Love After All

  "When?"

  He thought about it. It might take some rearranging of his staff, but Hall had been pressing him for more responsibility--along with giving him shit for not taking more weekends off.

  "How about tonight?"

  Chelsea cocked her head to the side. "On a Saturday night?"

  "Sure."

  "It's your busiest night of the week."

  "Yeah, but Hall's been doing a great job as assistant manager at the bar. I'll let him know I'm not coming in tonight."

  She looked him over.

  "What?"

  "I'm trying to figure out if you're going to break out in a sweat--or maybe hives--at the thought of not being there on a Saturday night."

  "Hey now. I've missed weekends. Just last month, as a matter of fact, when Logan and Des got married."

  "True."

  "So are we on for tonight?"

  She hesitated, and he wondered if she'd turn him down--if she'd changed her mind.

  But, finally, she smiled. "We're on."

  Chapter 26

  Chelsea had several things to do, so after breakfast, she went home, did some laundry, prepped her test list for Monday, and took a shower. After that, she tried to decide what she was going to wear for dinner.

  She'd forgotten to ask Bash where they were going, but, knowing Bash, it wouldn't be any place fancy. Still, she hated assuming. She supposed she could ask him. She sent him a text message.

  Where are we going for dinner?

  He answered about ten minutes later.

  It's a surprise.

  She rolled her eyes. Typical man. She typed a response.

  How am I supposed to know what to wear? Jeans or a dress?

  Wear a dress. Mainly because you have great legs.

  Interesting. Was he taking her someplace nice, or did he just want to ogle her legs?

  She already knew the answer. Bash was a burger and fries kind of man. Maybe they'd go to a restaurant in Tulsa, or maybe to one of the steak joints, but it wasn't going to be anywhere fancy.

  He didn't do fancy. He was a simple kind of guy. She could work with that.

  The weather was warming, which she loved, because it meant her clothing options broadened. She chose a sleeveless black dress, low cut in the front, with high-heeled black sandals, and topped it off with a silver pendant that hung in the V between her breasts.

  He might be taking her for steak or burgers, but she'd make sure he had something else delectable to look at besides the food.

  She did her hair in soft waves and left it down so it caressed her shoulders, put on her favorite pair of diamond stud earrings, and left her wrists bare.

  Then she examined herself in the mirror, turning back and forth to make sure the effect was as she intended. Her breasts were nicely accentuated in the dress, but not overly exposed. The dress hit just below her thighs, showing off the right amount of leg, and as she turned around, she was satisfied it highlighted her butt to perfection.

  She was ready to knock Bash on his ass. She pulled out a cardigan, because the nights were still a little cool and she wasn't sure where they were going.

  The doorbell rang, so she grabbed her sweater and purse and opened the door.

  Okay, so she was the one knocked on her ass. Bash was wearing a crisp black suit, a white shirt, and a very fashionable tie.

  "Did someone die?"

  He frowned. "No. Why?"

  "Because you're wearing a suit."

  "I can wear a suit."

  "Yeah. When someone gets married or dies. So nobody died. Are we going to a wedding?"

  "You're funny. Also, you're a knockout."

  She smiled. "Thank you. But seriously, Bash. A suit?"

  He looked down at himself, then back at her. "You don't like it."

  "I love it. I'm just ... surprised."

  "It's on your list. I thought I'd show you I could be list-appropriate."

  Her lips curved. "You are definitely list-appropriate in that suit."

  He held his arm out for her. "Let's go, gorgeous."

  She shut the door and slid her hand in his arm. He led her out to his car. "No truck tonight?"

  "You don't want to climb into my truck when you're wearing a dress, though I'd enjoy the view."

  She slid into the passenger side. "I'm sure you would."

  He took the freeway and headed toward Tulsa.

  "You aren't going to tell me where we're going?"

  He glanced her way for a few seconds. "And ruin the surprise?"

  "We're not going to shoot paintball or do laser tag or anything, are we? Or go to Chuck E. Cheese's?"

