by SJ McCoy
Dr. Johnny looked concerned. “She’s up in that big house by herself and she can’t get around?”
Chance felt bad when he put it like that; he felt responsible. “I got her set up icing the ankle and I went back to check on her last night, made sure she got something to eat.”
The older man smiled kindly. “Thanks, Chance. I appreciate it. She’s not your responsibility, I know that. I want to say I’m disappointed in her for not telling me, but I’m not. It’s the way she works. She’s little Miss Independent and she wouldn’t want me interfering. She’ll take care of herself, just like she always does.” He met Chance’s gaze. “If the two of you have become friends, would you mind keeping an eye on her for me?”
Chance nodded. He wouldn’t mind at all.
~ ~ ~
Toby poured two cups of coffee and carried them to where Hope was sitting on the sofa. He smiled as he handed her one. “I like him.”
Hope tried not to smile. “Who?” She tried to sound innocent but knew she wasn’t pulling it off.
Toby made a face. “You know damned well who. Chance. I met him at the clinic this afternoon.”
Hope nodded. “He’s a good man.” She looked up. “A very good man. Isn’t it weird how we get ourselves twisted up with what society perceives to be good and that blinds us?”
“What do you mean?”
“I was thinking about it this morning. Take Drew, for example. He’s a clean-cut movie star. He moves in the right circles, says the right things, and even after his cheating, most people still adore him. His PR team is doing a great job of damage control.”
Toby nodded. “Yeah, but then we knew that would happen.”
“And I don’t care. It’s not like I want to see him suffer because of what he did. I just think it’s sad that someone like him gets a free pass no matter what he does; and yet, someone like Chance wouldn’t.”
“What do you mean?”
She shrugged. What did she mean? What was she even talking about? “I don’t know. He’s a rancher, he has rough edges, he’d never get a break like Drew is getting. If he did something wrong, no one would ever give him another chance in life.”
Toby met her gaze. “I don’t really get what you’re talking about. Has he done something wrong?”
She shook her head rapidly. “No. I suppose I’m thinking about my dad.”
“Ah.”
“Yeah. I mean, he thought Drew was a good catch—an appropriate match for me.”
“And he’s still thinking that way now?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him, but I’m sure he’ll see Drew’s behavior as acceptable. I have a feeling he wouldn’t even give Chance the time of day, despite the fact that he helped yesterday and despite the fact that he is a genuinely decent human being.”
“It is what it is, Hope. That’s the way your dad works. That’s the way society works. It sucks, but it’s not like it’s ever going to change.” He stopped and looked at her over the rim of his coffee cup. “Why are you thinking about what your dad would make of Chance anyway?”
She felt a touch of heat in her cheeks. “I’m not. Not really. It was just in the abstract.”
Toby continued to stare at her.
“Okay! So, I like him. I was wondering if he and I were to go out, or something. How would it be? And there are so many reasons that it would be difficult, if not impossible. My dad is one of those reasons. Can you imagine?” She shuddered. He wouldn’t like it at all.
“And do you plan to go out with him?”
She shook her head. “No. I was just daydreaming.” She smiled, trying to make light of it. “He’s a good-looking guy. It’d be nice, but come on, I have to be realistic. We’re from different worlds. And besides, he’s not interested.”
Toby didn’t say anything.
“What?” She could tell by the look on his face that he was biting his tongue.
“I think he is.”
“Why? What did he say?” She lowered her gaze, realizing that she’d asked a little too eagerly.
Toby shook his head at her. “He didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. I just know. But like you said, you’re from different worlds. It’s not like you could see each other, is it? You’re here for two weeks, then we’ll go home to LA and he’ll go home to Montana.” He smiled. “So, maybe you should see each other? Make the most of the time that you’re here? Have a little fling. It’d do you good.”
Hope stared at him. “What would be the point in that?”
