by Judy Duarte
Chase didn’t mention that Wanda worried about Molly, too. But he found it kind of cute. That’s what neighbors were for, he supposed.
He walked with Molly up to the porch, wondering if she’d invite him in. He didn’t dare wonder about anything more than that right now.
“Thanks for coming with me today,” he said.
“I had a good time.”
He’d told Gerald that he would bring her to the barbecue, and he was glad he had. He still wasn’t sure how to help her work through her fear, but he hoped that the more she got out, the more she became a part of his world, the easier it would be for her.
“I thought I’d pick you up about one,” he said, going out on a limb. “If that’s okay.” She’d implied that she would go with him. Or at least, she hadn’t said no. But that was before the damn coyote ran into the street, which might have set her back.
“Look, I’ll go with you, but would you mind if I met you there?”
He guessed that the near-miss had caused her fears to kick into high gear after all.
Or did she not want to look like a couple when they arrived?
Either way, he decided to push a little.
“It would really mean a lot to me if you’d let me pick you up.”
She hesitated, clearly still rattled by the incident with the coyote. “Okay. I’ll go.”
Obviously, she wasn’t going to invite him in. But he wasn’t going to push about that. Instead, he gave her another one of those slow, memorable kisses that had set her on fire the last time they’d been together.
“You’re going to invite me inside again one day,” he said. “And when you do, I’m going to make you glad you did.”
“Oh, yeah?” she said, a grin tickling her lips.
“You can count on it.”
Then he turned and headed back to his car. For a moment, he questioned the certainty in his words.
Maybe because that kiss they’d shared had been lacking something.
The spark that had been in their first kiss, he decided. And the innocent longing that had been in the second.
On his way to the car, he hoped against hope that she would call him back. And when she didn’t, regret filled his lungs.
He wanted to take one last glance over his shoulder, to see if she was having second thoughts, but refused to run the risk of seeing that she’d gone inside.
As Chase ambled down the walk, preparing to get into his car, Molly stood on the porch and watched him go, her lips still tingling from his kiss.
“Chase,” she said, calling after him.
When he turned, she didn’t remain rooted in one spot, expecting him to come to her. She met him halfway.
He seemed to understand all she struggled with, because he placed his hand on her cheek, whisked his thumb across her skin and gazed into her eyes. “What’s the matter?”
“I’d like you to stay. I mean, if you want to.”
A smile stole across his face. “I do. But are you sure?”
She’d been uncertain about a lot of things since meeting him, but not about her attraction to him, her desire for him. “I definitely want you to stay. But the rest…the rest is complicated.”
“I’m sure we can sort it all out if we put our heads together.”
There it was again, his agreement to find some middle ground on an issue that was tearing her apart. His smile convinced her that working it out might be a lot easier than she’d imagined.
“I’d like that.” Then she took him by the hand and led him into the house, where Rusty met them in the entry with an I’m-hungry/Where-have-you-been? meow.
After greeting and feeding the cat, Molly secured the front door. Then she and Chase retired to the bedroom, which was lit by soft lamplight.
“I shouldn’t feel so awkward,” she said.
“No, you shouldn’t.” His gaze locked on hers, and she let go of her apprehension, reminding herself how badly she wanted him, wanted this. How nothing else mattered. How they’d work everything out.
They both undressed slowly and deliberately, their eyes on each other the entire time.
When they’d set aside their clothing, she turned back the comforter and they climbed into bed and came together like lovers who’d grown comfortable with each other over the years.
As Chase slipped his arms around her, drawing her close, he placed his lips on hers in a warm, blood-stirring kiss.
And with each heated touch, each arousing caress, each hungry kiss, Molly shut out her worries, amazed at how good they were together and telling herself that nothing else mattered.
When they reached a peak, they climaxed together and rode each ebb and flow until they lay completely spent.
Chase’s ragged breathing lulled her, and as she closed her eyes, she let go of almost everything that held her back. Yet she didn’t let go of him, didn’t turn away.
Instead, she held on to Chase as though she could make the moment last forever.
And she sure hoped she could.
Because she’d fallen in love with Chase Mayfield, even though she was afraid to let him know.
Chapter Eleven
In spite of Molly’s secrets—her feelings for Chase and the baby they’d conceived—she slept better that night than she had in ages.
Of course, being cradled in Chase’s arms had surely helped.
The next morning, after they showered and dressed, Chase insisted upon fixing her a breakfast of pancakes, orange juice and coffee. For a moment she suffered a wave of nausea, excused herself and hurried to the bathroom. But after a few minutes of slow breathing, it passed.
Now, as they sat at the table, she studied the man across from her, his hair damp and mussed. Even the scar over his brow added a rugged edge to his handsome face.
She couldn’t believe her luck in finding him, and her heart swelled.
“I thought we’d leave for the barbecue around ten,” he said. “Is that okay with you?”
“I guess so.” She’d really prefer to meet him there, but if their relationship was going to develop into something special, something lasting, they would have to go places together—and in the same car. So she supposed she’d have to get used to letting Chase drive once in a while.
