Free Justice for Boone: Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes, Book 6 by Susan Stoker

taking me home to tie me up, throw me into a dungeon under your barn, and rape me then kill me…it’ll never work. I’ll take you down before you know what happened.”
    Boone threw his head back and laughed. Hayden stood there with her arms over her chest, smiling, waiting for him to get control over himself. Finally, he put both hands on her shoulders and leaned in.
    “Hay, I have no doubt if I moved even an inch in the wrong direction, you’d have me on the ground with your knee on my throat before I could even think about getting out of your way. And as sick as it makes me, the thought of you overpowering me makes me hard. I don’t have a dungeon under my barn, and I have no plans to stalk you. But we can negotiate the taking-you-out, getting-you-drunk, and tying-you-up thing.”
    Hayden’s smile died and she looked at him in confusion.
    He took pity on her. He linked his hand with hers and tugged her toward their cars. “Come on, you have stuff to do. Let’s get you home.”
    Hayden stumbled alongside Boone for a couple of steps before getting her stride back. She shook her head. He was such a goof. She’d never have thought it of him. For such a large manly man, he sure acted like a big clown sometimes. But she couldn’t forget his serious side when he’d told her how much he liked her looks and when he said he’d always pay when they were together. He was absolutely fascinating.
    “What time should I pick you up tomorrow?”
    Boone had walked her to her car and they were standing by her driver’s side door. “Around eight?”
    “Eight it is.”
    “Just to warn you, it’s going to mostly be the guys I work with there tomorrow night. I’ll also invite some of my friends who are in other departments as well. Will it bother you to be around a bunch of cops?”
    “No, Hay. As long as it’s okay with you.”
    “It’s good. But they’ll probably give you shit.”
    “I’d expect nothing less. I’m looking forward to meeting your friends.”
    “Okay. Then I’ll see you at eight.”
    Boone leaned down and Hayden held her breath. He kissed her cheek and straightened. “See you tomorrow, Hayden. I had a good time today. Thanks.”
    “Yeah, me too. ‘Bye.”
    “‘Bye. Drive safe.”
    Hayden didn’t answer, but simply started her car and pulled out of the restaurant. Her last view was of Boone sitting in his truck staring after her as she pulled away.

7
    H ayden wanted to call someone …but she had no idea who would be able to help her.
    She was freaking out about her date that night with Boone. As she worked throughout the day, she tried to think about who might help her figure out what she should wear. She could call Corrie, Quint’s girlfriend—she’d gotten to know her pretty well after helping her climb out of the biggest tree Hayden had ever seen—but Corrie was blind. She wouldn’t be able to see her clothing choices to help her make a decision.
    She liked Beth, Cade’s girlfriend, but she didn’t think the other woman would know anything about what she should wear on a date. Beth was a “computer geek,” her words, and spent most of her time in sweats and T-shirts. She was fun to be around, and Hayden liked her, but she wouldn’t be of much help in this case.
    Dax and Cruz’s girlfriends had said she could call them anytime, but Mackenzie and Mickie were so far out of her league, it wasn’t even funny. Besides, Hayden didn’t want to give the Texas Ranger or FBI agent anything to hold over her head in the future. They’d make fun of her for years if they knew she’d never been on a real date before and had no idea what to wear.
    Hayden fit in better with the male deputies than the females, so she didn’t feel comfortable asking them either. She sighed and finally decided not to worry about it. It was drinks at the same bar they always went to. She shouldn’t be freaking out about it. She’d wear what she normally did…and if Boone didn’t like it, it was his problem,