the place, but he was so laid back.

It was only cosmetic work; just stuff he would need to do anyway.

She knew she didn’t need to do it, but she wanted to.

She felt like it was the way for her to leave her final mark on the house.

But there were a few basics that needed fixing first.

“Like this goddamn garbage disposal!” she hissed as she bent over the sink wrestling with it. She heard the front door open and Beau call out.

“I’m in here,” she grunted, flicking the switch again and growling when nothing happened. “This damn thing won’t work!” There was a beat and then she heard an all too familiar southern drawl.

“Well then I guess I know what my first job is.”