by Cat Johnson
“Anyway, you need strength, but it’s not really pure muscle that keeps you on the bull. It’s being able to stay centered, and correct your position when you get off-balance. Yeah, you need strong forearms to stay forward over your rope, and you need strong thigh muscles to bear down on the bull’s sides, but the core muscles, the stomach and lower back, those are the most important in bull riding. It’s the constant effort to remain centered that gives bull riders the strongest core muscle in professional sports.”
There was that passion he always showed when talking about his sport. Leesa attempted to respond appropriately. “Wow. I had no idea.”
In her peripheral vision, she saw Cody rolling his eyes and she smiled.
Chase was fascinating. His muscles too were fascinating. Her gaze dropped down to the ones exposed by his lack of shirt. She couldn’t see his thighs but she sure remembered them. His back muscles too. She’d felt them flex beneath her fingers while he loved her.
She swallowed. “So you built this in here. It’s really nice.”
Chase watched her face. If he didn’t see the need she was suddenly feeling then she’d be really surprised. His gaze shot to his brother, then back to her. “Thanks. So we have the abs area, which you saw, then I have the punching bag to help my reflexes. We have the free weights. I use those for squats for my legs and also to build my arms and back. There’s even a mat on the floor where Cody and I spar a bit. That is mostly for fun, because I like kicking his butt so much, but it also helps with my reaction time.”
“Yeah, he wishes he could kick my butt.” Cody shook his head.
Chase ignored his brother. “Then there’s a practice bull in the back. That’s what I started out on when I was young. It’s the barrel kind, not a live one, and we’re gonna put you up on it while you’re here.”
“Me?” Her voice came out in a squeak.
“Sure. Don’t worry. I’ll be gentle with you.” He grinned. “In fact, maybe we should wander out back and take a look at that now.”
His hand was still running up and down her arm making her wish there was no clothing between them.
She glanced at his brother and saw him shaking his head. “I’m leaving. Daddy’s at work, Christine is at school and Mama’s at the food store. You two have half an hour alone out here, then I’m coming back and we’re finishing this workout.”
Chase grinned. “Okay.”
Then they were alone and Chase’s head was ducking lower towards hers.
“Hey there.” His voice was low and sexy as he leaned in closer.
“Hey.”
“I missed you last night.” His hand rose to brush a hair off her cheek. “I know we only slept together two nights but I kind of got used to you in my bed. I missed it.”
“I missed you too.” He had no idea how much. She slept much better with him next to her, for so many reasons.
He let out a groan, and before she knew it they were kissing like there was no tomorrow. In reality, after next week, for them, there wasn’t. She kissed him back with enough passion to last her for a lifetime because the memories of this time would have to.
“I want you.” He spoke against her ear, sending a shiver through her.
“Here? Chase, we can’t.”
“Sure we can. That’s why Cody left us alone. You heard him. We have half an hour alone. I can make it. Don’t worry.” His ever-present smile was looking devilish again.
“We can’t. Can we? Really?” She sure wanted to, but it was broad daylight and they were in his parents’ barn.
“Oh yeah, we can.” He grinned as his hands moved to her waist.
“What about…you know. Protection.”
He was nibbling her ear again and she had trouble coming up with what she’d wanted to say. Luckily the word had come to her. Being on the run was one thing, Being pregnant and in hiding quite another.
She felt him smile against her ear. “I got that covered, so to speak.”
“You do? Where?” She glanced at his clothing. He wasn’t wearing very much and it didn’t look like there was a pocket in those sweats.
Chase wasn’t lying. He pulled himself up onto the bar he’d been doing his pull-ups on. Holding himself up one-handed, he reached above his head and felt along the edge of the loft above. When he dropped down to the floor again, he was victoriously holding up a condom.
Leesa frowned. “How—?”
“Wishful thinking on my part. I told you we were going to do it in the barn if my parents wouldn’t let us sleep together.”
“I didn’t think you’d meant it.”
His mouth hovered above hers again. She felt his hands on the hem of her sweatshirt. “I never tease about sex.”
Her sweatshirt was off, her mouth was covered by Chase’s kiss and she had to believe him. They were going to do it right here, right now, in the barn. The way she felt just being near him, it couldn’t be soon enough.
Cody returned, as promised, in exactly thirty minutes. Luckily for Chase, he’d been too excited having Leesa in his arms again to last very long. He didn’t need any more time than that. That didn’t mean he didn’t wish they had all night every night together though. Even after the time they’d just spent together inside one of the old stalls, he was still ready to go again.
Now that Leesa had gone back to the house and Cody had returned, Chase supposed he’d have to work off this energy sparring with his brother instead. Not half as much fun, but what could he do?
Cody was grinning and shaking his head as he walked into the barn.
“What?”
“You two. The attraction between you guys is so strong I could practically see it in the air. Why are you getting divorced again?”
Chase sighed. “I told you. It was way, way too soon.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“Are you trying to tell me we should stay married?”
“Yeah, I am. Just because you rushed into the marriage doesn’t mean you should rush into the divorce just as quickly.”
