“And he’s sullying my mother’s memory,” I whispered, so low that Chase wouldn’t hear me. The memories were few and faint, and as time passed, the picture of her weakened. The ring of her voice inside my head had quieted a long time ago, the silence a shadow of her vivacious self. I had been ten years old when she died. During the following eight years I had been in my stepfather’s care, I had watched, and seen, observed, and struggled.
“I’m sorry. It must be so hard for you,” Chase said, his tone sincere.
“You have no idea.” For a moment our eyes connected, and something passed again between us. My chin began to quiver, and my throat went dry as his big hand moved around my neck, and he ever so gently drew me to him. He was so tall I barely reached his chin.
I pressed my cheek against the coarse fabric of his shirt, letting it chafe my skin, and inhaled his intoxicating scent. His height and the hardness of his muscles had been intimidating me ever since I met him, but under the circumstances they felt right, beckoning me to touch them.
“Laurie.” His deep voice was hoarse, reverberating with something dark and meaningful, as his thumb moved beneath my chin, coaxing my head up to meet his gray-blue gaze. In the semi darkness, his lashes made his eyes shimmer dark-blue like a perilous river forging its way through a valley and stones. We were so close, I could feel his hot breath on my lips, barely an inch away, and yet too far. Something twitched within me, and the deep pull I had felt before returned, settling low in the pit of my stomach and traveling between my legs.
He’s a man. Sooner or later, he’ll want the one thing you can’t give him.
I would never trust a man again.
The voice of reason hit me a moment before I realized I wanted to taste him, but, more than that, I wanted to run. He unleashed feelings inside me—a strange kind of want—and I didn’t know what they meant. All I understood was that deep inside I craved his kisses. I craved melting in his embrace, mouth against mouth, skin against skin, fire burning through us.
I realized he was like fire, and if I didn’t stop this, I was going to get burned.
Clearing my throat, I averted my gaze and pulled out of his embrace. His face remained blank, but his eyes betrayed his displeasure.
“I’m sorry, I—” I moistened my lips and straightened my clothes, as if to ward off any attraction I felt for him.
“There’s nothing to feel sorry about,” Chase whispered. “You’re not ready, and I’m not going to push you.”
He didn’t need to. His mere presence was temptation enough.
I smiled bitterly, keeping my thoughts to myself. “Thanks.”
“You said your family was old-fashioned. Clint doesn’t look very old-fashioned to me.”
He was curious. Everyone would be, given the circumstances. I knew the question would come eventually, but I didn’t expect it so soon.
“He’s not,” I said briskly in the hope that Chase would drop the topic.
“Why did you lie to me, then?” he asked.
I looked up, expecting fury, but there was only curiosity. “I wasn’t sure you’d understand.”
He frowned. “Why the need for all of this?” he persisted. “They seemed to accept our engagement just fine.”
“Look.” I hesitated as I sorted through my thoughts. Chase had turned out to be a nice person, but I couldn’t trust him. “Can we talk about it another time?”
Maybe never?
I raised my gaze to meet his, and I almost choked seeing the hurt in his eyes. One rejection had been bearable; two were one too many. And then his lips bent into the beginning of a smile that lit up his face.
God, I loved it when he smiled.
“You owe me dinner…for all I’m doing tonight,” Chase said.
“What? I’m paying for this one already, so, technically, you owe me.” I smiled, thankful for the change in topic.
“I’ll gladly pay if only you turn up.” He brushed his thumb over my cheek and trailed it to the back of my neck, settling there. For a second, I thought he’d pull me to him again, and I almost forgot to breathe in the hope he’d go for it, knowing this time I wouldn’t deny him. But Chase didn’t follow my brain’s plea; he just stared at me, a strange smile playing on his gorgeous lips.
“You’re a mystery, Laurie, you know that?”
I moistened my lips, both mesmerized and threatened by his proximity. He was leaning in too close for comfort, his breath too warm and appealing to ignore. In a bold moment, I pushed up on my toes and placed a soft kiss on his lips. It was barely a second, but enough to send a jolt of pleasure through me.