Broken Beginnings: A High Heat Small Town Romance Suspense (Citrus Cove Book 1)

WE SLID into a booth against one of the big windows, settling in across from each other. Celosias grew in the window boxes, the downtown area of Citrus Cove crawling by. Haley leaned forward, taking in some of the subtle changes that had happened over the years.

She snorted.

“What?” I asked, leaning forward to follow her gaze.

“I’ve never seen anyone in the museum,” she said, gesturing to the old spur museum.

“We used to tell ghost stories about that place in school. Everyone was convinced it was a portal to hell. They really do have all sorts of spurs in it. And the history of how boot spurs came to be.”

She grinned, leaning back in my seat. Only in Citrus Cove would you find something so…small town. It was picturesque and familiar. Home.

The scent of pancakes and bacon made my stomach growl. I slid the menu over to Haley, already knowing what I was going to get. She picked up the yellow laminated paper, her lips pressing into a thin line.

I couldn’t stand to see Haley in pain. The way that David had looked at her pissed me off too. I’d been worried about Sarah, but now I was just pissed at her. The way she’d treated Haley gave me a glimpse of the loneliness I could see trying to drag Haley down.

I wouldn’t let it happen. Her sister might be letting her flounder, but I sure as hell wouldn’t. Whatever happened, I wasn’t leaving her side.

And fuck David. I hated him even more than before, which I hadn’t thought was possible. Aside from the fact that he was a drunk, he was just a bastard. One that didn’t deserve to even stand in the presence of either of the Bently ladies.

There had been many run-ins between the two of us over the years. I still remembered that first time in high school when he’d said something about my family. I’d been a lot more hot headed then. Hunter had pulled us apart, only to land one solid punch on the bastard that made him shut up for the rest of the year.

I couldn’t do that now though.

Haley set the menu down, her head turning and gaze focusing on the outside. Her hands were clasped together, her shoulders tense.

“Hey,” I said softly.

Haley looked up at me. There was a storm in those dark brown eyes, and I wanted to do everything I could to take it away. She was going through so much. More than anyone should have to go through.

“You’re not alone,” I said. “I know I’m not your sister, and I’m not who you’d probably like to be on your team right now, but I’m here.”

Her cheeks flushed, her gaze turning glassy. “Thank you.”

Amy, our waitress, bounced up to us, interrupting the moment.

“Hey, Cam,” she said. “Been at least a week. You’re starting to slack around here.”

I grinned now. “Been busy. I’ll take my usual.”

Haley snorted, perking up some. “What’s your usual?”

“Two sunny-side eggs, three pieces of bacon, a chocolate croissant, and one of their famous blueberry muffins. And a side of hash browns.”

“Oh god,” Haley laughed. The sound was music to my ears. She looked up at Amy. “I’ll take a cup of coffee, an egg, some bacon, and the famous muffin he’s talking about.”

“You got it,” she said, beaming as she left us.

Haley pulled a hair tie out of her pocket, raising a brow at me. I watched as she wrestled her blonde curls back, putting them in a bun. Sunshine streamed in, highlighting her. I felt like I was dining with an angel.

“You keep looking at me like you want to eat me,” she teased.

God, that was closer to the truth than further. All I could think about was laying her back on my bed and tasting her, hearing her pretty voice get louder as she came. Fuck.

My cock throbbed against my zipper. I shifted in my seat, clearing my throat. “I have ideas.”

“Mmhm,” she chuckled. “I think I have a few myself.”

Her words threw me off my game. There was a wicked tone there, one that I hadn’t expected, one that made me feel weak. My heart beat a little faster. “I want to kiss you.”

“I want to do more than kissing.”

My ears were burning now. “Hal, you’re going to drive me crazy.”

“I plan on it.” She smiled innocently, quieting as our waitress came back with our food. My gaze never left her as our plates were set down, Amy disappearing again.

I was hungry, but this food wasn’t going to satiate my appetite. Only she would.

“What if after breakfast, I took you to get your car, and we went back to my place?” I asked before I had a moment to think things through. Fuck, I didn’t even care. Maybe it was too forward. Maybe⁠—

“Yes,” she said, picking up her blueberry muffin. I watched as she bit into the top, letting out a soft moan. Brown sugar stuck to her soft lips, and she swiped the crystals away with her tongue. “It would be nice to get my mind off things, and… I want you.”

Fuck. I was a goner. I blew out a breath and looked down at my food, finally digging in. The two of us ate in silence, but it was the comfortable kind. All I could think about was getting her home.

I’d never felt this way before about a woman. When I wasn’t with her, I wanted to be with her. And when I was with her, I never wanted it to end. I never wanted her to leave.

There were a lot of things that I regretted. Being mean to her, teasing her, hurting her feelings. But I was grateful I had the chance to make things right. That she was letting me into her life.

“What’s your favorite color?” she suddenly asked.

I raised a brow. “Are we doing first-date questions?”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

She grinned. “Might as well. Unless you want to wait until the picnic.”

“No, no. It’s blue. Specifically, that blue you wore yesterday.”

“Mm, that’s a good color. Mine is peach.”

“Is peach a color?” I teased.

She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

“I do. What’s your favorite food?”

“Enchiladas,” she sighed happily. “And I haven’t had any good ones since I moved out of Texas. Well, that’s not entirely true. But I do miss getting good Mexican food all the time.”

