Sweet Dreams (Colorado Mountain #2)(181)

“Why not?” Tate asked.

“Why not?” I repeated.

He grinned again. “Babe, I just made you a legend.”

“But –”

“You think those boys don’t wish you were in their beds suckin’ them off every mornin’?”

I glared at him and pointed out, “I don’t do it every morning.”

Tate grinned yet again.

I tried a different strategy. “That’s between you and me.”

Tate was still grinning when he noted, “Not anymore.”

I was realizing he not only thought this was funny, he didn’t think anything was wrong with sharing private moments with our bar regulars. And this made me forget the scene we just had and it made me get very, very angry… at Tate.

“Captain,” I started, sounding as angry as I was, “I understand that drama was a drama and you sometimes don’t guard your words, but you should know, I didn’t like what you shared.”

Tate was unaffected by my obvious anger and I knew this because he returned, “And you should know, Ace, I could hire a sky writer to share the way you light up for me, I’d do it.”

I felt my eyes get wide and my body stiffen. “Are you nuts?”

“Nope.”

“You are.”

“Babe, again, guy thing.”

“No it is not.”

He started chuckling and I kept glaring.

“Oh yeah, it definitely is,” he stated.

“So, essentially, you’re pissing in your corner and not just doing it to claim your territory with Brad but with everyone.”

His arms tightened, bringing me deeper into his body. “I wouldn’t put it like that, but, yeah. Essentially.”

“The alpha male,” I muttered irritably.

“Absolutely,” Tate muttered back with total unconcern.

“You just lost my mouth in the morning,” I hissed and he burst out laughing. “I’m not joking,” I warned into his laughter and he dipped his face close to mine.

“Right, baby, I’ll believe that when it happens.”

“It will,” I snapped, he shook his head then dipped it further so his nose could tweak my ear.

Then he spoke there. “You’re addicted to my cock, Ace, you like suckin’ me off more than I like you doin’ it.”

I jerked my head back and stated, “That is just not true.”

Though, I had to admit, maybe it was.

I knew he was teasing by the way his eyes were dancing.

“Just you wait and see,” I threatened.

His eyes danced more, showing he clearly didn’t believe me then I watched them sober.

“It’s over, baby,” he whispered.

I glared at him some more then I looked at the door. Then I sighed and relaxed in his arms.

“Yeah,” I whispered back.

“You love me?” he asked softly and my eyes went to his.

“Yes,” I replied then shared, “though, I will state, I do so despite you sometimes being a jerk.”

His grin came back. “I can live with that.”

While he was speaking, I heard the door open and I looked that way to see Frank, in uniform, walk in.

One look at him and I felt my body get tight again at the same time I knew Tate had seen Frank because I felt his body do the same.

“Christ almighty,” Tate muttered and looked down at me. “Fall break, you and Jonas and me are goin’ to a beach.”

I wanted to go to a beach with Jonas and Tate and I wanted to share that fact with Tate but I couldn’t tear my eyes off Frank who was approaching us.

“Tate –” I whispered.

“In Australia,” Tate went on.

“Tate –”

“We might not come back,” Tate concluded.

“Tate, buddy, gotta talk to you, private, in the office,” Frank said and I gave Tate a squeeze.

“You got the bar?” Tate asked and I looked up to see he was addressing me.

I started to answer but Frank spoke.

“Lauren should come with.”

My arms gave Tate another squeeze, this was automatic as my eyes shot to Frank.

Frank didn’t meet my eyes, he looked at Jim-Billy. “Billy, do me a favor, call Krystal in, yeah?”

“Oh my God,” I whispered because something wasn’t right and whatever that something was, it really wasn’t right.

“Frank, what –?” Tate started.

“Do it,” Frank ordered, Jim-Billy nodded and Nadine started digging in her purse.

“I got a phone, Jim-Billy, I got her number,” Nadine said quietly.

Frank wasted no time, he moved to the hall and Tate’s arm dropped from my shoulders but his hand curled tight around mine and we followed. Frank stopped at the office door and waited. Tate dug his keys out of his pocket and opened the door, holding it for me to precede him. I switched on the lights before I took four steps in and turned. Tate was at my side in a second. Frank closed the door and turned to us.

“I don’t even know…” Frank started then trailed off.

“Just f**kin’ say it,” Tate growled and Frank’s eyes latched on Tate’s.

“May-December murderer, Tate, buddy, f**k…” Frank yanked his fingers through his hair before his next, heinous words came out. “Buddy, he got Neeta.”