Chase & Chloe

by Simone Elise

  Me. Right. Think. "Um…Melbourne."

  She nodded her head. "Well, you will need clothes for that. I'll just tell mom we are leaving, but then again, she might want to meet you first."

  "Just tell her you're leaving, Sammie."

  Sammie looked between us. "Okay then."

  "Can we talk?" Jess said to Chase.

  Chase's hand went to my lower back. It was warm, welcoming and gave me shivers. How was that possible?

  "We'll be a minute. Make yourself at home." While his words were soothing, the look on his face told me they were talking about something serious.

  I smiled, even though I didn't feel it. "Sure."

  I watched them walk through the living room, through the kitchen, and out the back door. It was when the door shut that I looked around the room, noticing pictures next to the TV.

  I walked over to them, picking up the first one. It was of six men with their backs turned. Horsemen MC was on their leather vests just like the vest Chase had showed me. I didn't need to see their faces to know they were the brothers. I could pick Chase out in the middle; his broad shoulders and hair clipped. I put it back and went to the next one.

  This seemed to be a family portrait. I didn't pick it up, as it had a thin line of dust on it. Again, I spotted Chase, but he was surrounded by similar-looking men. I assumed they were his brothers, and boy was I right when I said the good looks ran in the family. It was unbelievable how good-looking the bunch were. Sammie and Jess were in the picture too. It looked like a picture you would see in a magazine showing the perfect family.

  "Christmas, a few years ago."

  I looked up, surprised to no longer be alone. The woman would have to be in her sixties, but her black hair had few gray hairs. Her welcoming emerald eyes matched her sons, and she was a classic beauty. Not pretty, but beautiful. She could be a famous type of beautiful.

  "Um…sorry." I finally found words after I stopped staring at her.

  "Don't be sorry, dear, you were only looking." She moved into the room. "I'm sure you have many of the same Christmas pictures."

  "No. No, I don't."

  "Not big on pictures?"

  "No, I just never had a family to have them with." I felt awkward sharing that with her. I hadn't opened up to Chase about my background, and to think I was going to share these details with his mother was embarrassing. Still, there was something about her that relaxed you, as if you were at home with her.

  "No brothers and sisters?" She walked around me and grabbed a photo off the shelf and handed it to me.

  "No." I took the photo and glanced down at it. Doing a double take, I stared at it. It was Chase, but young. He would have to be in his early twenties.

  "That was the day he became President." A smile spread across her face, as if she couldn't be prouder.

  "So young?" I glanced up at her.

  "He was ready." She took the photo off me. "Chase was born ready to lead. He just needed time to learn the ropes."

  "You're very proud of him, aren't you?" I tilted my head, watching her reaction.

  "Very."

  "My parents wouldn't be as thrilled if I joined an outlaw motorcycle group."

  "Your parents must be strict."

  "You have no idea," I scoffed.

  "So, what do your parents do?"

  Nervously, I fiddled with my fingers. "Well, my dad passed away when I was little."

  "Oh I'm so sorry."

  "Don't be. I didn't know him." I was curt, but I never liked it when anyone thought to pity me because I lost my father. I didn't know him, so I had no idea what I lost. I looked her squarely in the eye. "And my mother re-married."

  "To a good man?"

  I scoffed again and found myself lost for words to describe him. Taking a calming breath, I wasn't going to say any more, but she was watching me, as if waiting for me to explain.

  "They’re very religious," I forced out.

  "How so?" She seemed to find my history interesting and pressed me for more answers. Normally, I wouldn't answer and normally, I would walk away, change the subject and shut up, but there was something about her that made me feel safe and secure so, for the first time in years, I found myself wanting to open up.

  "Some would call it a cult. It was a religion that believed that a woman's opinion didn't matter and punishment wasn't frowned upon." I smiled dryly at my words. "My mother became a mute once she joined."

  "And your stepfather?"

