“Step out nice and easy there, cowboy.”
The older guy backed up a step and Chance followed his instructions. His hands lifted automatically into the air, and he would’ve laughed at the cliché, but it felt like the right thing to do when an obviously unstable man was pointing a gun in his face.
“Now tell me real simple like what you’re doing on my property.”
“I’m, um …” Chance cleared his throat. “Picking up Summer for dinner.”
“Ah, I thought so.” The guy sized him up, still staring down the barrel. “You’re the yahoo who kept her overnight, made her miss church, and is making her smile all the time.”
Chance would’ve smiled if he didn’t have a shotgun pointed at his face. “I apologize for making her miss church, but we stayed in our own rooms, sir. I promise I did nothing inappropriate.”
The man studied him for a few uncomfortable seconds, then lowered the gun and extended his hand. “Trevor Turnbow.”
“Chance Judd.” Chance shook his hand, relief washing over him. It looked like he wasn’t getting shot.
“See you don’t make her smile too much. You catch my drift, boy?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Lay off him, Papa Turnbow,” Summer called from the porch. “The whole shotgun thing is only funny when they’re losers.”
“It’s always funny,” Trevor muttered.
Chance hadn’t even heard the door open. He turned, and was overcome with the beauty of this woman. She’d looked unreal in the dress and bikini Yvonne had picked out for her Saturday night, but Summer’s natural look fit her even better. Her dress looked soft and flowed from her chest down to her knees, showing off her fit, tanned legs. The dark gray set off her blonde hair and deep blue eyes. “You’re so beautiful,” he managed to say.
“I bet you say that to all the girls.” She descended the steps, clutching a red purse and grinning shyly at him.
“No, I really don’t. You’re something special, Summer.”
Trevor harrumphed beside him. “I know you’re not going to keep your hands off, but you keep them in respectable places. Got it, son?”
Chance forced himself to be respectful, drag his eyes from Summer, and look at the man as he responded. “Yes, sir.”
Summer whacked Trevor with her small purse. “I can take care of myself, old man.”
“And I’ll protect my girls no matter what they say,” Trevor shot back at her.
Summer just laughed at him and walked toward Chance’s Land Rover. “I know you will, Papa Turnbow, and it’s one of the many reasons I love you so much.”
“Love you too,” Trevor grunted out before nodding to Chance and sauntering toward the larger house.
Chance hurried to get Summer’s door. She stopped and faced him before getting in.
“You look all … lit up,” Chance said, wanting to check if Trevor was far enough away that he could steal a kiss.
“Oh, Chance, I have the best news!” She threw her arms around his neck. “I got offered my perfect job today.”
Chance hoped his face didn’t reveal his involvement. He grinned at her. “Congrats!”
“I’m beyond ecstatic. It’s the company that rivaled my dad’s and I love the toys they put out. The CEO is this way cool lady and I cannot wait to work with her.”
Chance squeezed her closer. “You deserve it. I can’t wait to see what you create.”
“Thanks. I’ve got a bunch of designs done that I can share with them on Monday. Marissa is flying me to Ohio to sign paperwork and meet with her teams. I’m not even sure if their production team is on site or in China, but honestly, I don’t even care, I’m so excited to be working in my field again.”
Chance smiled at her, but felt a little pang. “You’re leaving in a week?”
“You gonna miss me?”
“You have no idea.” He lowered his head and claimed her lips. Several minutes later, he’d explored her mouth with his own and decided he loved the soft material of this dress as his hands moved over her back.
“Hands in respectable places,” Trevor barked from behind them.
Summer jumped from his arms. “Trevor! Honestly, you’re not actually my dad, you know?”
“Tell that to somebody who cares.” He glared at Chance. “If you’re gonna make out with her in my driveway, what are you going to do when you get her alone? Do I need to cock this thing again?” The shotgun was still in his hands.
“No, sir. I promise I will keep myself under control.” Chance fought a smile, finding himself liking this gruff old guy. He definitely had Summer’s best interest in mind, and so did Chance.
