Chasin' Eight (Rough Riders 11)

Her eyes narrowed. “Who invited you?”

“Bill Dahl.”

“Bill Dahl? Who used to work with Donald Trump? Who has box seats at Yankee Stadium invited you to his inner sanctum? God. Billion dollar deals are made in those seats. You realize that, right?”

“No. But it’s not a big deal, Ava. Just a couple of guys eating hot dogs and bullshitting while watching a ball game.” He popped to his feet. “I better get in the shower. He’s sending a car to get me in about fifteen minutes.”

“Fifteen minutes? That gives you enough time to get ready?”

Chase rolled his eyes.

“You have clothes, right?”

“No, I thought I’d stroll in buck-assed nekkid. Christ. I can dress myself. Sometimes I think you forget that I’ve been on TV damn near once a week for the last eight years. So I have an idea how to conduct myself in a professional situation.”

Now she felt like a snob. “Sorry. I do forget that.”

Without prompting, he said, “I love you,” and smooched her on the mouth. “That guy who holds the door said the manager wanted to talk to you in his office as soon as it was convenient for you.”

“I’ll see you later.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

“Come on. I have something to show you.” Ava draped a lightweight cashmere sweater over her arm and shouldered her purse. She was surprised Chase took her hand without asking questions.

Jason waited for them at the elevators. “Ready?”

“All set.”

In the elevator, Jason swiped a keycard and inserted a small key into the panel before punching in a code. He faced them as the elevator moved. “Everything is set up as you requested. We have an event scheduled for noon, so the cleaning crew will arrive at six a.m.”

“Thank you, Jason.”

“My pleasure.” He stepped aside as the doors slid open. “Enjoy your evening.”

“We will.” Ava gripped Chase’s hand and stopped in the center of the round room.

“You wanna tell me what’s goin’ on, Hollywood?”

“We haven’t spent as much time together on this trip as I’d hoped. So tonight, it’s just us.”

His gaze scanned the polished wood floors, the glass walls, and the three doors, which were open, allowing a breeze in. “Where are we?”

“The penthouse. It’s rented out mostly for parties because…come on. I’ll show you.” Ava tossed her purse and sweater on the settee. She lifted a brow. “You aren’t afraid of heights?”

He snorted.

Holding his hand, she led him out the door and straight to the edge of the wide walkway.

“Holy shit.”

That summed it up perfectly. The modified balcony surrounding the penthouse boasted a 360-degree view of the New York City skyline. A waist-high glass partition was the buffer between penthouse and the twenty-one stories to the busy street below.

Neither said anything for several long minutes as they drank in the spectacular view. Ava had timed it so they arrived just before twilight, which allowed them to watch day turn to night as the lights of the most famous skyline in the world came on.

They walked the perimeter, stopping every few feet to gaze across the rooftops and the cityscape beyond. Ava pointed out landmarks. This time of day the light reflecting off the Chrysler Building gave it a pinkish-orange hue.

When they reached the opposite side, Chase said, “Holy shit,” again.

“I thought you might like this.”

A perpetual breeze blew due to the altitude. Ava’s dress flapped around her knees. Strands of hair drifted across her face and she wished she’d tied it back.

Chase rested his forearms on the glass ledge and peered over side. “Long drop.”

Ava matched his stance, switching her focus between the activity below and the buzz of helicopters and airplanes in the distance. She glanced at him when he snickered. “What?”

He raised his head and grinned at her slyly. “The little redneck boy inside me wants to spit over the side and see where it lands.”

“You can take the man out of Wyoming…but a little tobacco juice always remains.”

He chuckled.

They were shoulder to shoulder, enjoying the view when he turned around and pointed to the main space. “What’s around the corner?”

“A living area with a kitchen and a bathroom. Behind that, a bedroom with two bathrooms.”

“Handy.”

“Very.” A cool blast of air eddied around her and she shivered.

“C’mere. I’ll keep you warm.” Chase stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her middle. When he nestled his chin on his shoulder, he sighed, “Well, that ain’t gonna work. You’re blocking my view, bein’s you’re taller than me.”

“Do you mind that I’m taller?

“Not so much anymore. Especially not when I see how sexy them sky-high heels makes your legs look.”

“But you still won’t dance with me.”

He brushed his lips across the shell of her ear. “I don’t recall you asking me recently.”

“So if I turned on music up here?”

“I’d two-step with you all night.” Chase swept his thumbs over her ni**les until they hardened. “Well, maybe not all night. I might have time for a little mattress dancing if you play your cards right.”

“I’ll cheat at cards if have to, to make that happen.”

He laughed. “How often have you stayed in the penthouse?”

“Never.”

That seemed to surprise him. “Why not?”

“Because it’s usually rented with weddings and parties. My visits to New York are spontaneous. As much as I love the penthouse and the view, hanging out up here all by myself is kind of a waste.”

“Mmm.”

“But I do sneak up if there isn’t an event scheduled. There’s something very humbling staring across all these high-rise buildings. I get that same feeling when I stare out at the ocean.”

“What feeling is that?”

“Insignificance. Here, I’m one of millions of people. On my beach, I’m as trivial as a grain of sand. Seeing proof of my irrelevance puts things in perspective for me, especially when I’ve been puffed up by my own self-importance and have lost that insight.”

“I hope you don’t lose that humbleness, Ava. It’s one of my favorite things about you.”

She snuggled into his arms, wishing she owned the right to be in them every night, fearful of bringing up the “what happens next” question.