Seagrove Secrets (Love Along Hwy 30A)

by Melissa Chambers

  Sebastian sidled up beside her. “Fantastic shower. I couldn’t have done better myself.”

  “Yeah you could have,” she said.

  “I’m serious. Maya was aglow. I think what she loved most was that you did this for her.”

  Shayla waved him off.

  “Will you take a compliment, please?”

  She glanced over at Felicity, who was flirting with some random guy. Maybe she did have a problem with accepting praise of any kind. “Thanks for saying that, about Maya,” she said.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Shayla looked around and saw Scott sitting at the outside bar by himself. “I better go check on my date.”

  “Oh, Chase is fine,” Sebastian said, and then looked at her all innocent. “Oh, did you mean…oh of course.” He gave her guilty smile, and she lovingly rolled her eyes at him.

  She went over to Scott. “Want some company?”

  “Yeah…if your boyfriend won’t try to knife me in my sleep.”

  She looked around and found Chase talking to Blake and Seanna, glancing at her, forcing a smile.

  “He’s not my boyfriend,” she said. It sounded like a lie, but it clearly wasn’t.

  “If that guy isn’t into you, then I must be a way bigger asshole than I realize.”

  “You’re not an asshole.”

  “I think your friend would disagree.”

  They both looked over at Chase, who was glaring at Scott. Chase quickly morphed his features into a smile and held up his beer in greeting.

  “I’m staying at the shitty hotel tomorrow night,” he said.

  A stool came open right beside Shayla, so she sat in it. “Please don’t.”

  He met her gaze. “I don’t think I’m needed here as much as I hoped I would be.”

  She frowned, unsure what to say.

  “I knew you said you’d moved in with a guy, and I knew he’d be into you, no matter who he was because you’re you. You’re beautiful and lovely, and completely irresistible. But I thought you might not be into him in return because of everything with Brian and because,” he exhaled a deep breath, “I’d talked myself into thinking you weren’t into me because you needed time to get over everything that happened with Brian, but you’re so clearly into Chase. You’ve never once looked at me the way you look at him.”

  “Scott,” she said, looking down at her lap.

  “It’s fine, Shayla. I’m glad I came. I’d been hanging on, thinking when the time was right, you’d see me as someone who you could be with, and I would have given you all the time in the world to come to that conclusion. But that guy’s got something I don’t, at least in your eyes.”

  She glanced over at Chase, who said something that made Blake and Seanna laugh. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be. You can’t help it. He can’t help it either. He’s just being himself. I’m glad I’m seeing him with you. I can go back to Nashville knowing he’s taking good care of you, because I believe he will.”

  She smiled at him. “I can take care of myself, you know.”

  He waved her off. “I know you can.”

  She glanced at Chase and then back to Scott. “You know I was swinging a baseball bat at him the first time I met him.”

  He chuckled. “That’s right. You told me. That’s perfect.”

  She took his hand and squeezed it. “I do love you, you know.”

  He gave her a resigned smile. “I believe that you do. I love you, too, Shayla.”

  She winced, realizing he didn’t mean the words in the same way she did. She stood and wrapped her arms around him, hating that she was losing someone she truly cared about but knowing it was for the best. She pulled back. “Will you head home tomorrow?”

  “No, I’m going to stay for the wedding if you’ll still have me.” He glanced over at Felicity, who had moved on from the one guy she’d been talking to and was with another.

  Shayla smiled. “Mmm hmm.”

  “Would that piss you off…if I got with her?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Damn.” He smiled at her. “Now that’s all sorted out, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go make my move.”

  “While she’s talking to that guy?”

  He shrugged. “I guess I better make it a good one.” He headed that way.

  “Have fun,” she said.

  He turned around. “Oh, I plan on it.”

  Shayla huffed a laugh and leaned against the bar, elbows up on it. Chase watched Scott walk over to Felicity and then put his gaze on Shayla. She gave a shrug like she’d lost out, and then turned around and ordered a beer from the bartender.