“See that you do, because if you don’t …” He hefted the gun. “I really like to use him.”
“Oh my, enough with the threats. Goodbye, Papa Turnbow.”
“No ‘love you’?” Trevor asked with an undeniable smirk.
“Not right now, you old coot.” Summer slid into the sport utility.
Chance shut her door and turned to Trevor. “Thank you, sir, for watching out for her.”
Trevor nodded. “See that you treat her with respect.”
“I plan on it.”
Trevor gestured him away. Chance strode around the car, smiling. Summer had her dream job and he was going to spend the night with her. He’d treat with her respect, but he was definitely getting his share of kissing in tonight as well.
Chapter Eleven
Summer took a bite of a gooey mozzarella stick at Marchitelli’s Gourmet Noodle. The marinara sauce blended perfectly with the warm cheese. She glanced around the restaurant with white tablecloths, wood flooring, and black cloth draping the ceiling and walls. She loved that Crested Butte was so laid-back that this yummy Italian restaurant was upscale.
She and Chance were snuggled into a booth, the black leather smooth against her bare legs. It was intimate and perfect. She took a sip of her water and focused on the handsome face she’d grown so accustomed to the past few weeks. “I feel like I’ve known you forever, but we really don’t know each other that well.”
Chance nodded. “I feel the same, but I definitely want to get to know you better.” He winked, and Summer all but melted into the seat.
“Sometimes when I’m with you I feel like I’m in a Nicholas Sparks movie.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Channing Tatum again?”
“Yeah, but you’re much better-looking than him.”
“Thanks.” He chuckled.
He glanced around as if checking if someone was watching, then pulled her in close and kissed her gently. Summer wrapped her arms around his neck and tugged him in. Chance was definitely the complete package for her. She didn’t mind if he was a suit, if he could kiss like this.
They pulled apart when the waitress came and took their orders, giving each other conspiratorial smiles.
Summer excused herself to use the restroom. She was washing her hands when her phone beeped in her purse. Pulling it out, she stared at the text from Marissa. She’d sent a text a few hours ago asking how her new boss found out she wasn’t working with Magical Dream Toys anymore.
The reply wasn’t what she expected.
My friend, Byron Judd of Mumford’s Sons, said his brother had told him all about you and asked that he recommend you to me.
Byron … Judd? Mumford’s Sons? It couldn’t be any relation to Chance. No, it really couldn’t. That would be too horrible. Yet who was this brother who’d recommended her? She tapped out a quick response.
Do you mind me asking how you know Byron and who his brother is? I only know Mumford’s Sons through my father.
It might’ve been a gutsy thing to ask her new boss, but she needed to get to the bottom of this. She really wished she knew nothing about Mumford’s Sons. The slimeballs, anyway. Her phone beeped.
I dated Byron for a very short time, and then we became friends. His brother is Chance Judd. From everything Byron says, Chance is a great guy.
Summer stared at the phone in sho
ck for several seconds. Finally she managed to tap out, Thanks.
Her hands trembled as she punched in the single-word response. She stowed the phone in her purse, not waiting for Marissa’s reply. Glancing in the mirror, she didn’t like the way her cheeks were spotted with color and her eyes were full of rage. Just the mention of Mumford’s Sons riled her up.
She splashed a little water on her cheeks and ran her hands under cold water, but it didn’t help much. Chance. It couldn’t be true. Her Chance was related to this Byron, part of the Mumford’s Sons who ruined her life. Her dad had dealt with the company who sold them out; Summer had been traveling in Europe at the time. She didn’t have any input until it was over and her job and lifestyle were gone. If Chance was really one of Mumford’s Sons … A strangled yelp rose from her throat. “Aargh!”
A lady entered the bathroom and eyed her strangely. Summer couldn’t find the strength to apologize or even smile.
She took a deep breath, then rushed from the restroom. As she approached their table, Chance looked up with a warm smile. His dimple was on fine display, but instead of wanting to touch it like usual, she wanted to jab her finger into it and scream at him.
