No One But You (Silver Springs #2)(71)



He could hear the teasing note in her voice. “I’m not planning to sleep. I want you in my bed, not yours.”

“I’m not sure that would be wise,” she said, but she didn’t seem entirely committed to her refusal, which told him more than mere words.

“It’s still tonight,” he reminded her, making what she’d said before a commitment.

“But we’re supposed to be keeping what happened outside separate from what happens in here,” she reminded him. “We’re not doing a very good job of that.”

He, for one, was glad. “We’ll worry about tomorrow when tomorrow comes. Tonight, I want you to take the lead.”

She pulled back. “What?”

“That’s right.” He tugged her into the shower with him. “You make all the moves. Do whatever you’d like to do, and I’ll go along with it.”

“You’re putting me in charge.”

Nudging her beneath the spray, he grabbed the soap and began to run it over her breasts. “Why not?”

She watched his hands as they moved. “I probably won’t be any good at it. I’ve never had the opportunity.”

Because she’d been dominated by a control freak ever since she was in high school. “I guessed as much. That’s why I want it. I’d like to see what you’d do if you could do anything,” he said, but only an hour later, when they were in his bed as he’d wanted, he wasn’t sure they should’ve acted on that idea. The way she’d made love to him was so sweet he knew he’d never be able to forget it.

*

Sly was waiting for her when she arrived at Lolita’s the following morning. Sadie noticed him sitting at the counter with Pete, both of them in uniform, and nearly turned around and walked out. She was only finishing up at the restaurant because she’d said she would. She could use the money, of course, but what little she could make today would hardly compensate her for having to deal with Sly. Neither would it make a big difference as to when she’d be able to leave this town. The fire had already set her back months.

After what she’d experienced last night with Dawson, she didn’t want to see her ex. She was still basking in the afterglow of what it had felt like to be in someone else’s arms—someone whose touch excited her.

She’d barely turned on her heel when Lolita, a determined if not fiery redhead with a curvy figure, came up behind her. “Boy, am I glad to see you. Missy called in sick this morning, so we’re shorthanded. Any chance you could handle a table in addition to the breakfast bar? I understand it’ll be stressful to manage that much, but it’s stressful for all of us this morning. We’re so busy, and we don’t have any other options.”

Sadie opened her mouth to say she wasn’t feeling well herself. She wanted to leave so badly. But she couldn’t lie. Lolita had been good to her. She wouldn’t leave her in the lurch. “Sure. No problem. I’ll take two tables, if you need it.”

Lolita squeezed her arm. “I appreciate that. You always come through. I’m so sad to be losing you.”

“Thanks.”

When her boss rushed off to take a few orders, or to see to the smooth running of the kitchen, Sadie drew a deep breath, squared her shoulders and told herself to get to work. She’d simply treat Sly like any other patron.

He didn’t speak to her when he saw her, and she didn’t speak to him. She pulled her pad from her pocket and took a couple of orders down the bar, which she turned in to the cooks, before approaching him and Pete.

“What can I get for you this morning?” she asked, forcing a polite but distant smile.

Pete ordered; Sly didn’t. He sat there glaring at her as though she’d done him dirty.

Sadie recognized that look. She associated it with the anger and reprisal that so often went with it but was determined to be professional. “Well, if that’s it, I’ll get this order in.”

“Don’t you dare walk away from me,” Sly growled.

Pete glanced from Sly to her and back again. “Whoa, take it easy, buddy,” he murmured to his friend. “You heard what Chief said this morning.”

Sly ignored him. “You’re sleeping with him, aren’t you!” he said to her.

“Sly, no.” Pete grabbed his arm, but he shook off his friend.

“You are, right? Tell me you aren’t. Just try to make that believable. I heard he bought you some panties yesterday. Spent a pretty penny for them, too. Whole town’s talking about it. You must be giving him something, the way he’s taking care of you.”

A denial rose to Sadie’s lips. She didn’t want to be embarrassed in the middle of the crowded diner. She knew almost everyone there, which made airing their dirty laundry in public that much worse. Besides, she wasn’t with Dawson in the way he thought. They weren’t an item. They were just two desperate souls seeking shelter from the storm, and they’d taken a little pleasure in each other last night. Was that really such a terrible sin? She wasn’t in a committed relationship and hadn’t been for some time. Who knew how many women Sly had slept with in the past year? She felt as if she should have the same right. “Yes,” she replied. “Last night. Several times. And I’ve never enjoyed anything more.”

His jaw dropped. Sadie was surprised, too. She hadn’t expected anything like that to come out of her mouth, wasn’t sure what had possessed her.

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