Charmed by Chase

by Theresa Paolo

  He shook his head. “Brooke, didn’t say anything about the counter.”

  Chapter 13

  Chase woke up energized and ready to tackle the day. He looked over at Rebecca, curled up into his side, the sun shining through the skylights and basking her in early morning rays. She looked more than beautiful; she looked peaceful and angelic. They never did make it to Trivia Night though it wasn’t for a lack of him trying. He even managed to get them in the truck before Bex started kissing him on his neck and insisting they go back to her place.

  He looked at his phone and had a few texts from Brooke asking where they were. He sent her a quick reply, better late than never, so she knew he was okay. She messaged him back almost instantly calling him a vulgar name and reminding him to practice safe sex.

  With a roll of his eyes, he tossed his phone back on his jeans and turned toward Rebecca.

  Willy lay in a sun spot at the edge of the bed on Rebecca’s side. He and the cat were on tolerating each other terms but hadn’t become friendly yet. Chase was okay with that. With a yawn the cat stretched its legs out and rolled away from Chase’s gaze.

  Chase leaned over to Rebecca, kissing her bare shoulder and brushing her hair off her face. She stirred beside him and moaned as she pushed her round curves into him, sending a jolt of awareness through his body.

  His hand slid against her skin and cupped her breast. He would die a happy man if he could start his mornings like this every day. She whimpered as he pinched her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. She arched farther into him, and he tried to control his building desire, but when it came to Rebecca he had no control. She stripped him down to a burning inferno of unmanageable lust that could only be extinguished by her.

  “Morning,” she said, and he could hear a smile in her voice.

  He trailed his tongue along her neck, nipping at her earlobe. “Morning.”

  He kissed her neck, trailing a path down to her shoulder and sucking on the sensitive skin at the crook of her neck.

  “A girl could get used to this,” she said before her words got lost to a moan.

  Last night they had made use of every surface imaginable. He couldn’t believe that she wanted more, but he wasn’t going to deny her.

  He was beginning to realize that no matter how many times she kissed him, how many times he sunk deep inside her, it wasn’t enough. Just being near her sent his desire into overdrive, and like her, he always wanted more.

  She reached behind her, wrapping her hand around his length and stroking him until he was as hard as stone. A fresh pool of need erupted inside him, and he grabbed a condom off the night stand. He rolled it into place then went back to her, parting her slick folds and pushing into her from behind.

  A cry broke through the stillness of the morning, and he turned her head to his, devouring her mouth. Whimpers vibrated against his lips as he moved in her with slow, steady strokes. His hands freely roamed her entire body as she lay pressed tightly against him. It was like her body was made for him, fitting perfectly with his.

  Each time they made love he was learning the nuances of her body, the subtle touches that caused her to tremble, how a single kiss could turn her on. He learned exactly what she liked and now knew what it took to bring her to release.

  His finger found her engorged nub, and he stroked it with skilled precision. She arched into him, causing her to take him even deeper, and a string of incoherent words fell from her mouth.

  “I’m so close,” she said.

  He clenched her hip, his hand curving around the narrowed indent. “Wait for me.” He pumped into her harder and faster. Her hand slammed down on the bed, finger curling into the comforter and pulling it to her face. Her body convulsed as she held back her release for him.

  Her warm slick walls clamped down on him, sending him spiraling.

  “Now, Rebecca” he said as he thrust into her hard and deep.

  She cried out, her body shuddering, legs trembling as they both came together. His body went weak, but he managed to pull her into his arms.

  She turned and looked at him a satiated smile on her lips, eyes heavy with fulfillment. “How are you so good at that?” she asked.

  He kissed her nose. “It’s you.”

  She cocked an eyebrow. “Is that your go-to line?”

  “No.” He reached up, tucking her brown hair behind her ear. “With you it just comes naturally. There’s no thinking, just doing. I also pay attention to what you like.”

  “How do you know what I like?” she asked, biting her lip.

  “You make these adorable little moans. Your body arches and your eyes flutter shut.”