Toby laughed. “To have some fun! Just enjoy the company of a guy you like, a guy you think—and I happen to agree—is a good man. It doesn’t have to mean anything. It doesn’t have to go anywhere. Just have some fun.”
Hope pursed her lips.
Toby shrugged. “It was just an idea.”
She smiled at him. “It’s a good idea, but how would I go about it?”
“What do you mean?”
She gave an embarrassed laugh. “I mean, what do I do? Just make him an indecent proposal?”
Toby smiled. “I don’t see what’s indecent about it. Just ask if he’d like to spend some time together while you’re both here. What’s the worst that could happen? He says no. If he says yes, then you both get to have some fun. It doesn’t need to get complicated.”
She nodded. “I might just do that.” She looked at her phone. “I might just give him a call.”
“I think you should. You’re both here with nothing to do for the next two weeks. I say go for it.”
“You’re right. The worst that can happen is he says no.” She hated the idea that he might, though. She’d been planning to call him tomorrow anyway, just to see how he was doing, and hoping that he might come visit her again. How would she feel if she suggested they spend some time together for the next couple of weeks and he said no? Was it worth risking the tentative friendship they’d established in the hope of having something more? Something that would only be a quick fling anyway? She shrugged. She didn’t know. She didn’t have to decide right now. She’d give it some thought tonight. She smiled at Toby. “I’ll think about it.”
“You do that. Live a little, Hope.”
Maybe it would do her good?
Chapter Nine
Chance made his way back up the steps from the beach. It was only eight-thirty and he’d been down there since seven. He was chilly and ready for a hot coffee to warm him up. He glanced over at the big house when he reached the top, wondering if Hope was up and about. He’d decided he was going to go check on her this morning. He’d wanted to go last night, but he knew Toby would be there. He doubted he’d still be there this morning, and—he smiled—he had promised Dr. Johnny that he’d keep an eye on her.
He let himself back into the cottage. Coffee came first, and then a shower. He turned the TV on while he waited for the coffee to brew. He rarely watched TV and the sound of voices blaring out of the box, chattering away about the morning gossip, felt alien to him. He turned to look when he heard her name.
“… Hope Davenport has refused to comment since the news about Drew and Carrie’s relationship broke on Friday morning. A spokesperson from Davenport Athleticwear stated that she is currently out of town on personal business …”
Chance shook his head. What would it be like to have your personal business plastered all over the news like that? He couldn’t imagine. He was a very private person, to say the least. Even the people who knew him best didn’t know what was going on with him most of the time. He felt bad for Hope. It must be a strain to have any part of your life known to the whole world, but to have the most private part invaded must be horrible. He’d see if she wanted to talk about it when he went over there. He felt a certain pride that she’d felt safe to confide in him the other night. He hadn’t forgotten the look on her face when she’d said she’d never expected to have someone she could spill her guts to. She’d looked so relieved and so grateful. If that was something he could do for her, then he was more tha
n happy to be a listening ear. He sighed. He wanted to con himself that he only wanted to help, but he couldn’t. It wasn’t true. It wasn’t only for her benefit; it was for his, too. He wanted to be around her, and more than that, he wanted to feel that he could help her. Just being around her made him feel like a man, but being able to do something for her? That made him feel like he could be her man, the one to protect her. He shook his head—and that was about as crazy as it got. He wasn’t her man. He never could be. And even if he could, he wouldn’t know how to be. And even if he tried, it wouldn’t matter. In his heart, he was still Chloe’s man. He poured a cup of coffee and headed for the shower. He needed to get out of his head and back into his life. All the whys and wherefores didn’t matter. All that mattered was that Hope needed a friend right now, and he wanted to be one.
He knocked loudly on the front door when he got to the house. After a few moments, he knocked again and then turned the handle, planning to stick his head around and call her name. He didn’t want to make her come open it, but he didn’t want to just waltz in and scare her either. To his surprise, the door didn’t open. He had to smile. She must have locked it. He waited for a few moments, not sure whether to knock again or just wait and see if she came. It’d take her a while to get here and him banging away on the door wouldn’t make her any faster.
