by SJ McCoy
“Your sister saw it?” asked Hope.
He nodded.
“What did she say?”
“She’s just curious. She knows me better than just about anyone. She’s shocked to see me with someone, let alone someone like you.”
Hope nodded. “I’m sorry. I wish she hadn’t found out this way.”
Chance smiled. “Don’t worry about her. She’s happy that I might actually be with you, you know, that I might be capable of feeling something for a woman.”
Hope smiled. “I like her.”
“You would.” Even as he said it, Chance wondered why he didn’t say, you will.
~ ~ ~
Hope’s smile faded as she turned her attention back to the TV. The momentary happiness she’d felt at the thought that Chance’s sister might be pleased the two of them were together was forgotten at the sight of Leyla Walsh on screen.
It’s less than two weeks since the news came out about Drew Lowry and Carrington Washington. In that time, there have been concerns for Drew’s jilted ex, Hope Davenport. Hope seemed to have disappeared and no one knew where she was. Well, it turns out we needn’t have worried. Hope has resurfaced, safe and well—and apparently recovering nicely from her breakup with the help of a rather delicious mystery man.
Her smile returned as she turned to Chance. “There you go, you are officially delicious!”
He made a face. Apparently, he wasn’t impressed.
She sighed.
“So, what happens now?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“What’s the fallout from this kind of thing? We were both afraid it was going to be on the news. It is, and we’re both still standing. Is this the worst of it? Is it over now?”
Oh, if only he knew. “Sorry, no such luck. This is the just the beginning. We’ll have to wait to see who comes out of the woodwork—who has a problem with us being together, and who has an axe to grind.” She froze as a thought struck her. “You don’t have any skeletons in your closet, do you?”
“Why, what do you mean?”
“Well, you’re news now. If anyone decides to run with this story, they’ll want to investigate who you are, see if there’s any dirt to dig on you.”
Chance’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve told you all my skeletons. I’ve got nothing to hide. But, that doesn’t mean I want my business shared with the whole world, either.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“We’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed that no one who recognizes you speaks up about who you are.”
He nodded. “And what else?”
She sighed. “Reporters might come?”
“Here?”
She nodded. “Here and to the clinic, anywhere they think we might be.”
“Great.”
“They might not.”
“But they probably will, right?”
She nodded sadly. “I’m so sorry.”
He came and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to his chest. “Would you stop saying that? None of this is your fault. It’ll be okay. We’ll get through it. At the end of the day, it’s not a big deal, is it? What does it matter if people know we’re seeing each other?”
“It’s not a problem for me. I just don’t like you having your privacy invaded. It’s not what you signed up for, is it?”
“No, but it’s a risk of being with you. I think some part of me knew that from the beginning.”
She smiled. “Well, if you’re okay with that, then it’s not a problem at all. At worst, it’ll be an inconvenience, if there are reporters hanging around.”
“In that case, we should just get on with our last day, huh?”
“Yeah, but I don’t know where we can go. Do you want to risk it?”
He shook his head. “No, I really don’t, but it’s not about where we go or what we do. It’s just about being together while we can.”
She loved every minute of that day with him. He was so sweet, trying to take her mind off everything, laughing and teasing her. They sat out back for a while and watched the ocean and talked about life. She was surprised that despite having led such very different lives, they had similar outlooks in many ways.
She’d kept an eye on the front gate, and to her dismay, there were a couple of reporters out there. She’d told Chance and he’d just smiled. “If they want to waste their time sitting out there, then let them. They can’t see us, they can’t hear us, and we can’t see them—if we don’t look,” he’d said, leading her back outside. From here all they could see was the rugged coastline and the ocean.
Toby had called to let her know he was handling things at the clinic. There had been reporters showing up there, too. Uncle Johnny had called to make sure she was okay. She’d assured him that she was and had apologized for the disruption at the clinic. She felt bad that he had to be dragged into this. He’d just laughed and reminded her that he’d been through much worse with his sons and no doubt would have to again. It was just one of the hazards of being who they were.
Chance had called and talked to his dad, who had asked to talk to Hope. He was so sweet. He’d told her not to worry about a thing and that as much of a pain as all this was, he was glad that it had happened. When she’d asked him why, he’d told her that it’d do Chance good, it’d make it all real for him and that if anyone tried to spoil things for the two of them—like the damned press seemed to be trying to do—it’d just make Chance get over any doubts he had left and step up to make sure nothing got in the way of them being together.
All in all, it had been a good day, despite everything that was going on. She’d decided she’d cook dinner for them. She could use up what she had left in the fridge, and there was no way she was going to run the gauntlet of the press and go out anywhere.
It had all been great until her dad called. She considered not picking up when she saw his name on the display, but she couldn’t do it. He’d only keep calling and Chance would wonder why she didn’t want to talk to him.
“I’m going to take this in the bedroom,” she told him.
“Okay.”
“Hi, Dad. I take it you’ve seen the news.”
“I have. Want to tell me what’s going on?”
“I already told you.”
