Chapter 9
Chapter
Nine
A s Chance’s lips met Summer’s, electricity shot through her body. In her wildest dreams, she never would have thought her long-ago crush would actually kiss her. But it seemed as if Chance was finally seeing her.
And liking what he saw.
The kiss started slowly. He didn’t rush it.
His lips, soft yet firm, pressed against hers and backed off, only to return, again and again.
She liked that he wasn’t hurrying the kiss, giving her time to become used to him.
Gradually, though, his kisses became harder.
More demanding of her. And Summer responded, every fiber of her being on high alert now.
His thumb gently caressed her neck, his fingers still warm against her nape.
He slowly teased her mouth open, and she was all too willing to give him entrance, allowing him to explore her leisurely.
His fingers moved up her neck, pushing into her hair, then tugging slightly on it.
Her head tilted back, giving him better access now, and the kiss deepened, becoming even more electric.
All her yearnings for this man from so many years ago now flooded her.
She knew he was different. So was she. Years had passed since she’d had a girlhood crush on him, but he was even more devastatingly attractive to her now as a mature adult.
Her hands went out, grabbing his jacket, pulling him closer to her.
She began fighting him now for control of the kiss, excitement rippling through her.
This kiss was one she would never forget.
No matter what happened in the near—or far—future, she would take the memory of this kiss with her to her grave.
Suddenly, a pounding sounded on the driver’s window. They sprang apart like guilty teenagers caught making out by a parent. Summer looked up and saw a police officer standing beside Chance’s truck, peering into the vehicle.
Immediately, Chance rolled down his window and said, “Good morning, Officer.”
“I saw your flashers, son, and thought you needed help.” He eyed them disapprovingly. “Doesn’t look as if you’re having any car troubles, though.”
“No, sir. No trouble. I just needed to stop and let this woman know exactly how I feel about her.”
The cop’s stern look disappeared, and he began to smile. “May I see your license, sir?”
“Yes. Let me get it for you.”
Chance reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. Opening it, he removed the license and handed it to the patrol officer.
The cop skimmed it, saying, “Well, Mr. Blackstone, there are better places to kiss a lady. The shoulder of a public highway is not one of them. I understand you believed that time was of the essence, but I want you two to be safe.” He paused and then grinned at them.
“Besides me stopping to assist you, this is Texas. It was only a matter of time before a Good Samaritan or two also stopped to offer a helping hand. If you want to kiss this little lady, I suggest you do it in private in the future, now that she knows how you feel about her.”
“Yes, Officer,” Chance said respectfully. “I do plan to do a lot of kissing with her in the future. I’ve staked my claim, and I promise I won’t be pulling over impulsively in the future.”
The cop handed Chance’s license back to him. “Y’all have a good day, now, Mr. Blackstone. Ma’am,” he added, touching his fingers to his hat.
Summer called out, “You, too, Officer,” partly mortified at what the cop had seen, yet her emotions soaring on a natural high.
Chance Blackstone wanted to keep kissing her.
Chance returned his license into his wallet and slipped it into his back pocket again.
He buckled his seatbelt and turned off the truck’s flashers.
Glancing into the mirror, he gave a wave as he started the vehicle again, moving along the shoulder and picking up speed. He smoothly merged back into traffic.
As he did so, he reached out a hand, his fingers seeking hers, lacing them together. A warmth spread through Summer.
“I feel properly chastised,” Chance said drily. Then he glanced to her and back at the road. “I meant what I told him, Summer. I plan to be kissing you a lot. I hope that’s okay with you.”
She swallowed. “I’d like that, Chance. I’ve dreamed about kissing you for years.”
He cut his eyes quickly to her. “You have?” he asked, wonder in his tone as he looked back to the road.
“If we’re being honest, I had a crush on you back in the day. It started in seventh grade. You and West were freshmen. I thought you were the best-looking guy in school, and you were always so kind and polite to everyone.”
She bit her lip and caught herself doing it, quickly releasing it.
“But you never gave me the time of day. I was lucky if you glanced in my direction when you came over to the house.”
His fingers tightened around hers. “You’ve got to understand, Summer, that you were West’s little sister.
I wouldn’t have looked at you in any other way except a brotherly one back then.
