“Don’t do that,” he grumbles.
“Do what?” I ask, knowing exactly what he’s talking about. I do it again.
“That, dammit. Don’t do that.”
“What? This?” I do it again, and his eyes blaze.
“Seriously, I’m a weak man. I can only hold back so much.”
“So scared.”
“You should be.” His mouth captures mine, catching me off guard. I stumble, and his hands wrap around my hips as he kisses me with fervor. It’s hard and fast and over too soon.
“Um, excuse me?” The hostess comes up to us. “No offense, but I thought you told me he was gay?”
Chase pulls me tightly into him. “I’m not gay, sweetheart. Just ask my sister here.”
Bastard.
Chapter 7
Chase
“Oh, come on! How did you not catch that?”
“Because he sucks. How he hasn’t been demoted to the minors blows my mind,” I gripe to Ben. He has the worst taste in baseball teams.
“Seriously, bro? His batting average is top ten in the entire MLB.”
I wave him off and take a swig of my beer. “Whatever you say, man. Guy’s a waste.”
Ben scoots off Levi’s couch, throwing his hands up. “What the hell are you talking about? He’s—”
“What are you two arguing about now?” Levi walks back into his living room.
“When are these two not griping like a bunch of girls?” Kip adds, and I flick a bottle cap at him.
“I’m not griping, asshole. The guy sucks—”
“You kidding me? That was probably the first time all season he dropped a ball! Since when do you not know your baseball? What’s up your ass, bro? You’re crabbier than normal. That chlamydia taking longer than usual to heal?”
“Fuck you.”
“Whoa, you are crabby,” Levi jumps in. “Thought you were gettin’ some. What happened to that girl you were all bent out of shape about?”
“Wait, you got a girl?” Kip sits up.
“I don’t have a girl,” I blurt. Thanks a lot, Levi. I cut him a look, and he laughs.
“Yeah, you do. The one who doesn’t like you. I think our boy here is in love.”
I’m going to kill him.
“Who is she? Do we know her?” Kip asks.
The last thing I’m going to do is spill the beans on my newest little obsession. Yeah, it’s come to that. All I can think about is her cute as hell smile, her laugh, and the little jokes I find funny as hell. Everything about her is perfect, and for some damn reason, I can’t get enough of her. Angel or devil, I want her.
The problem is she’s playing hard to get. Or she doesn’t like me. I don’t know which has me more on edge.
It’s been three days since I’ve seen her. I got offered overtime at work and couldn’t turn it down. When I showed up at the library this morning, they told me she’d quit. When I showed up at the diner, they told me the same thing. Who just quits without telling people?
She does.
I almost stooped to a whole new pathetic level and drove past her house, but reined myself in. Now, I’m sitting at Levi’s, unable to enjoy a usually fun day of watching sports and drinking with the guys.
“You gonna tell us who she is or sit there and growl some more?”
“Fuck you, I’m not growling. And she’s no one.”
Levi shakes his head. “Whatever you say, man. If you ask me, that’s the face of a man who’s in denial.”
“For real,” Kip says. “I remember when Stace used to play hard to get. Damn, I did some dumb stuff to get her attention.”
Like stalking? How’d that go? Asking for a friend.
I take a deep pull of my beer. “Look at you now, neutered with a curfew.”
Kip leans back in the lounge chair and raises his hands to lock his fingers together behind his head. “Best decision I’ve ever made. My woman can cook, is a lioness in bed, and the best damn mom—”
“Jesus, enough. Keep your misery to yourself—”
“Who’s miserable?” Hannah appears, holding a bunch of shopping bags. Levi hops up and greets her, taking the bags as he kisses her.
“Dude, get a room,” I gripe, turning back to the TV.
“Wow, someone’s extra lovely today.” Hannah walks by and ruffles my perfect hair. Levi takes his seat, and she sits on his lap.
“Don’t mind him, babe. He’s in love.”
Goddammit!
“Wait, with who?”
Great. The last thing I need is for Hannah to ask questions.
“That’s what we’re trying to find out.”
Hannah eyes me suspiciously. Shit. “Wait, is this why you asked me for—”
I’m out of my seat and pulling her off Levi’s lap before she has the chance to finish that sentence. “Hannah, I could use your help. Lawyer question.”
“Dude, I’m the lawyer, ask me,” Levi chimes in.
“Uh…no. I need a female perspective. Come on. Let me get you something to drink.”
“Did Chase just offer to get someone a drink?” Ben asks. I flip him off as I drag Hannah away.