Make Me Yours: A Stand-Alone Single Dad Romantic Comedy. Read online

  All in all, it was a fun, reckless day, but my buzz is definitely wearing off.

  He gives me a boyish grin, and I decide I’m not looking for some Grease-inspired Danny and Sandy summer romance.

  He walks his hands closer until my boobs smash against his chest. His legs pull my lower half flush against his, and I feel him hard against my panties. It’s been a while since I’ve had a non-solo orgasm, and I’m not opposed to a fling with the town’s newest bad boy.

  He flashes a cocky grin before tilting his head to the side and kissing my cheek. His lips are soft, and I turn my face, ready to kiss him.

  Still, before I do, I issue a warning. “Don’t get attached.”

  His laugh reminds me of a young James Dean, and I’m ready. Our mouths inch closer. Another second, and they’ll meet, tongues entwining. The space between my legs grows hotter, and I briefly consider I don’t have a condom.

  There’s no way in hell I’m doing this without protection, when…

  FLICK! It’s a loud switch, like the throwing of a main breaker.

  The entire pool floods with light, and I let go of the diving board, lowering my body into the water.

  “What the fuck?” Blade does the same, joining me at the side of the pool.

  The water offers little protection, as the lights fully illuminate our half-naked bodies under water. Looking up, I see we’re surrounded.

  “There she is! I knew I heard her voice.” Betty Pepper is on the side of the pool, leaning down. Her lavender bouffant glows around her aged head, and she’s wrapped in a peach terry-cloth robe pointing a bony finger in my direction.

  “What are you doing in my pool, Tabitha Green?” Her voice is stern as always, the quintessential school marm.

  “What does it look like I’m doing?” I snark. “Having a prayer meeting?”

  “The pool closes at dark, Tabitha. And it’s for registered guests only.” She says it like I don’t know very well we’re out here breaking the law. “Who is that with you? Is that Jimmy Rhodes? Jimmy, is that you?”

  My eyes flick to Blade. His face is downcast, and if it weren’t so dark, I’d be sure his cheeks were red.

  “It’s me, Mrs. Pepper.”

  “I told your mamma I’d be looking out for you today. Did you check in with Wyatt at the hardware store? What are you doing running around with Tabitha Green?”

  She says my name like it’s a bad word.

  Like I’m the bad influence.

  I hiss at him. “You know Betty Pepper?”

  He shrugs, and a male voice cuts through my irritation. “Tabby, did you take Jimmy to the bar at the Tuna Tiki?”

  My brows tighten, and I squint up at Sheriff Cole. He towers over us from where he stands at the side of the pool, and his cowboy hat blocks the security light from blinding me. Otherwise, it’s pretty much a police interrogation.

  I answer truthfully. “I rode down to the strip in his car.”

  “We need you to get on out of the pool now,” Sheriff Cole says, tipping his hat.

  I look down at my transparent bra and panties, and there’s no way in hell I’m climbing out in front of Sheriff Robbie Cole, Betty Pepper, and what I now see is a tall, quiet guy who’s also wearing a khaki uniform.

  He’s quite a bit younger than Robbie, although he’s older than me, and he stretches that polyester in a way I’ve never seen before.

  Muscled arms hang from broad shoulders, leading down to narrow hips. His dark hair is short, and from under his lowered brow, I can see he’s observing everything.

  “Who’s that?” I jerk my chin in his direction. “A storm trooper?”

  The big guy’s square jaw tightens as a muscle moves in his cheek. He gritted his teeth at me, and the heat in my panties reignites.

  “Now’s as good a time as any.” Sheriff Cole, steps back gesturing to Mr. Tall, Dark, and Sexy. “Chad Tucker’s my new deputy sheriff. He’ll be working with me until I retire next year.”

  My lips press together. No, thank you. No Sheriffs. I don’t care how square his jaw is or how well he fills out that uniform.

