Lifer was someone who was set to stay in Sweet Hill and yes, Tate was looking for that. The kind of marriage and love his parents had. The kids and the dog in the front yard. Not that he talked about it much. Mostly because while he did want all those things, the kind of woman that came with that picture didn’t thrill him. He wanted someone with drive and intensity.
And once the election was over, he’d settle down and finally give in to one of the casserole leaving ladies. It wasn’t a bad thing, but for some reason, when women looked at him, all they saw was stable and reliable. He should be proud of that. Yet there he was, wondering if there was more.
Of course the opposite was someone like Mia. Women who were all flash and trampled over other people to get a step ahead. He learned the hard way that Sweet Hill wasn’t for everyone, but it was for him. And he wasn’t going to chase a woman that had no desire to be caught. Not to mention long term capability.
The only thing he needed to worry about now was keeping everything in place and his reputation spotless until the election. Which shouldn’t be difficult since he’d never stepped out of line.
“Speaking of lifer,” Tate said, trying to change the subject away from him. “Where’s your fiancée this evening?”
The biggest smile that could only be given by a man totally smitten by a woman crossed Luke’s face.
“She’s walking in now,” he said and headed toward the entrance.
Annie and her bright red hair were hard to miss and Luke wasted no time wrapping her up and kissing her. Tate tried to remember when he kissed a woman like that and came up empty. A few dates here and there over the years but nothing that didn’t start bland and end amicably.
Tate took a drink of his beer and realized he would need another, and maybe one more after that. But when Jen Randall came in, she wasn’t the blonde that caught Tate’s attention. It was the sultry golden-haired wanton behind her that made his jeans suddenly tighter.
He’d never seen a woman look more exotic and cute at the same time. It was a mind fuck, which judging by the tight skirt, and low cut sweater paired with a pair of black knee high boots, was Mia Blake’s specialty. Her large almond shaped eyes scanned the room in a way he recognized. She was looking for a good time. Looking for something fun and easy. Two things Tate had never been called in his life.
When her gaze landed on him, a fire set and yeah, it burnt him from across the room. He saluted his beer bottle in her direction which only seemed to piss her off more. Stomping over to him, he tried really hard not to notice the way her breasts subtly bounced with every determined stride, exposing just enough creamy cleavage to make his damn mouth itch for a taste.
“Surprised to see you here,” she said, not bothering with niceties. “Thought maybe you’d be out ruining someone else’s night.”
“Still upset because you didn’t get your way, huh?” he said with a casual smile, and felt anything but.
“Let me inform you of something, Deputy, getting my own way is the least of my worries at the moment.”
“Obviously.” Everything about this woman screamed high maintenance. From the way she “informed” him of things, to her entitled attitude. He’d seen her kind before. And he should let her be on her way, yet between the smell of her citrus perfume and the leather boots, he was having a hard time getting his dick on board with the idea of letting her leave.
“Can I get a lemon drop, for Jen and me please,” she said, smiling at Cam and the bar owner hopped right to it.
“Coming right up,” Cam said.
Tate didn’t have to turn to see Cam’s giant grin and knew he was checking Mia out. Hell, every man in the room was checking her out. She wasn’t one of those fade into the background kind of people.
“I just wanted to say that I’m not going to contest that ticket,” she said, eyes back on Tate. Instantly happy that her attention was focused on him instead of Cam. Which shouldn’t matter, but for some reason, everything about this woman affected him.
“I’m surprised.”
“Well, I parked there. Nothing I can do about that now. But I really didn’t see the red.”
There was an honesty in her eyes. Tate was on the brink of giving in. Telling her to forget the ticket. But when she got bumped from behind, lunging her forward and into Tate’s chest, he lost any train of thought he’d had.
She gasped a little and Tate kind of did too. Because they went from inches apart, to her breasts smashed against his chest and his hands cupping her hips. She looked up at him, her turquoise gaze fixated on his mouth, as she licked her own.
No fucking way did he see that right. Could Mia Blake actually be thinking of kissing him? When her hips brushed his, Tate realized she was close to getting hard proof of just how into her he was.
Tate dropped his hands and shifted his body so they were no longer touching. Whatever expression he was giving off, she didn’t seem to like it because she frowned at him and said, “I just don’t get your deal. All day I’ve heard how you’re this standup guy and there’s damn posters of your face all over town.”
Tate glanced over at Luke and knew he was the one responsible for putting those voting postings up. He’d have to kick his ass later. Tate appreciated the support, but lawn posters?
“Yet, all I see,” Mia said as she openly ran her eyes from his belt to his face, “is a guy on a power trip.”
“Power trip?” He straightened, seriously heated now because the only reason he became a Deputy was to help and serve his town and his family. It was for the honor. For doing something good to help. Power wasn’t even on the list of things he wanted in life.
“Well, you know what I see?” He leaned in. “I see a small town girl who went to a big city, got rejected and ran home with a chip on her shoulder expecting favors to be handed to her.”
Her mouth parted and right before she frowned, Tate saw a flash of something in her eyes that made him feel like he really was the asshole she thought him to be. But as soon as it came, it went, and she was back to glares and attitude.