by Gary, Codi
As she pulled back out onto the street, she saw Becca leaving her shop and almost ducked down. Becca was too sharp not to know she had been making a pass to see Chase.
But she had already seen Katie and was waving. Rolling down her window and stopping along the sidewalk, she said casually, “Hey, so is my advertising helping?”
“Well, considering that I’ve made more in the last four days than I have in the last month, I’d say so,” Becca said.
Katie pulled over and parked her 4Runner as Becca came to her window. “That is so great! I am glad it’s working.”
“You on your way over to see Chase?” she asked, leaning in.
No, I already checked and he’s busy. “No, I was just on my way to Twin Falls when I remembered I forgot my Costco card,” Katie said, pretty sure that was a logical enough explanation for driving up and down the street.
“Oh, I see,” Becca said, giving her an assessing look. “Be careful with him.”
Katie tensed, waiting for Becca to start giving her a warning about how he was going to hurt her, but she didn’t. “He’s not as cool as he thinks he is. He likes you. I can tell.”
Katie’s heart twisted and fluttered. “That wasn’t what I expected. I thought you were going to tell me he’s no good.”
Becca smiled. “Like Steph?” Katie gave her a surprised look, and Becca added, “It’s amazing the things women will tell you when they’re shopping for lingerie. It’s like all the boundaries are gone and they start spilling their issues.”
Katie laughed. “Yeah, same goes when you’re doing hair. You become a therapist.”
“Oh yeah. Anyway, she told me that she acted like an ass.”
Katie gripped the steering wheel. “Putting it mildly, but yeah.”
Becca shrugged. “Just my two cents, but you guys have been friends since diapers, right?” Katie nodded and Becca said, “Give her a chance to grovel. Best friends should get a free pass every five years.”
Katie thought about the times when Steph had said something to piss her off and she’d just let it go. Just smiled and moved on. Steph had been given plenty of free passes, but she had also been there for her through every major letdown. She might have overstepped in a major way, but they had been friends for a long time. Was she ready to just give up on that?
No, she wasn’t, not yet. “All right, if she shows up groveling, I’ll hear her out.”
“Then my job is done. You going to the fireworks next weekend?”
“Yep. Figured since I helped plan them, I might as well enjoy them.”
Becca grinned. “I’d like to tag along with you, if that’s okay.”
Katie laughed. “Deal.”
KATIE WAS LYING on her bed watching a DVR recording of The Vampire Diaries she’d already seen twice, when her phone beeped. She picked it up and there was a text from Chase: Hey Firecracker, what are you wearing?
Laughing, she looked down at her sweatpants and tank top and texted: Nothing. ;-)
Slinks jumped up on the bed, and his loud, rumbling purr came with him. He crawled up to her side and flopped down, rolling over to expose his fat belly for rubs.
She couldn’t resist him and cooed, “You are such a bad boy, but you’re Mommy’s bad boy, aren’t you? Yes you are.”
Her phone beeped again, and she said, “Look, it’s your favorite person.”
The big cat just kept rubbing against her as she checked the message. Such a tease. Why do you have to mess with me?
Fingers flying over the keys, she wrote back: In bed with another guy too. He’s super sexy and likes when I stroke his belly.
Beep. You better be talking about that damn cat.
She laughed. Maybe. Would it bother you if I wasn’t?
Slinks crawled up on her chest and she tried to read the next text around his head. Yeah it would.
She was smiling so hard it hurt. I’m wearing sweatpants and tank top and yeah, Slinks is lying on my chest. How’re the tats going?
Giving Slinks a hug, she cooed in her best baby voice, “So cuddly tonight. Were you jealous of the hot guy last night? Is that why you peed on his pants?”
A knock sounded at the door and Slinks bolted off the bed, nicking her with his back claws.
“Ow, crap,” she said, rubbing her chest as she got up and walked down the hallway scowling. “I swear, you are the most high-strung cat I have ever had.”