  She kissed him then, and it was more than just a kiss between two people who were sleeping together. There was a tenderness there that he felt in his heart.

  “Thank you,” she said. “For noticing. Truth be told, no guy I have ever been with has cared much about my needs.”

  “They’re idiots. You deserve to be worshipped.”

  “I’m okay with that, but only if I can equally worship your body, because if you ask me…” She placed a kiss on his chest then his chin. “You deserve it, too.”

  “Deal,” he said, getting a burst of energy and tossing her beneath him.

  Willy meowed, and he heard paws hit the floor.

  Rebecca laughed. “Willy might not agree.”

  “Willy most definitely does not, but I can live with that.”

  She smiled, and it was like the sunshine above them, bright and warm. He could spend all day in bed staring at her, worshipping every inch of her body, but she had wanted to go into town today. So he kissed her then leaned back. “Come on let’s get dressed.”

  She whimpered and stuck her plump bottom lip out. He bent down, nipping that lip before pulling away. Her green eyes sparkled as they took him in. They were like a hallway to her soul and the more time they spent together the farther in he got.

  “You wanted to stop by the glass studio. Sarah already called Kate to let her know you’d be stopping by and I thought we could grab something to eat while we’re out.”

  She crawled out from under him and jumped up, standing at the edge of the bed. “All you had to say was you wanted to feed me.” She gave him a wink then dodged his hands as she made her way down the ladder, blowing him a kiss as she went.

  ***

  Chase drove into town and parked in an open spot on Main Street. The cab of his truck was filled with the honey and flower scent that he would forever think of as Rebecca’s. Her hair was down, hanging in natural waves and she had another pair of ridiculously big sunglasses on.

  He tapped the bottom of the glasses with his finger. “These things are as big as your face,” he said.

  “That’s the point. When I’m in L.A. it helps me to go incognito. It doesn’t always work, but at least if I didn’t have time to do my makeup the paparazzi can’t get me looking like a hot mess.”

  “I don’t think you could look like a hot mess if you tried.”

  “That’s very sweet, but after a sixteen-hour day of filming only to be back on set a few hours later, you’d be surprised.”

  “I thought I had long days at work,” he said.

  “Speaking of work. Shouldn’t you be there and not spending the day with me?”

  “Lucky for you, Friday is my day off, but I have to be back at the station tomorrow at six.”

  “Well, then let’s get our day started so we can get you to bed early.”

  He smiled. “I have a feeling we won’t be doing a lot of sleeping.”

  She gave him a sassy smile before sliding out of the truck. Chase grabbed his keys and got out of the truck himself. He met Rebecca at the front and took her hand like it was the most natural thing to do.

  She hugged his arm and they headed toward Serenity Glass Blowing Studios.

  “That better not be Chase Marshall walking on past my window and not even bothering to come in and say hi.” The voice echoed across the sidewalk, and Cha
se laughed as he turned to Terry. Her big red hair could be spotted from a mile away. She also had on a pair of oversized sunglasses that she pushed up on her head as she watched him from the other side of the parking lot.

  “Don’t act like you don’t hear me,” Terry said. “Get over here and give me some sugar.” Chase headed toward Terry with Rebecca’s hand in his. Terry teetered toward them on red pumps that matched her bright red lips. She wrapped Chase in a hug and a cloud of hairspray. When she pulled back, her eyes landed on Rebecca and her smile exploded. “Aren’t you just the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen in person.”

  “Thank you,” Rebecca said, a pretty shade of red filling her cheeks. “That’s very kind.”

  “It’s easy to be kind when you speak the truth. Now tell me sweetie, how you liking our little town?”

  “I’m loving it. What it lacks in size it makes up with great people and great views.”

  “And great food. Now you best have been planning on stopping by for some of my state famous apple cinnamon pancakes.” Terry darted her eyes to Chase and before he could respond Rebecca beat him to it.

  “That sounds amazing.”

  “Pretty and smart. Don’t let this one get away, Chase.”

