by C. A. Harms
Chapter Six
Chase
I spent my entire shift at the station being berated by not only Ryan and Noah, but every other guy on duty too.
Apparently Trinity had made one hell of an impression on the town folk over the last seven years. She was everybody’s sweet girl and it would appear half the town took to adopting her in some way.
I should have left the station in one hell of a bad mood, but nothing could wipe the memories of last night from my mind.
Though she and I may have shared only a few kisses, I felt like they were so much more.
Not once over the last seven years had she dated or even shown an interest in anyone. There was no shortage of available men in Livingston; I thought the population ratio of men to women was completely lopsided. In my opinion, she should have been snagged up right away.
But somehow, by some miracle, she was still available. I was sure some had tried, but I was just thankful it was me getting the chance to get to know her.
So with each question I was asked, each lecture to treat her respectfully that I received, I just kept smiling.
I continued to remember her words when I dropped her off.
I’d love to do this again sometime.
She didn’t know I was already planning our next date before we’d even made it through dinner.
Still in my uniform, I pulled my truck into the parking lot next to the bank and walked the half block to Sassy Ladies, smiling the entire way.
I watched Noah’s wife, Alena, and Trinity through the front window. Alena was holding up a few articles of clothing as Trinity held a steamer out before them. They’d smile and on occasion laugh at something the other person said.
That smile of Trinity’s could light up a room.
After a few more minutes of watching I could no longer keep myself from pushing open the door.
At the sound of the bell, they both turned to face me and I instantly saw the look of shock on Trinity’s face.
Alena smiled widely as she turned away, busying herself.
“Hi,” Trinity said as she took a step closer. “Did you just get off your shift?”
“Yeah,” I replied, reaching out to push back a blonde wave of hair that had fallen from her ponytail. “I didn’t wanna head back home until I got the chance to see you.”
She blushed as she looked behind her. I looked in the same direction and found Alena retreating toward the back room. Obviously she was giving Trinity and me a little alone time.
When I knew we were alone, I stepped closer and placed my left hand on her hip. “Last night,” I began, a little quieter than before. “When you said that you’d like to see me again, I didn’t say anything back.”
I had wanted to but I was too damn happy. It sort of slipped my mind and I had pulled her in for a kiss instead.
“I wanna see you again too,” I whispered, and she tilted her head back and looked up at me. “With me being the only person here to take care of Nana, I just need you to know that though it may be hard for me to see you as often as I’d like, there is nothing I want more than to see where this goes.
“This?” she asked.
“Listen Trinity, I had an amazing time with you,” I confessed. “But I already knew I would. I’ve wanted to ask you out for a while but I had to get everything in my own life settled before I took the chance. And though things are still hectic, as I assume they will always be, that doesn’t mean I don’t want you around as often as possible.”
She smiled, pleased with my words.
“I like you,” I said. “I like spending time with you. And I guess I was hoping that maybe you’d be willing to come out to the house for dinner.”
“Tonight?” she asked in surprise.
“Yeah, if you’re free.”
I didn’t miss the look of disappointment that washed over her face.
“I can’t tonight,” she looked down at my chest and my stomach dropped when I started thinking maybe she had another date with someone I might have to scare off.
“I’m watching the boys for Amber and Ryan.” I was instantly relieved when she told me her plans. “It’s their anniversary.”
“Maybe I’ll stop by,” I said.
She looked up at me, a look of surprise written all over her face.
“If that’s all right,” I added, and she still looked a little shocked. “What? I like kids.” I did.
“Okay,” she finally replied. “Just let me clear it with them first.”
In my mind I could almost image the steam coming out of Ryan’s ears when Trinity mentioned me stopping by his place. Not because he and I didn’t get along; we did. It was just different when Trinity was involved. Hell, they all acted as if I was some escaped convict looking to terrorize and destroy the girl.
I was imagining the hoops I would have to jump through in order to prove to them I had no intentions of tormenting her, although maybe I’d just corrupt her a bit. But I had a feeling she would be all in for that part.
“I’ll call ya tonight,” I told her as I leaned a little closer, my lips hovering over hers. “Have I told you how good you make this dress look?”
And there went the red flush to her cheeks. Damn that look did things to me. The shy sweetness about her made my chest ache.
“No,” she whispered. Her hands gripped my waist and she tilted her head back just enough to give me full access to those pouty lips of hers.
“It’s definitely not the dress, not at all,” I assured her. “It’s the woman wearing it.”
I wasted no further time before pressing my lips to hers and when she whimpered I pulled her in just a little tighter.
Damn she felt good.
***
I was a human trampoline. Each of Ryan’s boys, Rogan and Rory, and their youngest son Ryder, took turns diving off the couch and onto me as I lay on the floor in the center of the living room.
It turned out Amber had the final say in all things Ryan. I made a mental note to remember that detail for future use. There wasn’t much he wouldn’t do if it made that woman happy.