Drawing in a deep, frustrated breath, Chase sank down onto the weight bench. “I don’t get you. You were always the one telling me not to fall in love with the first girl I slept with. Not to date seriously in college. To just have fun and enjoy being single. Now here you are telling me to not get divorced?”
Cody huffed out a laugh. “First of all, you’ve never listened to me anyway. In fact, you usually do the exact opposite.”
“Is that what this is? Reverse psychology?” Chase narrowed his eyes at his brother. Things were confusing enough. He didn’t need Cody messing with his head too.
“No, not at all, but you’re right, since you probably will do the opposite of what I tell you to, I should have thought of the reverse psychology thing before.”
Chase scowled, but his brother continued talking undeterred. “Chase, I’m saying this because anyone can see there is something going on between you two. Maybe you did just meet, and I sure as hell don’t believe in love at first sight, but you two have a thing for each other. Maybe it’s just sexual but hell, even if it is, why would you want to go and end it so soon? Judging by the look on your face when I walked in here just now, that half hour you were alone with her was pretty damn good.”
Chase shook his head. “I truly hate you knowing anything at all about my sex life with Leesa.”
Cody laughed. “You didn’t used to hate it. You used to rush home from each and every date and tell me every damn detail about you and whoever back in the old days. Even when I covered my head with a pillow and tried to not listen you still insisted on telling me.”
He made it sound so cheesy. Chase scowled. “Hey, it’s not like I was bragging to you or anything. I wanted your advice. You’re the older brother. That’s supposed to be what you’re good for.”
“Exactly. So listen to me now. I’ve been through all your crushes. It’s different with this girl. You don’t want me knowing details about you two because you have feelings for her.”
; Chase considered that, not that he had to. He knew Cody was right. He just really hated to admit it to the know-it-all. He gave in, but only part way. “Maybe.”
Cody let out a snort. “Yeah, whatever. Come on. Let’s get back to work. You’re getting out of shape. You’re starting to get a gut on you.”
“I am not.” Chase frowned down at his stomach. The definition of his ab muscles was still clearly visible.
“Okay, if you say so. Get up. Time for leg work.” Cody grinned.
Gut or not, he knew he needed to work out. He always felt good after he did, and it helped his riding so much when he was in top shape. Still, Chase couldn’t help but think about what had been nagging him about Leesa for days now.
When he didn’t get up from the bench right away, his brother kicked his foot. “Hey. Leg work, lazy.”
“She’s hiding something from me.” Chase rose from the bench and watched Cody pile the weights on the barbell.
“Leesa? What do you mean hiding something? Like what?”
“I don’t know. That’s the problem. She won’t admit anything’s wrong, but something is. I can tell.”
“How?” Cody put the barbell on Chase’s shoulders and stayed behind him with both hands poised to take it from him if necessary.
Chase lowered into a squat, then slowly straightened his legs again. “She won’t let me take her out in public. She’s a nervous wreck all the time. Always watching the rearview mirror while I’m driving, looking out the window a hundred times the night we spent in a hotel room on the way here. It’s like she waiting for someone to find her, or catch her.”
Cody frowned. “Like who?”
Chase was starting to get winded talking. He took in a deep breath and pushed himself for one more repetition before answering. “I don’t know. An ex maybe?”
“You think maybe she’s running from a bad break up?”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking.” At least Chase hoped it was an ex and not a current boyfriend, or worse, husband. Would that make them bigamists? His parents would really love that.
“Three more. Have you asked her?” Cody pushed Chase to work harder but didn’t let the topic drop.
“No.” Chase was down to one-word answers now. It was all he could manage through his clenched teeth. He groaned with the exertion as his muscles burned.
“Don’t you think you should, dork?”
“Smart ass.” It had taken extra effort to get out the two words instead of just one, but it had been worth it.
Chase hated to admit it, but Cody was right. He had to ask Leesa what was wrong. The question was, why should she tell him? They were joined now, but not for long.
Not for the first time, he hoped his uncle’s case ran longer than expected. He could use all the time he could get. Hell, a few more rendezvous in the barn might just do it—convince her to stay with him at least as his girlfriend if not his wife.
He pushed out one more rep as Cody counted it from behind him.
Workout or not, an image flashed through Chase’s head. Leesa, flushed and breathless, her hands braced against the wall of the stall. He had been in the perfect position to see her green eyes as she peeked over her shoulder while he loved her. He had watched her face, when he wasn’t too enthralled with watching himself slide in and out of her as his hands gripped her perfectly rounded hips.
He wrestled his mind away from the memory before he embarrassed himself in front of his brother.
One last repetition and finally Cody took the barbell from him. “Good job. Next—”
Chase turned to face Cody. “No more. I’m done for today.”
“We just got started.” His brother looked like he was about to argue, but it wasn’t going to work. Chase had his mind set.
“I got something to do.”
Understanding flashed across Cody’s face. He grinned. “Don’t you mean someone to do?”
He shook his head. “Pig.”
“Lover boy.” Cody grinned broader.