  He laughed. "I'd never wear a suit for those activities. And you obviously don't trust me."

  "Obviously."

  She stared out the window for a while, enjoying the bright colors. They'd gotten a significant amount of rain the past few days and everything was greening up. Weather was warming, people were spending time outside, and school was almost over. Summer was approaching, and it was Chelsea's favorite time of year.

  "How about I promise to never make you wear a dress when we go play laser tag?" Bash asked.

  She shifted to face him. "How about you never take me to play laser tag?"

  "I can't make that promise. Laser tag is way too much fun."

  She shook her head. "You're a child."

  "Life's too short to be a grown-up all the time, Chelsea. Sometimes you gotta let loose and have some fun."

  "I have plenty of fun."

  "I mean kid fun."

  "I'm too old for kid fun."

  He leveled a serious look on her. "I'm going to take that as a challenge. And you're never too old for kid fun."

  She was about to argue the point, but he exited the freeway, and she was curious about where they were headed. She'd come into Tulsa frequently to eat. She knew where everything was. Not that she'd eaten at every restaurant, but she knew where all the burger joints and franchise steakhouses were.

  So when he bypassed the one she'd guessed he was taking her to, she was surprised, and even more shocked when he pulled into the parking lot housing Bodean Seafood Restaurant.

  "I haven't eaten here in years."

  He turned off the engine and turned to her. "It's one of my favorite seafood places."

  Hers, too, though she didn't frequent it. It was pricey, but the food was fantastic.

  And also the last place she figured he'd bring her.

  He opened her door and held out his hand to help her out of the car. Then he held her hand as they walked inside.

  "Reservation for Palmer," he said.

  He'd made reservations, too?

  "Right this way, Mr. Palmer," the hostess said, showing them to their table.

  "The last time I ate here, the place was a lot smaller. And across the highway," she said as they took their seats.

  The restaurant had expanded to a new building several years ago. There was a lot more space now. Where before, tables were crowded together and you could overhear conversations on both sides of where you were sitting, this new restaurant was laid out beautifully, with plenty of room for booths and tables and a gorgeous slate fireplace in the eating area. It was modern, yet warm, inviting, and completely luxurious.

  She ran her fingertips over the white tablecloth, then looked up and smiled as their waiter approached.

  His name was Sean and he presented their menu and wine list. Someone else brought water.

  Bash picked up the wine list.

  "Do you need me to help you make a selection?" she asked.

  He gave her a look over the top of the list that told her he didn't want or need her assistance. Okay, then.

  "Is there a particular wine you prefer?" he asked.

  She was interested in what he'd order. "No. Go ahead."

  When the waiter came back, Bash ordered a very nice bottle of pinot grigio.

  She was impressed. It was one she'd have ordered for a special occasion.

  "Nice call. And
I'm surprised."

  "You think it's because I only know beer and hard liquor. You forget that liquor is my business. All kinds of liquor, including wine."

  "I highly doubt you serve that particular brand of wine at the bar."

  "No, but it's my job to know what's good."

  The waiter presented the bottle, opened it, and poured the glass for Bash. He swirled the liquid around the glass, sniffed it, then swallowed and nodded to the waiter, who then poured a glass for Chelsea and filled Bash's glass.

  The wine was smooth and delicious. "It's very good," she said.

  "I thought you might like it. I know you have a refined palate for wine."

  Her lips curved. "I do enjoy a good wine."

  "So do I ... on occasion."

  "Like tonight?"

  "Like tonight. With great food you have to have a special wine."

  There were layers to Bash she hadn't yet uncovered. That made her like him even more. Especially since there were no burgers on this menu.

  He ordered oysters for his appetizer, and she had the lobster bisque, which was fantastic. For dinner, Bash had the trout, and she had the scallops.

  "Can I taste the trout?" she asked.

  He scooped up a forkful and passed it over to her. When she would have taken the fork from him, he held on to it. He wanted to feed her.

  Of course. That was so Bash. She took the bite from his fork.

