Chapter Twenty-One
“What are you doing up?” Chase asked, groggily rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he walked into the sitting area of the suite they occupied in Las Vegas.
“Work,” Jessie said, taking a sip from a cup of hot tea, not bothering to look at Chase in the muted light cast around the room by the single lamp she’d flicked on beside her laptop. If she did, his thick, wavy hair, all tousled and inviting, and those bulging muscles fully exposed on his upper torso, provided too much distraction and caused her to lose her train of thought.
Out of self-preservation, she’d pushed Chase away since his birthday party. The incident with Donna had confirmed what Jessie already knew. Chase was a desirable, handsome man that beautiful, worldly women would constantly pursue. She had no place in his life, at least not the rodeo world. Even if she fit in well at the ranch and would rather do anything than leave, she had to give up her dream that Chase would someday fall in love with her. It just wasn’t going to happen. She had to let go of what she wanted and move on with her life.
It had been hard to remain indifferent to him, especially when he’d gone out of his way to be kind to her when he was at the ranch. Then again, she’d been so swamped with work since the end of September she barely had time to notice his comings or goings. She worked six days a week, sometimes up to fourteen hours a day. Sunday was the one day she tried to rest. After church, she wanted to take a nap or read a book, but Sunday afternoons often turned into the time she caught up on things like laundry. Sunday evenings she planned meals for the week and completed a little baking.
Thank goodness, Chase had insisted on keeping the housekeeping service. Earlier in the year, it seemed silly to have them take care of the cleaning when she was perfectly capable of doing it. But the past ten weeks, they’d been a lifesaver. She didn’t have time to worry about scrubbing sinks or dusting furniture as she worked at a frantic pace to keep up with her workload.
When Chase mentioned they’d be in Las Vegas for more than two weeks, Jessie had nearly gone into a nuclear meltdown. She didn’t have time to be gone. Not with all the projects that had to be completed in the near future.
Rather than tell him he could go by himself, she brought her work with her. Jessie rose at three each morning and worked a solid four hours while Chase slept in their luxurious suite. Because they both would be modeling in Lasso Eight’s exclusive fashion show planned for the last day of the rodeo, and Chase would model during a benefit event and at the company’s vendor booth, the owner of the company paid for the suite. With two bedrooms complete with private baths, a large sitting area, a full kitchen, and a gym, their accommodations seemed more like a posh condominium than a hotel room.
Since their arrival the previous week, Jessie spent the majority of her time at the desk in the sitting room, working from her laptop.
The routine she and Chase had fallen into included her working unbeknownst to him while he slept. Once he arose, she’d shower and dress, and join him for a simple breakfast. He’d work out in the gym then try to talk her into going with him to visit friends, shop, or see the sights. She’d refuse and he’d leave, coming back with lunch for her before he’d leave again for the afternoon.
She enjoyed watching him ride each evening as she sat with Ashley, Jack and Amy. After the rodeo, they often went to events that honored that night’s winners.
So far, Chase was leading in the bull riding. If the winning streak he was on held, he’d go home as the champion.
As Jessie designed a book cover for one of her favorite clients, she took another sip of tea and ignored Chase’s presence until he moved closer and his warm, masculine scent tantalized her senses.
“I know what you’re doing. I want to know why.” He hunkered down beside the desk chair and rested his big, warm hand on her back. Jessie had twisted her hair into a messy knot on top of her head and wore a pair of soft pajamas Stacey had sent her a few weeks ago with a note to burn all her ugly nightwear. The heat from Chase’s hand felt as though it might sear right through the thin cotton.
Jessie ignored the tingles racing through her from his touch and focused on adjusting the color in the background of the cover image. “I’ve got obligations and responsibilities to my clients that I have to see through. None of this can wait until we get back to the ranch.”
“I’m sure they would understand if you told them why you can’t work on their projects right now.”
