“Very well, I think. I’m staying at an inn that gave me a good rate. I really don’t want to move until I find a place to buy, but so far, I haven’t even had time to look.” Smiling up at him, she asked, “And you? But then, you said you were from this area.”
“Yeah, I know this county very well. Of course, being the police chief makes it all so different.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine.” She slowed her steps as they approached the pub, allowing a group to come out of the old brick building.
He wished he could reach down and touch her hand again just to see if the electricity that had passed between them earlier was real or imagined. He had been with more than his fair share of women, but that reaction had never occurred.
Once inside the pub, he maneuvered to slide in next to her as they were shown to a large booth. Not wanting to crowd her, their hands nonetheless met when they both reached for the menus lying in the middle of the table. And sure enough, he felt the jolt once again. A quick look to the side at her wide-eyed expression let him know that she felt it, too.
He settled back against the wooden booth, a grin on his face. Good food, new friends, and a professional camaraderie that would benefit them all. On top of that, the chance to get to know the beautiful Hannah.
When the meal was over, he said his goodbyes to the men first before turning to her. “Let me give you my personal phone number. Our towns are close together, but in case you need anything, you can get hold of me quickly.”
She held his gaze for just a moment, then her lips curved upward slightly. “Sounds good. I’ll share mine, too.”
That evening, his fingers hovered over the keypad on his phone, desperate to call her. But he decided to wait, just for a few days, to see if the desire waned. It didn’t. And lucky for him, when he did call to ask her out, she accepted.
2
Two months later
Hannah lay on her back in the middle of the bed, staring at the ceiling fan as it slowly turned. She processed her day, thought about what she needed to do tomorrow, and made a mental checklist of errands to run on the weekend. Anything to pass the time while waiting on the call. I’m as bad as a teenager waiting for the phone to ring.
Hannah was sure that life couldn’t get any better. Three months as the Chief of Police. Two of those months dating Dylan, although in secret. She hated sneaking around, but with both of them working as police chiefs, she insisted they needed to be cautious. Small towns were full of eyes and gossip, something she hoped to avoid.
When her phone finally vibrated, she grabbed it, grinning as soon as she saw the caller ID.
“Hey, handsome,” she answered.
“God, hearing your voice is the best part of my day,” Dylan said. “I miss you.”
“We just saw each other yesterday.”
“Waving while passing each other on the way to the jail is hardly seeing each other.”
She chuckled but could hear the longing in his voice. “Yeah, I know.”
He had been ready to shout it out the first time they went on a date, but she’d convinced him they needed to go slow. And that included intimacy. They’d kissed… and damn, that man can kiss! When no one was around, their lips were locked, noses bumping, tongues tangling, nips and licks with bodies pressed tightly together.
“There’s a concert in Virginia Beach in a few weeks. How about we meet somewhere and go together?”
She laughed. “One of your country bands?”
“No,” he retorted. “Actually, it’s the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. I know how much you like classical music.”
She sucked in a quick breath. “You’d do that? You’d go to a symphony with me?”
“Hannah, I’ve never said this to anyone before… but I’d do anything for you,” he replied.
She blinked as tears stung her eyes. “I… wow…”
“I know some people would say this was fast, but I know what I feel. And what I feel… I’ve never felt before. I love learning everything about you.”
“Yeah? What have you learned?”
He chuckled. “You hate scary movies, which makes no sense.”
“Lots of people hate scary movies!” she protested.
“Yeah, but you’re a police chief. Hell, you were in the Army!”
“Humph,” she groused. “Well, we both like old comedies on TV.”
He sighed heavily. “God, I’d love to be with you right now. Piled up on the bed watching TV.”
She was still thinking about that image and how much she would like it when he added, “But then if I was there on your bed, we wouldn’t be watching TV!”
Now, she had a completely different image in her mind… a naked Dylan and how much she wanted that to be a reality. “God, yes,” she breathed.
“Jesus, I need a cold shower.”
Belting out a laugh, she said, “Go on, and I’ll see you tomorrow. Plan on a picnic.”
“A sunset picnic with you? I can’t wait, Hannah. Just knowing I’ll see you at the end of the day will make everything perfect.”
Disconnecting, she continued to lay on the bed, her heart soaring and a smile firmly in place on her lips. She’d made it through college with a few dates and only one boyfriend, but when he discovered she wanted to go into the military, the relationship ended. Her years in the Army resulted in a few nights of shared pleasure with like-minded men, but no dating. She had begun to wonder if she was destined to be alone. Too independent… too career-minded… too able to take care of myself. Rolling over, she stared at the moonlight through the curtains and smiled.
The next evening, the sun was dropping low in the sky, but the couple lying on the blanket draped over the sandy beach had no concept of time. Their legs were tangled together, arms pulling them tightly, breasts against chest, hips grinding together. And their lips were sealed together in long kisses.
Dylan’s tongue tangled with hers, sweeping through her mouth, firing synapses throughout Hannah’s body. Her breasts felt heavy. Her nipples tingled. And with his erection pressing against her core, the desire for friction made the layers of clothes between them nothing more than an irritant.
As they lay facing each other, her head rested on one of his biceps, and his hand pressed against her back, holding her close. With his other hand, he cupped her jaw, sweeping his thumb over her cheek, and moved his lips over hers. Like everything about Dylan, even his lips were strong.
Her free arm had bent at his back, her fingers dragging through his short hair. Even though there was no space between their bodies, she still felt the need to bring him closer, so her hand slid down the muscles of his back, her fingers spread wide to tighten over his ass.
He groaned, the vibrations rising from his chest through their kiss to where she swallowed the sound, wanting to claim it as much as every part of his body.
His hand slowly moved from her cheek over her shoulder, and shifting back ever so slightly, moved between their bodies so that he could mold her breast, his thumb now teasing her nipple. He slid his thigh between her legs, and she ground her hips against the material of his shorts, not caring that at the age of twenty-seven she was dry-humping like a teenager.