  "Mmm," she said after she swallowed. "Good."

  He'd been watching her mouth, and she caught that look in his eyes, the one that was becoming all too familiar to her.

  Desire.

  It made her clench in a way that was also becoming familiar when she was around him. She filed that away for later.

  "Would you like a bite of my scallops?" she asked.

  "I would."

  She sliced off a section and put it on her fork, and like he'd done for her, she fed it to him. There was something so sensual about having someone eat from your fork. Such a simple thing, and yet she found herself watching his lips curve around her fork, saw the flick of his tongue as he captured the scallop and took it into his mouth.

  Then again, how could any woman not be fascinated by Bash's mouth? It was a dangerous thing. She could still feel every kiss he'd ever laid on her, and all the other delicious places his mouth had been.

  Her nipples puckering in this fancy restaurant was so not appropriate. Nor was her focusing on his mouth.

  And the way he smiled at her told her he knew exactly what she was thinking.

  She picked up her wineglass and emptied it. Bash refilled it, that enigmatic look on his face ever present.

  She was in serious trouble with this man. So instead, she focused on her dinner, which she finished. Along with way too much of their fantastic bread. She was going to regret that during her next workout.

  When the waiter brought the dessert menu by, it was all she could do not to groan.

  "Dessert?" Bash asked.

  She shook her head. "I'm so full I feel like I could burst."

  "How about coffee?"

  Again, she said no. "I need to get up and move around before I curl up and fall asleep in this booth."

  He laughed. "We can't have that." Bash signaled the waiter, then asked for the check.

  "Thank you for dinner," she said. "I don't know why it's taken me this long to eat here again. The food was incredible."

  He handed the waiter his credit card. "Yeah, it's really good. I don't come here very often, either. Then again, I don't often have the opportunity to bring an amazing woman out to dinner."

  He was saying all the right things. If this were their first date--which, she supposed, it technically was--she'd think he was perfect. Suit and tie, great manners, excellent selection in wine, and the choice of restaurant was spot-on.

  But she also knew that Bash didn't tick off a lot of the items on her list.

  Did that matter?

  Not tonight, it didn't.

  He signed the credit card slip the waiter brought by, then stood and came over to her side of the booth, holding her hand while she slid out. They walked to the front door and realized it was raining outside. And not just a little rain, either. It was pouring.

  "Stay here," he said. "I'll bring the car to the door."

  "Okay."

  She walked outside, staying underneath the overhang to watch Bash dash through the parking lot. The rain was coming harder now, the wind slashing like sheets so hard her feet and legs were getting wet. She'd long ago lost sight of Bash, but she finally saw headlights as he pulled up in front of the restaurant. She was about to make a run for the car when he got out and she saw he had an open umbrella. He hurried toward her.

  He was so wet, the poor guy, but he gathered her against him.

  And he was smiling down at her. "Ready?"

  She pulled off her shoes and held them in her hand, then nodded. "Yes."

  They ran toward the car. Bash handed her the umbrella and opened her door. She got inside and he shut the door, then hurried around to the other side, got in, and slammed the door shut.

  His hair was plastered to his head, and water ran in rivulets down his face.

  "Well, that was wet," he said.

  Even though he'd parked the car at the curb, she was soaked, and her dress stuck to her skin. She couldn't even imagine how drenched Bash must be.

  "I had no idea it was going to rain tonight."

  He shrugged. "Spring in Oklahoma, ya know." He put the car in gear, turned the heater on to full blast, and headed out.

  The rain continued the entire way back to Hope, with a little lightning and thunder thrown in for good measure. Bash drove slowly on the freeway because visibility wasn't good. They finally exited the freeway and headed several miles into Hope, and to his house. The rain hadn't let up, either, which meant when he let Lou out of her crate he was going to have to take her outside in the rain.

  He shrugged out of his suit coat and shoes, leading Lou to the back door.

  "I'm going to strip and take a hot shower while you do that," she said.

