Chapter 9
Ifrown as I check my watch and realize that it’s past the usual time that Chase has lunch brought in. Not that he’s under any obligation at all to do so, but I know he mentioned bringing it himself today, and I’d love to see him, even if it’s for a few minutes.
It seems that after one night of amazing sex and snuggles, I’m addicted to the man.
“Why do you keep checking your watch, darling?” Aunt Paula passes me the daisies I asked for. “Are you late for an appointment?”
“No.” I shake my head and smile over at her. “I’m glad you came in today. It’s always fun having you in the shop.”
“And I love being here,” she assures me just as Sharla rushes in to gather more deliveries. “I’ll help you load these.”
“I won’t turn that down,” Sharla says. “I’d like to get back out there ASAP.”
Ida and I, along with Margie, continue to build bouquets while Lily snores in her bed in the corner, and suddenly, the bell over the door rings, and Chase walks in.
He’s so freaking handsome in his uniform, I immediately begin to salivate.
“Ladies,” he says with a nod, carrying a paper bag. “I brought you all lunch.”
“All of us?” Ida asks in surprise. “You didn’t have to do that, Chase.”
“My treat today,” he says with a wink. I can see that something’s on his mind. He’s smiling and acting normal, but I can see the tension around his eyes.
“Rough day?” I ask him.
“It’s been a shit day,” he replies easily. “And I have to cancel our date tonight.”
“Okay, that’s not a problem. Do you need anything?”
His eyes soften now, and he reaches out to tuck a stray piece of my hair behind my ear.
“No, sugar, I’m okay.” Lily wakes up and sees Chase, comes jogging over to greet him, and Chase bends over to pet her. “It’s just one of those busy days, and we had a guy call off for his evening shift, so I’m covering the first half of it. I won’t be home until later this evening.”
“I’m sorry.” I wrinkle my nose. “I’ll be happy to take a rain check.”
“You’d better take a rain check.” His eyes light up when Aunt Paula walks in. “Well, hello, Miss Paula.”
“Chase. Well, aren’t you handsome in your uniform? How are you?”
“Now that your niece has agreed to finally put me out of my misery and date me? I’m great, thanks.” He smiles over at me, and I feel heat spread through me. I’m not embarrassed. I’m pleased. “I’d better get back to work. There should be enough sandwiches in there for everyone.”
“Thank you.” I walk around the counter to join him as he walks to the door. “I’m sorry your day turned into a bit of a mess, especially after we had so much fun last night.”
“It’s part of the job,” he replies easily. “And it’s not that bad, just…unusual. Maybe there’s a full moon or something.”
“I’ll have to check on that.” I boost up onto my toes and offer him my lips, not caring in the least that my entire staff, plus Aunt Paula, are watching us raptly. And Chase doesn’t disappoint. He wraps his arms around my waist, dips me back, and plants his lips on mine in a kiss that belongs in a sexy movie.
And when we pull apart, the other ladies applaud.
“Bravo,” Ida calls out. “Bravo.”
“That’ll have to hold me over,” he murmurs, staring down at my lips. “I’ll call you later.”
“I can’t wait.”
He plants one more on me, and then he pulls away and walks right out the door, and when I turn back to the others, they’re grinning widely. Sharla, who hasn’t left yet, pumps her fist into the air.
“Girl, that was a kiss,” Sharla says.
“He’s really good at it,” I admit and press my lips together, still tasting him there. “And yes, as you heard, we’re dating. It’s new, and it’s fun.”
“Good for you,” Aunt Paula says and frames my face in her hands. “It’s about time you had some fun, my darling.”
“Well, I am having a good time.” I chuckle and open the brown bag, surprised at the stack of sandwiches nestled inside. “There’s definitely enough in here for everyone. Maybe two for everyone. I hope you’re hungry.”
“He brings—or sends—lunch for Summer every day,” Ida informs my aunt and waggles her eyebrows. “He’s discovered what her favorites are, and he makes sure she eats.”
“Oh, that’s lovely,” Aunt Paula says, her hands crossed over her chest. “I just love a man who pays attention to his girl.”
We’ve just dug into the bag, with a couple of the sandwiches to spare, when Polly hurries in.
“Why aren’t you in your shop?” I ask her.
“I’m taking a break,” she says and leans on the counter, breathless. “I locked up for a hot second because I had to run over here and talk to you.”
“Okay, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She shakes her head and then reconsiders. “Well, that’s not true. I caught some kids shoplifting and called the cops. Chase showed up and took care of it and left with the one boy that I didn’t press charges against, Jake Hunter.”
“Poor Jake,” Aunt Paula says. “That poor boy has been through so much.”