She peeked out the peephole and saw Steph. Taking a breath, she pulled the door open. “Hey.”
Steph gave her a tentative smile. “Hey.”
Katie wasn’t feeling particularly gracious. “So what do you want?”
“Wow, that was direct,” Steph joked, and when Katie didn’t even crack a smile, she continued. “I’m so sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it, I was just so frustrated because you were just starting to get better after Jimmy left and I was just worried that you were going to end up in a funk again if Chase hurt you.” She paused and added, “Plus I was a little jealous.”
“Jealous? Of me?” Katie said, flabbergasted.
“Of course you. You have always been this sweet, tiny thing who everyone always raved about. My own mother used to ask why I couldn’t be more like you. And it was okay, ’cause you were my better half, and we had the same plan of getting married and having a family. But this whole thing with Chase made me realize that you were free to do anything you wanted while I was stuck here. And I was a little jealous of that freedom,” Steph said.
“Steph . . .” Katie’s coolness melted a bit at her best friend’s confession.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love Jared and there is no better guy in the world for me. No one else would put up with my drama or my mess, but every once in a while I wonder how my life might have been different,” Steph said. “And I just felt like you might decide that the plan wasn’t what you wanted anymore and move on, leave me behind.”
“Steph, I have been jealous of you for years. You are living the dream, my friend. You met your soul mate. That hardly ever happens anymore.” Katie understood where Steph was coming from, but she needed to realize that Katie could handle herself. And her love life. “And part of the reason I am finally coming out of that funk is because of Chase. He makes me happy. I don’t know what’s going to happen with us in the future, but right now I am the happiest I have ever been. Even happier than I was with Jimmy.”
Steph snorted. “Of course, anyone’s a step up from Jimmy.” She shook her head. “I do want you to be happy, and I am really, really sorry.”
“You won’t bad-mouth Chase anymore?” Katie crossed her arms over her chest.
Steph held up her hand. “Scout’s honor.”
Katie stepped back and said, “Too bad you were never a Girl Scout.”
“Mom said it was too time-consuming.” Steph came into the house.
“Wanna watch The Vampire Diaries?” Katie asked, shutting the door.
“Sure, which episode?” Steph asked.
“Does it matter? I have two words for you. Klaus and Damon.” Katie said, smiling.
“I’ll make some popcorn.”
“I’ll grab the sodas.”
CHASE LEFT THE parlor and locked the front door. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he checked for a message from Katie. Nothing.
Making his way down to where his chopper was parked, he climbed on and realized the last thing he wanted was to go home. After spending the last couple of nights with her, being alone in his big old house just didn’t sound fun. Maybe he’d head over to Buck’s and play a little pool.
Weak, Trepasso. You’re just hoping she calls.
He started up the chopper and rode down to the outskirts of town. Parking in front of Buck’s, he climbed off and strode to the front door. He walked in and sat down at the bar, nodding at Eric, who handed him his usual draft. “What are you doing here? Thought you’d be out with Katie.”
Chase shook his head and took a drink of his beer. “Nope, just stopping by on my way home.�
��
Eric grinned. “Well, word is you guys were getting pretty hot and heavy. Guess she ditched work to be with you?”
Chase made a disgusted face. “This town is too damn small.”
Eric laughed. “Yes it is. We have no secrets here.”
Chase’s phone rang and he saw Katie’s picture flash on the screen. He took another drink of his beer and picked up the call. “Hey, Firecracker.”
“Hey, you done?”
He tossed some bills on the counter and gave Eric a little wave as he left. “Yeah, I just stopped by Buck’s for a beer.”
“Oh, well, I’ll leave you alone . . .”
“No, I’m done.” Please say you want me to come over. . .
“Oh, are you sure, ’cause . . .”
He straddled his chopper and said, “Katie baby, were you calling to see if I was coming over?”
Silence stretched over the line and he almost didn’t catch her “Yes.”