“You told me who he was, and you told me that it was just until tomorrow. Are you still saying that?”
She sighed. “I also told you that I’d like to keep seeing him.”
“And I told you that’s a bad idea.”
“Why?”
“He’s a cowboy. He lives in Montana. He’s not ….”
“He’s not what, Dad?” She couldn’t keep her voice down. “He’s not a movie star? That’s fine, they’re liars and cheats. He’s not got a million dollars? I don’t care about that. He can’t keep me in the kind of life you think I should have? It doesn’t matter. I can do that myself.”
“Hope!” He’d always been able to make her stop when he spoke her name like that.
“What?”
“I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Well, I’m sorry, but I do. And I hope you’ll support me.”
He didn’t reply.
“Does what I want count for anything? Because if it does, I want you trust me on this one, Dad. He’s a good man.”
“Are you one hundred percent certain of that?”
It was only a split second, but she hesitated. She was ninety-nine point nine-nine-nine percent sure, but she couldn’t help but remember the way he’d gone after the photographer yesterday or the way he’d acted when that guy had jostled her in the crowd. “Yes, I am.”
“Okay, but if he turns out not to be …”
“He won’t. Just back off, Dad, and let me make my own mistakes?”
“I try to, but this one has me worried. I won’t let anything happen to you, Hopey.”
“I know, Dad, but it’s okay. Really.”
“Okay. And you’re going home tomorrow?”
�
��Yes.”
“You’re not taking him with you?”
“No, he’s taking his dad back to Summer Lake and then going back to Montana.”
“He’s from Summer Lake?”
“Yes. Do you know it?”
“I do. Okay. I’ll let you go. Call me when you get home?”
“I will. Love you, bye.”
When she came back out of the bedroom, Chance seemed agitated.
“What’s the matter?”
“Was that your dad?”
She nodded.
“What does he make of all this?”
She shrugged. “He’s not thrilled.”
“No, I can’t imagine he is. I can’t imagine he’s too happy at all about his daughter being with someone like me, let alone about having it splashed all over the papers.”
She went to him and slid her arms around his waist. “It’s okay. It’s not you, it’s just the situation. He tries to look out for me—when he’s around.”
Chance nodded. “Sorry. I think all the stress today is getting to me.”
“It’s getting to both of us, it’s understandable.” She smiled as a thought struck her. “You know, when I get stressed, I like to take a long soak in the bath—what do you think? Do you want to join me?”
He nodded and gave her the first genuine smile she’d seen today. “Yeah, I like that idea. Maybe we can think of another way to relax while we’re in there, too, huh?”
“Ooh, I think we might be able to do that.”
Once the tub was filled with steaming bubbles, she stepped in and sat down, then looked up at Chance. “Are you coming?”
He looked at her for a long moment, his eyes roved over her body, making her skin tingle under his gaze. There was something about that look, though. Yes, it was full of desire, but there was something else, too. Somehow it was filled with sadness. She tugged at his hand, wanting to be happy, not sad. “Come on, then. You were talking about helping me relax. I want to know what you’ve got planned.”
She admired his lean, hard body as he stepped in behind her and sat down. Sliding his arms around her waist, he pulled her back against him. He worked his thumbs up and down her neck. “How’s that?” he asked. She could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke against her skin.
“Not bad; it’ll do for starters.”
He chuckled and nibbled her ear, making her sigh. His hands came down to close around her breasts and she let her head fall back against his shoulder. “Getting better all the time,” she murmured.
One of his hands worked its way down between her legs, his thumb circling her clit. She rocked her hips in time with the movement and the water started to slosh over the sides.
He nipped her ear again and spoke softly. “Kneel up.”
She got up on all fours, knowing what was coming and wondering if it was possible in this much water. He knelt behind her and spread her legs, then stopped. “This isn’t going work.” She was relieved when he climbed out and opened the shower door with a grin. “I’m more of a shower guy, anyway.” He came back to the tub and took her hand to help her out.
Once they were inside, he closed the door and backed her up against the wall. She liked this better. She could see all of him as the water ran over his strong body. He poured some shower gel into his hands and began to stroke her breasts. That felt so good! She poured some into her own hand and began to soap the length of him, loving the look on his face as she increased the pace and the pressure of her strokes. He was breathing hard and so was she. She guided him toward her entrance and he looked down to watch. Once his hot, hard head was pushing at her entrance, he took hold of her hips and thrust hard.
“Chance!” she gasped as he entered her.
He smiled as they moved together. “You’re my Hope, you know. My one and only Hope.”
She smiled back, trying to keep her mind focused on his words and not the sensations that were filling her body. Each thrust of his hips carried her further and further away from reality, closer and closer to the point of no return. She clung to his shoulders and moved with him, their bodies melding frantically together. The pressure was building and building inside her until she couldn’t contain it any longer. “Chance!” she gasped again as she let go and her orgasm crashed through her. She felt him tense and then he found his release and they carried each other away as the water rolled down over them.