“Move back here for good and you won’t ever have to miss it,” I said.

She smiled. “Not sure about that, cowboy.”

My chest squeezed a little. I didn’t want her to leave again. Hell, I’d follow her this time if she let me. “My favorite food is my mom’s fried chicken.”

“Wholesome.”

“It’s true. She makes the best fried chicken. And her fried okra. When she gets home, I bet I could talk her into making some for us. You could come over.”

Haley raised a brow. “You’re trying real hard to keep me, aren’t you?”

“Maybe.” Yes. One hundred percent yes. “It’s just an invitation. I see your grandma all the time.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You know that’s different, but I’ll let it slide. Do you want kids?”

I damn near choked on my bite of bacon. Once I managed to get it down, I spoke. “With the right person, yes. I like the idea of having a family. Not because my mother hounds me to settle down, but because it feels right. Do you?”

“I think so. Sometimes I can picture myself being a mom; other times I think about all the traveling I’ve been able to do. All the things I’ve seen. I don’t even have a pet right now—just my nephew dog, Donnie.”

“And your real nephews,” I chuckled. “Is Donnie Emma’s dog?”

“Yeah. I forgot you talked to her on the phone.”

“She threatened me.” I couldn’t help but grin. “She sounded very protective.”

“Because she is. We’ve been friends for a decade. She’s seen me through thick and thin. And when Sarah and I stopped talking, she became more of a sister to me. I love her.”

I nodded, understanding that. It was how I felt about Colton. The two of us had seen it all together, and I wouldn’t trade our friendship for anything. “I’m lucky to have Colton. I think he’d do anything for me.”

“Yep. Knowing her was what made me realize that not all family is tied by blood. I love Honey. And I love Sarah, despite all of our problems. But Emma knows me and accepts me as I am. She doesn’t try to change me. And she’ll call me out on my bullshit, but she won’t ever truly judge me for it.”

“She sounds like a good friend,” I said softly.

“She is,” Haley sighed. She leaned forward, studying me. “I’d want to be married for a couple years and travel together before starting a family.”

Now I was thinking about her being pregnant. About her having a family with me. Building a life. My cock throbbed, the thought of filling her with my cum making me shift in my seat again.

“I think that’s smart,” I finally said. “To be married for a while.”

She smirked, as if knowing where my thoughts were. “Mmhm. What kind of things are you into in bed?”

“Fuck,” I hissed, glancing around. “You’ve managed to shock me at least twice today.”

“I don’t have time for bullshit,” she said, shrugging. “This is why I’ve been single the last few years. It’s better to ask big questions up front before you end up with someone who is not right for you.”

If I were a lesser man, I would have been intimidated. “So you want me to be honest, then.”

“Yes,” she said firmly.

I glanced around us, making sure no one was within earshot. Because the thing was—I had kinks. I had things that I enjoyed that would make half this town gasp and say prayers. And I didn’t have any shame in it. I wanted what I wanted.

And she wanted to know.

“I love spanking. I love playing with things like blindfolds, handcuffs, any sort of restraint. And I’ve taken classes on how to do it properly so no one is harmed. I enjoy fucking outside. The idea of taking you tomorrow at our picnic is going to keep me up tonight. And I love eating pussy. I fucking love it. I’d die between a woman’s thighs happily.”

Her mouth fell open, her cheeks turning bright pink. “Fuck,” she whispered. “I didn’t think…”

“Think what? That a country boy could be kinky?”

“Yes. Exactly that.”

I leaned back in the booth, studying her. “More than you can imagine, sunshine. I might be easygoing, but I’ll put you on your knees and make you beg for my cock like a good girl any day of the week. But only if you want to.”

“Cam,” she rasped, turning her head to glance around us. She looked back at me, swallowing hard. “I don’t think anyone I’ve ever met has shocked me this much.”

I took a sip of my water, hiding my smile. I liked surprising her. In more ways than one. “What do you enjoy, sunshine? Anything in there I should know about?”

“Well.” She cleared her throat. “I like being spanked. I like my hair being pulled.” Fuck. My cock was hard now. “I’ve never done anything outdoors, but the thought of being caught…”

“Is part of the lure,” I said. Because it was. I’d fuck her on my porch, knowing anyone could drive up, and that would turn me on. There was a thrill to it. “I haven’t been caught yet. Scout’s honor.”

She shook her head. “I swear. You’re crazy, Cam.”

“Crazy about you. And ready to take you home.”

“I’m finished if you are.”

I pulled out my wallet and slid out of the booth, putting down cash. Her eyes widened.

“I can pay⁠—”

“I know you can, but you’re not. Come on, sunshine, before someone notices how fucking hard I am.”

Her gaze fell down below my belt, that blush turning her whole face cherry red. She stood up, and I took her hand, leading her out of the cafe.

I led her to my truck and opened the door for her before she could do it. Her hand slid over my chest, her touch sending another spear of desire through me.

It was going to be the longest drive home known to man.

I went around to the driver’s side and got in, starting the truck. I twisted in my seat, planting my hand on her headrest as I turned and backed up.

“How tinted are your windows?“ she asked.

I let out a low growl. “As tinted as they can be legally.”

“Can I touch you, Cam?”

Every part of my body screamed yes. “I’m all yours, baby girl.”