Besides, there was a gap in our ages. I would’ve felt like I were robbing the cradle if I would’ve thought about kissing you.
Now, though? A couple of years don’t mean much of anything when you reach your thirties.
And I am very interested in you, Summer.
I wasn’t just BS-ing that cop. I enjoyed talking with you when you came home last Christmas.
To be honest, it was the first time I really saw you. Heard you. Was attracted to you.
“And when I learned you had moved back to Hawthorne, it gave me hope.”
“Hope?” she asked, her own hope running through her.
“Yeah. I thought there was something there between us. A spark I wanted to investigate. It was still there at dinner the other night. It definitely was present during our coffee date yesterday. I’m ready to explore it with you now.”
She saw him smile, and she couldn’t keep her own smile from spreading.
“I plan to get to know you very well, Summer. In my mind, that means not only talking, but kissing.” He glanced quickly to her. “And more. If you’re up for it.”
A rush of emotions flitted through her. She squeezed his fingers.
“I would like the same, Chance. I’m not that gawky teenager anymore, thank goodness.”
“You were pretty gawky,” he said, a smile playing about his sensual lips. “It took a while for the rest of you to catch up to those long legs. And those braces? You seemed to have more metal in your mouth than a suspension bridge.”
They both laughed, and she said, “It’s so easy talking to you. I don’t think I’ve ever been more comfortable in a guy’s company before. You may not believe this, but once the braces and glasses were gone, I turned out to be pretty popular.”
“You were popular before, Summer. I remember you always had a lot of friends. You were really outgoing. Maybe you blossomed physically once you lost the braces and glasses, but your essence never changed.” He paused. “I said the same thing to Tammy. That you’re easy to talk to.”
Surprise filled her. “You told Tammy about us?”
He nodded. “I’ve told Tammy everything that was important to me my entire life.”
The fact that he had spoken to Tammy about her—and that he believed what they were feeling about one another was important—meant a great deal to her.
“Tammy knows that I have feelings for you. I wanted to make certain she did before she leaves for Waco on Saturday.”
“That’s fast. I better get that pork chop recipe from her quickly,” Summer teased. Then she grew serious, asking, “Where do you think this is going, Chance? This thing between us. I’ll be honest. I’ve dated a lot in the past, but this feels different.”
“I don’t want to make any kind of predictions now, Summer.
I want things between us to unfold naturally, but I can already tell you that my feelings for you are pretty damn strong.
I’m no longer that guy you seemed to worship back in high school.
I’ve done a lot and been through a lot since then.
I know you’re the same for having lived away from Hawthorne all these years.
I do think we have the same values, as well as having a lot in common.
I want to see as much of you as I can. I know we’ll also be thrown together because of family and friends. ”
“What if this thing between us doesn’t work out?” she asked. “As you just said, we’ll be around each other a lot. Kelby’s my sister-in-law. West is your brother-in-law. If things don’t work out between us, it could be pretty awkward for us and everyone else.”
He raised their joined hands, kissing her fingers tenderly.
“I’m willing to take that risk, Summer. I’d rather explore what’s between us than not. I hope it’ll work out, but if it doesn’t, I still would want to be your friend.”
“Okay,” she said softly, knowing that she’d be a fool to pass up the opportunity to have a relationship with this man.
“Let’s take things slowly then. See what direction it goes.
And if it doesn’t work, let’s don’t let it drag on forever, neither of us voicing the obvious.
We should admit it isn’t working and move on. ”
She hoped that this connection between them would grow, though. That Chance Blackstone would turn out to be her soulmate.
After that, their conversation grew much less serious, and they reached Dallas and his friend’s dealership.
As Chance opened the door to the dealership for her, he placed his palm on the small of her back, guiding her inside. Not only did little tingles run through her, but Summer appreciated the gesture. It made her feel protected.
She saw a salesman head their way, but another man waved him off, coming to meet them. She figured this must be Buzz. Even though he was in his early thirties, he still looked like the frat boy he had been.
Buzz held out a hand, and Chance took it.
“Chance Blackstone. It’s so good to finally see you again in the flesh.” Buzz’s eyes turned to her. “And you must be West’s sister. Good to meet you, Summer.”