  "Was the preacher." I found my legs getting shaky, so I sat down on the edge of the couch. The couch was plush and warm from the fire.

  "Is that why you wear that bruise on your cheek?" Her words were soft, gentle and had my fingers running across the bruise.

  "More like it wears me."

  "No, never. We wear the scars in our life, they don't wear us." She went and sat down across from me. "So, you are running?"

  Was I running? "I was, and then I met your son."

  "And so our worlds joined." She gave me a knowing smile. She looked across, hearing something I didn't. "Chase, I was just meeting your friend."

  My head snapped up. How long had he been standing there for? My eyes widened. He hadn't heard all that, had he? If he had, he was pretending he hadn't as he walked into the living room with a small smile on his face as he looked at his mother.

  "She's something special, isn't she?" he said then looked at me. Those green eyes drew me in and I couldn't look away.

  The way he looked at me was so intimate although his face was deadly serious, with a hint of concern. He was the perfect man. Pity I didn't believe in perfect. I broke our eye contact. Men didn't respect women - I should know that after all these years. Why would he be any different? I'm sure he gets a new girl in every city.

  "Okay, I'm ready." Sammie came pounding down the stairs. "Where's Jess?"

  "Getting the car," Chase answered her.

  "Okay. Well, come on, Chloe, let’s go." Sammie tapped me on the shoulder and I got up.

  "It was nice to meet you...." I didn't catch her name.

  "Alice," she answered for me. "And you too, Chloe. Enjoy the shopping date with my daughters."

  "Thanks." I could feel his eyes on me, watching my every move. Knowing he was looking, I looked back at him. "I guess I'll see you later?" I didn't know how comfortable I felt about knowing I would be by myself with him later. Of course I felt safe with him, but I also felt the spark of lust, and I didn't trust myself.

  He nodded his head, not saying a word, still with a serious look on his face, but, before I could say anything, Sammie grabbed my wrist and dragged me to the front door. It looks like this shopping date was happening whether I wanted it to or not.

  Chapter 4

  Chase's Point of View

  I dropped the cigarette butt on the ground and stomped on it.

  "Remind me again why we are here?" Archie kicked his stand out and lowered his bike. "You have only known her a night."

  "I don't take orders, Archie. I give them, and I don't give reasons either." I looked him dead in the eye.

  Archie always spoke out and never respected the different levels of authority. He was my middle brother and a hell of a troublemaker, but along with his trouble came his fists. He was the same height as me, we both bench pressed the same, and, out of all my brothers, I knew he would be the first one to throw a fist without thinking about it.

  All my other brothers would question me on it, but Archie would just go for the fight. I needed that. Unfortunately, today seemed to be the day for his complaints. I hadn't told him much, just that we were following a lead.

  We were out of town and, as I looked up at the red brick house, you would think a happy family lived here.

  "So, you got Snow to link it to this address?" Archie was standing next to me now.

  Snow was the local police officer at Cardigan. He tracked the stolen car Chloe was driving to this address. After hearing her this m
orning talking to mom, I knew she needed help. I was going to help, first by making that bruise on her cheek right.

  I kicked the small gate open and walked up the brick pathway. Archie was right behind me and because we weren't in town, we were wearing colors. Chloe had driven over two hours away. While she was now safe with my sisters, I was going to make sure that her history stayed just that.

  If I had told her where I was going, she would have freaked out. After all, I've only known her a day but the fact this bastard hit her was enough to have my fists clenched. If I wasn't around for my sisters and someone hit them, I'd expect someone to stand up. I would do this for anyone.

  But Chloe was special - special to me.

  I knocked on the door and waited.

  Soon, it opened and a man half my height answered.

  "What?" He was curt and rude.

  "You Chloe's stepfather?"

  "Who's asking?"

  "I am."

  I heard Archie crack his knuckles.

  "The little brat isn't here. Ran off the other night and took my car with her. If you have a problem with her, I'm not taking the blame. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I was busy." He went and closed the door in my face, but my foot shot out.