  Chase appeared next to her. “How did the panty shower go?”

  “Good. Nothing better than spending an hour seeing your future sister-in-law open lingerie and sex toys all for use on your brother.”

  He chuckled. “Sex toys? Bo? In what alternate universe is that going to happen?”

  “One far, far away, I hope.”

  “Everything okay with Scott?” he asked.

  “What would be wrong?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. You were looking pretty cozy with him, but now he’s over there with Felicity.”

  She gave him a look. “I know you don’t think he and I are romantic.”

  “I don’t know. You were holding his hand and then hugging up on him. But it’s not my business, I guess.”

  She just stared at him, trying to hold back her smile.

  “What?” he asked. “Were you not?”

  “Are you jealous?”

  “No. I love seeing a man with his hands all over the woman I’ve spent the past two weeks in bed with.”

  She couldn’t help letting the smile through now. “We haven’t been sleeping together.”

  “Oh, I beg to differ. I’ve slept better in that bed with you than I have in my own high-dollar bed in a year. Of course, that doesn’t have much to do with the mattress.” He brushed her knee with the backs of his fingers. She glanced over at Bo. “He’s fine. He’s over there arguing with Blake about who gets custody of the butt plugs.”

  She stifled a laugh, his smile making her heart so warm. The bartender handed her the beer she ordered. “Put that on my tab,” Chase said to him, and he nodded.

  “Thank you, but for future reference I can buy my own.”

  “I know you can, but I can buy your own, too.”

  “I know you can.” She smiled at him and then sipped her beer.

  “Are you flirting with me? You’ll have to let me know because it’s not something I’m used to from you.”

  She cocked her head to the side, giving him a lazy stare. “I flirt.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “I do.”

  “With Scott, sure. You were practically in his lap over here earlier.”

  She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You’re so goofy.”

  “I take that as a compliment.” He looked over at Scott, who had successfully gotten Felicity away from the guy she was talking to. “Look at him. He’s off to another woman. Are you heartbroken?”

  “Torn up.”

  “Aww, well, if you need someone to comfort you tonight, I could give you a cuddle.”

  She lifted her eyebrows. “A cuddle? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

  He shrugged. “Just the cool ones, like me.”

  Blake sidled up to them. “So it looks like the Harrison Pool Supply guys are done with craft beer.” Blake looked in the direction of Shayla and Bo’s co-workers, who looked bored to tears in this high-end bar.

  “Think we need to head to PCB?” Chase asked.

  “Quick, before we lose them.”

  “Is Bo okay with that?”

  “Yeah, he’s been worried about them all night. Just wants to make sure they feel comfortable.”

  “I’m more comfortable at Alligator Alley myself,” Chase said. “You ready now?”

  “Yeah, I’ll grab Bo. You grab them.”

>   “Will do,” Chase said and then turned to Shayla. “My offer stands no matter how late the hour.”

  She nodded, running her hand over the cold beer glass. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

  He looked around at their friends. “You’ll all stay together? You and Felicity will go home together and all?”

  “Mmm hmm,” Shayla said, knowing damn well she wouldn’t hold Felicity to being her babysitter.

  He patted the bar with his hand. “Have a good rest of your night. Don’t get too out of hand.” Chase glanced around like he was surveying the place.

  “You’re leaving me with Felicity. Are you sure that’s possible?”

  He gave a resigned sigh. “I guess I’ve brought this on myself.” He pointed at Scott, who was laying it on thick with Felicity. “I’m taking him with me, by the way.”

  “Leaving Felicity to find us a whole new set of men, huh?”

  He rolled his eyes at her. “Just be good, okay?”

  “Me? I’m the one who needs to be worried. You’re going to Alligator Alley.”

  He leaned in to her ear. “There’s nobody else in the world I’d rather give a cuddle to.” He squeezed her knee and then headed over to the guys.