“What’s your brother’s name?” she rushed out, not sitting down.
Chance stared at her warily, gripping his napkin in his fingers. “Byron.”
Summer didn’t move for half a second, rage filling her chest. It was true. Her perfect man was a liar and a skunk. No! How could life be so unfair?
She closed her eyes and took a steadying breath, finally opening them and muttering, “You’ve known this whole time who I was?”
Chance’s eyes were wary. He stood slowly. He cut a fine figure in a blue button-down shirt untucked over dark pants with his handsome face and those blue-green eyes she used to want to get lost in. It just went to show that you should never trust anyone, especially if they looked as good as he did to her. Tears of frustration sprang to her eyes and she dashed them away. Dang him.
“Summer.” He held his hands up. “I only knew Mr. Anderson’s daughter as Gabriella. When I figured it out, I was already falling for you. I promise I was going to tell you, but I wanted to give us a chance before you found out and there was no chance of developing a relationship.”
Summer shook her head at him. Gabriella. She hated that name and only used it for legal documents. His excuse was lame and full of nothing but a shallow guy wanting to have his way with a dumb girl. She refused to be the dumb girl.
“Well.” She took a long breath, pinning him with her eyes. “There’s definitely no chance now. I could never be with someone who would blatantly lie to me.” She grabbed her glass of water and flung it in his face.
He blinked away the moisture but didn’t move. “Summer, please.”
“Don’t you please me!” she screamed. “Aagh! I hate Mumford’s Sons!”
“Summer. Let me explain.” He reached out a hand.
She jerked away from his touch like it was a hot iron. “No! There will be no explaining. You lied to me!”
Pivoting from his beseeching glance, she ran out of the restaurant and into the night. If she ever saw Chance Judd of Mumford’s Sons again, she’d give him a lot more than a glass of water in the face.
Chapter Twelve
Chance watched the door bang closed behind Summer. Water dripped down his neck and into his collar. He laid a hundred-dollar bill on the table and walked out, ignoring the sideways glances directed at him. Shuffling out into the night, he spotted her fleeing down Main Street. His heart twisted.
What had he expected? He knew this revelation would rip Summer away from him, and it had. He could blame Byron for telling him to lie, but Chance was the one who listened. The one who didn’t stand up for what was right. He hung his head and walked slowly down the street, wishing he could chase after her but knowing it would do no good. Maybe Trevor would come after him with a shotgun again. He wouldn’t blame the old man at all.
The next few days were miserable. He wanted to go to her, but thought better of it. Would time help her to forgive him? To remember the good times they had and at least listen to his side? He didn’t know if his side was any better. It was his and his brother’s fault that her dad had sold the company and caused the ensuing fallout with Lillywhite, but her dad had come to them, knowing they were the best. He’d wanted to sell and they’d helped him get top dollar. Just because they’d made a substantial fee on the transaction wasn’t Chance’s fault. It was how the business worked and what her father had agreed to, and honestly he’d been more than happy with it.
Friday night he couldn’t take it any longer. He drove to her little house and pounded on the door. Summer flung it open, dressed in a T-shirt and yoga pants, her golden hair swept up in a ponytail. She looked unbelievably good.
Her eyes swept up and down him before resting on his face with a belligerent expression. She folded her arms across her chest. “What? Did you come here to tell me you went by my family home and stabbed our dog, Betsy? That’s about the only thing worse you could do to me.”
Chance blinked and slowly shook his head. “I never wanted to hurt you, Summer.”
“Yes, you did. Before you knew me, you couldn’t have cared less about ripping my life apart.”
“Your father came to us. We helped him improve the company’s image and profitability and he sold for four times what he could’ve on his own. The people who bought Magical Dream Toys promised they would keep you and your brother on staff. I didn’t know they only wanted your designs and weren’t willing to pay you what you were worth.”
She straightened, and standing a step above him in the doorframe, she was almost as tall as him. “You’re some almighty lawyer. Why didn’t you insist on written contracts?”