So for the last hour I’d spent time entertaining the twins and loving every minute of it, even if my ribs would pay for it later.
Trinity sat in the chair laughing as they took turns torturing me, just making it all the more tolerable. Why her laughter gave me such a rush was still a puzzle.
Maybe it was because of her past, or maybe it wasn’t. I knew I liked her—she had gained my attention long ago, but there was just something about the way her face lit up when she smiled.
“Okay boys,” she said as she stood from the chair and placed her hands on her hips. Apparently it was time to be a grownup. She played the motherly role well. “It’s time to get your jammies on.”
All three boys started to protest almost immediately and I was just about to help her out, only I didn’t have to.
“Boys,” she said and they all stopped groaning, turned toward the hall, and began walking to their room.
“I’m impressed,” I said with a smile as I looked back at her.
“I hate doing that,” she confessed. “Those sweet little faces looking back at me. The minute they go all sad and disappointed is the worst kind of battle.”
I found that hard to believe because I knew this woman’s past.
“I just want to cave and say ‘Okay fine…let’s stay up all night and eat junk food while having the best pillow fight ever.’” She let out a deep breath and I chuckled.
“Those kids love you,” I said from my position on the floor.
That seemed to do the trick because her face softened and she smiled wide.
“They are so much fun. Throw Belle, Nora, and little man Billy into the mix and it’s the best time.” Belle was Jackson’s daughter and I’d heard how she was like a little woman trapped in a toddler’s body. She kept her parents in line.
“I just hate when I have to go all grownup mode on them.”
“We’ll have to plan a d
ay with all of them. A day of fun where we get the chance to act like kids too. We can do all the things their parents refrain from doing, and when we have them all sugared up and wired, we can drop ’em off and be the cool adults they love to be with.” It didn’t go unnoticed that she looked doubtful for a moment at my words. But it quickly passed.
I pushed up off the floor and moved toward her, weaving my hand through hers, pulling just enough to make her look upward. “I saw the doubt in your eyes.” She tried to look away only I didn’t allow her to.
“Do you know I first noticed you my second day in town?” She squinted back at me and I smiled. “You were sitting just outside the coffee house on Main Street, and your hair was pulled back in a high ponytail but the wind was whipping it around and you kept tucking it behind your ear. I think I watched you for fifteen minutes from my truck across the street. At that point I figured I should move on before someone thought I was some kind of stalker.”
She didn’t say anything, just watched me with a look of curiosity.
“Do you think I would’ve wasted any time at all if my intentions were only for something quick?” I asked not really expecting an answer from her. “I waited to approach you until I got settled. Until I knew that I’d be staying and until I knew that I didn’t have anything that would get in the way.”
“I noticed you too,” she confessed.
“I know.” I’d seen her watching me a time or two. “I liked when you watched me,” I confessed and she blushed.
“I like what’s happening between us,” I told her.
“Me too,” she replied.
I moved in closer and just before our lips touched, we heard the sound of giggling.
Turning my head to the side I found two boys, one with his pants on and the other holding his in his hands. Huge smiles were on both of their faces as they stared back at Trinity and me.
Two of the cutest damn kids I had ever met.
Chapter Seven
Trinity
It had been three weeks since my first date with Chase. Three weeks of surprise visits to Sassy Ladies from him during his shifts, just to say “Hi.”
And three weeks of watching him intertwine himself with my life and interact with the people I loved most.
It was obvious just how hard he tried, over and over, to show them all just how dedicated he was to this relationship between him and me. He didn’t let their presence stop him from showing me his gentle side. He didn’t shy away from the sweet words he continued to share with me every chance he got.
Chase had three men watching him close, almost always, but it didn’t faze him. He didn’t falter, instead he took every opportunity to hug me or softly kiss me.
The girls were mesmerized by his kindness and in their eyes he was just the sweetest thing. I had to agree. But the guys weren’t convinced yet.
Keeton would coach him along, not that he needed it, but it sure was fun to watch. Keeton had gone through the same form of hazing not that long ago, so he knew all too well what Chase was facing.
But I could see Keeton analyzing Chase too. It was funny how in just a short time being around the Sawyer men he had picked up so many of their mannerisms.
But again, Chase didn’t seem to care that they were always watching him. He acted no different.
For days now we’d been recruited to helping Olivia and Keeton. They had been gifted a piece of the Sawyer land and a new home was being built. It was actually a very serene spot—the hill overlooking the biggest lake on the property, and out in the distance you could see the ranch. It was beautiful.
It was also Claire, Olivia’s mother’s, favorite spot. It was the place where Ryan had married Claire years ago. It was the place Olivia and Keeton planned to marry, and also a place of peace for Liv because there she would always feel close to her mother. She would share the memories she had of that location with her children in the years to come.
