All five-foot-six of her faced off against a man who looked like he'd have no problem snapping her neck.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Tessera."
She narrowed her eyes and said, "Don't call me by my full name. And how in the world do you even know that name anyway?"
"It's beautiful," he told her.
She backed up a step and crossed her arms over her chest. She was never very comfortable with compliments, so she ignored him. "Besides, we wouldn't have to play any games if you just told me the truth. This is my life you're messing with."
He took a step forward, until their bodies were almost touching and his gaze bore into hers. Her breathing was ragged and her heart pounded in her chest, and she felt the electricity from their tempers and the storm crackling between them.
He leaned a little closer, and then he said, "Has anyone ever told you you look a little bit like a hedgehog when you're angry? It's terrifying."
Tess didn't recognize the sound that escaped her lips, but she thought the synapses in her brain must've been exploding one by one, because all she saw was red. And then he leaned the rest of the way down and kissed her right on the lips.
The heat that was already infusing her body went molten as his lips pressed hard against hers. He didn't touch her anywhere else, and her arms dropped to her side as she went boneless. He tasted of mint and man, and her tongue stroked against his. She felt as if she were falling, and she brought her hands up to grasp hold, but he pulled away from her mouth and took a moment to nuzzle her neck before taking a step back.
There was a loud buzzing in her ears, and it had been going on awhile before she realized someone was at the door. It was followed by three loud knocks.
"Tess, open up. It's Cal."
Cal Dougherty was the sheriff in Last Stop. Her eyes widened and she looked up at Deacon, but he'd already taken a step back. The teasing glint that had been in his eyes was gone, and in its place was the same unreadable mask she'd seen for the last two years. She wanted to kick him in the shin, but she figured it was probably best to refrain. Deacon was a bit of a wild card.
"Sounds like you've got business to tend to," he said, stepping around her. "I'll let you get back to work."
Her emotions were wreaking havoc inside her body. All she'd wanted was a few answers. Instead she'd had the rug pulled out from under her. What the heck had been with that kiss? She'd imagined kissing him for two years, though in her fantasies it had transpired a little differently. There hadn't been the arguing. And he hadn't called her a hedgehog. Other than that it was as spectacular as she'd imagined.
"Why did you kiss me?" she asked him hotly.
"Because I wanted to."
"Seems awfully coincidental that you'd pick now of all times."
"You're very cynical." His voice was calm and his breathing even, as if he hadn't just had his tongue in her mouth.
"I've got reason to be."
"Not really. You dodged a bullet with that jackass you were engaged to. I can't believe you were even engaged. He wasn't your type at all. You'd railroad a man like that in no time."
She huffed indignantly. "I would not," she said. "I'm not some overbearing nag. I'm a very nice person. Dammit."
Bang, bang, bang. "Tess, are you in there?" Cal called out again.
"You are a very nice person," he agreed, pacifying her a little. "But putting your personality with his would be like letting a hurricane loose on a trailer park. You'd mop the floor with him and come to resent him. And you wouldn't be able to pretend to be the meek and subservient wife forever, which was how you ended up engaged in the first place."
Her hands went back to her hips and she scowled. "I'm sorry, but I didn't realize you'd been such an active part of my relationship. No wonder you have such insight. Maybe you could've told me all this a couple of years ago instead of letting me make an ass of myself in front of the entire town."
"Sometimes you've got to learn lessons the hard way. Besides, it was pretty entertaining the way you threw that ring into that Dumpster. And it was more entertaining to watch him go in after it. What'd you do with it? I know you didn't actually throw it in that Dumpster."
She narrowed her eyes. "How do you know that?"
"I'm observant. It's part of the job."
"Which job would that be?"
Buzz. Buzz.
He just smiled.
"You know, I don't think I'm cut out for whatever is happening here," she said. "I'd already been considering a change, but I'm feeling pretty strongly about it now. I'm resigning."