He hung his head. “You’re right. I should have. Your father and the new owner both claimed we’d keep ‘business as usual.’ It was only after everything was signed and done that the new owner revealed what a snake he was and started dismantling your father’s work. I’m sorry he basically stole all your designs.”
“You’re right in league with him. How much did you and your brother make off of Magical Dream Toys?”
Chance swallowed and looked away. He didn’t need to tell her, but he found himself muttering, “Five million.” He didn’t tell her that’s only what he had personally walked away with, not including what Byron and their company had cleared.
“Pocket change to you.”
He didn’t answer. She was kind of right. It was a smaller deal, but it had never set right with him. He’d wanted to go after the new owner and get Summer and her brother a settlement, especially Summer as the toy designer, whose designs were no longer her own and were now mass-produced from Taiwan instead of handmade in America like Mr. Anderson had always done. “I’m sorry,” he finally managed.
“Sorry for what? Being a money-grubber and ruining my lifestyle, or lying to me and making me fall for you?”
“Both,” he muttered. Yet she had fallen for him. Was there hope? He focused on her and saw her chest rise and fall in quick little bursts. Anger, or did she actually care for him? He took a step closer. “I’m sorry, Summer. I’ll say it a million times if it helps. Would you ever forgive me?”
She stood her ground. Her eyes narrowed and she clenched her fists. Bringing both hands up, she punched at his chest. Chance reflexively took a step back.
“No!” she yelled. “I’m never going to forgive you. You’d better keep your money-grubbing paws away from me or I will … spray you with Mace. Ah! I’m so ticked I can’t even think of a good threat. Just stay away from me!”
Chance sensed movement behind him. He whirled to see Trevor standing there, luckily minus the gun, but his expression was menacing enough without it. “I think it’s time for you to go, son.”
Chance glanced back at Summer. “I’m sorry,” he muttered weakly.
She shook her head and glared at him, a single tear trickling down her cheek. She brush
ed it angrily away.
Trevor grabbed his arm. “I told you not to hurt my girl and you did. Get off my property.”
Chance felt like he was giving up on Summer, but one more look at her face told him he was getting nowhere tonight. Lead settled in his stomach. He didn’t know if he was ever going to penetrate that anger and resentment. Shaking his arm free of Trevor’s grasp, he stormed to his sport utility and slammed the door. As he drove away, he made the mistake of glancing back. Trevor had an arm around Summer. She leaned heavily into the older man, and tears streaked down her cheeks. Those tears almost made him stop, but he didn’t hold out much hope that he’d ever be anything but the villain to her.
Chapter Thirteen
Saturday afternoon, Summer sat behind the desk at Sugar ’n’ Spice. It was weird, but such a relief that this was her last day at the shop. She was more than ready to be working in her field. She’d only been in Crested Butte for a little over a month, but she’d come to love the beautiful valley and especially the people. She’d hardly seen Cal, Haley, and Taz, but she loved being around MacKenzie, Isaac, and especially Trevor. Watching him chase Chance off yesterday had warmed her heart, even though part of her had felt bad for Chance. She’d thought he was such a great guy until she realized who he really was. Could he still be a good guy, yet sell people out for a living?
Forcing out a long breath, she wished she could force Chance from her mind as easily as she forced the carbon dioxide from her lungs. Monday morning, she would fly out to meet Marissa and start her new life in Ohio. She hadn’t told anyone that she was relocating, and Marissa had been great about her working from wherever she wanted, but it was time for a fresh start. She couldn’t handle being here and thinking about Chance, or risk running into him. It was too hard.
She’d thought about not taking the job since Chance obviously gave her the in, but that would be stupid. She needed this job, this opportunity to create her toys and work with a great company. Maybe someday she’d rejoin her friend, Taylor, and her new husband, Lane, and start having adventures she loved again, but for the time being she just wanted to work and feel settled somewhere.
The Daring One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance Page 9