She glared at him and turned back to the screen, tired of the same conversation they’d had every day since they arrived in Las Vegas. Chase didn’t seem to understand she couldn’t just set aside her business during one of the busiest times of the year. Her clients depended on her and she was not going to let them down. She was close to getting everything done and would then be able to devote more time to being the adoring rodeo wife, but today wasn’t that day.
The annoyed look on his face matched his gruff tone when he spoke. “How many days have you gotten up this early?”
She shrugged. “What day is it?”
He scowled and lines furrowed across his brow. “Thursday.”
“Then I’ve gotten up early the past twelve mornings. Or is it thirteen?” She took another drink of her tea. “How long have we been here?”
Chase sighed and took the tea from her hands then pulled her to her feet, wrapping his arms around her. “Jessie, you look exhausted and this is ridiculous. You need your rest. If I’d known you were only getting a few hours sleep, I’d have made sure we came back earlier each night. Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because this,” she waved her hand around the hotel’s living area, but the gesture encompassed the rodeo and everything tied to it, “is what you live for. It’s who you are, what you do. I don’t want to disrupt it in any way. Besides, I should be caught up with work later today then I can enjoy the rest of the week.”
“Jess, we only have today, tomorrow, and Saturday left. In case you’ve forgotten, we have the benefit luncheon and fashion show today. Then Saturday is the special Lasso Eight fashion show and reveal of the new women’s line. I was hoping to have some time to just, you know, hang out with you, show you some of my favorite places. Other than the rodeo, you’ve hardly left the room.”
“We’ll have time to do stuff tomorrow, right? And this afternoon? I promise I’ll be ready for fun as soon as I finish up these last dozen projects.” She turned her gaze from him back to the screen of her laptop and pushed against his chest.
“No, Jess. No more work until we go home. You’re so tired you can’t think straight.” In spite of her splutters of half-hearted protest, he picked her up and carried her to her room, depositing her on the bed.
Stunned by how easily he swept her into his arms and overwhelmed by the glorious sensations rocketing through her from the experience, she relaxed against him.
Although her limbs felt languid and her thoughts muddled, she battled against the yearning to close her eyes and sleep. To pull Chase down with her and rest in his arms. Instead, she rolled off the far side of the bed and glowered at him. “I have work to do. The sooner you let me get back to it, the faster I’ll finish.”
“Jessie, I swear, if you don’t climb back in that bed and get some rest, I will personally make sure you stay there.” Chase took a threatening step toward her.
Anger simmering, she gave him a long look, trying not to let the vision of his bare chest and the worry on his face dissuade her from what she needed to do.
“I appreciate your concern, Chase, but I have to do this.” She started to walk past him, but his hand shot out and grabbed her arm. Coolly, she looked from his hand to his face. “Let me go.”
“Not this time, Jessie. I’ve let you go the past few months and I can’t… I don’t want to.” He slid his hand up her arm and cupped the back of her head, tilting her face up to his. “What I want…” He took a step closer and wrapped his other hand around her waist, “is this.”
Slowly, sensually, h
is mouth moved over hers, sending the ever-present butterflies in her stomach into a frenzied path of flight. Within seconds, Jessie released her stiff posture and responded to him with an eagerness that matched his own.
For several blissful moments, she forgot about everything. There were no waiting clients, no rodeos, no fashion shows or obligations. There was only Chase and the incredible feeling of being held in his arms.
His hands roved over her, caressing, teasing, encouraging, while his kisses transported her into a state of euphoria unlike anything she’d ever dreamed possible.
“Jessica Rose,” he whispered, kissing a fiery trail down her jaw and along her neck. She tilted her head to give him better access and allowed herself to surrender to the enticing spell he wove around her.
“Come to bed, darlin’. Please?” Uncertain what he was asking, but willing to find out, she allowed him to lead her two steps closer to her bed when the full realization of what she was doing, what he was doing, hit her like a slap to the face.
She sucked in a gulp of air and jerked away from him. Daggers of accusation shot from her expressive eyes as she continued backing toward the door. “I’m not one of the floozies who flirt with you all the time, Chase. You can’t seduce me into doing what you want, so don’t even try.”