“I’m coming,” she called. A moment later, the door swung open and she stood there smiling at him. “Good morning.”
He frowned.
“What? What’s wrong?”
He shook his head. “You should have at least asked who it was before you opened it. I could be anyone.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re not anyone, though, are you?” She gave him a sassy smile. “You’re you. And although there may be no pleasing you, I’m happy to see you. Come on in.”
He didn’t move. “What do you mean, there’s no pleasing me?”
She laughed. “Let me see. First you tell me off for not locking the door—despite the fact that you were the one who left it unlocked and knew I couldn’t move from the sofa. Then, when I obey and leave it locked—meaning I have to hobble all this way to open it—you tell me off for not asking who you are first.”
He smiled. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay. I’ll forgive you, if you let me lean on you.” She was leaning against the doorframe, taking the weight off her bad ankle. “I need to sit down and I’m going to need your help getting back to the sofa.”
Chance grinned. He slid an arm around her shoulders and hooked the other behind her knees, scooping her up off the ground and holding her to his chest. He drew in a deep breath, filling his nostrils with the scent of her as her arms slid up around his neck.
“Ooh,” she smiled up at him.
He chuckled. “You said you needed help. Will this do?”
She nodded. “This will do very nicely indeed. Thank you.”
He stepped inside and closed the door behind them with his foot. He could feel her heart beating against his as he carried her down the hallway and into the great room. He didn’t speak. He didn’t have the breath to, but that wasn’t because of the physical exertion of carrying her. It was because the way she was looking up into his eyes made his heart clench. He reached the sofa and hesitated. He didn’t want to put her down; now he had her in his arms again, he didn’t want to let go.
Her eyes searched his face. “It’s not just me, is it?” she asked.
“What isn’t?”
“You feel it too, don’t you?” she breathed.
He nodded.
“Good. I wondered if I was just making it up.”
“No.” He turned around and sat down on the sofa so she was sitting on his lap, still cradled in his arms. “I tried telling myself it was just me, but it isn’t.”
She smiled. “So, what do we do about it?”
He closed his eyes. “Nothing. There’s nothing we can do.”
She reached up and touched his cheek, turning his head so he had to look into her eyes. “Don’t you want to?”
What did she mean? Want to what? Kiss her? Sure, her plump pink lips were begging him to do just that. Take her to bed? Hell, yeah! She must be able to feel how much he’d like to do that. His cock was hard and her sweet round ass was sitting right on it. He looked deep into her eyes, wanting her to tell him what she meant so he didn’t screw this up by suggesting something she didn’t mean.
She cupped his face between her hands and gently planted a kiss on his lips before leaning back. His arms tightened around her, wanting to pull her close for more, for a real kiss, not just a peck. He watched her moisten her lips with her tongue, then dragged his gaze away to look into her eyes.
“I want you, Chance.” Her cheeks flushed as soon as the words were out. “I mean, I want to know you. I want to hold you, I want to spend time with you. I’m not like this. I don’t do this. But something about you …” She gave him a shy smile. “I’m sorry, you’re probably horrified. I don’t know what I’m doing. I do know I like you. I think you like me, too. I’d like to explore that. What do you say?”
He held her gaze for a long moment. He didn’t know what to say. He decided instead to answer her without words. He slid his fingers into her hair and lowered his face to hers. Her arms tightened around his neck as their lips met. He kissed her slowly, tentatively at first. She kissed him back, opening up to him as he slid his tongue inside her mouth. Something seemed to ignite between them; her fingers tangled in his hair and she pulled his head down to her. His arms tightened around her, crushing her to his chest, needing to feel her close as their tongues tangled. He ran a hand down her back, making her moan into his mouth. That sobered him up—fast. The sound of her moaning like that made him need her—naked and under him. He wasn’t sure that was on offer, or even that it was what he wanted—yet. He lifted his head and looked down into her eyes. They were glazed with lust. That told him all he needed to know. Yes, it was an offer, and no, he didn’t want it just yet. With any other woman, yes, but not with Hope. With any other woman, it wouldn’t mean anything. With Hope, for the first time, he felt like it might mean something and there was no way he was going to rush in and ruin that possibility.
