by Jill Sanders
Chase wasn't really laughing at Lauren, more like he was laughing because he'd pulled it off. It had taken a crew of ten men, including himself, to get the new metal roof on. They'd finished the cleanup and the crew had driven away an hour before Lauren was going to be off her shift. He'd had time to get home, shower, and dress, and he’d just walked out on the front porch when he’d seen her car tossing up half the dust on the driveway.
Now he easily caught her fist and pulled her body close. Smiling down at her, he took a good look at her. Her hair was a mess, she had ketchup stains on her blue uniform, and she smelled like a greasy diner. Her eyes were wild and he could feel her temper vibrating through her.
Dipping his head, he placed a soft kiss on her lips and was shocked when she bit his lower lip. Pulling back, he laughed. “Lauren, you are a hellcat.” He chuckled as he held her arms down as she tried to fight him. Then, when he had her arms safely tucked so he could avoid getting hit, he was rewarded with a swift foot to his shin. He was wearing boots and she had on a pair of tennis shoes, so she really didn't do any damage, but he pushed her back a step and held up his hands.
“Okay, okay. Give me a minute to explain.” She blew a piece of her hair out of her face and glared at him.
“Explain? Explain how you crossed the line? How you went against our deal?” She crossed her arms over her chest and he watched her shirt tighten with the motion. Hell, he knew he was in trouble when she looked and smelled like she did and all he could think about was taking her inside and having her.
“Listen...” he began, only to be interrupted.
“You had no right. You broke your promise.”
“Actually, if you think about it, you're the one who broke our deal. Six years ago, to be exact.” He crossed his arms over his chest, matching her stance.
Her arms dropped away slowly and her chin dropped. “What? What are you talking about?”
He smiled and walked over to lean on the railing, then pointed to the small porch swing. She glared at him, but he just held his ground. Finally, she threw up her hands and walked over to sit down.
“Our original deal didn't mention anything about you paying me back.” He crossed his arms.
She stood quickly. “Hold on.” He interrupted her before she could yell further. “If you remember, I told you I'd give you the money, so you wouldn't have to pay my father and Mr. Holton back. In exchange, I wouldn't interfere with the running of the ranch. There was never any mention of paying me back. So when you started trying to send me checks, then opened the checking account and started making deposits, you broke our deal. She started to pace the small porch. “You broke our original deal. So I stopped by the bank the other day and pulled out some of that money you've been saving under our names and did what you should have done years ago—started fixing the place up, from the top down.”
“You used my money.” She stopped herself, shaking her head. “You used the money in your account to pay for my roof? Why?”
He stood up and took her shoulders and looked down into her eyes. “Lauren, you should have been using that money to fix the place up for the last six years. It needs so much work, it's almost falling down around you.”
“I won't do this, Chase. I won't be indebted to you or your family.” She pulled out of his grip. “I've taken care of my family, my property just fine up til now. I won't have you interfering again.” Her eyes burned into his.
“I can't make you any promises.” He leaned back against the railing and crossed his arms over his chest. He watched her eyes flash to his exposed arms and travel over his chest.
“Chase, stay out of my way.” She looked up into his eyes and he saw her soften a little. Maybe she was trying a new tactic, because he saw her shoulders slump a little. “We don't need your help. I appreciate what you've done today, but please, keep your money.” She turned to go. When she made it to her car, she looked back up at him. “I'll pay you back the cost of the roof as soon as I can.”
Before the words had left her mouth, he was off the porch, pinning her to the side of her car. “Don't you dare. Don't you get it? I don't want your damn money. I never have and never will. You've been working yourself to the bone for that place, for your sisters. Letting it fall down around you isn't doing anyone any good. Use the damn money to fix it up. If you don't, then I will.” He held her still and felt himself growling with anger. Didn't she get it? Maybe he hadn't shown her how he'd always felt for her. Maybe it was time.
