“Okay, we got a special request here for one more speech. I hope that’s okay with the bride and groom?” The couple nods, full of enthusiasm for this unexpected speech. “Alright, then Ms. Hailey would you please join us up here?” The DJ gestures in my direction and Chase has a shit-eating grin on his face.
Oh, no he didn’t. No, no, no. I have to go up on stage and write a speech on a whim about a couple I don’t even know.
“I’m going to kill you.” I walk on unsteady legs to take the mic from the MC. I’m sure the bride and groom are staring at me, attempting to place me and coming up empty-handed.
I glance at my date sitting to my right, leaning back in his chair with his fingers locked together. His feet are under the table crossed at the ankle and he’s smiling wide right at me. I can’t tell if my knees are weak from his smile or from the nerves bearing down on me. A combination, I’m sure.
“Hi everyone, I’m Hailey. I know this must come as a surprise to all of you—a random guest giving a speech. But I have histories with both the bride and groom so I thought, sure, why not give a speech?” I chuckle into the mic. You could hear crickets chirping a mile away.
“Right, okay, so, Cam and I met in college. She probably doesn’t even remember it.” Everyone’s been calling her Cam all night, so I went with it.
“OhmyGod, I totally do. It was at my sorority mixer, wasn’t it?” The bride calls from the table and I just found my way in.
“Yep, it was. But I didn’t make the cut because I made such a fool of myself, didn’t I? Why don’t you come up here and tell the story with me?” The guests cheer for Cameron to join me and she does. Hallelujah. Thank God I look like whoever rushed at her sorority.
“Are you sure you want me to tell this story?” I nod at the bride, handing her the microphone and thus allowing her to continue. “My sorority rules state when being rushed you have to wear all white. No exceptions. We had to turn her down because there was a bit of red on the back of her pants, if you catch my drift.”
Everyone catches her drift. The crickets chirping down the road catch her drift. Fucking awesome. There’s about to be a bit of red on the front of her very white wedding gown in a minute when I punch her nose in.
Wait, why am I even getting so upset? This story isn’t even actually about me. Plus, it shows how exclusive and petty she was in college. Really, she’s making herself look bad. I can work with this.
Chase has his hand over his mouth and his face is red because he’s been holding in his laughter.
I take the mic back from the bitchy bride and bring it up real close to my mouth. “Yeah, I learned my lesson. Why do you think I wore red today?” Everyone laughs and the awkward moment passes with ease.
Cameron returns to her husband and I still have to talk my way out of this. I glance back at my date and though his eyes are dark and filled with an emotion I can’t place, he waves his hand in a circular motion, encouraging me to hurry up and get this show on the road. Kind of a dick move considering I’m only up here because of him.
“Anyway, um, I wanted to wish you both all the love and happiness in the world. Congratulations. I wish you the best.” Everyone raises their glasses to cheers as I hand the mic back to the DJ.
I guess that wasn’t a total disaster, but Chase looks like the Cheshire cat with his wide, beautiful, albeit evil, smile. I harrumph as I plop back into my chair next to him.
“What a lovely speech. Who knew you two had so much history?” The lady across the table says to me with a genuine smile.
“Yes, who knew? Honey, can I speak with you for a moment?” I grab my date’s arm and tug on it hard enough for his chair to budge and slightly drag along the wooden floor. The music is starting up and I’m sure the couple will embrace in the center of the dance floor for their first dance any minute now.
My annoyingly handsome date stands and runs a hand through his hair. He stretches out his other hand, indicating he’ll follow my lead. “Are you two sneaking off again? I wish I had your sex life,” our friend Jessie calls as we pass her table, drawing more attention to us. Dammit, Jessie.
I offer a tight-lipped smile and continue my brisk power-walk out of the barn. When we’re in the clear, I spin around and face Chase. He’s so handsome it makes me weak in the knees, causing me to wobble slightly. Luckily, I can still pass it off as residual anger from my impromptu speech.
“Can we get out of here yet? I am thoroughly embarrassed. You win.”