  Chase laughed. If he had his way he would hold onto her for as long as he could, but it was only a matter of time before she returned to the bright lights of Hollywood—a place he couldn’t even bring himself to imagine. From what he’d seen in movies and television, it was the total opposite of Red Maple Falls. She had a glamorous life there he could not compete with. He had nothing to offer her other than his arms to hold her close, his lips to kiss her senseless, and his heart for hers to keep.

  “Why weren’t you at trivia night?” Terry asked. “Layla and Brooke said you’d be stopping in.”

  Chase looked at Rebecca with a smirk. Her teeth slid over her plump bottom lip as he turned back to Terry. “We got caught up with something.”

  “I’d skip out on Trivia Night to get frisky too,” Terry said and Rebecca sucked in a surprised gasp that she momentarily choked on. Chase rubbed her back and Terry waved her hand at them. “Nothing to be embarrassed about dear. I was your age once. Went a whole week once without ever leaving the bedroom. What a week that was,” Terry said as she fanned her face with her hand.

  “Terry,” Chase said. He was used to her colorful comments but he had to draw a line somewhere and talking to a woman, who was like a grandmother to him, about his sex life was that line.

  “I’m surrounded by a bunch of prudes. Anyway, Tyler’s team took the win again. Brooke wouldn’t let it go. You should have seen how mad she was. I swear she was going to blow fire out her nose, and now wouldn’t that have been a sight to see.”

  “She’ll get over it,” Chase said.

  “She’ll have her chance to take it back next week,” Terry said. “Now come on in and let me feed you two.”

  Chapter 14

  Bex led the way and Chase followed, his hand on her lower back as she made her way into The Happy Apple. Just as she stepped in the door she stopped, eyes wide as she looked around the restaurant.

  “That is a lot of apples,” she said. She remembered Chase mentioning it but to see it was an entirely different experience. It was even more over the top than she’d imagined.

  “I just started, and I can’t seem to stop,” Terry said, coming up next to them.

  “Why apples?” Bex asked.

  “You know, sweetie, I don’t think anyone has ever asked me that.”

  “I assumed you liked apples,” Chase said, and Bex laughed. She imagined that would be a typical guy’s response.

  “I do like apples. Obviously,” Terry said, holding her hands palm up toward the decor. “But not nearly as much as I like my leopard print.”

  “I can attest to that,” Chase said. “She even has a leopard print bike.”

  “No… Really?” Bex said.

  “Sure do. Custom made by Caleb James. If you ever need a bike you go over to The Chain and Spoke and you tell Caleb I sent you.”

  Bex had no need for a bike. She had car service that took her everywhere, but the thought of riding around the streets of Red Maple Falls, no paparazzi shoving cameras in her face and blinding her with their flashes, was more appealing than she expected.

  “Maybe I will,” she said. “But first I want to know about the apples.”

  “My husband Walt, he’s in the kitchen right now, big pain in my you know what but man I love the big old teddy bear. Anyway, our first date was at an ice cream shop. They had a special of apple pie ala mode and even though it was the most expensive thing on the menu I ordered it.”

  Chase laughed and Bex had a feeling that was because it was totally Terry’s style.

  “I wanted to make sure I was worth it. If he hemmed and hawed over it then I knew he wasn’t the right man for me, but he didn’t even bat an eye. Even asked if I wanted to add whipped cream.”

  “So that’s why you started collecting all these apples?” Chase asked.

  Terry’s bright red lips tilted upward and then a flash of sorrow past across her features. “Not exactly,” she said. “You see our road wasn’t an easy one. He wasn’t in town for long. War took him away from me, and I thought I’d never see him again. But by some miracle I tracked him down here.”

  Chase crossed his arms over his chest, his dark gray eyes focused on Terry. “How did I not know any of this?”

  “You never asked.” Terry patted his hand. “But that’s okay, sweetie. You had your own set of problems to deal with.”

  “What happened?” Bex asked, desperate to know. She assumed it was a happy ending since Walt was in the kitchen, but she still wanted confirmation.

