by Delilah Hunt
Her heart twisted. But then Larke recalled something she’d wanted to ask him. If Chase saw that she wanted him to meet her friends maybe it would help somewhat to show him how much he meant to her, before she confessed her love for him. Bolstered by the idea, she asked, “Have you ever gone bowling?”
His eyes widened, regarding her as if she’d lost her mind. “You mean that place I saw you getting your ass slapped?”
She glared. “Thanks for reminding me. But yes and from the look on your face I’d say it’s a no go.” She gazed at him, hoping he’d prove her wrong by agreeing to go.
“Why?” His brows furrowed. With suspicion?
“I thought it might be fun. And I could introduce you to my friend and her boyfriend.”
“The Indian girl you went to nursing school with and her black teacher boyfriend?”
Larke frowned, somehow troubled at his tone of voice and well, that he had to mention those details, as if they bothered him.
“That’s them,” she answered. “Riva and Jason. We could do a couple of rounds and leave if we’re not having fun. There’s an alley not too far from here so I don’t think we’ll have another incident like the one inside the hunting store.”
“Did you tell your friends about me?”
“I told Riva. She suspected I was seeing someone. I trust her. But even if I hadn’t said anything, they would’ve remembered you.”
“They won’t mind me being there?”
“They won’t. I wouldn’t have mentioned it if they did.”
Chase’s eyes grew colder by the second. Distant. “I think I’ll pass.”
“Why? Do you have other plans?” she asked, slightly afraid it was about him not wishing to be around other races.
He read the worry on her face and snapped, “Stop trying to read my mind.“ He started pacing the living room, paused, then spun around, facing her. “Look. I know you always try to see the good in everyone and stay positive, which is a good thing, or else you wouldn’t be with me. But c’mon, Larke, you don’t really believe your friends actually want to hang out with me unless they wanna use it as an opportunity to talk down and preach to me. The ignorant, redneck, racist asshole. I might not be as smart as you and your friends, but I know how this works.”
Her stomach dropped. Chase thought she would invite him out so her friends could ridicule him? She stared at him in disbelief. He couldn’t. He honestly couldn’t. And she refused to believe he did. He knew her, had to know by now, that she’d never let anyone mistreat him in front of her.
Larke carefully chose her next words. “Other people might think they know you, similar to how I was so sure I knew everything about you in the beginning. But they don’t. They don’t see you the way I do and there’s no way I would sit back and let anyone talk down to you or say awful things to you. Just like I know you wouldn’t do the same to them.”
He said nothing although the tell tale signs of frustration and anger were gone. Larke decided to push her luck. “You mentioned my friends being more intelligent than you. I don’t believe in comparing intelligence, but have you noticed that lately a lot of your actions haven’t been that of a die-hard white supremacist? Isn’t it blasphemy to suggest a person of color being smarter than you? When you saw that little boy chasing after his dog, you never hesitated to help. And don’t think I missed the way you looked at him when you spoke. There wasn’t a shred of prejudice in your eyes. Those things tell me a lot.”
Chase shrugged. “Maybe it just means I suck really bad at being a die hard racist.”
She reached for his hand. “I’m waiting on the day you completely fail at it.”
He chuckled low, without humor. “Trying my best, angel.”
18
His girlfriend was insane. That was the conclusion Chase came to after Larke begged, no ordered him over the phone to clear a day in the week, but not a weekend, for her completely. That was fair enough and he’d been happy to do it. The insane part came after he’d driven to her place, found her dressed and waiting beside her car.
She tapped her watch then scolded. “I thought you said you’d be here at nine. It’s nine-ten.”
He stared at her, baffled until she started laughing and kissed his lips. “Chase, I’m joking. Actually, it’s the opposite. Today we won’t worry about time.”
“We won’t?”
She shook her head and beamed, gazing up at him as if she was in lo… He shook the thought away before it could take root. “Nope,” she said, “I’ve put myself in charge and I’m kidnapping you for the day.” She walked to the passenger side of her car and held the door open. “Get in.”
His lips twitched. “Just like that?”
“Just like that,” she repeated. Shaking his head, Chase did as ordered. He blinked in surprise as she closed the door for him.
Soon, Larke was seated behind the steering wheel, looking over at him. “Are you scared?” She wrinkled her brows to appear terrifying.
He leaned over and kissed her, unable to resist the urge. “A little, yeah.”
She laughed as they drove down the street, merging into the lane for the highway.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise. You know that.”
“Surprises aren’t always good, angel. At least give me a hint.”
She glanced at him, her eyes soft and said quietly, “With me they are.”
He said nothing to that, mostly because his throat was starting to feel thick again from that look she’d just given him. A look that made him wish more than anything, that he was right in thinking, maybe Larke loved him as much as he loved her.
She quirked her lips and flashed him a grin. “Okay. I’ll give you this hint. There’ll probably be a lot of people there. It’s wide and open. Lots of fun,
Larke had him stumped. Shrugging, he sank back in the seat. “All right. I’m all yours.”
She glanced over at him with a shy smile and whispered, “I’m all yours, too.”
