“You can’t even look at me?”
I hated that sound, like he had the right to be hurt, so I opened my eyes and I really shouldn’t have. Chase up close was gorgeous, with his dark hair, smooth tan skin, and impossibly light blue eyes. He was too damn handsome. “I’m looking. Now, what do you want?”
His smile faded into a wary hopefulness as one big hand scraped through his wavy hair. “I was hoping we could talk.”
Talking was the absolute last thing I wanted to do. But my Gran had taught me proper manners, and despite how he’d treated me, I’d known Chase nearly all my life.
“Fine. Let’s talk, Chase.” I poured him a glass and pushed it in front of the chair across from me.
He walked closer and eyed the table. “This is nice. Where’d you get it?”
“Remember that tiny shed my grandpa called his Man Hut? This wood is from there. I made it.” His eyes went appropriately round and I grinned. “I painted the flowers too, if that’s feminine enough for you.”
“I didn’t mean that, it’s just, that the table is really nice. Except the flowers.” Yep, still as charming as a snake oil salesman.
“So, Chase, what are we doing here?”
“Right,” he said on a long, drawn out sigh. “I’ve been back for a few months now,” he stopped to shoot me a look of censure for ignoring him when we were neighbors. Next door neighbors. “I came because I didn’t want my folks to get rid of the house, but also because the Salinger land is perfect for my adventure business. Adventure Chasers will provide all types of controlled and wild adventures. You know my sister, she has no interest in settling down while there’re disasters, political unrest and famines to photograph.”
Well, it was the perfect business for him. But I wouldn’t tell him that, because then he might get the idea that I’d thought about him over the years. I hadn’t. But I liked to travel, and he just happened to be one of the most well-known travel writers.
“Your parents will be happy to have you closer, I’m sure.”
His whole face softened when he smiled, thinking of his family, and he looked like the kind of man who broke the heart of every woman he came across. Unintentionally. Mostly.
“Mom’s been pretty vocal about her pleasure. I’m sure they’ll drop by any day now.”
“Arizona isn’t exactly a day trip to Oregon, you know.”
He laughed. “Do you remember my parents? My mother might decide to move back in now that I’m settling here in Truly.”
I did remember them. They were very nice, kind of like those families on the sitcoms I watched with my grandparents. My mom wasn’t like those moms, she was more like the aunt who only dropped in twice during the whole series. I took another sip of tea and shook off those thoughts. They got me nowhere but distracted.
“You want something.” It wasn’t a question.
“I do. You know Pete Salinger?”
“Sure. He grew up ‘round here, but his brother inherited the farm and sold it quickly. He made a ton of money and bought the land. Comes around sometimes with his wife, Simona.” He was a nice old man, always trying to hook me up with one of his “men” which could be anyone from a ranch hand to a tax lawyer.
“Well he doesn’t trust a thirty-year-old man who isn’t married or preparing for that stage of his life.” Chase said that in a way that indicated that it was a direct quote. “And it doesn’t matter that I’m not thirty yet. So, I told him that I have a fiancée. And now I need one.”
“Me?” I had to clarify, because this was crazy. “Why?”
“Because you’re the only person I can trust to help me. Will you?”
He looked so earnest. So handsome. Too handsome and vulnerable. The same way he’d looked when he fooled me the first time.
“No.”
I stood and grabbed my basket before storming inside and slamming the door behind me.
Damn you, Chase Donovan.
Chase
I should have known Kenzi would say no.
But I still felt surprised. Even now, days later, I’m stunned she said no. I’d watched her around town, a smile for everyone even when they didn’t deserve it, and assumed that meant she was the same pushover she’d always been.
“We were talking the way we used to back in high school. I thought I was in.” And then I screwed it up somehow and she shut me down cold. But politely.
“So, what’s your plan?” Matt looked far too pleased about my predicament with Kenzi. I glared at him, but it only made him laugh. He wiped at his brow, the sun beating heavily on us. “Because I’m not wasting my day off helping you with this raggedy-ass porch without getting some gossip.”
“I’m not ready to give up on her just yet. She’s upset with me, but I can make her forgive me.” It meant explaining why I’d done a shitty thing to her. But my future was at stake, and I would do what I had to. “There’s no gossip, because no one knows about this, right?”
Matt just laughed again, but nodded his acquiesce. “She’s already given up on you, man.”
“She’ll say yes.”
“I don’t get it, why are you so sure she’ll do this crazy favor for you?”
It did sound crazy, and I couldn’t explain why I couldn’t just find another plot of land. Or another girl. But I was set on my path, and unwilling to budge until I had no other option.
“We were kind of friends in high school and we talked at home. I had a crush on her, and she had one on me. We had just one night. But I left for Thailand the next morning.”
Matt’s eyes went round in surprise as I knew they would. The one job that I’d had no shot in hell of getting, had come through in the middle of the night. One job for one month in Thailand. It had set me on a course that took me around the world for the past decade.
“Damn man,” he laughed and gave a wry shake of his head. “She probably hates you. But she doesn’t date much, so maybe you still have a chance.”