“You’re going to give up that easily? I thought you had more fight in you, Hails.” His cocky, crooked grin returns and I can’t differentiate my feelings between wanting to kiss him or slap him. Maybe both.
He’s poking the bear and I’m so freaking tempted to retaliate. “Besides, the reception is ready to start and I live for the dance floor. You don’t want to miss these moves.” He does this weird spin thing that I want to relentlessly mock, but of course, he looks good doing it. Hell, he could make the Macarena look sexy.
“Chase, I—”
“Come on, let’s stay a little longer. If you’re still not having fun in thirty minutes, we’ll leave. I promise.” His fingertips reach up to graze my cheek. The sensation is soft as silk, sliding down my face tenderly, affectionately. I lean into the touch and a soft sigh escapes my lips.
His hand glides down onto my shoulder and traces down my arm. The friction he’s causing from rubbing down the lace overlay of my dress gives me goosebumps. My shiver is involuntary as he takes my hand, our fingers interlocking.
I allow him to lead me back inside and we reach our seats just as the newlyweds take the floor for their dance. I pray to God they’re not one of those couples who have a big choreographed first dance.
Then by Brad Paisley , and the bride starts to cry. “I love this song. Thank you.” We can hear her say into the crook of her husband’s neck.
“And I love you.” He kisses her and I want to vomit from the cuteness of it. I’m just bitter because I’m single and jaded from my failed relationships of the past.
Chase blends in well with the crowd and he knows how to act and how to work the room. Our chairs are pulled close together, and he’s still holding my hand in his. He lifts our entwined fingers, kissing the back of my hand and throwing me a wink.
Nobody is paying attention to us right now, so it’s weird he’s still putting on a show. Or… maybe he’s not putting on a show.
I can’t think like that right now. He’s my brother’s best friend and I’m the untouchable little sister. He’s being nice and I’m reading too much into it.
The dance ends and another song starts. More couples join the newlyweds on the dance floor and I desperately want to dance with Chase, but I shouldn’t. I should keep my distance from him, for my emotions' sake, at least. I can’t entertain my fantasies anymore. I’ll only end up getting hurt or embarrassing myself.
“I’ll be right back,” my partner-in-wedding-crashing-crime whispers, his breath tickling my cheek.
“Okay.” I nod and give him a small smile. I don’t maintain eye contact with him because those bright blues only suck me in further.
I pull out my phone for the first time in hours. I forgot about the outside world for a minute. Chase has already become all-consuming and I’ve been with him for less than a day. This weekend will kill me.
I have a text from Kenzie, asking me to tell her when I make it to Hunter’s. I should message her back so she knows I’m alive, but I don’t know what to say to her. I’ve buried myself in deep shit by lying to her about my real plans with Chase. I should just own up to it with her.
I open her text and click on the white space. My fingers hover over the keys, anxiety coursing through the tips.
“Well, well, well everyone we have another surprise here tonight.” The DJ’s voice booms through the mic once more. I lock my phone and return it to my purse. My confession will have to wait.
I was too focused on the buff, bald MC to notice my date of all people stan
ding right behind him smiling. What the hell is he up to now? If he wants me to make another speech I’ll call Hunter right now and make him come pick me up.
“My man—” the DJ leans the microphone over to allow my date to say his name.
“Chase.”
“—Chase here wants to dedicate a song to the happy new couple.”
What in the sweet holy hell is that man doing? My neurotic date is on stage, walking to the front with a confident swagger reminiscent of Andrew Keegan in 10 Things I Hate About You.
“Though this once-in-a-lifetime performance is for Cameron and James, it’s also for my wife. I wouldn’t be up here if it weren’t for you.” He winks at me as he points in my direction. My face is probably the color of my dress. Could we embarrass this couple any more tonight? So much for staying under the radar. Though, to be fair, that ship sailed with my speech.
Oh, mother of all things holy, you’ve got to be kidding me. The song starts, a karaoke version, I presume, and although he’s radiating Andrew Keegan vibes he’s about to pull a Heath Ledger.
He starts to sing Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You and in no universe did I ever imagine myself being Kat Stratford. I always thought I was more of a Bianca.