“I know,” Polly says with a nod. “Well, Chase escorted him out, and I figured he’d lecture him, of course, which he should. But then, I had a question for Chase, and I hurried out after him to see if I could catch him, and I overheard him talking to the kid, and I just have to say…”
She pauses for dramatic effect, and I’m on the edge of my proverbial seat.
“Holy shitballs. Jake called Chase dude, and Chase said, ‘You may address me as Chase or Mr. Wild, but you will not call me dude again.’ And it was hot as fuck, Summer. I’m telling you right now, you need to give that man a chance because he made me tingle, and I’m not even into him like that.”
“Oh, you haven’t caught Polly up,” Ida says with a laugh. “She’s giving him a chance, honey.”
“WHAT?” Polly stares at me, stunned. “Drinks, The Wolf Den, tonight. I won’t take no for an answer.”
I haven’t even had a chance to get a word in edgewise. “My evening just conveniently freed up, so I can do that. I’ll have to take Lily home first, and then I can meet up with you.”
“I’ll take that sweet baby home with me,” Aunt Paula says with a smile. “I’d love the company. Besides, it’s almost the weekend, and you’ll be too busy for her anyway. She can hang out at the cottage with me for a few days and chase butterflies while I work in the garden.”
I started taking Lily to Aunt Paula’s house on the weekends during wedding season because it’s not fair to leave Lily alone all day. They both enjoy the company, and I think Lily considers the cottage her weekend vacation.
“You know what? That works for us. Lily will love it.” I nod and grin at my best friend. “The Wolf Den it is. Here, take a sandwich.”
“I can’t wait to hear all about this.” Polly grabs a sandwich, then turns and hurries back to the door. “See you later!”
The Wolf Denis hopping for a Thursday night, and when Polly and I arrive, the only table available is a round six-top.
“If you’ll seat us there, we’ll take it,” Polly says.
“Works for me.” The hostess winks and, with menus in her hands, leads us through the full room to the only empty table. Polly and I sit next to each other, and to our delight, Pete magically appears with waters and huckleberry margaritas.
“I took a chance,” he says with a wink. “If you don’t want them, they’re on me.”
“Oh, we want them,” I assure him. “We absolutely want them.”
“Good. Do you need time with the menu?”
“I do,” Polly says. “I know Summer always gets the same thing, but I’m an adventurous woman.”
“No problem,” Pete says with a laugh. “I’ll be back.”
I glance up and see that Millie just walked in, so I wave her over.
“Hey, ladies,” Millie says, looking cute as can be in her cut-off shorts and red tank. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“You should join us,” I invite her. “These are the only available seats in the house anyway.”
I gesture to the hostess, who nods agreeably, and Millie slides into a seat.
“You know what? I’d love to. Thanks, guys. How are you?”
“Summer’s going to fill me in on the love affair she’s having with your brother,” Polly informs Millie, who raises an eyebrow and turns to me.
“I’m just in time, then.”
The door opens again, and I glance over in time to see Erin, along with a woman I don’t know well but have seen around town, walk in, and I wave for them to join us, as well.
“Did we not get invited to a party?” Erin wants to know.
“It’s an impromptu party,” Polly says with a laugh. “You two join us.”
Erin turns to her friend and then back to us. “This is my friend, Abbi. Her daughter and Holly are besties, and it turns out that Abbi and I enjoy hanging out together, too, so it’s a win-win.”
“Sit, sit,” Millie says, pointing to the chairs. “Summer’s going to spill all the tea, or huck margaritas, about her and Chase.”
“Oh, I need to hear this,” Erin says as she sits. I wave Pete back over, and he takes everyone’s drink orders. When he’s gone, Erin leans her chin on her fist and gives me her undivided attention. “Go. Talk. Tell us everything.”
I look at Abbi, the gorgeous, curvy blonde, and wince. “Are you sure you want to hear this?”
“Are you kidding me?” She nods, sending that blonde hair waving, and I need to ask her what kind of shampoo she uses. “Hell yes. I want to know everything. Don’t leave out any of the details. Use the dirty words.”
“I already like you,” Polly decides, and Abbi smiles happily.
“Well, I don’t know where to start. I guess, a little backstory, Chase asked me out a few years ago, but I declined.”
“Why?” Millie asks, frowning. “I mean, he’s my brother, but I feel confident in saying that he’s easy on the eyes, and he’s not an asshole.”
“You’re right. I just wasn’t ready to date anyone yet. I had recently left a bad relationship, and I was building a business, and you know how it is. I didn’t want to date.”
“Fair enough,” Abbi says with a nod.