“You’d better check your sources. She looked pretty chummy with that firefighter and Amber said-,”
Matt cut me off. “Amber doesn’t know. I don’t know what she has against Kenzi, but she doesn’t know. Ken and her are just friends, and they have been for a long time. Remember that scrawny kid with the curly hair that was almost white?”
“Yeah, he was always with Kenzi.”
“That’s Ken. He grew up, and trust me, they’re more like brother and sister than anything.”
I shouldn’t have felt as relieved as I did at hearing she wasn’t dating that big blond, but I did. Not that it mattered, because I was looking for a fake fiancée, a temporary arrangement, not a real girlfriend.
“Then he’s not why she said no.”
Matt hammered the last nail into place and stepped back with a snort. “No, dummy. You are. You did her dirty, man. She might not be pining away for you, but that doesn’t mean she’s forgiven you. Maybe you should find someone else.”
“Someone else will get the wrong idea.” It sounded weak, even to my own ears.
“And Kenzi won’t?”
“No. I don’t know, but she’d be perfect for this. Right?”
“This has nothing to do with the fact that she’s been giving you the cold shoulder since you came back, and you can’t fucking stand it? Right?”
Yeah maybe it stung my ego a little, but that wasn’t it. I was pretty sure of it. “No. She’s good with people and she’s smart, so she won’t just use this as an opportunity to drape herself all over me.” Unfortunately. Matt stared at me as he drained a bottle of water and tossed it in the trash bin. After a while, it unnerved me. “What?”
“You still like her.”
“I do not!”
Matt shrugged. “I wasn’t asking. You do, but you’re too stupid to see it yet.” Then he smiled. “This is going to be fun. Want me to vouch for you?”
“Asshole.”
“I’m a regular customer at her shop, and a law man.” He wore that boyish grin that worked like magic on
his wife.
“You’re something all right,” I told him, pulling off my filthy, sweaty shirt and tossing it behind me.
“What in the hell?”
I froze and turned around to see Kenzi peeling my shirt off her body, revealing a pretty green dress that made her tits look like a work of art.
“Sorry.”
“Forgiven, but only because you’re pretty to look at.” She didn’t say it like she wanted me, but like a fact. It still felt like a compliment, and my cock stirred. “I’ve reconsidered and I agree to be your,” her gaze flickered to Matt and she swallowed hard, like she was trying to get a lump of sawdust down her throat, “fiancée.”
“Great! Can I ask what made you change your mind?”
“No,” she grumbled and turned on her heels, giving me a nice peek of her round ass and shapely legs as she marched off.
“I’ll find out anyway.”
“Over my dead body!” She called back.
“Seven o’clock, sweetheart. Your place.” She paused and turned to me. Her expression unreadable because of the distance between us, but I’d give anything to know if it was arousal. Because it sure as shit felt like she was aroused. “I’ll bring the steaks and the booze.”
“I’ll bring the arsenic,” she said with a sarcastic smile. “Hypothetically of course, Officer.”
“Of course,” Matt said and chuckled when the door shut behind her. “Oh man this is going to be so much fun!”
“Still an asshole,” I grumbled and that only make Matt laugh even harder.
It was still early in the day, but the porch was done and Matt had gone to spend the rest of his day off with Amber, leaving me to amuse myself until later. And my date with Kenzi.
I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face. She said yes. This deal with Salinger was as good as done now. But there was no reason to wait until later to see her. I could go now, get some answers out of the way, so that later, we can enjoy each other. Before I finished the thought, my feet were moving towards Kenzi and my hand knocking on her door.
“In the back,” she called out.
I went around the back and found her in the kitchen, rinsing and chopping vegetables. “Hey, babe.” She glared up at me and I laughed, already feeling that I made a good choice with Kenzi. “What are you doing?”
“Rinsing off my garden pickings. What are you doing here?”
“I figured we should talk a little.”
“About?”
I frowned. “The whole engagement farce?”
“Right,” she grinned innocently, cheeks flushed from the heat of the day, she looked young. Hot. “Yes, we should set some rules. First rule, no touching.”
I leaned back in a chair at the kitchen table and got comfortable. “We are in love and planning to spend our lives together, I think we’d touch a little.” And I couldn’t lie and say I wasn’t looking forward to letting my hands glide all over those soft curves of hers.
“If you’re such an expert on love, why don’t you have a real fiancée?”
That was the same question my mother had asked at least once every time I spoke to her. I kept my gaze on the shiny red mixer on the counter until it became a blob of slick red.
“Women don’t like it when you spend more time on the road, than with them.” And I hadn’t met one who’d made me want to change my ways.
“Fine,” she plunged her hands into a sink filled with water and some type of green leafy vegetable. “Touching is appropriate for public consumption, but only enough to sell this thing as real. No ass grabbing and titty flicking.” She pointed at me and I could only laugh.
“What the hell is titty flicking?”
“Let’s just leave it at no boob play in public.”
“Pity,” I told her as my gaze lingered on the gentle sway of her large breasts. She moved her hands in the water, making them bounce beautifully. “But I agree.” To no boob play in public.
“No sleeping with other people until this thing is over. Just because we both need this, doesn’t mean I’ll let you humiliate me.” The ‘again’ hung in the air between us, unspoken.