What makes matters even better is the fact Chase is a truly dreadful singer. He can’t hold a tune and he’s making a total ass of himself. It dawns on me in an instant that I know what he’s doing. He’s making up for embarrassing me earlier. This man continues to surprise me.
The song ends and everyone does that awkward slow clap, looking around at one another like, is this dude serious?
I stand up and applaud as loud as I can. My cheeks officially hurt from laughing. I cup my hands over my mouth, hollering a loud “Woo-hoo!” as Chase hops off the stage.
He struts toward me, smiling like a goof, and I can’t help but meet his enthusiasm. He opens his arms wide like, how great was that? How great am I?
I’m in awe of him, of how he can act like a fool and yet strides toward me with such pride. He’s not even remotely embarrassed. I’m out of my league here and there’s no doubt in my mind he’s won our little competition tonight.
He wraps his arms around me, the tight muscles working as he lifts me off my feet and twirls me around. He sets me down slowly, my body sliding against his deliciously. He leans down, his face inches from mine, his lips closing in, and I swear he’s this-close to kissing me.
My eyes flutter closed in anticipation and my lips part to meet his. Instead, his five o’clock shadow rubs against my cheek when he whispers in my ear. “That was for the speech. Are you having fun now?”
He promised if I wasn’t having fun in a half an hour we’d leave. But leaving would mean we’d go our separate ways, stay in separate rooms, and I wouldn’t see him until morning. I don’t want tonight to end yet.
His face is still pressed against mine so I nod. His slight stubble scratches my soft skin and I’m imagining how rough it would feel against other tender areas further south.
Wet lips meet the soft skin under my ear as he presses a kiss to me. Goosebumps pebble all along my skin and I become especially warm.
He grips my hands in his as he pulls back to look me in the eye. “Let’s go dance.”
6
Hailey
The boners. The singing. The paying for my dress. The game. All of these things are running through my mind at lightning speed trying to make sense. Why is he being so nice to me? Why am I affecting him the way I am? Ahem, and we’re back to the boners.
I can’t figure out if this is a game to him or if he’s feeling what I’m feeling.
Horny.
Okay, not just that, but there are all these annoying, tingly emotions coursing through me. I’m happy around him. He’s funny and I’m comfortable being my weird, obnoxious self with him.
Have I mentioned the freaking boners? I can’t stop thinking about it. I felt it. It seemed… impressive, to say the least. Now my imagination is running wild and it’s all I can freaking think about.
Even now, we’re slow dancing, my body pressed tightly against his, the palm of his hand is burning a hole in my tailbone and I’m itching for him to skim lower, grab my ass, rip my dress to shreds. I don’t care.
I don’t care that we’re at a wedding of a couple we don’t know. I don’t care that we’re in the middle of the dance floor and the old couple, Betty and Richard from earlier, are beside us, humming along to the music.
The only thing I care about is the area where our pelvises are joined, touching in a tempting way—close but not quite where I need the connection to be. It’s torture.
And worse yet, I don’t know if he feels the same. Hence why this entire day and night is running through my head like cheetahs running in the wild. I can’t keep up.
“Are you ready to get out of here?” Thank fuck.
“Yes.” My voice is breathy and I’m sure everyone in a five-mile radius can smell the scent of sex and desire radiating off me in waves. Thank God we’re staying in a hotel because I packed my vibrator.
“That was amazing. I haven’t had that much fun in ages.” I chuckle and settle into Chase’s SUV. I barely drank and yet I’m bubbly and I’m buzzing from head to toe.
“You were very impressive, Mrs. Westbrook.” His blue eyes twinkle with mirth. “We nailed that wedding. This could be our thing.” Our thing. He and I have things now?
Between him calling me Mrs. Westbrook and now insinuating we’re going to become professional wedding crashers, my body comes alive. Every nerve ending is vibrating with desire, making me hot from the inside out. Hopefully I can pass my flush off as a side effect from drinking.
