by Gary, Codi
Her first boyfriend had been a high-school baseball player who went to the same church and her mother had adored him. He’d been cute as a bug, but nothing compared to Chase’s raw sexuality. Her mother had definitely never worried about them being alone together, even though he had been her first.
Of course, he had left for college and broken up with her for a sorority girl named Tiffany who he’d met during pledge week, so maybe she did have a type.
Dirty, rotten, cheating jerk faces.
Katie could hear her mother now: Katie, if you invite a man into your home he’ll have certain expectations.
It’s not like she had really invited Chase, he had just kind of invited himself and she hadn’t said no. So, technically, she hadn’t done anything wrong . . . yet.
All of these thoughts rushed through Katie’s head as she paced her very neutral living room, picking up her bra off the back of the couch and cleaning up a pile of cat puke Slinks had left by the entryway. She winced as the skin of her back pulled tight and her tattoo throbbed, cursing the cat silently. Sometimes she thought he did it on purpose, just to make her life more difficult.
As she was washing her hands, a knock made her jump and run for the door nervously while Slinks, who had been quietly munching on kibble, puffed up and ran for her bedroom with a hiss.
“Sorry, Slinks!” She opened the door and had a grocery bag shoved into her arms. “What’s this?”
“You said I distracted you from your evening of grocery shopping, so I picked up a few things.” Chase walked past her with two bags of his own and set them on the counter.
She was still standing in the entryway, unsure how to proceed. “How did you get all this on the back of your bike?”
“Whoa!” He turned to her with a dark scowl. “That is a gorgeous piece of machinery, not some tricycle. Show some respect.”
She shut the front door and set the bag she held next to his. “You didn’t have to buy me groceries.”
“I didn’t. You left money on the counter when I told you not to, so I used it to buy some food.” He opened up her fridge and she heard him tsking. “Geez, when you said you had no food, you weren’t kidding. Is that a Chia Pet?”
Katie pushed past him to grab the forgotten fajitas and threw them in the trash. “I left you that money to pay for my tattoo.” The man was making her dizzy and frustrated, unloading groceries in her kitchen. Groceries he’d bought for her. It was high-handed. It was overstepping. It was . . .
Okay, it was kind of sweet.
Another knock sounded and she jumped. “Who in the name of Brad Paisley is that?”
He started laughing and wheezed. “You are too much . . .”
She walked to the front door and pulled it open. Clinton Hammond stood on her front porch with a Rico’s Pizza box and a plastic bag of plates in his hands, his egg-sized Adam’s apple bobbing in his stork-like, teenage throat. “Hi, Katie. Got your pizza and bread sticks.”
Now she was doubly confused. “Thanks, Clint, but I didn’t . . .”
“Ah, perfect timing, kid.” Chase came up beside her and reached out for the boxes. He handed Clint some money and said, “Have a good night.” Clint’s eyes were wide and his Adam’s apple bobbed quickly as Chase slammed the door in his face. “Come on, I’m starving.”
Katie felt like her head was going to explode. “You called in a pizza order and had them deliver it to my house?”
Chase handed her a slice on a paper plate and looked at her like she was the crazy one. “Yeah. You said you were hungry, and I was starving.”
“Well, so much for avoiding gossip! Clint’s going to head back to Rico’s and tell Rico, who will tell his wife, Regina, who has a bigger trap than Marcie Andrews.” She wanted to fill the sink and drown herself just thinking about what people would say tomorrow. What was she doing? Her mother must be looking down at her and shaking her head in disappointment. Not only had she gotten a tattoo, but now she was standing in her kitchen, at night, eating pizza with a man who would make a nun sweat.
He pulled another piece out of the box and said, “Then I think there’s only one solution.”
Chase took a bite and she wished he would chew with his mouth open or maybe even belch. Anything to make him less appealing.
“And what’s that?” she asked, setting her plate down.
He closed the gap between them and pressed against her, his arms slipping through hers to grab the tile countertop behind her. Grinning down at her wolfishly, he said, “We give them something to talk about.”