Fueled on anger, he pushed his body up against her softness and took her lips in a searing kiss that spread heat to every muscle, every pore of his body. Her hands tried to push him off for just a moment, then she was pulling him closer, her fingers tangled in his hair. When she groaned, all his anger disappeared, replaced by lust so hot and powerful he almost lost control. When every muscle in her body had relaxed against his, he pulled back and watched as her eyes fluttered open slowly. Her lips were swollen, her cheeks were flushed, and her hair was still a mess. He smiled.
“Don't ask me to stop caring about what happens around here. I'm part of this place, part of you, whether you want me or not. I can help, I want to help.”
“Why?” It was a whisper.
“You know why. You've always known why.”
She shook her head, but he could see understanding in her eyes.
“Go.” He took a step back. “Billy was able to install your water pump today. Go home, take a hot bath, think on it.” He turned and walked up to the porch as she got in the car quickly. Before she shut the door, he looked at her and said, “Think of me.” Then he watched her drive back down the dirt road, slowly this time.
He stood out on the front porch until the crickets and frogs sang, then went inside and ate a cold sandwich and had one of the worst night’s sleep he could remember.
The next morning he was in a sour mood, so when his father called and asked him to help out with his rounds, he jumped at the chance to deal with animals instead of humans for a day.
His first stop was to a little farm about an hour out of town. He’d known the old couple living there for as long as he could remember. He also remembered thinking they were old when he was in grade school. When he drove up, he was happily surprised to see that both of them still looked pretty spry. Martle stayed up on the porch, but waved as John walked out to greet him.
“Howdy, Boy!” John said, taking off his hat and wiping a little sweat from his brow. “Look at you, all grown up. It seems like just yesterday you were coming along with your pa, only standing this high.” He motioned to just above his hips.
Chase walked forward and shook his hand. “You're both looking as young as ever.” He smiled when the old man cussed, then quickly looked towards the porch like he was in trouble.
“Good thing Marty’s hearing isn't what it used to be.” He smiled and put his hat on his head. “Well, come on back here. It's old Bessy that's been having problems.” He motioned to the old barn.
When they walked into the coolness of the barn, Chase sighed. It had been a bitch roofing in the heat yesterday. Today was even hotter and the rest of the week promised to only get warmer. He'd been raised here and knew that summers could easily reach a hundred degrees a dozen or so times each year. Most the time he enjoyed it. Today, however, with only a few hours of restless sleep, it was just another annoyance.
By the time he had old Bessy fixed up with antibiotic pills and some ointment for a few cuts she'd received trying to break through a fence, it was lunchtime. He had three more stops after a quick sandwich from the cooler in the back of his truck, so that by the time he parked in front of his little house, he was covered in afterbirth from a few cattle that he'd been called out to help, and blood from a stray dog he'd found on the side of the highway. It had lost part of a hind leg and was now resting comfortably next to him in the cab of his truck. He carefully carried the small thing to the front porch and laid it down on an old rug. The terrier didn't budge, no doubt due to the
meds he'd given it for pain.
Looking down at himself, he decided against tracking the mess into the house and shed most of his clothes right there on the front porch then walked the few feet towards the creek. The water wasn't very high now due to the heat, but he thought it would do the job of getting some of the slime off him before he took a proper shower inside. He dunked his head under and enjoyed the coolness of the creek, deciding to float and enjoy himself as long as he could. He was watching the clouds slowly drift by and the leaves stir overhead and must have fallen asleep, because he jolted straight out of the water when a rock splashed next to his head.
“What the…?” He looked across the water and glared at Lauren. She stood on the shore in the prettiest white summer dress he'd ever seen. Maybe it was because the sun was behind her, allowing him to see every curve underneath, or maybe it was because she had a smile on her face.
“Sorry.” She smiled even more. “I did holler at you for a while, but you must have been too asleep to hear.” Her eyes traveled over his bare chest. He felt like every last drop of water had just sizzled off his body and turned to steam under her gaze.