“I’m not sure if Pamela will be there,” he added, “but there’s a good possibility that she’ll show up. So I wanted to give you a heads-up.”
Molly wasn’t keen on meeting his ex-wife, although that didn’t mean she wouldn’t like to check her out from a distance. “I’m all right with that. But why is she going to be there?”
“Because her father is my biggest sponsor.”
Somehow, that bit of news didn’t sit well. Molly didn’t like thinking that Chase was still locked in with his ex, with his past. But she was an adult, and so was Pamela.
Besides, from what Molly understood, the barbecue was an end-of-the-season wrap-up. And she was hoping that Chase would use it as a springboard to announce his retirement. After all, he knew how she felt about racing, and he’d said they could reach a compromise. What else could he have possibly meant?
So that being the case, she would make every effort to attend and support him, even if that meant strapping herself into the passenger seat of his new sports car and putting her life in his hands.
Now that was certainly a compromise.
“Where’s the ranch?” she asked.
“About thirty or forty miles north of Brighton Valley, but it’s an easy drive.”
It didn’t sound like an easy drive to Molly, but she tried not to think about it. She’d made it through Saturday, as well as that fearful moment when the coyote had run onto the road.
Besides, after meeting Chase’s family, she’d begun to feel better about being involved with him. And sleeping together again last night had made their bond stronger.
She was beginning to think they had a chance to be a real couple, one with a bright future.
Chase had told her he’d been staying at the Brighton
Valley Motor Inn, so he needed to go back so he could shave and get a change of clothing.
She supposed she could have told him to bring his things back with him, but she wasn’t quite ready for a move like that, although she could be soon. It depended a lot on whether he indicated some plan to give up racing in the not-too-distant future.
“I’ll be back by ten,” he told her before giving her a kiss goodbye.
She planned to use the time to fix her hair and put on her makeup. She’d also need to find something special to wear. She’d chosen her newest pair of jeans and a white cotton blouse, the closest thing she had to western wear, which she thought would be appropriate for a barbecue at a ranch.
While she was applying mascara, the finishing touch, the doorbell rang.
“Just a minute,” she called out, thinking Chase might have forgotten something.
When she answered, she found Wanda on the porch wearing her housecoat and slippers.
“I waited until after Chase left,” the elderly woman said. “Did you want to look at my toe now?”
“Of course, come on inside.”
Wanda entered the house slowly, then took a seat on the sofa. As she carefully removed her slipper, she winced and blew out a labored little huff.
Molly drew closer. She couldn’t help but frown when she spotted the woman’s big toe, which was terribly swollen. The red, angry flesh was clearly infected.
She couldn’t be sure, but she thought the start of a red streak had formed, indicating that Wanda might have blood poisoning.
“This needs to be treated,” she told the woman. “And it can’t wait until tomorrow. You’re going to have to go to the E.R. today.”
“There goes the entire morning,” Wanda said. “That place is a zoo on the weekends. And the wait is going to be awful.”
Molly couldn’t argue about that.
“My doctor’s office opens at eight tomorrow morning,” Wanda said, “so maybe if I’m there when they open the door, they’ll fit me in first thing.”
That wasn’t a good idea. Molly straightened and watched as the woman struggled to replace the slipper on her foot. “I’ll tell you what, Wanda. I’ll drive you to Urgent Care. The wait shouldn’t be too long.”
“Gosh, I hate to have you do that.”
“I really don’t mind.” In fact, there was a part of Molly that welcomed an excuse to arrive late at the barbecue. And to drive her own car. “Give me a minute, though. All right?”
There’d been several reasons Molly had wanted to drive out to the ranch. But none of them were as believable and as commendable as the excuse that had just fallen in her lap.
While Wanda waited, Molly called Information and requested the phone number of the Brighton Valley Motor Inn. She called and, when someone answered, she asked to speak to Mr. Mayfield’s room.
Chase answered on the second ring.
“It’s Molly,” she said. “I have to take Wanda to see a doctor. Her toe is very badly infected, so I’m going to have to meet you at the ranch. I’ll get there as soon as I can.”
He paused a beat, as though pondering her words. Or maybe he was contemplating an argument.
Instead, he asked, “You’re not going to blow it off, are you?”
Apparently, Chase had yet to learn that when Molly said she would do something, she did it. “Believe it or not, I’m a woman of my word. I’ll be there, Chase.”
“I believe it.” Then he gave her directions and an address.
To be on the safe side, Molly went to the den, sat at the computer and checked the address on MapQuest.
“Wow,” she said, as she studied the screen. She hadn’t expected the Barden ranch to be so far off the beaten path. Or that she’d have to take so many unfamiliar roads.
She sat back in the desk chair and sighed. Well, there was no getting around it. Wanda needed someone with her, and Molly was all she had.
She printed out the instructions, then shut down the computer and grabbed her purse.
“I’m ready now.” She waited for Wanda to get slowly to her feet and limp to the door, wincing with each step she took.