His nearness was wreaking havoc with her plan to resist him. Especially with those great lips so close to hers. “What do you mean?”
As he moved against her suggestively, her body started humming with desire, especially in the places that hadn’t been touched since months before Jimmy left. And Chase knew what he was doing to her; she could tell by the heat in his eyes.
“I think your little list was about more than just brainstorming a bunch of out-of-character fantasies. It was a cry for help. I think you need to have a little fun and cut loose. And I’m just the guy you need.”
“Oh yeah? And how does it benefit me for the whole town to know we’re dating or hooking up or whatever you have in mind?” Her eyes almost crossed with lust as he moved his hips into hers again, causing a throbbing ache between her legs.
“Maybe because people will stop seeing you as this perfect little miss with no substance and start taking you seriously.” He swirled his hips against her again and she had the urge to jump him, wrap her legs around his waist and grind back.
But she wasn’t going to. No, she was going to take the high road, resist temptation . . . as soon as she could get him to stop that grinding motion.
“People do not think that about me,” she said, grabbing his hips.
He snorted. “They think you’re a kitten. A ball of fluff that they can push around. But I see you when you think no one notices. You’ve got a spark inside you, and if you let me, I can make you burn.”
Her breath caught as his voice lowered. She tried to remain in control, but the images and feelings he brought to mind were not helping her resolve. “God, you think a lot of yourself. So I’m getting all this great exposure that’s going to make my life better. What do you get?”
He leaned down, putting his mouth a hairsbreadth from her ear. “I get to do something I’ve been thinking about since the first time you walked past me with your little nose in the air and that sweet-ass swaying.”
She pushed at his shoulders. “You’re a pig.”
Laughing, he went back to his side of the kitchen. “Oh come on, you are wound too tight. You need to relax and just have a fun. You do know what that is, don’t you?”
Grabbing her pizza, she shoved some in her mouth, biting down aggressively. “Of course. I have fun all the time. I am the epitome of fun.”
He grabbed a Coke from the counter and laughed. “Whatever you say, Firecracker.”
“Firecracker? Why Firecracker?” she asked, ignoring the giddy thrill the nickname gave her.
“’Cause you’re all wrapped up, just waiting for someone to light your fuse and make you heat up, start to lose control and finally, explode,” he said, grinning as he popped his Coke lid and took a swig.
“And you think that someone’s going to be you?” she asked.
“I like my odds,” he said.
“Are you always so sure of yourself?” she asked.
“No, but I don’t think I’d still be here if you weren’t a little interested,” he said, taking a bite of his pizza.
Watching him while she gnawed absently on her own slice, she considered his proposal. It would be nice to have somebody to call up to hang out with, and not have to sit at home twiddling her thumbs. She was fun, except she hadn’t really met anyone to be fun with. Almost every weekend she went with Steph to Buck’s or Hank’s Bar, or to the movies, but she was sick and tired of playing third wheel with Steph and Jared. Even when Jus
tin Silverton, Jared’s best friend, came along, she could never think of Justin in that way. Not that he wasn’t nice to look at, being a former marine and already quite hunky, but he had never been more than just one of the gang. He certainly didn’t make her heart pound or her palms sweat like Chase. Maybe he was exactly what she needed. Someone who wouldn’t lie to her about what he wanted, and who she wouldn’t dream about getting serious with.
Lord knew her mother would have disapproved. It was a sobering thought, her mother. She would have definitely told her to steer clear of Chase.
She also doesn’t have to spend her nights alone with a fat black cat and whatever bad reality crap is on TV. She would want you to be happy and live your life, not mope around because your plan A didn’t work.
Mind made up, she threw the paper plate into the trash and asked, “So say I’m interested. What are the ground rules?”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Rules? We have to have rules?”
“Of course there need to be rules. For instance, this is going to be fun. Casual. So no holding hands. No kissing in public. No romantic gestures like flowers or chocolates,” she said, counting off each item on her finger.
