One Reckless Night (19 page)

Bayleigh looked at Giselle in exasperation. “I’m not being bad. And if you recall correctly,

this was never about being bad. It was about doing something you wouldn’t normally do. Saying yes

to something you would normally say no to.”

Deidre nodded. “Like Club Onyx.”

Lea smiled. “You’re right, Deidre. I’m also glad you mentioned it. I was starting to get

worried because I haven’t found anything yet. But I just realized I have already. Even though the

club was your idea, I agreed to go, which is something I wouldn’t do under regular circumstances.”

“Relax, Lani. This isn’t a competition,” Bayleigh stated as she reached out and touched

Lani’s arm.

“If it was, Bayleigh would win hands down,” Deidre responded with a laugh.

Giselle shook her head. “I said from the beginning we shouldn’t have agreed to this

insanity.”

Maylea frowned. “This has nothing to do with being crazy. Bayleigh’s idea was good. Look

how happy she is.”

Bayleigh’s eyes widened. “I am?”

Three pairs of eyes looked in her direction, with three different expressions.

“You don’t know if you are happy?” Deidre questioned.

Bayleigh cleared her throat before answering. “Well yes, I’m happy, but it doesn’t have

anything to do with our pact.”

Lani’s mouth dropped open. “Bayleigh, it has everything to do with it.”

“I never intended to have sex with Dane,” Bayleigh responded.

Giselle rolled her eyes. “Be that as it may, the decisions you’ve made since then have been.”

Bayleigh opened her mouth to argue but couldn’t. Giselle was right. Starting with her

decision to agree to date Dane, even if it was on a time-limited basis.

“So you see, you do have a lead on us,” Deidre added with a smile. “But don’t feel bad. I

plan to catch up and have fun while doing so.”

“You sound too excited,” Lea muttered, with a shake of her head.

Deidre’s smile widened. “I am. Look at Bayleigh. She practically skips now.”

Bayleigh made a sound of protest. “I don’t skip.”

Deidre sighed. “I did say practically.”

“Why do I torture myself?” Giselle stated around a groan.

Lea shot her an even look. “Because we provide you with hours of entertainment.”

Giselle laughed. “You have a good point.”

Bayleigh rolled her eyes. “Back to the subject at hand. I don’t skip and never have.”

Lea nodded. “True. But you are smiling a lot more and you seem happier.”

Bayleigh smiled. “I’m surprised it shows with the internal battle I have going on.”

Giselle leaned forward with a look of curiosity. “What do you mean?”

Bayleigh chewed the piece of sushi she just put into her mouth, slowly, to buy herself some

time. She had to choose her words wisely or her friends would give her more to think about than

she already had. When she swallowed, she had no choice but to continue. Her friends looked at her

expectantly.

“Things are getting more serious between Dane and me than I expected.”

Deidre leaned closer, propping her chin on her fist. “Serious as in we need to start picking

out china patterns?”

Bayleigh’s eyes widened in shock and she gasped. “
What the
hell—
I mean
no
.” She paused to

collect herself. “Mother Mary, Deidre, you can’t say stuff like that to me.”

Lani’s expression became one of clear confusion. “Why are you so shocked, Bayleigh?

Serious relationships do lead to marriage on occasion.”

Bayleigh gave Lea a hard look. “I know that, but I wasn’t anywhere near that level of

thinking, so Deidre’s response shocked me is all.”

Bayleigh closed her eyes and took a calming breath. What was it with everyone’s obsession

with marrying her off lately? Just when she managed to get it off of her mind, it was on everyone

else’s. First Tasha mentioned marriage and kids. Then her mother made a statement toward the end

of dinner about a wedding date in the near future. Thankfully her father smoothed the situation over

before she crawled under the table with embarrassment. Now Deidre was bringing it up. At this rate

she would be hog tied and carried down the aisle to Dane. For some reason she didn’t think Dane

would mind. She startled when Giselle reach out and touched her.

“Are you okay, Bayleigh? You look faint.”

She looked over at Giselle. “I am faint.”