On the verge of a complete emotional breakdown, Jessie tamped down her tears and returned to the sitting room.
Chase caught her by the hand and spun her around before she made it to the desk. “I’m not trying to seduce you because I want you to do as I say, you infuriating, mule-headed woman. Did you ever think that maybe I want you? So help me, Jessie, I want you like I’ve never wanted anyone in my life.”
“No, you don’t. You don’t want me, Chase. You’re just…” Convinced he was too tired to know what he was saying, she shook her head. “Just leave me alone, Chase. Please.”
“Fine!” he shouted and stomped back to his room.
She plopped down at the desk and blinked several times as she stared at the ceiling, trying to clear the tears from her eyes and get a handle on the emotions threatening to bubble over the edge of her control.
Before she did, Chase stalked back into the room, threading his belt into the loops of his jeans as he rushed toward the door with his hat on crooked and an unfastened shirt blowing in the breeze his rapid movements created.
“Where are you going?” she asked, standing to her feet and taking three steps toward him.
“Out. I’m sure in this whole big city there has to be at least one woman who doesn’t find my company as repulsive as you do. You wanted to be left alone. Well, you’ve got it, honey.” He slammed the door so hard Jessie cringed.
Determined not to cry, not to give in to the panic and pain washing over her, she sat down and went back to work.
By nine, she’d finished the last design project and sent it to her client. Numb from what had happened with Chase and uncertain how to make things right, she took a shower and spent extra time doing her hair. She even added a little more makeup than her typical preference of just mascara and lip balm.
Dressing carefully in a denim dress accented with pale pink roses amid a gray and white southwestern pattern, she pulled on her favorite pair of cowboy boots, fastened a wide leather belt around her waist, and slipped the rose bracelet Chase had given her on their wedding day around her wrist.
She stared at the bracelet, recalling every sweet moment of the afternoon they’d spent together last year, wondering how she could have handled things differently. Not falling in love with her hunky husband would have been a good first step.
After gathering what she needed for the day into her purse, she left the room and took a taxi to the hotel hosting the benefit luncheon.
Jessie didn’t know how she’d let Chase, Ashley, and Paige talk her into modeling at the fashion show. Paige had assured her she’d be perfect as one of the models, with her curvy figure and height. Ashley had added her input that it would be great publicity for Chase to have her among the rodeo wives and girlfriends modeling. Chase had commented that he’d be modeling anyway and wanted her to join him.
Part of Jessie thought it would be fun, and stretch the boundaries of her comfort zone. The shy, introverted part of her wanted to run back to the hotel and hide in her room.
Once she arrived at the venue, she found the event director who showed her where to go to get ready for the fashion show. Paige and Cooper were backstage, organizing the models who would wear Lasso Eight’s designs.
“Jessie! You look fabulous!” Paige said, giving her a hug then standing back to admire the dress. “I’m so glad Elliott insisted on you wearing that dress today. You make it look amazing.”
“You’re so sweet, Paige. Thank you,” Jessie said, slightly embarrassed by the attention. “What do I need to do?”
Paige pointed in the direction of a room where Jessie could hear women giggling. “If you go in there, they’ll give you a little stage makeup. Your hair is perfect. Oh, and the other two outfits you’re going to model are in that room on a rack. They are bagged and tagged with your name.”
Cooper chuckled. “Bagged and tagged. Makes it sound like you’ve taken down a prize trophy, PP.”
“Maybe Jessie is going to be my prize model today.” Paige shot her husband a coy smile then winked at Jessie. “Don’t be nervous. You’ll do great. Besides, Cooper and Chase will both be on the stage, too, if you need them.”
Jessie nodded then hurried back to the room where a woman with huge hair and a bigger smile sat her down in a chair and did her makeup. When she finished, Jessie hardly recognized herself. Her eyelashes were so long, they looked like wings as they feathered her pink-rouged cheeks. Her lips were a deep, rosy shade of red and her skin appeared both bronzed and flawless.
