know what he was going to do about his relationship with Danielle. A year ago, he'd moved back to his hometown after finally finishing law school at William and Mary and passing the bar. It had been seven years since he'd lived in Claremont County. He'd only come home for holidays and didn't stay long then. Now, he was back for good. This town was his roots, where he and his sister Liza had been raised. His great-grandparents had helped the other four founders build this town.
They bought a little bit of property at a time until Claremont was its present size. Which wasn't saying much with its two thousand four-hundred and three citizens.
Taking care of the legal issues in Claremont was easy, but handling Danielle was another issue.
He remember the moment he'd seen her again after eight years, when he'd stopped into Juice Sips, the only smoothie bar and Internet café in town. He'd just finished his lunchtime workout at the gym and was headed back to work after picking up a protein shake. The sexiest pair of brown legs were swinging underneath a corner table. When he'd followed the cinnamon length to a narrow waist, full breast and a face from his past, he'd almost dropped his drink.
Danielle Smith had sat there engrossed in a book as she sipped her drink. He didn't know if she felt his gaze or heard him whisper her name, but when she looked up it was as if time had stood still. They were back at her school's Memorial Day dance during his senior year. He and a few of his friends had traveled up for the festivities and stopped into the dance, cruising for girls. Meeting the Nubian beauty had sparked a romance. They met and every other weekend after that the two of them snuck away to be with each other. Driving her little beater, she'd meet him at a hotel on the outskirts of Lowndes County. She never let him pick her up. When the summer ended, he'd left for college.
81
YVETTE HINES
They'd called it a summer fling, but by Christmas he'd known it was more. His feelings were deep, but when he got home his freshmen year and made inquires about a Danielle Smith among his friends in Valdosta, no one knew her. He arrived at his car. Disregarding the first employees of the Claremont Wright Country Club who were starting to ready the green and prepare breakfast, he pondered his current relationship with Danielle.
A month after he'd met her in the smoothie café, they'd begun sleeping together again. Or having incredible sex was more like it. They'd always experimented as teenagers with their sexuality, but their bumbling ignorance didn't compare to what they did now. Sex with Danielle always made him feel like an ocean wave had knocked him flat. He loved to dominate in the bedroom and Danielle was his perfect equal, she loved to be dominated. He only wished that outside of lovemaking he could command her as easily. She called the shots.
Once again, they were hiding, but this time he refused to lose her or what they had.
Backing out of the parking lot, he headed home to shower and get some rest.
* * * *
"Hey, Smith, are you doing the 5K run in two weeks to help raise money for the police department's booth at the Fourth of July festival?" Mark Brantley, a tall mountain of a man with freckles and red hair that didn't match his physique, asked when she walked into their small station.
Danielle hung up her hat, then dropped her purse in her desk drawer and faced Brantley. "Of course, Brantley, anything for a good cause and I'm there."
Brantley jotted her name down on the paper. "You know, Chief Dennison was also looking for someone to sell raffle tickets at the town center by the clothing stores." The sarcastic smile gave away his intent. "I told him you could do it easily while you were out shopping."
The male officers and the other female officers joined in on the laughter. Danielle was used to being harassed because she wore a little makeup and kept her nails manicured, but short.
There were three female officers on the
They bought a little bit of property at a time until Claremont was its present size. Which wasn't saying much with its two thousand four-hundred and three citizens.
Taking care of the legal issues in Claremont was easy, but handling Danielle was another issue.
He remember the moment he'd seen her again after eight years, when he'd stopped into Juice Sips, the only smoothie bar and Internet café in town. He'd just finished his lunchtime workout at the gym and was headed back to work after picking up a protein shake. The sexiest pair of brown legs were swinging underneath a corner table. When he'd followed the cinnamon length to a narrow waist, full breast and a face from his past, he'd almost dropped his drink.
Danielle Smith had sat there engrossed in a book as she sipped her drink. He didn't know if she felt his gaze or heard him whisper her name, but when she looked up it was as if time had stood still. They were back at her school's Memorial Day dance during his senior year. He and a few of his friends had traveled up for the festivities and stopped into the dance, cruising for girls. Meeting the Nubian beauty had sparked a romance. They met and every other weekend after that the two of them snuck away to be with each other. Driving her little beater, she'd meet him at a hotel on the outskirts of Lowndes County. She never let him pick her up. When the summer ended, he'd left for college.
81
YVETTE HINES
They'd called it a summer fling, but by Christmas he'd known it was more. His feelings were deep, but when he got home his freshmen year and made inquires about a Danielle Smith among his friends in Valdosta, no one knew her. He arrived at his car. Disregarding the first employees of the Claremont Wright Country Club who were starting to ready the green and prepare breakfast, he pondered his current relationship with Danielle.
A month after he'd met her in the smoothie café, they'd begun sleeping together again. Or having incredible sex was more like it. They'd always experimented as teenagers with their sexuality, but their bumbling ignorance didn't compare to what they did now. Sex with Danielle always made him feel like an ocean wave had knocked him flat. He loved to dominate in the bedroom and Danielle was his perfect equal, she loved to be dominated. He only wished that outside of lovemaking he could command her as easily. She called the shots.
Once again, they were hiding, but this time he refused to lose her or what they had.
Backing out of the parking lot, he headed home to shower and get some rest.
* * * *
"Hey, Smith, are you doing the 5K run in two weeks to help raise money for the police department's booth at the Fourth of July festival?" Mark Brantley, a tall mountain of a man with freckles and red hair that didn't match his physique, asked when she walked into their small station.
Danielle hung up her hat, then dropped her purse in her desk drawer and faced Brantley. "Of course, Brantley, anything for a good cause and I'm there."
Brantley jotted her name down on the paper. "You know, Chief Dennison was also looking for someone to sell raffle tickets at the town center by the clothing stores." The sarcastic smile gave away his intent. "I told him you could do it easily while you were out shopping."
The male officers and the other female officers joined in on the laughter. Danielle was used to being harassed because she wore a little makeup and kept her nails manicured, but short.
There were three female officers on the
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