Chase rolled his eyes. Telling Cody anything was a big mistake. He should really learn to keep his mouth shut.
Chapter Fourteen
Leesa ran one finger over the frame. The photo was an action shot of Chase on a bull. He had his hat on, pulled low over his eyes, but she knew it was him, and not just because the picture was on the dresser in his bedroom. She’d know him anywhere now. The way he held himself. The lines of his body.
It was an amazing shot. The photographer had captured the action so well that even frozen on the static picture, the viewer could feel the motion. She could see the power of the bull as all four of its feet left the ground in a giant leap. She could see how Chase had bent at the waist to absorb the shock of the move and keep his seat. The fringe on his chaps stood straight out from his legs, defying gravity, testament to how jarring the animal’s move was to the rider on his back.
Her heart hurt thinking of him in that situation, not just once but weekly or more. How long before something bad happened to him? An injury must be inevitable. She finally understood why he’d laughed at her when at the strip club she’d asked if his wrists hurt from the handcuffs. In the truck he’d told her about how guys have ridden with their broken jaws wired shut. Or with backs that had been broken just weeks before. It was frightening. At the same time, looking at the picture and remembering the excitement in his voice as he told her about riding, she could understand his passion for it. She felt it.
On the wall was a framed newspaper article. Local Bull Rider Wins Rookie of the Year. Chase stood in the black and white photo holding a boxed buckle and wearing the wide grin she’d come to know as his. She swallowed hard when she remembered that after she left here she’d likely never see it again.
He’d said his rides were usually televised. Could she bring herself to watch him once she left? She had a feeling she would, and that it would tear a fresh hole in her chest every time she did.
A quick knock on the open door startled her. She turned to find Chase, grin and all. “Get changed. I’m taking you out on a date.”
“What?” Leesa immediately felt panic. She felt moderately safe here on his family’s farm, but going out into town, that felt like asking for trouble. She scrambled for an excuse that wouldn’t sound bogus. “No, I can’t. I don’t have anything to wear.”
She glanced down at the sweatshirt that had become her security blanket over the past few days. Though her constant wearing of it was starting to show. She’d have to ask if she could use the washing machine.
“No worries. I got you covered.” Chase brought a shopping bag from behind his back.
Frightened as she was to leave the house, Leesa was still a girl, and all girls love presents. Her curiosity got the better of her. “What’s that?”
“Open it.” He walked closer and held the bag out.
Eyeing him suspiciously, she took it. From under the tissue paper, she pulled out a navy blue dress with tiny white flowers on it. Holding it up, it looked like it would actually fit her. “How did you know my size?”
He smiled, then shrugged. “I’ve had my hands on enough parts of you to be able to estimate what size dress you take. Do you think it’ll work?”
Her cheeks grew hot at the memory of those hands on her. “Yeah. I do.”
“There’s a pair of shoes in the bag too.”
She raised a brow. “You haven’t had your hands on my feet.” Or had he?
“No, but I peeked inside your sneakers while you were in the shower back in Vegas and saw what size they were.” Chase donned a shy, almost contrite expression.
Leesa laughed. “You did? Why?”
“They looked so tiny sitting there on the floor.” He shrugged. “I was curious.”
“I suppose this dress is just in case we need to, uh, pull over for any reason?”
His grin lit up his entire face. “You never know.”
“You never know.” She couldn’t help but smile too. She had a feeling he’d stocked up on condo
ms too while he was out shopping for clothes for her.
“There’s also a little white sweater-type thing in the bag too, in case you get cold later.”
She glanced down and indeed there was. She supposed he was getting tired of seeing her in the sweatshirt. She guessed she couldn’t blame him. “Thank you. You’re so sweet. You really shouldn’t have bought me anything.”
Leesa didn’t want him spending money on her when she was going to have to leave and never look back.
Chase dismissed her thanks with a wave of a hand. “It’s nothing, and I really mean that. There is one store in town that has women’s clothes and the choices are pretty limited. I did the best I could, but we can go to the mall one day. It’s about an hour away but there I can buy you something really nice.”
“Chase. I don’t want you buying me things.”
“Why not? I told you, I have money.”
Somehow he’d inched closer. He was so close his chest nearly brushed against hers as his face hovered just inches above. She looked up at him now. “I know, but you shouldn’t be spending it on me.”
“Too bad.” He dipped his head lower and captured her lips. The bag was between them. As he kissed her, he managed to take it out of her grasp and drop it onto the bed next to them. She had a feeling he would like to drop her on that bed too, but would never do that with his mother in the house.
He pressed close and kissed her harder until the sound of rushing footsteps in the hall had him pulling away. Christine flew past the door, then stopped and backed up. “Chase. Mama wants to make sure you’re not here for dinner before she defrosts the steaks.”
Watching her, he waited for her answer.
“Where would we be going?” Leesa knew he could hear the hesitation in her voice.
Chase glanced at her. “Just out in town. It’s a tiny little bar that serves food in the side room. It’s the middle of the week. We’ll probably be one of the few people there. One hour. We’ll eat and then I’ll bring you right home. Promise.”