In spite of Wanda’s discomfort and the inconvenience of spending time in the waiting room of Urgent Care, Molly was glad she had an excuse to drive herself to the ranch.
To be honest, it was just better this way.
As Chase hung up the telephone, he blew out a sigh. He hadn’t expected Molly to call and change the game plan. And even though he knew Wanda had a bad toe and he believed the story he’d been given, he couldn’t help thinking that Molly was glad that she’d been able to avoid riding with him to the barbecue.
If so, they had more to work on than he’d thought.
Yes, he realized. They had work to do, because he meant to be a part of Molly’s life, and her problems would be his problems.
He couldn’t believe how disappointed he was to be going alone, though. How weird was that? For years he’d been attending functions by himself. But this was different. He’d been looking forward to taking Molly with him, to being a couple, to introducing her to his racing world. And he’d wanted to show her off, as well.
Besides, Gerald was expecting to meet her.
He wondered what his sponsor would say when they didn’t arrive together, then he uttered a curse under his breath, irked that he even gave a damn what the man thought. It might have mattered when he’d been married to Pamela, but he and Gerald didn’t have that kind of relationship anymore.
Of course, they had the race car connection. And the car was fine-tuned and raring to go once the season started. So after slipping on his boots and grabbing his jacket, he drove the forty miles to Barden’s place, a sixty-plus-acre spread considered a gentleman’s ranch, where Gerald’s friends often gathered to hunt, fish and relax.
The immediate grounds had been set up with rented chairs and tables, complete with linen coverings and flower arrangements.
Just to the left of the place where a buffet line had been set up, a trailer had been parked with Chase’s stock car prominently displayed, washed, waxed and ready to go.
Dark clouds gathered on the horizon, and he wondered if Gerald was prepared for rain. Probably, if Pamela had anything to do with the planning.
He’d no more than climbed out of his new Corvette when Gerald came up to greet him. “Chase. It’s good to see you. But where’s your lady friend?”
“She’s going to meet me here. She had to drive one of her neighbors to the doctor, so hopefully that won’t take too long.”
“Good. Come with me. There are a few people in the house that I want you to meet.”
For some reason, Chase always felt as though he was on display whenever he and Gerald were together, but he’d gotten used to it over the years.
As they reached the veranda, Gerald said, “I sent my foreman to Brighton Valley to pick up Mrs. Haines and her kids. They ought to be here any minute.”
“Who’s inside?” he asked.
“Herb Eubanks, a guy who’d like to offer you a couple of endorsements. And he’s got a few other things to bring to the table.”
As Chase strode next to Gerald on their way to the house, a white van with KRHA News painted along the side pulled up and parked near the stock car.
“What’s with the dog and pony show?” Chase asked.
“It’s not a show. Not exactly. Think of it as the public seeing a day in the life of Chase Mayfield, stock car driver and all ’round good guy. I’m doing my best to put you in a good light, son, and I think you ought to appreciate that.”
The business part of it was fine. Chase didn’t mind talking endorsements and money. But he didn’t like Gerald thinking that he was a part of some kind of wacky reality show.
They climbed up the steps to the front door. As they entered the sprawling ranch house, Pamela greeted them. She had some color to her face these days, but what really caught his attention was the way her black top stretched over an obvious baby bump.
; As Gerald continued on, Chase and Pamela greeted each other with a kiss on the cheek, a stiff and awkward display that told the world they were adults who’d gotten over whatever issues had led to their divorce.
“When’s the baby due?” Chase asked.
“In October.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” She smiled and caressed her tummy. “It’s a boy, so Daddy, of course, is thrilled.”
Chase imagined that he was. Gerald adored “Pammy” but he was a man’s man and had always wanted a son who’d hunt and fish with him. Maybe that’s why Chase had fit the bill and why Gerald continued to keep him around.
When he’d been married to Pamela, Chase had liked the paternal attention he’d gotten, the attention he hadn’t needed to share or fight for. Hell, even when he’d offered to give up one of his kidneys for his father, he’d somehow ended up last on the list of possible donors. So the pseudo father-son relationship with Gerald had worked out for both of them.
Lately, though, it didn’t seem to be working quite as well as it once had.
About ten minutes later, after Chase had been introduced to Herb Eubanks and played the endorsement courting game, Diana Haines and her kids arrived at the ranch.
“You’re going to have to excuse me,” Chase said, jumping on the chance to slip away from the formal stuff.
Once outside, he approached Diana and the kids. “Hey, you made it.”
“Yeah,” Tommy said. “I never got to see a real ranch before.”
Well, Gerald Barden’s place wasn’t a working ranch—it was more for show than anything, but Chase kept that to himself.
“Is that your race car?” Tommy asked, his good arm outstretched and pointing at the trailer.
“Yep. Do you want to check it out?”
“I sure do. Cool.”
As they walked toward the car, a news crew and the reporter joined them.
It was nice to see Tommy happy, but the boy and his family had clearly been set up. Used.
A knot formed in Chase’s gut as he realized that he’d been a part of it, but he didn’t know how to make things right at this point.