His heart slammed against his chest as he continued to watch her while she drove. About half an hour later, Chase realized exactly what Larke had in mind. An amusement park. Fuck. She was taking him to an amusement.
He drew up in the seat, minutes after and turned to her. “This is cause of that bowling alley thing, isn’t it?”
She parked and killed the engine. “Of course it is.”
Chase pinched the bridge of his nose. Larke was staring at him, excited, appearing pleased with herself and he was being an ass. Ungrateful. Taking a deep breath he asked, “Why here? We could’ve gone bowling, just the two of us if it meant that much to you.”
“Going bowling doesn’t mean anything to me. I only wanted to do something fun with you. Silly fun. The kind I know you didn’t have growing up.”
“What about your friends? I thought you wanted me to meet them.”
“I did. I still do. But we have time.” She looked at him and laughed, although it didn’t quite reach her eyes as it usually did. “Maybe one day I’ll even get to meet some of your friends.” She stopped laughing and gave a fake cough. “That was a joke. A bad one. I’m not stupid.”
No. Larke wasn’t stupid. She was hurting, though. Deep inside and even a beast like him could tell. “It won’t always be like this,” he said quietly, needing to reassure her some way.
“I know.” She placed her hand in his. “I know you’ll do right by us.”
I will, angel. I will.
Wanting to lighten the mood, Chase raised his brows and cocked his head toward the amusement park’s entrance. “You come here a lot, Larke? Brought lots of guys?”
She laughed loud. This time, the smile reached her eyes, making them appear to sparkle. “Way too many to count. But…if you must know. There’s a reason I brought you here and not just anywhere else. More than one reason.”
“I’m listening.”
“Remember when I told you how I wanted to do things other kids were able to do? Well this place helped
. This was the school trip I had really wanted to go on. The reason I sucked up my fear and found a way to cope. She looked over at him and pursed her lips. “The other reason is…” Larke sighed loudly. “I don’t want to offend you, but from everything you’ve told me, it sounds as if you’ve had a pretty horrible childhood. I don’t pity you, Chase but I don’t see anything wrong with us spending the day together, not being so adult.” She raised one brow. “What do you say? My treat. All day long.”
His throat tightened. “Sounds good,” he said, trying to act normal when all he wanted to do was take her in his arms, bury his face in her neck and never let up.
Once inside it was plain to see the amusement park was much bigger than it seemed from the outside. Then again, he’d didn’t know what he’d really expected since he had never been to one before. It was also packed despite being a weekday. Now he understood why Larke didn’t want them to go on a weekend.
Strolling hand in hand they made their way through a throng of people and nearing a play area with sprinklers and water fountains. Chase noticed Larke staring at the toddlers running around giggling and screaming, each time the water sprayed up and hit them.
Did she like children? She had to, he guessed, if she wrote books for them. He stared at her again as her smile widened. Chase doubted she even realized what she was doing. But he couldn’t stop his mind from wandering. Him and Larke were going to be together forever, if things went the way he wanted. The way he hoped they would after he proved to her that he really was a changed man, despite what he’d told her weeks ago.
Let Larke see how much he wanted a life with her. Her alone. And one that included giving her all the children she wanted. Because from the way her eyes softened at the sight of those kids, he was almost sure she’d want a bunch. His cock twitched and his balls drew up as his gaze washed over her. Chase was already picturing her curvy body filling out, growing rounder, with her breasts so damn ripe and belly swollen with his kid.
Damn.
His mouth went dry as he watched her again, struck by how even in the middle of an amusement park he was thinking about being intimate with her. Chase sucked in a breath, burying those thoughts for now. He held her close, glad she had chosen this place to bring him. Allowing him to be around people being so normal. To feel normal.
Larke clutched her stomach while eyeing the roller coaster they’d ridden minutes ago. She glared at Chase, knowing he’d chosen it as payback because she’d dragged him into the drop tower ride. Although her heart had been inside her throat, she’d almost burst out laughing at the muffled expletive he’d muttered when the gondola dropped without warning.
“This is what you like?” he’d asked, gaping at her in awe and horror once they’d left that ride.
Her ensuing laughter had prompted Chase to glance at the monstrous roller coaster that dominated the backdrop of the park and declare it their next stop. Slightly nauseous, she held on to Chase’s hand while scowling at the smug grin on his face. Behind the scowl, however, Larke was beyond happy that he was enjoying this silly gift of hers.
After riding the majority of the attractions, they exited the park as more and more people trickled in. She turned to Chase who had two cheesy teddy bears in his hand, which he’d won for her in a game of darts. He placed the bears on the backseat of the car.
“Ready for round two?” she asked, standing beside him in the parking lot.
He arched an eyebrow. “As long as it doesn’t involve any more thrill rides.”
“You forced me on that roller coaster. You don’t get any sympathy from me.”
He grinned and stepped in front of her, grazing his knuckles across her cheek. “Sympathy ain’t what I want from you, Larke. But if you’re mad at me you can always let me make it up to you real good tonight.”
She swept her tongue across her lip. “How good?”