“I didn’t need to do much to you, hon. You’re lovely just as you are,” the woman said, patting Jessie’s shoulder.
Jessie thanked her and went to look at the two outfits she’d model in addition to the one she was already wearing. One looked like an evening gown of sorts and the other was a pair of jeans with a sassy cotton top that she loved.
Nervous and anxious, she visited the restroom. She returned to the area where the models waited and found a spot to stand out of the way where she could watch what was going on right behind the stage curtain without being noticed.
As people bustled about, she tried not to think about the fashion show or how much she hated being in the spotlight. She also tried not to dwell on how angry Chase had been when he’d left their suite in the wee hours of the morning. What if he really had run into the arms of another woman? In spite of herself, Jessie experienced a wave of jealousy that left her so upset and ill, she wrapped her arms around her stomach against the sudden pain.
A warm hand touched on her arm as a familiar scent settled around her. “You okay?” Chase asked, glancing down at her with concern in his captivating eyes.
Unsettled by his presence, by his gentle touch and care, she blinked back tears and nodded her head.
“You’ll do great, Jessie. Don’t worry about it. Just pretend the room is empty and you’re a little girl, playing dress up. Did you ever do that?” he asked, draping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her against his side. “I remember Ashley loved to play dress up when we’d go to Granny’s house. She even tried to make me participate, but I wasn’t keen on her girly games.”
Jessie smiled. “I played dress up with my grandmother. We had a lot of fun.” She glanced at her husband and released a long breath. “Look, Chase, about this morning, I’m…”
He placed a finger over her lips, silencing her. “I shouldn’t have lost my temper and I’m sorry. Let’s just forget and forgive, and get through this fashion show. Okay?”
She nodded, wanting to ask him a dozen questions, but willing to let things go, for now.
He hugged her tighter to him and pressed his lips close to her ear. “You look incredible. That dress is perfect for you.”
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nbsp; “Thank you,” Jessie whispered, feeling heat tingle over her cheeks at his praise. “You look good, too.” In fact, the dark green and pale blue paisley print of the gray shirt Chase wore brought out green and blue flecks in his hazel eyes and accentuated his tan. Golden locks of his hair waved around his ears beneath the brim of his hat, making her desperate to bury her fingers in it.
Before her thoughts began rolling down a path they didn’t need to go, Paige motioned for them to get ready to go out on the stage.
With a prayer for strength to get her through her first modeling experience, Jessie took a deep breath and stepped from behind the curtain into the spotlight.
Chase had to work to keep his mouth from dangling open as Jessie walked onto the stage at Saturday’s exclusive Lasso Eight fashion show.
The black dress she wore hugged every single one of her curves. There was lace, curves, and more curves. And legs… oh, man. Where had she been hiding them the last year? The short skirt hit her mid-thigh and showed off a pair of incredible legs he’d somehow failed to fully appreciate until that very moment.
Knees weak, he didn’t realize he’d let his reaction to her show until Cooper elbowed him and whispered, “Easy, Tiger. If you ask nice, Paige will let her keep that. You can enjoy it later.”
Chase scowled at his friend as Jessie made a flawless walk along the runaway then exited the stage.
Despite how nervous she’d been at Thursday’s benefit show, she’d done great and the audience couldn’t get enough of them posing as a couple. Chase had nearly tripped and fallen off the stage when Jessie came out wearing a long red dress with a pair of red and black boots. The dress seemed simple in design until she executed a spinning turn and it fanned out, revealing a deep slit on one side that showed off just enough leg to make his mouth go dry and the breath choke right out of him.
Although he liked her fresh appearance with the minimal makeup she usually wore, it was something else altogether to see her in full stage makeup. Beautiful didn’t even begin to describe her.
Chasing Christmas: (Sweet Holiday Western Romance) (Rodeo Romance Book 5) Page 26