~ ~ ~
Hope closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. Wow! She blew it out again slowly. She’d gotten a little carried away there. He could have done anything he wanted with her—and she would have wanted it, too. She looked up into his eyes, wondering why he’d stopped kissing her. He wanted her, the way he looked at her, the way he held her—the way his erection was pressing into her—everything about him told her that he wanted her. The corner of his mouth quirked up into a smile. “I didn’t stop because I don’t want you. I stopped because I do, maybe a little too much.”
She nodded. “Is there any reason we shouldn’t?” She knew it sounded brazen, but she didn’t want to stop and she didn’t see any reason they should.
He smiled. “I think there are a whole bunch of reasons. Don’t you?”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t. We’re both consenting adults.”
He nodded. “We are.”
“It’s not like you’re taking advantage of me or anything, if that’s what you’re thinking. I want to. You’re not persuading me or pushing me.”
He smiled. “I know that much.”
“So, why not? What are all these reasons?”
He pursed his lips. “I like you. I don’t know how this is going to sound, but you make me feel. You … I don’t know how to explain it. You woke something inside me. Something that I thought had died with Chloe.”
“Isn’t that a reason why we should?” Butterflies were swirling in her stomach. Her heart was racing. He felt something for her? Really felt?
He shook his head. “It’s a reason we shouldn’t. At least, not right now.”
She nodded. He was probably right. The moment had passed. She didn’t want to sit here and discuss whether or not they should sleep together. She wanted it to just
happen—and it hadn’t. “Okay, but you’re saying that we might?”
He nodded.
“Good, and I’m saying that I’d like to. I’ll go further than that and tell you what I’ve been thinking, shall I?
He nodded again, looking a little puzzled.
She smiled. “Sorry, I’ve already told you I’m cold and I get down to business. I don’t see the point in either of us guessing what’s going on. I prefer to be up front. I like you. A lot. I’d like for us to spend some time together, but I’m a realist. The only time we’re going to have is the next couple of weeks. I’m okay with that.” She wasn’t sure if that last part was entirely true, but it had to be. “I was thinking that, if you’re interested, we should make the most of the time we have.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“I like you, you like me. Let’s …” The words sounded so silly now she was about to say them. “Let’s have a fling.”
His eyes widened as he continued to stare at her. “A fling?”
She nodded.
“You mean …” He rubbed his chin, seeming to be giving the idea some serious thought.
“You know exactly what I mean,” she said with a smile. “I’m sorry if it’s too forward of me, and if you don’t like the idea, we can pretend I never suggested it—please? But I feel like we’re both looking for something, and maybe we can help each other find it. Here, in this place, in this mini vacation from our real lives. I’m not asking anything of you, you’re not asking anything of me. We can share this time and at the end of it walk away. What do you say?”
She held her breath while she waited for him to answer. Did he think she was nuts? She did! She was looking at this like it could be some holiday romance—albeit a premeditated one. People did that all the time, didn’t they? They went on vacation, they met someone, they spent a blissful few days and then went back to their lives.
Chance nodded slowly. “I say, yes.” He smiled.
“Yay!” She was surprised at the niggle of doubt that crept in. “Is there a but?”
He shook his head, but she got the impression that he had some reservations. “No. I don’t think so. I suppose I’m just not used to setting things up in advance like this. To me, if something happens between two people, it happens naturally. I guess I’m just not used to the idea of having a predetermined start and end date.” He shrugged. “But, given the circumstances, I think it works.”