  He nodded and led Lou to the back door, while she headed toward the bathroom. She was chilled and freezing. After turning the water on in the shower, she started peeling her clothes off, letting them drop to the floor. As soon as the shower was heated up, she climbed inside and let the steamy water pour over her head. Her skin was so cold, but the hot water was definitely helping. She grabbed the washcloth she'd brought in with her and scrubbed her makeup off.

  In a few minutes, the door opened and a naked Bash stepped inside with her.

  "Christ, it's cold and wet outside."

  She moved aside to let him have the hot water.

  "No," he said, pulling her against him. "Stay here."

  His body was cold, but not for long. She wrapped her arms around him and lent him some of her own heat, laying her head against his chest.

  "I'm sorry about the storm. I was going to take you dancing after dinner tonight."

  She tilted her head back. "You were?"

  "Yeah. Plans got spoiled after we got soaked."

  She started swaying back and forth with him. "We can dance in the shower. It's warmer here."

  He smiled. "Kind of hard to dance in here. Slippery."

  "We'll take it slow."

  "No music."

  She cocked her head to the side, exasperated. "Use your imagination, Bash."

  "I have a pretty good imagination, though there's usually no music involved."

  She laughed.

  He slid his arm around her waist and got into the dance, though she wasn't sure if what he was doing could be considered dancing--unless it was dirty dancing, because he slid his thigh between her legs and she suddenly forgot all about dancing or the music in her head. And when he backed her against the wall and kissed her, she also forgot about being cold.

  In an instant, he'd heated her from the inside out, his body pressing into hers, all his good parts touching all
of her good parts. She raised her leg and wrapped it around his hip, undulating against him.

  He pulled his head away to look at her. "Keep doing that and we're going to have a problem."

  Her lips quirked. "A problem?"

  "Yeah. No condoms in the shower."

  She scraped a nail down the side of his arm. "Hmmm ... that is a problem, isn't it? I'm already plenty warm."

  "Me, too."

  He turned the shower off and they got out. Bash handed her a towel. She hurriedly fluffed her hair dry, ran the towel over her body, and then draped it on the counter to dry. Before she could head for the bedroom, Bash backed her against the counter, her butt resting against the towel. He spread her legs and put his mouth on her sex, making her gasp.

  The bathroom was hot and steamy, and her temperature rose even more as Bash took her to great heights of pleasure with his mouth. She was primed and ready to go off and came in a lightning-quick jolt, reaching down to slide her fingers through his hair as she shivered with post-orgasmic delight.

  He licked her thighs, kissed her hip, and trailed a map of hot, wet kisses up her stomach and breasts, lingering at her nipples until she was on fire all over again. His cock lay heavy against her belly as he finished off at her mouth with a long, deep kiss that made her whimper against his lips.

  He led her to the bed, put on a condom, and spread her legs, entering her with a quick thrust that made her moan in deep pleasure. He took her mouth as he drove against her. It was a quick, passionate coupling that she craved as much as he did. Neither of them needed to say anything. Their eyes said it all as they looked at each other while they moved together.

  And when she felt the quivers, knew she was close, she raked her nails down his arms, then lifted against him. She saw the furrow of his brow, the intensity in his eyes, and felt the way he ground against her, which shattered her. He kissed her, a deep, soulful kiss she felt through every part of her as he took the ride with her, both of them clinging to each other as they rode out the waves of pleasure that never seemed to end.

  Afterward, he brushed her still-damp hair away from her face and kissed her temple. She laid her hand on his chest and felt his heart pump as it went from mad fast to normal again.

  She was certain she looked like Medusa. She hadn't combed out her hair, and she wasn't sure all her makeup had washed off.

  She didn't care, which was a first for her. She always presented an impeccable appearance, especially around men she was ...

  Dating. She supposed they really were trying out this dating thing.

  The funny thing was, she was so comfortable around Bash, she didn't care that she looked like hell right now. Then again, they had been friends for so long, he'd seen her at her worst, and also her best.