Grinning, he gave an air punch like a geeky kid. “I’ll be there in ten minutes. But warn your cat that if I see him, he’s going to end up as a pair of slippers.”
Her gasp turned into a laugh, and she said, “No, he’s not.”
“You just tell him, and I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Be careful.”
He chuckled. “It’s a three-minute ride. I’ll be fine.”
“They say most accidents . . .”
“Damn it, Firecracker, you want to give me a lecture now? The longer you keep me on this phone, the longer it’s going to take for me to get there, and I want to kiss you bad.”
She was quiet for a minute and said, “Hurry.”
Chase drove through the side streets until he reached her house and parked in the driveway. She opened the door just as he stepped up on the porch, grabbed him by the shirt, and yanked him inside.
He laughed as she wound her arms around his neck and kissed him. Cradling the back of her head with one hand, he used the flat of his other hand to lean against the wall behind her.
Kicking the door closed, he mumbled through kisses, “I would have come straight here if I had known you were waiting.”
“I had company,” she said, lifting her shirt up and over her head. “Steph left a while ago, and I knew you’d be done around eleven.” Eagerly, she reached for the bottom of his shirt and pulled it up, and he helped her take it off, tossing it away. Reaching out for her topless form, he pulled her against his chest, groaning at the feel of her pressed so close.
Kissing her neck, he helped her pull her yoga pants down and asked against the skin of her collarbone, “You guys make up?”
“Mmm hmm,” she said as she slipped her underwear down and reached for his jeans.
Kicking his boots off, he moved his hands to brace his weight against the wall as she yanked open his belt. “Good. I’m glad.” They managed to slide his jeans down together, and he stepped out of them quickly. His boxers joined his discarded jeans and he lifted her against the wall, pinning her there with his body. Heart pounding with anticipation, he took her hard nipple into his mouth to play with it.
“Me too,” she said as she wrapped her legs around his waist and held on to his shoulders, moaning as he tongued her.
Releasing her breast, he slid one hand down her body and rubbed against her wet folds. “God, I want you so bad.”
“Me too. Please, Chase, please.”
Angling his cock up and into her warmth, he groaned as the satin sheath stretched around him and he pushed further inside. “Am I hurting you?”
“God no.”
He took her at her word and worked inside her, thrusting and withdrawing, his mouth taking hers. He caught every cry, every moan against his tongue and lips and was so turned on he couldn’t have left her if the house had been on fire.
Katie cried out and tensed around him as she came, and it pushed him over the edge, her clenching muscles bringing him hard. He collapsed against the wall, pressing her further into it, and kept gulping for air. “That was . . . that was . . .”
Her chest was pushing against his as she took quick, deep breaths. “Oh my God.”
“Yeah, ‘oh my God’ just about covers it.” He chuckled breathlessly.
Lips against his shoulder, she whispered, “I’ve never . . . it’s never been like . . . this before.”
Pushing himself off her, he let her slide down and kissed her nose. “No. For me either.”
Her blue eyes were dreamy, but he saw serious thoughts lurking behind the haze. “What does that mean?”
He panicked; he couldn’t help it. It was one thing to think about feelings and being exclusive, but actually having the conversation . . . Terrifying.
So he did what any other guy would do when faced with a beautiful, naked woman wanting to discuss the fate of their relationship. He dumped her over his shoulder and said, “It means that we should do it again. Immediately.”
Walking down the hallway with his laughing prize, he dropped her on the bed and proceeded to distract her from any kind of “talks.” There would be plenty of time for that later.
THE NEXT MORNING, Katie came out of the bathroom with towels around her hair and body but stopped when she saw the rage on Chase’s face as he held up his jeans.
“He did it again. He pissed on my jeans again”
Katie bit her lip. It wasn’t funny. At all. “Why did you leave them on the ground?”
“Really? You’re blaming the victim?” he said with disbelief.
She laughed and took his jeans, leaning over to give him a kiss. “I’ll wash them for you.”