Even though Claire was gone, she was never forgotten and I found great beauty in the fact that each person in the Sawyer family felt the importance of her memory.
Never in my life had I ever met such a loving family. Knowing I was a part of it was overwhelming sometimes, but in the best possible way.
“It’s good to see that smile on your face.” I looked up to see Olivia approaching with what appeared to be two glasses of sweet tea.
“It feels good too,” I added as she took a seat beside me on the old wooden swing.
We sat side by side holding our glasses as we watched the men work. Ryan and Jackson hammered away on the outer wall of the attached garage. Keeton and Chase were working on the trellis that would cover the back porch and Noah—well he was the foreman, or so he thought.
The man was a slave driver.
Maybe he should have considered construction as a career versus a law official.
“Keeton said he’s spent the entire morning hearing all about you.” I looked over to find Olivia smiling brightly. “It would seem that a certain officer is smitten by you.”
I could feel my cheeks heat at the thought of Chase talking about me to the important people in my life. It amazed me that no matter how much the guys tried to intimidate him, it never stopped him from showing his interest.
“He makes me happy, Liv,” I confessed as I let my eyes wander back toward the shirtless man who held up a piece of wood while Keeton moved another board out of the way. His back muscles flexed as he positioned the wood over the saw horses before him. “I used to worry that I’d never find anything close to what you have with Keeton, but Chase gives me hope that I will.”
“I think you have,” Olivia answered without hesitating. “I’ve seen the way he watches you. The way he smiles when you smile. It’s like his one sole purpose is your happiness.”
Just then Chase looked back over his shoulder, like he could almost feel that we were watching him. A smile covered his mouth as he winked at me before turning back toward the task of building.
We were taking things slow. I thought due to the harassing tactics of the Sawyers mixed with my own reservations, but Chase just took his time with me. It was sweet, and the pressure was nonexistent.
We were taking our time getting to know one another without the heavy pressures of other things getting in the way.
The time we spent together just felt relaxed, no expectations, no nagging feelings of what should happen next. We went with it, whatever we felt, without thinking twice.
It was a big change of events from my past. For once in my life I felt like I had control.
Chase never once made me feel like what we had wasn’t good enough. In fact it was the opposite. He was the sweetest, most gentle man I’d ever met.
From the looks of him, you would expect something much different. Those tattoos and that pretty boy smile of his screamed dangerous. But the only thing he was dangerous for was my heart. I knew with just the small amount of time we’d had together, if he chose to break me, it would be so easy to do.
Chapter Eight
Chase
I’d made the mistake of thinking that stopping by to say goodnight to Trinity while I was still on duty wouldn’t be a mistake.
But when she answered the door in those tiny shorts of hers, my control went flying off into the darkness of the night.
Within seconds I had her backed against the wall just inside her apartment and my mouth covered hers in a hungry kiss.
And from the way her body reacted to mine, that needy whimper she gave me each time my tongue touched her in a seductive way, she didn’t mind my unexpected visit.
I was on the night shift, which meant there was no possible way we could continue this after I was off work, considering she’d just be getting ready to start her day when I was ending mine.
I knew I should stop.
Everything inside me was screaming out, telling me I was only torturing myself, but she just felt too good.
When she rubbed her body against mine, I pulled back and looked at her, b
oth of us breathless.
Her lips were swollen from our kiss and something about that made me feel possessive. I liked that sated look on her face, and knowing that I put it there.
“I don’t know what made me think this little visit would be easy,” I said as she continued to look up at me, panting.
Her chest rose and fell as she tried to control her breathing. The yellow tank top she wore did absolutely nothing to hide her excitement.
“Tonight is gonna be one of the longest shifts of my life,” I said with a chuckle.
“Well if you get a chance to sneak away again, I don’t mind being woken up by a handsome man in uniform.” Trinity bit her lower lip to hide her smile.
She was teasing me.
I’d noticed she’d been growing a little more flirtatious over the last week or so. She tossed in a gesture here and there, making me wonder if it was her way of saying it was time to take things up a notch.
I treaded lightly with her, but not because I wanted to. Hell, I wanted to toss her on the hood of my car and scare the coyotes away by making her squeal, but I held back.
I didn’t want this thing between us to end. I wanted it all, so I let her lead. But the problem was Trinity wasn’t real aggressive, so I may have been going about this whole thing wrong.
Something told me she wanted more.
“Sweetheart, you would most definitely be worth losing my job over,” I assured her.
I could imagine Ryan getting wind of me taking an hour off to get wrapped up in the sheets with Trinity. He’d for sure reprimand me to the hilt if I got caught with my pants down.
“You and I need to plan a night for us,” I whispered, leaning in once more to kiss the side of her mouth. “A night without the watchful eyes of those Sawyer boys.” I offered her another kiss this time just next to her ear.
She arched her neck, giving me better access to her neck. The response of her body to my touch always set forth a ray of excitement within me.