Chuckling, he said, “Ah, Firecracker, I have never made a romantic gesture in my life. And I’m not exactly the type to skip about town holding hands and playing footsy under the table.”
That’s not true. Going to the grocery store for a woman because she forgot is pretty romantic and chivalrous. She didn’t mention it, though. Instead she ignored his sarcasm and continued, “And if and when we . . . you know, it will be on my terms, and I don’t want you spreading it around to your buddies at Buck’s.”
He lost his smile. “First of all, if you’re old enough to ‘do it,’ then you should be able to say it. Sex. Screw. Laid. Fu—”
She slapped her hand over his mouth and growled, “Stop. Don’t be vulgar.”
Reaching up, he removed her hand and nibbled on her palm. “Stop acting like such a stick. I’m not the type of guy to kiss and tell.”
Jerking her hand back, Katie snapped, “I’m sorry I impugned your honor, but I’m not used to this. I wasn’t raised for this, and I certainly wasn’t prepared for you. It reminds me of my first internship in college, at the police station.” She could tell by the surprised lift of his brow that he didn’t believe her. “What? I wanted to be a cop. I even took a class on firearms and takedown tactics.”
“So, why didn’t you?”
She blushed. “The detective I worked under wanted me to read a statement to him, but every other word was a curse and my mom had always told me that ladies didn’t talk like that. So I was blanking and bleeping out all the bad words and when I finished, he took the paper from me. I thought he was going to yell at me, but he just read it to me, every effing word of it, then handed it back and said, ‘Now read it right or maybe you should rethink your career path.’ I finished up the semester and transferred to cosmetology. It was just a better fit for me.”
“Surprised you didn’t pick kindergarten teacher or nurse. Cosmetology is kind of a big jump, isn’t it?” he said.
“Not really. I wanted to be a cop to protect people, and help them. I’m just helping them in a different way by making them feel good about themselves. And the pay is way better,” she said with a smile.
“Fair enough,” he said. “So, your list is all about breaking a bunch of rules, right? Whose?”
Katie flushed. “My mom’s rules. She had certain ideas on what a lady did or said, but following the rules hasn’t exactly gotten me what I wanted.”
“What is it you want?” he asked.
Katie’s laugh was bitter, even to her ears. “What does any girl want? A big house with a wraparound porch and a few rocking chairs facing the best view. A couple of kids running around, making mischief, and a husband who loves me and wouldn’t hurt me for the world.” Sighing, she walked over to the box of pizza and asked, “Do you want any more?”
Chase just shook his head and she went to slip it into the fridge.
“If that’s your goal, then why the list? How are purple streaks and a one-night stand going to help you get those?” he asked.
“I have pretty much given up on finding the guy of my dreams. The list was just about living my life, and not playing it safe anymore,” she said.
“What are you, thirty? You’ve got plenty of time to get married and have kids,” he said.
“Not in a town like this. If you don’t find someone to marry in high school, or maybe even college, you have to move away ’cause Mr. Right’s not here,” she said.
“So why don’t you move?” he asked.
“Because this is my home. I love it here. My friends are here and honestly, I’ve accepted my lot in life,” she said.
“No you haven’t, and you shouldn’t. A girl like you is supposed to get married and you’ll have buckets of kids someday. Trust me,” he said.
“A girl like me?” she said, smiling.
“Yeah, you know. Pretty. Sweet. Likes kids. Helps old people across the street. Every man wants to marry a Girl Scout,” he said.
“You make me sound boring,” she said, losing her smile.
His face split into a grin. “Not trying to. I just mean most guys want to marry a girl who acts like a lady, but when the doors close . . .”
“I get your point,” she said quickly. “How do you know I’ll be like that? Behind closed doors, I mean.”
His voice went dark and smoky. “Just a feeling I get.”
She shivered at his suggestive tone and was nervous about disappointing him. It would have been better if he had just walked away, but deep down, she was glad he hadn’t.
She wanted him bad. She wanted to live and have fun and just be . . . wanted. And she could just tell that Chase wanted her. Simplistically, maybe, but he wanted her.
