Summer Love_ A Steamy Small Town Romance Anthology - Piper Rayne Page 0,130

grip. “What are you doing here?”

“Would you believe me if I said I heard you needed a date to another wedding?” His mouth tipped up in a teasing smile, but there wasn’t anything funny about the way his eyes locked on mine.

“That’s a piss poor attempt at humor.” Though my body begged to melt into his arms, I wouldn’t let myself. Not until he told me what he was doing standing in my parents’ living room. And maybe not even then.

“Sorry. It’s a coping mechanism.”

“What? Not being funny?”

He laughed at that remark and his eyes crinkled at the edges. That was my first clue that things between us might still have a chance.

“I’m sorry, Tori.”

“For what?” He still held my hand, the feel of his hand in mine sending chills racing up and down my spine. “You don’t have anything to be sorry about. I should have known better than to take you to Bailey’s wedding.”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry for cutting out on you. I never should have let you walk away.”

“You didn’t let me do anything. We shared a few great hours together, that’s all. Barely a blip in the grand scheme of things.” I tried to downplay it.

“Cole and Vaughn asked me to move back to Beaver Bluff. They want me to work as in-house counsel while they try to figure out a way to work with the Stewarts on the distillery.”

That was an interesting development. “What about making partner at your firm in LA?”

His broad shoulders rolled. “I told them I’d be willing to walk away from that and take the job under one condition.”

For half a heartbeat, I let myself entertain a sliver of hope. But that was ridiculous. Why would he be willing to walk away from a promising future in the city of angels to move back to a place like Beaver Bluff?

He sat down on my mom’s petite chaise and tugged me down next to him. “I told them the only way I’d take the job is if you’d be here.”

“Why would you do that?” I registered his hand on my knee, the warmth of his touch seeping through my cut-off capris.

He moved his other hand up to cup my cheek. “I like you, Tori. A lot. We don’t know each other very well yet, but something in me recognizes something in you. I can feel it.”

“You sure that’s not heartburn from scarfing down my entire pie?” I might joke, but his words caught me by surprise. It was easier to play it off than let myself dare to believe that he actually meant it.

“Don’t do that.”

“Don’t do what?”

“Don’t make this out to be something less than it is. Let’s give this some time and see where it goes.”

I took in a shaky breath. “What if it goes nowhere?”

“What if it does?” he teased.

“You really want to give up everything out west to move back here?” It didn’t make sense. Most people would give anything to get out of a place like Beaver Bluff.

“You’re looking at it wrong. I’m giving up nothing and taking a chance to get everything I’ve ever wanted.”

My chest expanded, like someone had inflated a balloon inside and it just might burst. I tried to keep my tone steady, though my heart had already started executing a series of back handsprings. “I suppose I might be able to get my job back if I asked.”

“My uncle said they were never going to accept your letter of resignation.”

I frowned at him. “You’re checking up on me? This will never work if you don’t let me handle my own business.”

Deacon had the decency to look chastened, if only for a second. “I didn’t ask, he volunteered the information when I told him I didn’t care if their asinine family feud had lasted generations. If they wanted me to come back to Beaver Bluff, nothing was going to get in the way of pursuing the woman of my dreams.”

“You said that?”

“Maybe not quite like that, but I got my point across.”

“You surprise me, Deacon Raines.”

“Would I be too much of a sap if I said I hope you like surprises?”

The man was insufferable. A real piece of work. But that was exactly what I needed in my life… someone who’d give me a run for my money, who wasn’t afraid to go toe to toe with me and dish it out as well as he could take it. I tilted my head and looked up at him. “I’ve found most