When they stilled, he looked deep into her eyes and kissed her gently. “My Hope. You’re amazing,” he breathed.
“My Chance,” she whispered, hoping that someday he might really be hers. She was starting to believe that it might be possible. That somehow they’d find a way to be together. She smiled to herself as her eyes closed. After all, they had a Chance and a Hope;
Warning Cliffhanger Ahead!
I hope you’ve enjoyed Chance and Hope’s story so far. Book Two, Finding Hope, will be coming out June 13. If you enjoy a Happy-For-Now ending, then I suggest that you stop reading now and wait for the next installment. However, if you enjoy a cliffhanger, there’s a little more story here for you to read ;0)
I know some readers hate cliffhangers; some readers love them. And I love ALL my readers – you’re the BEST! Thank you. This is my way of giving you some control over how you experience the story.
It’s your choice, read on or wait. Either way, I hope you enjoy.
SJ
oxo
Chapter Twenty-One
Chance woke with a start. He looked around, wondering what he’d heard. Nothing, it seemed. He lay there for a few moments thinking about tomorrow. This was the last night he’d lie beside her, at least for now. He still didn’t know when he’d see her again. Part of him still wasn’t sure that he should see her again. It seemed to him he’d caused her enough trouble already. And when it came to him, much as he wanted to see where things could go, part of him just wanted to go back to his life, back to his comfort zone. Hope was amazing. He cared about her, but maybe his dad had raised a coward. Maybe it would be better, easier for them both, if they stuck with their original plan and just said goodbye tomorrow—if they saved each other as a beautiful memory and didn’t try for more. He sighed. He wanted more, though. He’d gone to visit Chloe’s grave before he came out here to tell her that he was ready to start living again. Now he’d met a woman he might want to share his life with. If he ran away from the possibility now, he doubted he’d ever try again.
He rolled over onto his side, but he couldn’t get comfortable. He got up and headed downstairs for a drink of water. Staring out the patio doors at the moonlight dancing on the ocean, he started to feel as though all this had just been a dream. Tomorrow, he’d wake up and go back to his real life. All this would be over, unless he really wanted to work to make it happen between them. He started at the sound of a bleep and turned around to see Hope’s phone light up. She’d left it on the countertop to charge. It bleeped again. He felt guilty as he stepped toward it, wondering who was messaging her in the middle of the night. He checked the clock—two thirty-five in the morning, to be precise. The screen lit up again and he stared down at the notifications.
Hope call me. Did he tell you he has a criminal record?
I want you away from that man.
Please Hope. I’m concerned about you.
Make sure goodbye means goodbye tomorrow.
I don’t want you around him.
Call me in the morning.
Chance closed his eyes and sighed. He nodded slowly. What father wouldn’t feel that way? He couldn’t blame the guy. He was looking out for his daughter. He didn’t know the whole story. Chance was glad that Hope did. It hadn’t been easy to share his past with her, but having her hear it from someone else would have been worse.
What was he supposed to do? He couldn’t exactly call the guy and explain himself. Even if he did, he doubted it’d make any difference. Men like that weren’t forgiving about mistakes, especially criminal ones.
Another text came in.
Please Hope. We’ve come so far in the last few years. Don’t throw it away over some no-good ranch hand.
That was like a dagger to Chance’s heart. Not being called a no-good ranch hand, he could handle that. No, the thought that Hope and her dad had been getting closer, and that he was about to screw things up between them. He couldn’t handle that. He knew what it was like to be estranged from your father. He knew how good it felt to finally be close again. He rested his head in his hands. He knew what he had to do. There was no way he would come between Hope and her dad. No matter what future might have been possible between the two of them, he’d give it all up right here and now in order to protect her relationship with her dad.
He tiptoed back upstairs and picked his clothes up, glad that he had everything packed and ready to go. He looked down at her, wanting so badly to reach out and touch her, but not daring to in case he woke her.
He kissed his fingertips and blew the kiss to her, hoping that somehow she’d feel it and know that he cared.
He went back downstairs and got dressed then gathered his things together. He went back to the kitchen and picked up the notepad he’d written his number on for her that first day they met. It was only two weeks ago, but it felt like so much longer.
He picked up the pen and stared at the paper. What could he tell her? What could he say? He couldn’t tell her why he was leaving. If he tried to tell how he felt about her he’d still be here writing by the time she woke up. He stared at the paper a long time before he finally got it. He had to make himself out to be an asshole. That way she’d hate him; she wouldn’t want to come after him, and she wouldn’t upset her dad. Her dad could step in as her hero to pick up the pieces – and be proved right.
He scribbled a few words and picked up his bag. For one crazy moment, he wanted to put it down again, get undressed and go back and hold her in his arms. They could face all of this tomorrow. Together. But no. Together wasn’t a way he got to live life. He was supposed to be alone; he should never have forgotten that. Hope was someone who deserved to be happy, and she would no doubt be happier without him.
With a sad smile, he made sure he locked the front door as he let himself out and closed it gently behind him. He threw his bag in the car and drove away without once looking back.