  “Chad,” Robbie continues. “This here is Tabitha Green, Reverend Green’s niece, and this young man is Jimmy Rhodes, Mayor Rhodes’s seventeen-year-old nephew.”

  “Seventeen!” The words are like a splash of water in my face, and I jerk off the wall, dog-paddling as fast as I can away from Jail Bait to the shallow end, humiliation burning in my chest.

  “You hear that, Tabitha?” Betty shrills after me. “Not only are you breaking and entering, you’re contributing to the delinquency of a minor.”

  Robbie continues introducing the baby wanna-be bad boy. “Jimmy is staying with his uncle until he finishes high school next year.”

  Every word is a cringing flash of shame, and I stomp up the pool steps, scooping my shirt off the tattered lounge chair and over my shoulders. My tight jeans are next, but it’s a challenge getting them up my damp legs.

  “What would your uncle say if he saw you?” Betty continues regaling me.

  I stomp back to where Sheriff Cole and his new storm trooper stand, not even casting a glance at the kid in the pool. “Are you planning to arrest me?”

  Lines form around the sheriff’s eyes as he suppresses a grin. “Well, Mrs. Pepper here has listed your potential crimes.”

  “You’re turning into a Jezebel,” BP continues nagging. “If you’re not careful, you’re going to end up just like—”

  My eyes flash at her, and her voice dies. She’d better not say my mother. If she knows what’s good for her, she’d better not say it.

  Instead she tightens her robe. “It’s a slippery slope.”

  “What do you think, Chad?” Robbie exhales, straightening his posture and tugging on his waistband.

  Mr. Silent But Deadly’s eyes skim the front of my transparent bra before meeting mine. When they do, I realize they’re light brown. I also realize they’re hot, and chills break out over my skin in the warm night air. It strikes me this sexy future sheriff might be the real bad boy in the group.

  His voice is a nice, low vibration. “I think you’re playing a dangerous game… Miss?”

  “She’s single,” Betty interrupts, as if not being married is another of my offenses.

  Chad’s eyebrows twitch ever so slightly. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t think my being single is a crime.

  My stomach is tight, and I swallow the knot in my throat. Get a clue, Tabby. The last thing on God’s green earth I have any intention of doing is getting mixed up with a lawman.

  “I don’t play games, Mr. Tucker.” My voice is higher than his, but just as determined. “And I don’t check IDs on people I’ve just met.”

  “Maybe you should start.” I can’t tell if Chad Tucker is being a smartass or if he’s just naturally cocky.

  Seeing as he’s a deputy, I’m willing to bet it’s the latter.

  Robbie’s chuckle breaks the tension. “I think we can let you off with a warning this time. Do you need a ride home?”

  I’ve managed to get my feet into my slides, and I see Jimmy standing on the side of the pool, pulling on his jeans and tee. He looks so skinny and young now. I wonder why I ever fell for his counterfeit tattooed bad-boy routine.

  My phone is in my hand, and I tap the icons quickly. “No thanks. I just ordered an Uber. Looks like it’ll be here in two minutes.”

  Gripping my shirt closed, I stomp up the sidewalk that leads to the front of the hotel.

  Betty Pepper calls after me, getting her final jab in. “Consider your ways, Tabitha!”

  I grind my teeth and fight the urge to flip her off as I round the corner. I’m saved by the headlights of a Dodge Dart with a white U in the windshield. It’s too late to call my best friend Emberly, but when I get to the bakery tomorrow…

  A billboard on the Interstate catches my eye, and I get an idea. Not Robbie Cole, Betty Pepper, or even Mr. Tall, Dark, and Sexy will see this one coming.

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  About the Author

  Tia Louise is the USA Today best-selling, award-winning author of When We Touch, the Bright Lights, One to Hold, and Dirty Players series, and co-author of the #4 Amazon bestseller The Last Guy.

  After being a teacher, a book editor, a journalist, and finally a magazine editor, she started writing love stories and never stopped.

  Louise lives in the Midwest with her trophy husband, two teenage geniuses, and one grumpy cat.

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