Longing.
Deep-rooted desire.
God, did he have to be so stunning? So sinfully sexy it physically hurt me in places I didn’t want to acknowledge.
“You need to eat, Laurie.”
If only I could.
I lifted a slice of watermelon to my mouth and gingerly took a bite. A few drops of sweet juice gathered on my lips and traveled down my chin. I turned to look at Chase and realized he was staring at me, his eyes dark and hooded. Ever so slowly, his thumb brushed the moisture off my chin, touching my lips in the process.
My breath hitched in my throat. My lips parted, begging him to stop being so nice—so sexy—and just taste them. My body pleaded with him to make a move and kiss me, touch me, and draw me to him so I could finally find out if his lips were as soft as they looked.
“This has to stop,” I said, and looked away, regretting my words almost instantly.
Silence ensued.
The seconds seemed to stretch on forever. Eventually, I turned my head back to him and realized he was regarding me, amused.
“There’s a reason why I wanted to see you today, Chase.” I cringed at the way I pronounced his name—too breathy, too intimate. I had made a promise never to speak it out loud in his presence because he was getting into my head. To my utter humiliation, I realized I hadn’t been able to stay resolute for longer than a few minutes. Or maybe it was the effect of the wine, and I wasn’t to blame.
Anyway, this came out all wrong. It made me look desperate. And I wasn’t that desperate—yet. I tried to force air into my lungs, but my breathing came out all hard and heavy.
“Are you okay?” Chase asked, all fake innocence and concern.
I nodded but didn’t dare look at him, afraid of what he might see in my face. Afraid that my inability to control my body’s reactions around him would give me away, and he’d realize just how turned on I was by him.
“We need to establish a few rules in our arrangement to stop this from turning into something that can’t ever happen,” I whispered, finally plucking up the courage to look at him.
He raised his eyebrows as he cocked his head. “What rules?” He sounded so genuine that he almost had me fooled, were it not for the glint in his eyes.
“Good that you’re asking. I’ve made a list.” I pulled out a crumpled sheet of paper from my handbag and handed it to him. I peered over his shoulder as his eyes scanned my handwriting, and almost cringed at my choice of words.
No kissing…
No touching…
No invitations to secluded places after midnight, and that involves bedrooms.
“I sound like a deranged lunatic, don’t I?” I whispered, my face red with shame.
“It’s fine.” He folded the paper and handed it back to me. “If that’s what you want, I’m okay with it.” His gaze scanned my flaming cheeks for a moment. “I’m not like other men. I don’t want to do anything that could hurt you, Laurie.”
My heart skipped a beat as I realized that he thought my reluctance to play along stemmed from a broken heart and disappointed relationships.
“That’s not it,” I murmured. “I just want nothing to interfere with the job.” Even in my own ears, my voice sounded unconvinced. Shaking. Tumultuous.
For a few long moments, we just stared at each other in silence, the air between us thick like winter’s fog. I knew if I dared walk in, I might get lost forever.
A hot wind blew a strand of hair into my face, and I brushed it away. My stomach gave another loud rumble. I took a few bites of food before Chase returned with a glass of water.
“This tastes really good.” I pointed to the plate on the table and took the glass from his outstretched hand.
“Did you get a chance to compile the list I asked for so that I know what to answer if people ask questions?” he asked.
I shook my head. “I’ll email it to you tomorrow.”
“Good.” He inclined his head toward the food, again urging me to eat. I followed his silent command, and slowly the air between us cleared and we returned to safer terrain, the conversation flowing easily.
“While my stepfather’s in town, I’ll need you for a few days. A week tops,” I explained. “He’ll want to know everything about you. I say we keep to the truth, just bending a few details here and there for the sake of not getting confused.” Chase nodded, and I continued. “We don’t live together because you travel a lot and need your space. Besides, we don’t believe in sex before marriage.”
He raised his brows at that, and I stifled a giggle. Obviously, he wasn’t on board with that one.
“My family has always been old-fashioned,” I explained, even though that didn’t exactly apply to the way my stepfather lived his life. “No need to face them with the realities of life.”