Deidre stretched her arms out. “I’ll catch you.”

“If I were a violent person, I would hit you,” Bayleigh snapped.

Lea smiled. “You have such a way with words, Bayleigh.”

Bayleigh groaned, dropping her face into her hands. “Yes, well right now, all of you are

driving me nuts.”

Giselle wiggled her eyebrows. “Almonds or Pistachios?”

Bayleigh glared at Giselle’s ridiculous attempt at humor but couldn’t hold back her laughter.

“You better be glad we’re friends.”

Giselle reached out to squeeze her hand. “I am. Now calm down before we’re forced to

gorge you with sake.”

Bayleigh groaned. “I’m trying, but it’s complicated. Something happens when we’re

together.”

Deidre opened her mouth to respond then bit her lip instead. Bayleigh couldn’t imagine

what her friend was going to say.

“Is it a good thing or bad?” Maylea asked.

“It’s good. Too good,” Bayleigh whispered. “But it feels so wrong.”

Deidre frowned. “Why?”

“Because Dane and I are friends.”

Giselle gave her an understanding smile. “But you are also boyfriend and girlfriend now.”

Lea laughed. “Relax, Bayleigh. You are being too uptight about this. Just relax and go with

it.”

Bayleigh sighed. “Relaxing isn’t the problem. I relax than we wind up doing…things I

normally wouldn’t do.”

Deidre gave her a knowing look. “Right now it seems you like those…um…activities.”

Giselle smiled wistfully. “Personally, I’m envious. You have a guy that adores you.”

Lea nodded. “He also has you in a constant day-dreamy state.”

“Would it be so terrible if it works out between you and Dane? You like him, he likes you.”

Deidre said, leaning closer to her.

Giselle smiled. “You are both at a point in your lives where marriage and kids would be a

next logical step.”

Bayleigh sighed. “Those steps require love.”

“
Love
,” Lea repeated.

“
Imagine
that,” Deidre whispered.

“
Wow
,” Giselle added.

Bayleigh laughed. “Aren’t I supposed to be the one in shock?”

She was. Just mentioning the words to her friends brought back the rush of emotion she felt

when Dane mentioned it. This past week the word had raced through her mind several times. It was

getting hard to deny the seriousness of their relationship and what it meant. She couldn’t shake the

comfort of being with Dane.

“How do you feel about love?” Deidre asked softly.

Bayleigh smiled. “You know the answer to that. I believe in the concept. I want it, have for

years, but now it’s in my reach and I’m not sure I’m ready now.”

A baffled expression appeared on Maylea’s face. “Why would you be afraid of sharing love

with Dane? He is sweet, loving, responsible, and will do anything for you.”

Bayleigh held her hand up. “Please stop. I know you mean to reassure me, but you are

scaring me more than I already am.”

Deidre shook her head slowly. “Why are you scared?”

Bayleigh’s eyes widened. “Because it changes everything.”

Giselle laughed. “Face it, Bayleigh. Everything changed the moment you slept with Dane.”

Bayleigh closed her eyes. “I should have never said yes.”

Lea nudged Bayleigh causing her to reopen her eyes. “But you did.”

Bayleigh sighed. “I know and it was the worst thing I could have done.”

Deidre looked at her in shock. “Why would you say that?”

Bayleigh picked up her chopsticks. “Because once you say yes one time, it’s hard to stop.”

Dane held Bayleigh’s hand as they walked through the
Stockyards
. For the first time he had

her to himself for a full Saturday. Her mother and sister had plans calling for them to cancel their

scheduled lunch. He hadn’t minded the change in plans. Spending more time with Bayleigh was high

on his priority list. Yet, when he picked her up he saw the shadow of uncertainty in her eyes.

Dane had the distinct feeling Bayleigh would prefer to not have to deal with him outside of

the bedroom. If she had her way she would probably keep him tied to the bed until neither of them

could move. His body wouldn’t mind her tactic but his head would, not to mention his heart. He

didn’t plan on going anywhere. However, Bayleigh seemed ready to bolt as soon as he turned his

head.