  “War didn’t treat him kindly. The man I shared an apple pie ala mode with in that ice cream shop wasn’t the man I found. But I was a determined little thing, refusing to give up on his grumpy ass.”

  “I’m guessing it paid off,” Bex said.

  “It did. He gave me this.” Terry teetered over to a shelf above the register and took down a ceramic canister with painted apples going around it. “I looked at him like he was crazy. ‘What in the world am I going to do with that?’ I asked him. I thought it was the dumbest gift. I was a piece of work back then.” She shrugged. “But then he told me he saw it and thought of our first date. Told me when times got really bad in Vietnam he would close his eyes and remember my face while I ate that apple pie. The big oaf made me cry.”

  The story warmed Bex’s heart. “That is so sweet.”

  “Who knew Walt was a romantic,” Chase said.

  “That’s why I always say his bark is stronger than his bite. Always has been. On that date I had told him I was going to open my own restaurant one day. He told me to use this canister to save my money, and one day I’d have enough and this would be my first decoration.”

  Bex placed her hand on her heart. “And all these years later you still have it.”

  “Sure do. Forty-six-years later.”

  Bex wondered if in four decades, she’d have a story to share about her husband. She thought about her and Chase’s first encounter, and that was definitely one for the storybooks, but she didn’t know if their story would end with a happily ever after.

  She was in hiding right now, away from her crazy life, and while it was great, and she honestly never wanted to leave, it was only a matter of time before she had to get back to work and her obligations.

  “Now enough of me blathering on. You two go find a seat, and I’ll bring you out something delicious.”

  Terry shooed them away, and Bex chose the table by the window so she could look out to Main Street.

  “Give me that spatula!” Terry’s voice echoed through the restaurant. “I don’t care. Get out of my kitchen.”

  Chase laughed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Here we go.”

  “Your kitchen! You’re crazy if you think this is your kitchen.”

  There was some more y
elling, but Bex couldn’t make out the words. “Who is she yelling at?” she asked.

  “Walt, the romantic,” he said.

  Just then an intimidating older gentleman stepped out from the kitchen. He was a large man, with big red cheeks and bright blue eyes. A scowl sat on his face as he mumbled his way across the dining room.

  “Hey Walt,” Chase said with a wave.

  Walt’s scowl turned into a smile, transforming him from a frightening man whose path you wouldn’t want to cross to a warm and friendly face.

  “Chase, it’s good to see you,” he said. “And who might this pretty young woman be?”

  “Walt, this is Rebecca. Rebecca this is Walt, Terry’s husband.”

  “I’m her better half.”

  “I heard that!” Terry called from the kitchen.

  Walt waved his massive hand in her direction then turned back to them. “One of these days she’s going to drive me into a looney bin.”

  Though his words conveyed one thing, the twinkle in his eyes said something completely different. He wouldn’t change a single thing because he loved her dearly. It was sweet and that look was something actors spent their lives trying to recreate. Bex was grateful that she got to witness the real thing.

  “Where in the world is my cinnamon?”

  “Her cinnamon,” Walt mumbled.

  “Hello?”

  “I’m coming you, old bitty!” Walt stormed toward the kitchen, and Bex laughed as Terry greeted him, spatula in one hand and the other hand planted firmly on her ample hip.

  “I love them,” Bex said.

  “Me too,” Chase said. “They’re like the grandparents I never had. After my mom died, Terry really looked out for us.”

  Bex remembered that night when he brought over a bag of food from The Happy Apple. He had said Terry would bring them leftovers, but she never put two and two together until now.

  “That’s why she brings you the leftovers.”

  Chase nodded. “We don’t need her to anymore, but I guess old habits die hard. She still comes every few days. It’s nice though, since Layla and I both work a lot. It’s something we don’t have to really think about. And Walt.” Chase shook his head. “I had a crap pickup that belonged in a junkyard, but it was all I had. I saved for months to buy it. I was proud of it even though it would breakdown on me daily. Walt used to help me get it back up and running. He’s really good at rigging things to make them work.”