Chapter 19 #2
Chase steps closer, his presence warm at my back. “You should sit down again. Let me pack up. You’ve done more than enough today.”
“I need to stand. My other leg was starting to cramp.” I shoot him a crooked smile. “Avah gets regular massages. I should probably get on that train one of these days.”
“I could do that,” he says, voice low and smooth. “If you want.”
The air under the white canopy covering us turns hot enough to make me dizzy, and every rational thought in my head turns to vapor as I realize I’d happily let this man do just about anything.
Trying to play it cool, I focus on the flowers, even as my fingers tremble. “Sooo…the twins are having a sleepover tonight at Sadie’s.”
He nudges me with his elbow. “I heard. Thought maybe you were planning another girls’ night out. Maybe you switch from axes to nunchucks?”
I laugh even as my cheeks heat. “I was actually hoping for a you-and-me night in.” Where did that husky note in my voice come from? “I mean…” I pretend to shrug. “Unless you have other plans.”
“Not even close,” he says roughly. “Nothing in this world could keep me from you tonight, Molly.”
Before I can respond, another couple approaches the booth and buys the last three bouquets.
I give them a discount they didn’t ask for, mostly because my mind is spinning.
Because I know exactly what inviting Chase into my bed means.
The pleasure and the push and pull between us.
The way he makes me lose control. The way I let him.
But it’s not just about tonight. If this keeps happening, it won’t just be my bed he ends up in. He’ll be a part of my heart, too.
I don’t know how to stop that. And I’m not even sure I want to anymore.
“Mommy!” Luke’s excited voice pulls me out of my spiraling thoughts. “Ian bought me a puppy!”
“It’s a stuffed animal,” Ian clarifies immediately. “Luke, you’re going to get me in trouble.”
Luke grins, clutching a soft brown-and-white plush dog to his chest.
“We could get a real one,” he says, his tone hopeful.
“You know the answer to that,” I remind him gently.
My mother-in-law has lived on a farm for most of her life, but claims to be allergic to dogs.
I’ve often wondered if Linda gave us that excuse because she didn’t want one more thing to care for.
But I want to adopt a dog, maybe two. I want the whole package of childhood happiness for my kids–as much as I can give them.
“Hey, Ian,” Luke says, bouncing on the balls of his feet, “Chase is gonna teach me how to ride a horse.”
Ian’s grin spreads wide. “That’s what I’ve heard at least a dozen times.”
Chase chuckles, and I catch a hint of pride in his expression. Like Luke’s excitement means a lot to him.
And I get it. Because it means the world to me.
“Chase is great with horses,” I blurt. My kids, my friends, and Chase all turn to stare at me because…duh…hello, Captain Obvious.
He shrugs and…whoa…adorable blush on the cowboy. “I’ve had a bit of experience.”
Sadie elbows me. “You’re also good with flowers.”
“Well, Chase has been a huge help with that too.”
The kind of help I didn’t know I needed and definitely didn’t want, but I appreciate it more than I can say.
Laurel grabs mine and Sadie’s hands, swinging our arms. “Can Piper come to Sadie’s for manicures?”
I smile. “I’m sure Piper has plans.”
“She doesn’t,” Sadie replies, wrinkling her nose. “Since she’s been back, she’s barely left the house. Besides her hospital shifts and walking Max, she’s gone full hermit. It’s like she...”
My friend trails off, something flickering behind her eyes that I can’t quite name. She lets it pass with a slight shake of her head. “I’m sure she’d be thrilled with a pizza and spa night.”
I glance down at my hands, dirt caked beneath my fingernails from this morning’s market prep. “I could probably use a manicure myself.”
“We could pick you up for dinner,” Sadie offers. “A little nail polish and some pizza could be exactly what the doctor ordered.”
“Tempting,” I say with a grin. “But I’ve got paperwork.”
“Paperwork,” she repeats, drawing out the word like it’s code for something scandalous. “Right. Your very important paperwork.”
“I do run a business, you know.” I try to keep my tone serious but feel my cheeks heat. “This ankle’s slowed me down way too much already.”
“Uh-huh.” She gives me a look like she can see right through me. “I’m sure you’ll enjoy all that paperwork.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Depends on who’s helping me file it.”
She lets out a laugh, nudging me with her elbow. “You’re terrible.”
“I’m aware.”
“Grownups are weird,” Laurel says, eyeing us suspiciously. “Who wants to do paperwork on a Saturday night?”
“Your mom, apparently.” Sadie’s eyes are downright twinkling now. “I bet she’s going to have a paperwork adventure.”
My cheeks are flaming. “Something like that.” I shoot her a warning look.
Her grin widens. “Do you need help taking this stuff back to the truck?”
I start to tell her that Chase and I can handle it, but remember what he said about accepting help.
“Yes, please,” I say instead. “If we all grab something, we can probably get it done in one trip.”
“Luke, we’re packing up,” Laurel calls to her brother. “You gotta help.”
Luke is busy flying his stuffed animal around the booth like it has wings, but at his sister’s command, he moves to stand next to Chase, watching him stack the empty flower buckets. Normally, he clings to Ian’s side whenever the ex-quarterback is around, so the shift catches my attention.
“What are you naming him?” Chase asks, crouching down to Luke’s level to admire the puppy.
My son takes stuffed animal naming seriously, so there’s a long pause before he answers. Chase waits, his attention fully focused on the boy like he’s got all day and there’s nowhere in the world he’d rather be.
“Wow,” Sadie murmurs at my side. “That’s quite a connection.”
“Yeah,” I agree, my skin tingling like I’ve brushed up against something electric. At the same time, my stomach seems to be tying itself in knots, because I can feel the kids falling for Chase just as fast and hard as I am.
“Barkley,” Luke says softly, cradling his new stuffed dog like it’s fragile. He looks up at Chase, almost as if he’s bracing for a laugh or a joke at his expense.
“That’s a cool name,” Chase says without hesitation. “Nice to meet you, Barkley.” He gives the stuffed dog a gentle pat on the head, then stands and flashes me a smile as sweet as the first lick of an ice cream cone on a hot summer day.
“Mommy, his name is Barkley!” Luke shouts proudly.
“Barkley’s a great name,” I agree, then mouth a silent “thank you” to Chase.
Despite the casual cruelty Laurel described, I know my late husband loved our son. But the way Chase shows up in the quiet moments is a version of caring Luke needed more than I realized.
We finish packing up and head to the truck, stopping to talk with a few other vendors along the way. When it’s time to say goodbye, I lean down to kiss and hug both kids, but what surprises me most is when they each turn to hug Chase, too.
Laurel wraps her arms around him like it’s normal. Luke holds up the stuffed dog and insists Chase kiss it goodbye, which he does without hesitation.
Sadie gives me a quick hug, whispering, “That was firefighter-with-a-kitten-calendar hot.”
She’s right. Is there anything sexier to a single mom than watching a man show your kids kindness, especially when he doesn’t owe them a thing? I glance over and catch the flush in Chase’s cheeks, the pink at the tips of his ears.
I’m basically a breathing pile of goo right now. A giant mix of lust, longing, and something far deeper that I’m not ready to name.
I try to calm my nerves and my hormones as I wave goodbye and watch the kids walk off with Sadie and Ian.
“I guess it’s just you and me,” I say, turning back to Chase.
Only, it’s not just the two of us.
He’s staring at a man standing a few feet away, and all the excitement and good feelings of the farmers market vanish in an instant.
The air is so cold and crackling with tension, it’s like a blizzard and an electrical storm had a baby. The result is a terrifying mix of absolutely nothing good.