“How far away is the hotel?” I avoid directly answering anything he just said, and instead I change topics. I can create a speech on the fly for a couple I don’t know, but I can’t talk to Chase about us. I’m a coward.
“About thirty minutes.” He starts down the long windy road, past the shopping center we bought our clothes at earlier and I settle into the oversized, comfy seat.
◊◊◊
“Hailey. Hails. Wake up.” Warm fingers rest on my shoulder, shaking me gently. With a voice like velvet and a touch that’s zinging through me, I don’t want to wake up from this dream.
“Mmm, Chase.” A sexy chuckle precedes a loud slam almost wakes me up for real, but I push the sound aside. I’m not ready yet.
Strong arms slide under my legs and behind my back and next thing I know I’m airborne. I’m hoisted against a hard chest and my head lolls into a soft crook as if against a neck.
A woodsy floral scent floods my nostrils with slight tones of citrus mixed with spicy sandalwood. It’s decadent and heavenly. I think I moan. I want to taste it and I’m tempted to stick my tongue out and lick at the scent. It’s so tempting.
My lips part on an exhale and the person carrying me shudders and that’s the exact moment I realize I’m not dreaming. I almost kissed Chase’s neck. Little slow on the uptake, there, Hails.
God, I can be such an idiot. My eyes snap open and I lift my head as he opens the hotel doors while effortlessly holding onto me. I’m equal parts aroused and mortified.
“Morning, sleepyhead.” A panty-melting smirk appears and I squirm to get out of the iron-clad hold my handsome former wedding date has on me.
“I can walk now.” We’re approaching the front desk and this is getting embarrassing.
“We’ve been pretending to be married all night. I figured you wanted me to carry you over the threshold.” He places me on the floor as the woman at the desk smiles at us with kind eyes.
She looks to be in her forties with gorgeous caramel skin and curly black hair. “Hello, are you checking in?”
“Yes, two rooms under Westbrook.” I may be standing on my own two feet, but Chase’s hand remains on my lower back. I want to lean into him, but I resist. I’ve already crossed the line with him tonight.
“Excellent. I’m Jada and I’m the night manager. If you t
wo need anything at all give me a call. Here are your room keys. Is there anything else I can do for you tonight?”
I want to ask her for her skincare routine, but instead, I nod and grab my room key and my suitcase. I let Chase lead the way to the elevators. It’s not lost on me that we were given adjoining rooms and I wonder if that was intentional.
It’s late, and the hotel is pretty empty for a Friday night. We step onto the elevator and as the doors close behind us, I regret not taking the stairs. There’s nothing romantic about a dimly lit stairwell and climbing up ten flights of steps.
But being in an enclosed space and feeling the spark between us is dangerous. Why are elevators a giant freaking aphrodisiac? I feel like we’re about to have a Fifty Shades moment here and I am all for it. Throw me up against the wall—I’m ready.
I’m pressed against the opposite wall as far away from him as I can get. I need space and air.
“I felt you kiss me earlier.”
My hand that was gripping the bar along the elevator wall gets sweaty and slips. Real subtle. “What are you talking about?”
His gaze is slow, meticulous as his eyes travel from my feet up and linger on my mouth. “When I was carrying you in. You kissed me.”
“I did not.” He gives me a pointed look. Are we still playing the embarrassment game? Because he’s won twelve times over now. “I thought I was dreaming.” My voice comes out all breathy. I cover my eyes as my humiliation spreads. “And I didn’t actually kiss you. I just… parted my lips. Not the same thing.” I point at him as if that’ll make my argument stick.
He bites his lip and it’s unfair because I want to do that. He struts to my side of the space and grips the bar around me, caging me into him. I can’t breathe when he’s this close to me. “Whatever you wanna tell yourself.”
Is this the world’s slowest elevator or what? Tell me we aren’t going to get trapped in here. I can’t handle that tonight. I’ll be tempted to strip and beg him to have his wicked way with me.
I’m grateful when the doors ping and open. I let out the breath I didn’t even know I was holding in. Our rooms are all the way at the end of the hallway, and it seems like every step I take isn’t taking me closer to my destination.
Chasing Red Page 4