“You got it. The only person I’ll sleep with while we’re engaged, is you.” She grinned and rolled her eyes as she moved on to the rinsing the tomatoes. “So, tell me, my love, why do you need a fiancé all of a sudden?”
“Do we have to talk about this?”
“Yes, we do.”
“You’re a pain in the ass, you know that?” She dried her hands and brought me water.
“Tastes like cucumber.”
“Funny how cucumber water tastes that way, right?”
“Smartass.” She was a smartass, but I liked it. She wasn’t trying to be mean or laugh at my expense, she was showing she wouldn’t be what Amber charitably called, my groupies. “Get on with it, darling.”
She shook her head and took a deep breath. “Frank Phillips owns the Farmer Frank grocery chain. He has more than one hundred markets and specialty shops throughout North America, and I want him to carry a few of my products. He loves them, and now he wants to meet, but his wife is out of town and that means we can’t meet until she gets back from her vacation. But we both know that’s code for he won’t meet with a single woman. So, I told him I’d see if my fiancé was around.”
“Why honey, I’d love to join you. Just tell me when and where.”
“Okay, tone it down lover boy.” Her words were stern. “I told him I’d get back to him, so we’ve got some time.”
I nodded and looked around the kitchen. Everywhere I looked there were pieces of Kenzi. The sunflower and cherry dotted towels and oven pads, the big ass stainless steel fridge had all kinds of travel magnets on it. “This place is so you.”
“Thanks, I think. After Gran died, I had to do something to make it mine, or I’d have lost my mind.”
“I was sorry to hear about Bettie.” The woman was different, but she was kind and always looking to help where she could. The kids mocked her, but I’d always loved her colorful skirts and long pale hair.
“Thanks,” she answered, but her voice was soft, tight with emotion. “It’s still hard, but she was so sick at the end…, anyway mostly everything in here is new because the kitchen definitely got plenty of use. But I kept the setup the same, plus her ever growing tin of recipes,” she said and gestured to an old time looking aluminum flour tin.
“It’s nice in here. Very homey.” I stood with what I knew was a satisfied grin. “I can’t wait to see what you make. Impress me, sweetheart.”
“Well impress me and don’t forget the booze.”
I laughed, keeping the smile on my face as I made my way home to write out a list before I went to the store. Kenzi still had a way about her, that made me laugh. Back in high school, I smiled for days after spending just a few minutes in her presence.
And that meant I needed to be careful. Kenzi was the kind of woman who could make a man forget everything in his pursuit of her. But I wasn’t in pursuit of anything. Anything other than Salinger’s land.
Definitely not a sinfully curvy girl next door who smelled like flowers and baked goods and sex.
If I said it enough times, eventually I’d start to believe it.
Kenzi
Dammit, I was running late and I never run late. But tonight, Chase is coming over so we can plan out our fake engagement. I was running around in nothing but lingerie and a robe. I snorted because that sounded like the beginning of a very average porno. But I’d gotten sidetracked after he’d left earlier with some new products I’d been meaning to get started on, and had simply lost track of time.
After a quick shower, and a far too brief moisturizing session, I slipped a robe over my bra and panties, purposefully only mildly sexy which was the best I could do since I had a thing for sexy lingerie, and headed to the kitchen. I cranked up some Janis Joplin and got to work, peeling and chopping potatoes and turnips for mash, avocado salad with mint and garlic and bulgur. It was a little bit of
everything and probably too much, but at least there would plenty to reach for if the conversation took a wrong turn. With twenty minutes left to spare, I put together a quick blueberry crumble, shoved it in the oven and ran upstairs to change.
When the doorbell rang I smiled, relieved I’d at least gotten the dress over my head. Since the pink and yellow maxi dress hung to the floor, I didn’t bother with shoes and my hair was half dry, but that was good enough for me. I did a few deep breathing exercises on my way to the door and slapped a polite smile on my face. Thank goodness I did, because the man did dirty things to jeans and a checked shirt. The brown, blue and gold made everything about his face seem hotter. Ugh.
“Come on in.”
“You look great.”
He said it so simply, like we didn’t have all kinds of history between us. I hated that my skin tingled at his compliment.
“Thanks. What did you bring?” I checked the oven and a pot on the stove, all in an attempt to avoid looking at him.
“Not much, just beer and steak. Tequila and mint chocolate chip ice cream.”
“That’s a pretty impressive stash you’ve got there. I love mint chocolate chip ice cream.” It was my favorite. There were two pints in my freezer now.
“Yeah, I know.”
Damn him. “Yeah, you’re just a regular Olivia Benson, aren’t you?”
His laugh was deep and rich. “I’ve seen Law & Order: SVU in at least forty different languages.”
“No way! That’s kind of cool.”
“Yep. I swear, that show plays once a day everywhere on earth. I’ve fallen asleep to it more than any other show.”
“Where was your favorite place to visit?” If we were going to do this right, we needed to know each other. That was it, I wasn’t really interested.
“I loved Morocco and New Zealand, best. The cultures are so rich, the food was delicious and the scenery was magnificent. I’d love to show you some photos.”
His Takeover: An Enemies to Lovers Romance Page 11