“Well, when all the scary stuff happened with Erin earlier this year, I ended up working with Chase a little because the asshole used my shop to try to get to her.” I offer Erin a sympathetic smile, and she simply shrugs. “And then, this summer, it seems that I’ve run into Chase a lot. Finally, he asked me out, and we went to dinner a couple of weeks ago.”
“So far, I’m liking this,” Polly says, but Pete arrives and takes our food orders, delivers the other girls’ drinks, and then he’s off again. “Okay, continue.”
“Well, then, we didn’t see each other for a couple of weeks because we were both busy with work and stuff, but yesterday, he surprised me with a really sweet evening at his place, and…we went to pound town.”
Erin chokes on her drink, and Polly starts laughing so hard that she snorts.
“You what?” Millie asks, laughing.
“I had sex with him. You know…pound town.”
“Oh, my God, that’s hilarious,” Abbi says, also giggling. “And how was it? Is pound town a fun place to visit with Chase?”
“You have no fucking idea.”
“Hell to the yes,” Polly says and offers me her hand in a high-five. “That’s my girl. Okay, does he have a big penis? Because his uniform pants are kind of tight, and it looks like he probably does.”
“Ew.” Millie wrinkles her nose. “I don’t want to know about my brother’s dick.”
“It’s…yeah,” I reply and sip my drink. “I was kind of scared that it wouldn’t fit.”
“You bitch,” Polly says, shaking her head. “You lucky bitch.”
“Must run in the family,” Erin says with a satisfied grin, and I lean over the table to give her a high-five as Millie makes gagging noises behind her hand, making me laugh.
“That’s what I’m talking about.” I smile over at Erin and then sit back, and Pete arrives with a heaping tray full of our meals.
“I need all the food in the land,” Abbi announces. “I’m starving.”
“Me, too. Okay, enough about me being the newest citizen of pound town,” I say as I pop a chip into my mouth. “What do you do, Abbi? I know I’ve seen you around town, but I don’t think you’ve been here long.”
“Just a few months,” she says with a nod. “I’m a single mom, and we came here not long after the first of the year. I own a housekeeping business.”
“Hey, that’s cool,” Millie says. “Do you do rentals or businesses or what?”
“A little of everything, but I admit, the short-term rentals have been insane this summer. I had to hire four new girls and one husband/wife team.”
I blink over at her. “So, you’re not a one-woman show.”
“No, ma’am. Bitterroot Valley Housekeeping Services at your service.” She winks at me. “I’ve been in the cleaning business for a long time. My mom did it, and I’d help her out. I couldn’t afford college, and honestly, I like to clean. So, why not do what you like?”
“Hear, hear.” I hold my glass up in cheers. “I couldn’t agree more, and that’s how I ended up with a flower shop. Welcome to town, Abbi.”
“Thank you. I think Erin and I also bonded because we’re both new to town, but she and I agree that everyone here has been super kind and welcoming. Especially to Daisy, and that means a lot. I want my girl to thrive here.”
“She’s the cutest,” Erin says. “Well, maybe she and Holly are equally as cute.”
“I can agree with that,” Abbi says.
“I also have something to talk about,” Millie announces, and then takes a big bite of her cheeseburger. “And it’s kind of a big deal.”
“I love this night,” Polly says and grins. “We need to do this all the damn time.”
“I’m in,” Erin says. “My cousins and I used to do this all the time, and it’s really good for the soul. It’s the one thing I miss the most about being in Seattle, so let’s plan on it. Now, Millie, tell us. What’s going on?”
“I’m buying Bitterroot Valley Coffee Co.”
We’re all stunned speechless for about three seconds, and then we’re hooting and clapping, and I lean over to hug her tightly.
“Congratulations.” I pat her back and then gesture for Pete to bring us another round. “We’re celebrating, Pete.”
“I’ve got you,” he says with a wink before hurrying off to the bar.
“How did this happen?” Erin wants to know. “Marion hasn’t said anything to me.”
“We don’t want to announce it officially until it’s all done,” Millie says, and frowns over at Erin. “And I’m sorry for holding out on you. You’re my best friend.”
“It’s fine.” Erin waves that off. “Is Marion leaving?”
“No, she’s starting a catering company and doesn’t want to handle both businesses, and, since I’ve been there for so long, she offered it to me first. I had a meeting with Ryan, and he’s going to front me the money, and my next meeting was going to be with you, Erin, because I’m going to need a bookkeeper. But we’re here now, and I couldn’t keep my mouth shut anymore.”
“Of course, I’ll help you,” Erin says and shimmies in her seat. “Oh, this is so fun.”
“Look at us,” Polly says, her gaze moving over all of us. “A table full of badass business owners.”
Erin frowns at that. “I love the sentiment, but I don’t own a business.”