  "Actually, my problem is with you." I said that, and just the thought of Chloe's cheek had my fist flying through the air, and it connected with his jaw. I heard the crack but that didn't stop me.

  Archie didn't need to do much but watch with this one. My temper was out of control. Chloe didn't deserve what she had been given. Heck, she deserved a hell of a lot more and I was going to make sure she got that more.

  As my fists got bloody, I kept on punching.

  Chloe's Point of View

  Chase wasn't joking when he said his sisters could shop. I was weighed down with bags as I twisted the doorknob to Chase's house. I think I had half the town's clothes now; from shoes to headbands. The girls were machines and I realized today, really nice. In fact, they would make great friends and just being around them put a smile on my face.

  I dropped the bags on the foyer and noticed Chase sitting on the couch in front of the wood fire.

  "Hey?"

  He didn't answer and as I rounded the couch, I noticed he had a bag of ice on his knuckles and a glass of whiskey in the other.

  "Chase?"

  His head snapped up. He must have been deep in thought. "Sorry, didn't hear you come in." He moved on the couch and I sat down next to him.

  "What happened to your hand?" I reached out, moving the ice and noticing his bloody knuckles. Gasping, I said. "Chase, you hurt yourself!"

  "It's nothing." He took the ice off me and put it back on his knuckles.

  I wasn't stupid. I knew he had clearly been in a fight but, as my eyes ran over him, I couldn't see a bruise or a mark on him. Looks like the other guy was worse off.

  "Right." I forced out. He didn't want to tell me about it, and I guess I had no right to push him on it. He hadn't pushed me on anything; he had only been welcoming and nice - so who was I to judge him?

  "How was the shopping?" He changed the subject and put his glass on the table and reached for the cigarettes.

  "I think your sisters broke your credit card." A grin appeared on my face thinking of the mountain of clothes they bought for themselves - not to mention me.

  "Not a credit card and I doubt that." He lit up a cigarette and exhaled slowly.

  So he had money, not credit. I wondered how he was so well off at his age. How old must he be? In his thirties?

  I had no right thinking of him in any other way but as a friend. I was too young and stupid for him. That sobering fact had the grin on my face falling.

  "You get what you want?" he asked.

  I tucked my legs under me and crossed my arms. "I got what Jess and Sammie thought would look good on me."

  "Well, you would look good in anything."

  There it was again; him complimenting me. Was I to read into that, that he liked me? Or was he just being nice?

  "Thanks," I bit out and took my eyes off him and stared at the fire. "You sure you don't mind me staying here?" I asked, not taking my eyes off the fire.

  After a few silent minutes, I frowned and turned to look at him, only to find him staring at me with this look of amazement and lust in his eyes. What in the world would amaze him about me? I was plain Jane all the way.

  "Chase?" I swallowed hard, feeling the heat from his eyes. The way his jaw was clenched and the ice had fallen off his hand. The cigarette was burning in his other hand, but he still wasn't moving.

  I slid up the couch so I was closer to him. All I wanted to do since I met him was touch him; to feel the heat of his body on mine. I had wondered all day what it would be like to kiss him and to have those lips on mine and then on my body. I felt the desire burn through me as I reached out and ran a hand down his left cheek.

  Just touching him sent a spark through my body, and all I wanted was more. More skin to skin. His skin was so smooth, and I ran my hand back through his hair. His black hair was soft and clean. I threw my leg over and straddled him; those green eyes were focused on me. He put a hand on my back and reached forward, putting the cigarette in the ashtray, then both his hands were on me running down my spine, causing me to push into him.

  It felt so good, like this was actually what I was made for, to be touched by him.

  His hands went under my t-shirt and his fingers gently pushed my top up over my breasts, threading my arms through and then over my head. He dropped it on the floor.

  I knew what was going to happen. Hell, anyone could see what was going to happen. I dipped my head and, just as my lips were about to land on his, the front door swung open, causing me to jump off him.

