Worth the Chase

My amusement slices through my lips, and I explode into a fit of laughter. Dropping my suitcase, I turn around. “Says the guy who tied me up with his belt a few weeks ago? Or was that all for show? I do remember you being really into—”

“Don’t you even say it.”

“Say what?” I raise a brow.

He huffs, running his hands through his thick hair. “Christ, I didn’t really want to talk, can we just stop bringing that up?”

I cover my mouth in an attempt to hold in another fit of giggles.

“Bring what up?”

He comes at me, and I jump back, laughter bursting from my lips. “You know damn well what I’m talking about.” Gripping my bicep, he tugs me forward. “When I have something to talk about, I’ll let you know. But when I’m with you, that’s the last thing I’m thinking about doing.” His head dips low, his lips hovering just above mine. My intake of breath gives me away. “Now, unless you have something you want to talk about, I’m going to kiss you now. Being my girlfriend and all.”

I don’t bother correcting him. I don’t argue when his eyes bore down on me. I certainly don’t stop him when his warm lips press against mine.

When we finally break for air, I worry I’ve lost all feeling in my legs. Thankfully, he keeps hold of me before I melt into a puddle at his feet. My brain struggles to work properly. I inhale a shaky breath, trying to pull myself together.

“Well, that was a sure way of avoiding—”

A little knock against the door gains my attention. Pulling away, I adjust myself and walk down the hall and open the door, finding Anna.

“Hey, there.”

“Hi. Do you want to see my doll collection?”

I bend down to Anna, putting myself on her level. She’s cradling the same doll she had with her the first time I met her during my interview. “Of course. I’m just getting settled and I’ll be right up.”

Anna cocks her little head over my shoulder. “Was he in your suitcase?”

I steal a peek at Chase. “Him? No, that’s my friend, Chase. He’s helping me unpack. He’s leaving, though.” I smirk at him and turn back to Anna. “Lucky for you, I’m all done. Why don’t we say goodbye to my friend and you can show me your collection?”

Chapter 9

Chase

Can these guys play any slower? I look at my watch for the fifth time. Only three goddamn minutes have passed.

“You going to hit the ball or tell us the whole story of how you fed your balls to your girlfriend?”

Levi flicks me off and readies himself to take his shot. “For the record, she’s my fiancée, and I thought you two came to a truce?”

Truce schmuce.

“No idea what you’re talking about. Just hit the ball.” Jesus, when did I start not enjoying golf? When you started making plans with your obsession right after.

Kip slaps me on the shoulder. “You good? You’ve seriously been on edge lately. Ever since the girl Levi mentioned. Sure she isn’t just a fling?”

Fling? You mean no sleep, all I think about, fixation?

“Fling is putting it strongly. Not my type, man.” I wish she would chain me to her so she could never leave my sight. I can’t stop thinking about her. Everything about her keeps me on edge. Her soft, cherry-tasting lips. Her subtle little moans when I steal kisses. The way she secretly looks at me when she thinks I’m not paying attention. The sadness I see in her eyes when she thinks I’m not watching. She’s an itch I can’t scratch. A challenge I can’t conquer. A possession I want to claim.

I shake my head.

Never again, Steinberg.

I told myself never to fall down this path again. There’s a reason I avoid sentiment. The whole hearts and flowers bullshit. Just because she did a number on you doesn’t mean every other chick will. Shoving down memories of Caroline, I push off Kip’s hand. “Don’t worry about me, man. I’m all good. Juggling bitches like a champ. You all wish you were me.” Levi takes his shot and makes it onto the green. I step up and drop my ball. An image of Bridget and the way she looked that night, her mouth doing all those amazing things, has me clenching my eyes shut. I take a deep breath and swing hard.

And just like my efforts to get her to like me, my ball fails to hit the green and lands in the sand.

Drilling vibrates in my ears as I lift the auger and grind it into the ground. My name rings out from behind me, and I pause, swiping at the sweat on my forehead.

“Steinberg, I need you over by sector three.”

I shut down the drill and pull off my gloves. Waving at my foreman, I walk past the site office. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out, almost falling over my feet. Bridget’s calling. Okay, man. Play it cool. Don’t act as excited as you are. Be a man. I clear my throat and, for some reason, deepen my voice. “S’up?”