“Bullshit,” Millie says before I can. “You do bookkeeping, you’re building that gorgeous event space at the ranch you’re in charge of, and you’re marrying my brother, which makes you the new co-owner of the ranch. You’re one badass business owner, Erin Montgomery.”
Erin blinks at her, and then she smiles and does another shimmy in her seat. “Holy fucking shit, you’re right. I own shit. Damn, the taxes are going to be a pain in the ass.”
“You’re not wrong,” I reply with a grin, and Millie scowls.
“I don’t want to deal with taxes,” Millie grumbles. “That’s why I need you, Erin.”
“I’ll help,” Erin promises. “Okay, you guys, we need to keep doing this. And we should start a group for other women in business, to help each other.”
“Oh, I like that,” Polly says, nodding. “That has a lot of promise. I can’t tell you how many times I wish I’d been able to ask questions from other business owners.”
“I mean, you can call me,” I remind her.
“Of course, but wouldn’t it be fun to be able to network? There are so many amazing businesses in this town, and we could all grow so much by learning from each other. I’m all about lifting my friends up. Let’s do this. We need a name.”
“Will we need a handshake, too?” I ask, making the others laugh.
“What about We’re the Shit,” Millie suggests.
“Here she goes,” Erin says, rolling her eyes. “She tried to help me with my social media handle. I didn’t use her suggestions.”
“I know,” Millie continues, rubbing her hands together. “Girl Gang.”
“That feels a little aggressive,” I reply, and then we all goggle when Pete comes out carrying another huge tray full of every dessert on their menu. “Holy shit, Pete.”
“You’re celebrating,” he says simply. “You need some dessert. We have a huckleberry cheesecake, chocolate cake, fried ice cream, apple pie, strawberry shortcake, and my personal favorite, salted caramel sundae.”
“I think I just died and went to heaven,” Abbi mutters as we all eyeball the treats before us.
“Dig in, ladies.”
“I’m in love with Pete,” Millie decides as the waiter walks away. “I’m going to marry him.”
“He’s already married,” Polly reminds her and takes a bite of the apple pie, dissolving into a puddle of happiness. “Damn it, because I’d marry him, too.”
“Back to names,” I remind the table.
“She Works Hard for the Money,” Millie suggests, and I shake my head at her. “What? You guys are no fun. Oh, how about?—”
“I have it,” Polly announces, holding her hand up before Millie can continue. “Iconic Women’s Collective.”
“Now that,” Abbi says, pointing her fork at Polly, “is one hell of a good name.”
With all of us in agreement, we make it official by clinking our glasses together and smiling with excitement.
“This is the best.” I smile at the others. “And I absolutely cannot drive home tonight.”
“I don’t think any of us should,” Erin says and reaches for her phone, tapping the screen. “Hey, babe. I need a ride home. Great, we’re dropping Abbi off, too.” She holds the phone against her shoulder and looks at us. “Want a ride, ladies?”
“I’ll take one,” Millie says.
“Me, too,” Polly echoes.
“Not me.” I reach for my own phone. “I’ve got a ride.”
Erin fills Remington in on the rest of their plans while I dial Chase’s number.
“Hey, Blondie.” I can hear the smile in his voice, and it makes me melt. “It’s loud where you are.”
“I had an impromptu girls’ night at The Wolf Den, and I’ve had some liquor. Are you up for giving me a ride?”
“Loaded question,” Polly says, making us laugh.
“I can come get you. Does anyone else need a lift?”
“Nope, Rem’s coming to get the others. I’d rather see you.”
“I won’t complain about that. Be there soon.”
We pay our tab and make our way out into the warm summer evening.
“It’s a nice night,” I say, taking a deep breath. “I could probably walk home, but then I wouldn’t get to see Chase, and that would be sad.”
The door opens, and Evan comes strolling out. I didn’t even see him in there.
“Ladies,” he says with a charming smile and a nod. “Does anyone need a ride home?”
“Nah, we’ve got it covered,” Millie says. “Thanks, though.”
“You sure?” he asks me, frowning with concern.
“I’m great, thanks.” Just then, Chase pulls in, and I hurry over to his truck. He climbs out and catches me up in a big hug, plants a kiss right on me, here in front of everyone, and then smiles down at me.
“You go, girl,” Polly calls out. “Go get yourself some. Wrap it before you tap it.”
“You guys have had some drinks,” Chase says with a laugh as he escorts me around to the passenger side.
I toss a grin over my shoulder at the others, give them a thumbs-up, and then climb into the truck.
“I’m not really drunk,” I inform him and reach for his hand. “But I shouldn’t drive. Besides, I wanted to see you. How was the rest of your day?”
“It’s brightened up considerably in the past fifteen minutes.” He kisses the back of my hand. “Come on, sugar, let’s go home.”