  Her chest ached at his absence, even though he was just steps away. She tried to recalibrate her brain to friend mode, focus on Maya and the reason they were here tonight. She took her beer and walked over to where Desiree stood with Ashe. “Anywhere we want to go next? We’ve got a limo, we might as well use it.”

  “We’ve been conjuring some ideas. Just trying to get rid of the guys,” Ashe said.

  “They’re going. Chase is gathering them now.”

  “You gonna survive?” Desiree asked.

  Shayla didn’t answer that. She was being too obvious. Everyone could see how she felt about Chase, and she hadn’t even decided on anything herself.

  Marigold came outside from the main bar. “Where have you been?” Ashe asked.

  She waved him off, taking his drink. “I thought I’d met a guy, but he turned out to be a dud.” She sipped his drink and then handed it back to him. “That’s good.” She looked at the bar.

  “Save it for the next place. We’re heading out,” Desiree said.

  Marigold shrugged. “Sounds good to me.”

  Sebastian walked up with Felicity and Seanna. “I think we’re good. Everyone ready?”

  “I need to settle up the tab,” Shayla said, and started to walk off.

  “I already tried,” Sebastian said. “Chase beat me to it.”

  Shayla let her posture drop. “Are you serious?”

  “Yep. And there they go,” Sebastian said. Chase held up a hand in a wave and then headed toward the front door.

  She shook her head, not knowing how she was ever going to get on even ground with him when he was always trying to take care of her, and feeling irritated at the part of her that wanted to give in and just let him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chase got home about two hours later than he’d hoped, but he guessed it was worth it. They’d had a good time at Alligator Alley, and Chase could tell that Bo felt most at home there. It was always the plan to end up there, but leaving Shayla looking the way she did was freaking torture.

  He and Scott got out of the limo, the last to be dropped off. They managed to keep the conversation from Blake’s place to Chase’s focused on sports, mostly football and how the pro and college teams were looking this fall. They got out of the limo at Chase’s house and Chase slipped the driver an extra bill past what he’d tipped on the app. He’d put up with a ton of shit from them that evening, and money always smoothed things over.

  They started to head inside, but Scott stopped in the driveway. “Hey, thanks for letting me tag along with you guys tonight. I had a really good time. I liked everyone a lot.”

  Chase looked down at his keys, his chest filled with shame. “Even me?” He gave him a knowing smile. “I’m sorry if I’ve come off as a dick tonight.”

  “I totally get it, man. She’s worth being a dick over.”

  Chase huffed a laugh, knowing he was busted.

  “We talked earlier tonight,” Scott said. “I’m gonna back off completely.”

  Chase thought about his conversation earlier with Felicity. “You can’t stay friends with her?”

  Scott shook his head, looking in the direction of the pool house. “No way. It’d be too hard.”

  Chase nodded understanding. “I guess I should feel bad, but I don’t.”

  “I wouldn’t. So, Felicity…” He trailed off with a question in his expression.

  “She’s fantastic,” Chase said. “And she thinks you’re hot, so there’s that.”

  Scott huffed a laugh. “So the two of you aren’t together in any way?”

  “We have been, in full disclosure, but we’re just friends now.”

  “Man, how can you do that?”

  “She makes it really easy. But you may want to be careful with your heart. She’s not one to be tied down.”

  “I can see that crystal clear,” Scott said. “I’m not ready to dive into anything serious right now anyway.”

  Chase pointed at the house. “Then this is your lucky weekend.”

  Scott gave him a look.

  Chase shook his head. “Sorry.”

  “I told Shayla I felt comfortable stepping away because I can see you’re here to take care of her now.”

  Chase huffed a laugh. “Have you met Shayla?”

  “I know. But I also know Brian. He’s dangerous, man. I’m serious, and he’s fucking lovesick about losing Shayla. He’s been drinking at work. I smelled it on him the other day. He confronted me in the hallway.”