Neither of them could deny how compatible they were in bed. Still there could be more

between them. Dane wanted to spend more time together outside of the bedroom. A smile tugged at

the corners of his mouth when he thought back to their date in the middle of the week. It had been

hard to keep his hands off her during dinner. Watching the movie was worse. Sitting in such close

proximity to her without pulling her underneath him on the couch had tested his willpower. The

disappointment on her face when he escorted her to the door when it was all over almost broke his

restraint. Somehow he had remained strong and after a chaste kiss, he put Bayleigh into her car and

watched her drive off. When he headed back inside, he went straight to the bathroom and took a

cold shower.

Tonight wouldn’t end the same way. He wasn’t strong enough. If they made it through the

front door completely clothed, he would be surprised. Dane tightened his hand around Bayleigh’s

allowing her to stroll around leisurely. It had shocked him when she told him she had never been to

the
Stockyards
. The locale offered a lot to locals and visitors alike. Yet, how could someone be

surrounded by something their entire life and never experience it?

When it came to Bayleigh, he had a feeling a lot of things in life were like that for her. It

seemed she just needed a little encouragement. Even now she enjoyed browsing through different

stores, examining the merchandise, art, and other knickknacks. Dane watched her take in everything,

liking the way her eyes sparkled with amusement as she did so.

Falling in love amplified his awareness of her. Everything reminded him of her, made him

want to share it with her. Where the feelings came from he would never know. But he wouldn’t

overanalyze it, he would simply enjoy. Unfortunately his stomach chose that moment to rumble.

Bayleigh looked at him with a mixture of surprise and amusement. She was trying on a necklace and

clearly the sales attendant heard the sound too. He gave both of them a sheepish look. “Sorry. I had

a small breakfast.”

The attendant laughed. “I understand. My husband is the same way. If you go a few stores

up, there’s a joint with the best barbeque you will ever have.”

Dane smiled. “Nothing like good barbeque.”

“The two of you enjoy yourselves.”

“Thank you, we will,” Bayleigh said with a small smile. She sat the necklace down on the

counter. Dane picked the necklace up, pulling his billfold out. “How much for the necklace?”

Bayleigh’s eyes widened. “No, Dane.”

He ignored her protest. The sales woman grinned before telling him as he handed his credit

card over.

“You shouldn’t have.”

Dane pulled her into his embrace. “Since when is it a bad thing for a guy to buy his girl a

gift?”

A startled look fell over Bayleigh’s face. He released her hand to sign for the purchase and

take his card back. When the attendant went to wrap the necklace he shook his head. “She’ll wear

it.”

“I will?” Bayleigh asked.

Dane took the necklace, then made her turn around so he could put it around her neck. “Yes

you will.”

When she turned back to look at him, her eyes were wide. “Thank you.”

He placed a kiss on her temple. “You’re welcome.”

Turning his attention back to their sales woman he smiled. “Thank you.”

The attendant winked at Bayleigh. “He’s a good one, honey. You might want to hold onto

him.”

“I think I will,” Bayleigh murmured.

Dane almost tripped over his own feet but managed to keep himself upright. Squeezing her

hand he looked down at her to find her looking back up at him. The expression on her face made

him bite his tongue. Overwhelming temptation to tell her he loved her, swamped him. Loved how

she made him want more. Still if he told her right now, the dreamy expression in her eyes would

disappear. She would clam up, then he would have to work harder to get her to open back up to

him. He would tell her later. When the time was right. They walked toward the recommended

barbeque restaurant where the food didn’t disappoint.

When Bayleigh licked the sauce off her fingers, he chuckled. Dane was tempted to assist

her but kept himself in check. Instead he took joy in the lack of wariness in her eyes. Her guard was

down and she was really enjoying herself. A few hours later he was tugging her toward a dance club.

Bayleigh pulled against his grip. “Dane, wait. Where are we going?”

“Dancing of course.”

She gave him a dubious look. “At a country western bar”