Striking Out In The Mountains (Greene Mountain Boys)

I take Cara’s hand as we step into the restaurant. I love everything about this girl—the lilac smell of her perfume, the soft feel of her skin, the adorable way she looks at me, the energizing feeling of walking into a place and having everyone know she’s mine. I can’t get enough. I’ll never get tired of any of this.

My pulse races as I hold the door open for her and watch her walk in. That ass… This woman is going to be the death of me. I don’t know how much more my heart can take before it gives out completely.

It took so much effort to hold myself back from ripping that beautiful dress to pieces back at her place. Every cell in my body was screaming at me to throw her over my shoulder, carry her to the bedroom, spread her thighs nice and wide, and bury every thick inch of my raging cock into her tight wet heat. The restraint it took was enough to kill most men. I’m still shaken by it.

I just kept telling myself that the night was still young. To be patient. To go slow. But it was hard. It was so fucking hard.

I step into the restaurant after my girl and hook my arm around hers. A deep sense of pride fills me up as people turn and look at us. The boastful part of me wants to show her off to the whole world, but the possessive part wants to keep her all to myself.

“What a nice place,” she says as she looks around with a smile. “I’ve been wanting to try it out but I had no one to come with.”

I’ve been here too many times to count, but I’m seeing it again for the first time through her eyes. Jack Jameson’s Bar and Grill is the place to be in the Greene Mountains. It’s lively but not too overwhelming, making it a perfect spot for a first date. It’s the kind of place where you can grab a drink and laugh without shouting over the music, and the food is phenomenal.

“Hi, Chief West,” the hostess says, smiling brightly at me. I think she’s Stan Easton’s daughter if I recall correctly. I put out a fire on their ranch a few years ago when one of his tractors burst into flames. “Do you have a reservation?”

“I did, but we’re a little late,” I say, flashing a grin at my sexy date.

“Unfortunately, we had to give your table away. I’m not supposed to do this, but… Hold on, give me a minute.”

She disappears into the dining room to help me out.

“Oops,” Cara says, trying not to laugh. “Sorry to make us late for our reservation.”

“You think I regret anything?” I ask with my eyebrow raised.

She chuckles. “No, I don’t.”

“I found you a table,” the hostess says waving us into the dining room. We follow her in and she leads us to a nice private booth next to the exposed brick wall.

“Thank you,” I say to her as she puts the menus on the table. “I appreciate it.”

“And I appreciate you saving my ranch from catching on fire,” she says with a smile. “Enjoy your meal.”

“Does everyone in town adore you?” Cara says with a chuckle.

“Anyone with any sense to them,” I answer with a grin.

Cara hesitates before sitting down. “My partner Henry is over there. Mind if I go say hi?”

“Not at all,” I say as my jaw clenches and my hand squeezes into a fist when I see him sitting alone. “Let’s go say hi.”

I’ve been wanting to have a word with that man after last night. My eyes narrow on him as we walk through the dining room. He’s eating with someone, but they’re not there. He steals a large Tempura shrimp off their plate and shoves it into his mouth, quickly swallowing it down before they return.

“Hey!” he says, lighting up when he sees Cara coming. “What are you two doing here?”

He has a purple eye and his lip is all swollen and busted up from the brawl. If I had my way, his face would be looking a lot worse than that.

“Just having some dinner,” Cara says. “And you? Eating for two?”

He chuckles. “Natalie is in the bathroom. She felt so bad about my face that she made me Belgian waffles with whipped cream this morning and now she’s taking me out for dinner. I hope those guys come back every week.”

Cara laughs, but I don’t.

“Hello,” Henry’s wife Natalie says when she gets back from the bathroom. “Wow, you two make a striking couple. I love this dress.”

The women fawn over each other’s outfits while I stare Henry down. He’s got a big plate of fried chicken tenders and French fries in front of him.

“Where’s the bathroom?” Cara asks Natalie as she looks around the busy restaurant.

“Why don’t you go show her,” I suggest.

“Sure,” Natalie says, chatting as they walk away.