That got a smile out of him. “Oh, I’ve always wanted my laundry wench.”
Reaching out, she yanked on his earlobe. “I am just trying to keep the peace. I love Slinks and I’d hate to see him turned into a hat.”
“I said I’d turn him into slippers. There isn’t a head in the world big enough to wear that cat. What do you feed him, small dogs?”
She almost swatted him with his jeans, but she wouldn’t like being hit with cat pee pants, so she settled on excusing Slinks’s obesity instead. “He was traumatized as a kitten and he seeks comfort through food. He’s just a little beefy.”
Chase chuckled. “He’s not fat, just big boned?”
“Exactly.” Taking his pants down the hall, she transferred laundry, ignoring his mocking laughter. A basket of clean clothes in her arms, she came back into the room, set them on the bed, and pulled some under things out.
“So, where are you off to this morning?” he asked.
“It’s Sunday. I go to church, and then I’m going over to Steph and Jared’s for a barbecue,” she said.
Chase nodded. “Got it. I’ll just grab my jeans when they’re done and go.”
“You could come with me,” she said, moving closer to him as she took the towel off her head.
Chase snorted and said, “Sorry, Firecracker, but it would probably bring about the next apocalypse if I attended church.”
Reaching out to rub his shoulders, she said, “I’m sure whatever sins you’ve committed couldn’t be that bad.”
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he brought her down onto his lap. “Damn, you’re cold.” He ran his hands over her arms. “I’m a heathen. We never went to church when I was a kid, and I just haven’t found any use for it.”
“Do you believe in God?” Katie didn’t really know anyone who didn’t go to church. There were several churches of different faiths around town, and everyone she’d grown up with attended one of them.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I remember having this friend in grade school who was really religious, and he tried to save me, but nothing ever stuck.”
She kissed his cheek, disappointed, but she wasn’t going to force him. Maybe some distance would be a good thing. Maybe it would temper some of her crazy thoughts that there was something more to this. “Well, I won’t mention it again, then. It will be good to spend some time apart today. It’s not like we haven�
�t seen each other every day for the last week.”
“Are you getting sick of me already?” he asked.
“No, but I’ve already played hooky from work to be with you. I’m not going to miss church too.” She gave him a little smirk over her shoulder, “That would be something I would never, ever do.”
Grinning, he said, “Oh yeah? So I should add ‘miss church to stay in bed with Chase’ to the list?”
“Nope. Never gonna happen.” She dropped the second towel, pulling up lacy red boy shorts and then slipping the matching bra into place.
Chase’s gray eyes turned the color of storm clouds as he asked, “Won’t lightning strike if you walk into church wearing fire-engine-red underwear?”
Katie laughed as she went to her closet and pulled out a simple black dress with red tulips along the hem. “I don’t think God or anyone cares what color my underwear is.”
“I do,” he mumbled.
She slipped on her red heels and walked past him to the bathroom, saying, “Well, I guess it’s a good thing you aren’t coming, then.”
Reaching his arm out, he pulled her back onto his lap, facing away from him. “So, if I go with you today, what do I get?”
Leaning back against him, she offered, “The satisfaction of no longer being called a heathen?”
“Hmmm . . . not something I’m concerned about.” His lips nibbled at the back of her neck and she shivered.
“How about you get to be with me all day?”
Chase slipped his hands under her dress and said softly, “Hmm, getting warmer.”
She grabbed his hands, laughing. “No. I do not have time for your shenanigans.”
He trailed his finger over her thigh and used his other hand to move her damp hair off the back of her neck. Leaving a trail of hot kisses over her skin, he whispered, “But you like my shenanigans.”
“Not on Sunday. I’m not going to show up to church all rumpled.”
Sighing he released her. “All right. No rumpling.”
Getting up, Katie went into the bathroom to fix her hair and makeup. Slipping a bit of lip gloss on her lips, she came out fifteen minutes later to find him gone.
“Chase?”
“Making coffee,” he called from the kitchen.