  “Does Shayla know this?”

  “Fuck, no. I’m just keeping my eye on him at work. I really thought he might try to come here this weekend. That’s why I’m here.”

  “Why this weekend?”

  “He knows Bo and their whole family is occupied. When I got Shayla out of there, I brought a cop friend with me. We didn’t hide the fact that she was coming home. Brian knows how close she is with her family and with Bo. Of course this would be the first place he’d look. We made sure he knew both her brothers were looking out for her, and that she’d be around them all the time at work and at home. This was before Bo took off for Indianapolis and left Shayla here unprotected.” He held up a hand. “I know he had no clue. I’m not blaming him. But the cover was blown a few weeks ago when Bo was traveling home and stopped by to see Shayla’s house. It was right after that he started getting crazy at work. He’s still there, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he got canned any day now.”

  The frustration welled up in Chase’s chest. “How could she want to be with a guy like this?” He hated that he said it, but he’d been thinking it for a while.

  “I’m not making any excuses for either one of them, but I’ve known him a couple of years now at work, and before all this shit happened, I liked him. I respected him. Sounds crazy to say now, but he seemed like a good guy. Really tenacious at work, willing to pitch in. Fun guy, charismatic. The girls at work are fucking nuts about him, which makes me sick at my goddamned stomach. I can’t say anything, but I’m paranoid, wondering who’s gonna be the next victim. That’s why Shayla feels so guilty about everything. She promised to stay with him if he’d go to this special two-month rehab that focused on rehabilitating domestic violence offenders in addition to the alcohol addiction. But she had no intention of that. She felt so bad coming out of the relationship, because that inevitably meant another woman would suffer next.” He punched his fist into his other hand. “God I could just kill that son of a bitch.” He shook his head, his face red as an apple. “I’m sure you know all this.”

  Chase didn’t say anything, hoping he’d keep doling out the information he’d been trying so desperately to get these past weeks.

  “Anyway,” Scott said and started to head to the house.

  “You can totally count on me, man.
I’m in for whatever this asshole wants to bring.”

  Scott stopped and met his gaze. “Good. I heard you hired a security guard a couple of weeks ago when you were out of town.”

  Chase shrugged. “Of course. So, I’m just curious, why do people at your work not know about him? I mean, they knew she was with him, and I assume she’d come to work banged up.” He swallowed down the bile from his casual words, but he was trying to get information and he had to act as if he already knew.

  Scott gauged him, his brow furrowed. Chase just stared back, hoping he wasn’t going quiet. “Have you ever known anyone in a domestic abuse situation?”

  Chase swallowed hard. “No, I guess not.”

  “It’s not cut and dry. There’s not always physical marks where people can see them. There’s a lot of pushing, shoving against the wall, grabbing arms and shaking, holding the victim down, forced sex.”

  Chase’s body went cold as he replayed her words from a couple of weeks ago. A guy like you who could make me remember why I used to love sex. Had she been raped by this motherfucker?

  He took a step back, wondering if he might throw up.

  Scott studied his face. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” Chase said.

  “Look, if you’re in over your head here, you need to say something.”

  “I’m not. I’m in. I’m just…I’m fine.”

  Scott stood tall, gauging Chase. “I think I’ve said too much tonight. I apologize. Shayla would kill me if she knew I betrayed her trust.”

  “You didn’t. She’s told me about this,” he lied, pretty much.

  “Then what’s gotten you looking like you’re about to puke?”

  He shook his head. “Just…too much to drink. It’s been a long night.”

  “That it has,” Scott said. “I’m gonna go to bed.”

  Chase nodded and headed to the door, unlocking it for them. When he got upstairs, he closed the door to his room and sat on his bed, his mind whirling. All of the things Scott had mentioned were scenarios that Chase had run through his brain, but now they’d become a reality. Shayla had been abused. She’d been thrown across a room and shoved like a ragdoll, held down against her will, violated.