Crazy Love(74)

If it were up to Chase, they would stay like this forever. When he held Krista in his arms, everything was right in the world because she was his world. His body relaxed and all the anger he’d felt a moment ago drained from his body. If Cesar Millan was “The Dog Whisperer”, then Krista Sloan was “The Chase Whisperer”. After several minutes—but far before he was ready to let her go—she pulled away.

Her crystal-clear eyes searched his as she asked, “Better?”

He nodded, tightening his grip around her.

When she looked up at him, her green-blue eyes twinkled as she said, “I’m not gonna lie. Seeing you get all jealous like that is kind of hot.”

“Really?” Chase smiled as he looked down into her mesmerizing gaze.

“Yes.” Her lips turned up in a half smile as she warned, “But only once. Don’t make it a habit.”

“Stop letting guys kiss you and it won’t be a problem,” he teased her.

Now that he’d calmed down and was thinking clearly again, he knew that Chris really hadn’t done anything wrong. He still didn’t like what he’d done, but he didn’t want to kill him anymore.

“Well, don’t leave and maybe I won’t,” she said sassily, in what he was sure she had intended to be a lighthearted comeback, but it hit him square in the chest.

Patting his chest, she said, “I have to get back to the booth. I’ve been gone longer than…” His reaction must have been written all over his face because the smirk she’d worn faded and her body froze. “What? What’s wrong?”

Damn. He hadn’t meant to alarm her. He knew the best thing to do was just lay it out there. “It’s nothing. I just found out I am contractually obligated to turn in my completed album to my record company in two weeks. I have to go to Austin to finish it, but I will be back in time for the benefit.”

Krista just stared at him for a few moments, and he found himself holding his breath for what her reaction would be.

“Is that it?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

“Yeah. I just hadn’t planned on having to leave again so soon,” Chase explained.

“Oh, you scared me,” Krista said as her body slumped in relief.

“You’re not upset?”

Krista’s brows knitted and she smiled. “Why would I be upset? That’s your job. I mean, of course I’ll miss you, but I’m glad that you’ll make it back in time for the benefit.”

“That’s it?” Chase asked, repeating the same sentiment she’d just had.

A wide smile spread across her face as the rays of sun shone down on her shining, long red hair. “Did you think I was going to be mad?”

“I don’t know,” Chase answered honestly. “Things were going so good. I just didn’t want anything to ruin that.”

Understanding registered in her sea-green eyes. “Look, we’re not teenagers anymore. We’re adults with responsibilities. Believe me. I wanted to call in sick to work every day this past week and just stay in bed with you. Obviously I couldn’t do that, but I wanted to.”

“So we’re good?” he asked, needing her reassurance.

“We’re good.” She nodded happily.

“I would kiss you right now, but I don’t know where that mouth has been,” Chase teased her.

Her eyes widened in shock and offense, but she still wore a huge grin as she slapped him playfully on his chest and tried to move out of his arms. Lifting her up in his arms, he captured her mouth with his. She moaned against him as her lips parted. His tongue swept inside, exploring her mouth in languorous licks. She tasted sweet and tart, and it reminded him of her personality. Her arms clung to his shoulders and her fingers dug into his back as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Her heart beat like a drum against his chest.

Even though they were alone in a secluded location, they were still in public and privacy was an illusion. Against his body’s insistent demands not to, Chase broke their passionate kiss and slowly set Krista back down.

When he did, her eyes met his, looking glazed over in lust.

Brushing a soft lock of hair behind her ear, Chase said in a low voice, “It doesn’t matter where I go. We are good together.”

Krista’s head nodded in agreement. He loved her spitfire personality. When she got worked up about something, half the time it was hard for Chase not to smile in amusement. But the Krista Sloan standing in front of him now, kissed speechless, might just be the cutest thing he’d ever seen.

“I’ll see you after you’re done at the booth,” he said, gently reminding her that she had to get back.