Henry straightens up as I sit down in front of him, glaring at him from across the table.

“You okay, Graham?”

“No,” I say, gritting my teeth as I stare him down. “You ever leave Cara alone in a dangerous situation like that again and I’ll make you pay.”

“Are you threatening a cop?” he asks, raising his eyebrows. “What are you going to do? Kick my ass?”

He’s laughing, but I’m not. I just stare him down to let him know how serious I am. I want Cara’s partner to be watching her back. Always.

He left her alone last night in the middle of a vicious brawl. Cara would have been choked unconscious surrounded by those deadly men if I hadn’t arrived at the exact right second. I’m not about to let that slide. Not a chance.

“If she gets hurt,” I say in a low, cold-blooded tone. “I’m going to blame you. And trust me, you don’t want that.”

His laughter dries up quickly and he swallows hard as he lowers his head. “Understood.”

“Do better,” I say as I stand up with my chest puffed out. “And stop eating all this fried shit and get into shape. I want you to be able to cover my girl’s back.”

He nods submissively as I stare him down, making sure it’s crystal fucking clear. When I’m certain he’s got the message, I leave the table and head to my booth, trying to shake these violent thoughts out of my head.

My heart is pounding and I’m still feeling all edgy inside until I spot Cara walking back, winding through the busy tables.

The aggression melts into euphoria when I see her flawless face smiling at me from across the room. God, I’m in deep. I’m already obsessed with this girl. I don’t know how I lived my life without her. How did I manage to get through fifty-two years without this woman? It’s hard to get through five minutes without her now.

“I like this place,” she says as she slides into the booth and takes the drink menu. “I love fun cocktails.”

The waitress comes over and says hi. She’s small and dainty, wearing a tight black dress. I love that Cara could literally throw her over her shoulder in an emergency and run out of the building to save her life. I find that so sexy.

Cara orders a fruity cocktail with a silly name that I would never be caught dead saying and I order a beer.

She leans back in the booth once we’re alone, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “Are you still mad?”

“About what?” I ask, worried she saw me straightening her partner out.

“That I kicked your team’s ass in the softball game.”

“You didn’t kick our ass,” I say with a laugh. “You single-handedly destroyed us. I don’t think we can ever play softball again.”

She laughs, the sound soft and light. It fills my chest with a warm tingling feeling. “It’s for charity, so you have to play. I was just doing my job. You know, being a team player.”

“Team player?” I give her a mock incredulous look. “You were basically a one-woman wrecking crew. At one point, I swear I saw James praying for rain. I think Doug was doing a rain dance at one point.”

“Is that what that was?” Cara says, chuckling as she plays with her silky brown hair. “What can I say? When I do something, I like to give it my all. Plus, it’s not every day I get to humiliate the chief of the fire station.”

“You didn’t just humiliate me,” I reply, leaning forward with a grin. “You crushed the collective spirit of an entire department.”

She smiles, and I can see the faintest hint of pride in her eyes. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I was surprised you hit my fastball even if you did send it flying into the crowd.”

I groan, dragging a hand down my beard. “You just had to bring that up.”

“There aren’t many people who can handle my heater. I was impressed. You get an A for effort.”

“Not even an A-plus?” I ask, feigning offense.

She shrugs, her grin playful. “I don’t hand out A-pluses for striking out.”noveldrama

I laugh, shaking my head.

“But don’t worry,” she says as she reaches across the table and puts her hand on mine. “You won’t strike out with me tonight.”

I almost ask for the check right then and there even though we haven’t even gotten our drinks yet.

The waitress returns a few minutes later with our drinks and I hold up my beer.

“Cheers,” I say, smiling at the amazing woman sitting across from me. “To the start of something special.”

She gives me a gorgeous smile as she clinks her glass against mine. “Cheers.”

We hold each other’s eyes as we both take a sip.

The tension builds in the air, thick and simmering, like the first crackle of a fire that’s about to roar to life. And in this beautiful heated moment, I know—whatever happens next, it’s going to burn smoldering hot.