  "Fucking women. I'm telling you Chase, they are useless." A man smaller in height than Chase walked in. He was still good-looking, with a five o’clock shadow and tousled hair. He was in leathers and a white t-shirt and, if the words hadn't come out of his mouth, I might have thought he was a good man.

  Clearly not.

  Chase flung around on the couch, looking furious. He got up and shielded me from his brother while I reached down for my t-shirt.

  "Marc, fuck off." Chase didn't hide his frustration or anger.

  "Why?" He looked around Chase and saw me. Something flashed in his eyes before he said. "So, this is our new guest, is it?"

  I threaded my arms through my t-shirt and pulled it over my head. Now covered, I said "I think I'll go to bed. Night, Chase." I walked away, cringing. We were so close. I had been so close to crossing that line. What the hell was I thinking! This man could have anyone; he wasn't going to settle for just me.

  "Thanks for that," I heard Chase say before I closed the bedroom door.

  I wanted so much to turn invisible but, being at the other end of the house with the door closed, was all I could do.

  I walked across the room and flopped on the bed. Maybe Chase won't bring up what nearly happened. Maybe it was better if we both just forget about it.

  After all, he was a man that could have any woman he wanted, and there was little chance that a girl like me could secure a man like that.

  ***

  I knew what I was going to do. I was going to march down the hallway, say goodbye to Chase, and get on the next bus. Staying with him was a stupid idea. What was I going to do when he picked up the next girl in the next town? A feeling overcame me - jealousy. I was jealous. Just thinking about it made me jealous. I couldn't face it.

  I opened the door and held my bag close to me. I was expecting to see him in the living room, but he wasn't there. I glanced up the hall, and the door to his room was open so he must have gone out.

  I noticed the cooked breakfast on the kitchen island and then I noticed a card. I walked forward and picked up the half-folded piece of paper.

  Chloe

  I'll be back this afternoon.

  Please eat.

&nbs
p; Chase x

  I guess I wasn't going to get to say goodbye to him after all. I noticed all the bags at the front door, and I didn't feel right taking one item out of them. Guilt rumbled in my stomach. Was I making the right decision to run from him?

  Men couldn't be trusted. They would break your heart. I was close to giving Chase that chance to break my heart. Was he worth it? Was it worth the risk?

  Chapter 5

  Chase's Point of View

  Marc and women never went together smoothly. He had a crush on the girl next door, for how long I didn't know, but neither of them ever made good on it. She liked him, he liked her. She hated the fact he would ride out the next day.

  I had calmed him down, but that didn't mean I was off the hook. He had ruined what could have happened between Chloe and me. I was so close to getting to kiss those beautiful lips. Finally getting a taste of what I had been craving. Instead, I get my brother breaking us up.

  Then, to top all that off, I didn't even get to wait to have breakfast with her. I knew she was hiding from me, but I couldn't understand why she would be embarrassed.

  I opened the front door and noticed the food that hadn't been touched. The wood fire was out and her bags were still in the foyer.

  It was after twelve; she couldn't still be in bed.

  "Chloe?"

  I walked through the living hall and didn't hear a response. She wouldn't leave, would she? Not without at least giving me a chance to talk her out of it. Maybe she really was regretting what happened last night.

  "Chloe?"

  She must have left. My stomach dropped and I immediately started to think of where she would go. She wanted to get on a bus. If she had left and was walking there, she wouldn't be there yet. I still had a chance to stop her. Why the hell was I so worried about it? She left, big deal. I shouldn't be running after her, but that didn't stop me.

  "Hey."

  I spun around. She was standing at the end of the hall, dressed in a short black dress with silver beads around her neck. I took a sharp breath in. The dress hugged her tightly, showing off her curves and plump breasts, and the v-neckline showed off some of her cleavage. Her long blonde hair was pulled up in a ponytail, which showed the definition of her jaw line.