“The—I haven’t been inside my girl for two days and that’s way too long for me—type of good. Can’t get enough of you because of how much I love you and the way you treat me.”
Her breath hitched, moisture seeped into her panties. But most of all, her heart thumped wildly inside her chest, bursting with love for him. “I’m not opposed to any of that,” she whispered, reaching up on her toes to kiss him.
She moaned softly as Chase’s large hand cupped the back of her head, kissing her hard. They both pulled back, drawing in air. Larke found her voice, shaky as it was. “Come on, let’s go.”
“You want me to drive?”
“No. I’m in charge today, remember?” She flashed him a grin then went around to the driver’s side.
Larke loved the look on his face when they got out. Surprise then a slow shake of his head followed by a small grin. “You’re really giving me the treatment today huh, angel?”
“I sure am. I figured this would be another place you’d never been or come to as a grown man.”
He nodded. “You’re right on both counts.”
They were at an ice cream parlor. Ridiculous as it might seem taking a card-carrying white supremacist out for frozen treats, it actually wasn’t. Today she had once again witnessed Chase showing the side of him that was straying farther and farther away from his long-held beliefs. Caught in a rush of people walking by, a man clearly Hispanic and brown, though much lighter than herself had accidentally bumped into Chase. For a brief moment Larke had kept her breath held, half afraid of how Chase would react.
He’d nodded at the man’s apology, assuring the man it was fine. Larke hadn’t said anything because she hadn’t wanted him to feel awkward. Instead, they’d continued along as if nothing had happened. And so in her mind, that was also a good reason to sit down for ice cream with the man she adored. Adored and admired for attempting to become a better person.
Inside, Larke sat across from Chase and flipped through the menu. It took less than five seconds to know what she wanted. Double Chocolate Sundae with whipped cream topping.
“That was fast.” He glanced up at her from his menu. “You recommend anything?”
Larke showed him some of her favorite flavors and was glad when he settled on the Peanut Vanilla and Chocolate Sundae after the waiter came to take their order.
Chase leaned forward in his chair and gave her a lazy grin that made her heart flip. I love him so much.
And she would tell him soon. When she did, it would be so perfect because he wouldn’t think she was repeating the words to make him feel good. Chase would understand and know how much she loved him and how proud she was of the changes he’d made. Changes Larke wasn’t sure he even realized he’d made.
“Would you really wanna see my house?”
She blinked and frowned. “The lake house?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Where I live, angel. Lee’s Fortress.”
Oh. She forced herself to sound calmer than she felt. “I’d like to at some point. But I know how complicated that would be. I don’t want you to have any problems because of me. I can wait until…”
He nodded. Understanding what her silence meant. Until he left the group. Until he turned his back on the life of a white supremacist. But even then, her going to his home would be iffy. The people living there would still hate her, even more so for encouraging him to leave. Larke sighed as Chase gazed back at her, his eyes troubled.
She was grateful when the waiter suddenly appeared with their ice cream, breaking the heavy moment.
Watching him push back the sleeve of his shirt and dip the long spoon into the sundae, Larke became curious, asking, “Was it just you or were all the kids who grew up in your community restricted from doing.” Air quotes. “Normal stuff. Television watching, going out to eat, fun kid stuff?”
Chase pressed his thumb to his lips, thoughtful. “I can’t speak for everyone. But most of the kids I knew didn’t have a TV in their house. That’s normal. Lots of fear of brainwashing. Truthfully, since I started watching television, I can see where the fear comes from. Not saying it’s right, just
that I get it. I understand why they thought we’d be influenced.” He shrugged. “How it is.”
“I’ve thought about something else,” she said. “You mentioned that you were homeschooled. But what happened after your mother left? Did you end up going to a regular school?”
He shook his head. “Most of the other kids were homeschooled and the everyone always tried to keep it as legit as possible so the state wouldn’t come snooping around. I taught myself and did most of the work I needed to get done. I gotta admit though, after a while I got tired of school and stopped altogether. Figured I’d be better off working; then I wouldn’t ever have to depend on anyone for anything.
“When did you stop?”
“Sixteen. I probably could have stopped earlier cause it didn’t look like anyone was checking up on us, anyway.” He stared at her and arched a brow. “Just because I’m not educated like you, doesn’t mean I’m nothing. I mean, it’s not that bad talking to me, right?”
Larke swallowed the lump in her throat and blinked away a tear before he could see it. “I never thought that. Not once. Chase, if anyone ever said that to you, then they’re obviously wrong. Being book smart doesn’t tell the whole story of a person. And it’s also not a standard for intelligence. Plus, none of that matters to me. You’re all that matters. You mean more to me than anyone else and I love talking to you.”
He gave her a boyish grin. “Could it also be that you like talking to me because you do most of the talking anyway?”
She laughed and took a scoop of ice cream. “Could be. But… if you don’t like me talking so much, you could always kiss me to shut me up.”
Before Larke could react Chase leaned across the table and did just that; covered her mouth with his.
“I didn’t mean now,” she whispered afterward.
He relaxed in his chair. “You’re my girl, Larke. I can kiss you whenever I want. That ain’t something you should forget anytime soon.”
19