“Well, I hope I live up to you expectations,” she said softly. Clearing her throat, she added, “I think that’s it for boundaries on our arrangement. No PDA and no romance. I mean, it’s not like either one of us is looking for something serious, right?” Seeing him shake his head in agreement, she asked, “So should we do something to seal the deal?”
Moving closer, he reached up and trailed his fingers over her temple as he pushed some of her long bangs back behind her ears, making her knees turn to jelly. Just when she thought he was going to give her another heart-stopping kiss, he said, “Sure. What did you have in mind?”
“A handshake?” she said, holding her hand out between them.
His amusement reached up to those gorgeous eyes and she wanted to take it back. Why was she being such a dork?
“A bit formal considering what we’re talking about, but okay,” he said, taking her hand in his, squeezing it gently. “We have a deal.”
Disappointed that he still hadn’t tried for a kiss, she said, “Deal.”
“So do we start now or . . .” Chase started.
“No!” she said loudly. Clearing her throat, she added, “I just mean I’m not ready yet. I would like to get to know you a little better before we . . .”
“You do know that casual works better when we don’t know each other, right?” he said.
“I know, but I just can’t hop into bed with some strange guy, okay? I have to at least know a little bit about you,” she said.
“I hate peas, don’t enjoy long walks on the beach, eat my burgers with mayo, and I wear boxers, not briefs,” he said, grinning.
Great, now I’m picturing him in nothing but a pair of boxers. “That’s not what I meant . . .” Taking a deep breath for strength, she said, “Look, can you just take me back to my car? I think I’m sober enough to drive and I have a lot to do tomorrow. Plus, I need a night to process.”
“Whatever you say, Firecracker,” Chase said, walking toward the door with a slow amble that would have done John Wayne proud.
Still in shock over what she had agreed to, Katie followed him out the door and down the ste
ps to the dreaded beast of metal and mechanisms. He climbed on first and she swung up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist again as if her life depended on it. Squeezing her fingers, he started up the motorcycle and headed back toward town. She liked the feel of his muscles bunching under his T-shirt and caught herself rubbing her cheek against his back, shivering. Whether it was from the wind as they sped down the street or Chase’s proximity, she wasn’t sure.
It took only a few minutes to make the trip back to her car, and she was surprised by the depth of her disappointment when they arrived. He parked the motorcycle across from her 4Runner and she climbed off a bit more gracefully than the last time. This ride hadn’t been as terrifying, although she still didn’t like the feeling of vulnerability she experienced with nothing between her and rough, deadly asphalt.
Walking across the street, she unlocked the 4Runner and was just about to escape inside when she heard his heavy boots behind her.
“Wow, that eager to get away from me, huh?”
She turned to him and smiled nervously. “No, it’s just, it’s getting late, and I have a lot to do tomorrow, so I just figured we’d start our little . . . experiment . . . tomorrow.”
He put his hand against the side of her car and leaned over to kiss her, teasing her lips with his. “I think whatever you have going can wait a few more minutes. And who says we can’t start our little experiment tonight?”
Trying not to lean into him, to stand firm when her body wanted desperately to melt into his kisses, she said, “Because if I’d wanted to do anything more than sleep, I could have asked you to stay at my place. Remember the rules: sex on my terms.”
Chuckling, he said, “But you didn’t say we couldn’t do other things. And at my place, no one would see your car, whereas everyone has probably already seen and heard my baby.”
“Seriously? You’re one of those guys who gives his toys pet names like baby?” she said, groaning with disgust. Were all guys the same?
Without warning, he kissed her again until her eyes crossed and she leaned back against the car for support. “Again, you are trivializing my motorcycle, but it’s okay. By the time I’m done with you, you will be one hot motorcycle loving woman and if you’re really sweet to me, maybe I’ll even let you drive it.” He slid his leg between hers and rocked against her as he nibbled his way across her throat. She sucked in her breath and tried to control the urge to press down on his hard thigh to ease her throbbing arousal.
