9. Pepper
Amillion dollars .
Nice going, Pepper. You officially have a price on your head.
Chase slips back into the dinette for possibly a real phone call this time, and I take my moment.
I run.
A part of me wants to call this bastard and scream Is that all I’m worth to you? But who would I be kidding? This isn’t about me. This is about saving face.
Troy Mayfield will not have a runaway bride on his squeaky-clean record. His perfect image.
I don’t even remember closing the door behind me as I race down the block, taking a left when I reach Crest Lane.
There’s a local city bus that goes to the railroad station and I try to remember which line as I sprint forward.
I refuse to be another burden. I can do this. If I can make it on my own in a new city at eighteen, I can sure as hell pull myself out of a bind at twenty-six.
It starts to rain, and I want to laugh. Of course it’s raining.
I lift my hood over my head, which does little to keep me dry or hide my identity. Like anyone isn’t going to notice some crazy girl in stripe pajama pants racing down the street in the rain.
I spot the sign for the bus stop. It’s in front of an auto shop. The sign that used to read Dick’s Auto now says Beau’s Auto.
My hood slips off as I stare and weigh my options. Water starts trickling down my face from my wet hair. At least no one will recognize me like this. My hair is darker when it’s wet.
I suck in a breath and cross the street when I see the bus turn the corner up ahead.
The garage is wide open and I see someone working inside. Familiar broad shoulders come into view as he peeks his head over the hood of the car. What’s unfamiliar is the gut stretching out in front of him by nearly a foot.
“Jesus, Beau.” He’s not exactly the quarterback I remember. And I can’t say I’m surprised.
I scoff at myself. And you’re not the cheerleader you remember, Pep.
I turn away and wait anxiously for the bus. “Hey,” someone calls and I wince.
Slipping my hood on, I ignore my ex, tapping my foot as I peer up the street, calculating the bus arrival. It’s stopped at the light.
Shit.
“Do I know you?” The voice grows closer, and I turn on instinct. Despite the dark clouds, Beau squints when he sees me and I snap my head back.
Trust no one.
The bus isn’t advancing and I’m panicking.
“Hey…Miss?”
Fuck it. I start to cross back to the other side of the narrow road, but he doesn’t relent.
“It’s coming down pretty hard. You can wait it out in the garage.”
Is he out of his mind? You don’t just invite strangers into your place. Then again, there aren’t many strangers in this town. He probably thinks I’m local.
“Or maybe a ride?”
“I’m good, thanks,” I call back, stupidly.
“Pepper?”
My heart tumbles and I run. I run like I’ve never run before. Faster than I ran out of this town. Faster than I raced out of that hotel room minutes before the ceremony. Faster than I left the cottage, so I’d stop being such a burden to everyone.
If I didn’t leave, Chase eventually would.
Everyone does. Hell, even my fiancé put it in writing that after three years, we’re free to part ways.
That’s just fine.
I can make it on my own.
My shoes are soaked. My hood falls off again and I’m not certain I lost Beau. But I am certain that I can’t breathe anymore. Pulling behind a building, I break, resting my hands on my knees.
I hear the distant footsteps splashing against the wet pavement.
He’s still heading toward me.
I’m in tears that won’t stop streaming down my face and with a deep breath, I swipe them away and stand up straight.
I can’t keep running.
I turn and collide with a hard body, but it’s not Beau’s.
“Pepper.” Chase grabs my arms to steady me. He’s breathless and soaked. “You alright?”
“B—Beau. He—saw me—”
He looks back toward the street and his eyes flash. It’s familiar. Too familiar. Like I’ve been here before. Chase standing in front of me. Beau heading toward us. Chase’s jaw working like he’s regretting coming near me.
And it hits me.
That day outside the cafeteria. When I’d waited three years for Chase Reeves to talk to me and the first time he does—I took it as pity.
I got defensive and mean. I remember it because of the look Chase had when he looked back at me. Disappointment and regret.
“Chase, I’m—”
He turns back to me and snakes a hand under my ear and around the back of my neck, gripping me as he pushes me against the brick wall. Then presses his lips to mine in a heated kiss. His mouth is hot against my cold skin. His body is a weight I didn’t know I needed. Anchoring me. He presses harder into me, shifting his hands from my face and casually lifting the hood back over my head. I’m tingly all over. My throat burns with the threat of more tears because of just how good this feels. And how fleeting I know it is.
He breaks the kiss I could have gone forever without breaking.
Chase doesn’t look at me when he pulls away. He glances up the hill where I came from and scans the street. “He’s gone.” Stepping back, he runs his fingers through his wet hair. God, it’s sexy. He’s in a plain white T-shirt and dark denim jeans. His jaw is tense like he’s about to pop a vein or two.
I’m about to ask him what that was. But I can’t even think straight. I realize he was shielding me but—am I so delirious that I’d imagined the intensity of it? The way it shook my body? The way I—
“Are you out of your goddamn mind?” he growls.
“Wh—what?”
“Stop. Fucking. Running, Pepper. Just stop it. I swear to God, you are on your fucking own if you pull that shit again.” Lowering his voice, he draws close. But not in a sweet way. In a very threatening way. “I’m going to say this one more time and you’d better listen. I’m going to help you. I don’t fucking pity you, I never did. Maybe others did, but my family didn’t. I don’t know how it happened, but you’re my problem now.”
I open my mouth, but he holds up a hand. “Shut up. I will not let you walk yourself into a trap. Especially after you publicly humiliated a man with growing power.”
His eyes dip down to my lips like he can’t help himself and pulls back again. “We’re going to go back to the cottage. We’re going to change. And then we’re going back to the Inn. My father, Levi and Noah are going to be waiting for us. He’s closing for lunch and sent the staff home.
My voice is small when I speak. “It’s a million dollars, Chase. For one anonymous phone call.”
He releases a breath, his shoulders falling as he looks down at me. “I know.”
I’m dressed and dry, with my hair in a wet bun above my head. The warm shower and the scent of eucalyptus did wonders for my nerves. And now that I’ve calmed down, I brace myself for more chastising from Chase as I step out of the bathroom. He’d been quiet on the walk back to the house. His tension emanating in waves beside me.
My mouth drops.
I was expecting to find a man preparing for another battle with me but instead, Chase is lounging on the bed in pajama pants and no shirt.
Holy hell.
His muscles are next level. Ridged and toned. This isn’t just the body of an athlete. This is perfection. It’s hard to look away when I get a better view of those tattoos that have been peeking out from under his t-shirts. I notice the angel wings first then tear my gaze before I’m caught staring.
I clear my throat. “You changed.”
“Yeah.”
“While I was in the shower?”
“Is that a problem?”
“What if I came out?”
“No one’s ever complained about seeing me naked. You?”
I cross my arms. “No one’s complained about me either.”
He nods. “Good. Then it wouldn’t have been an issue.”
Relenting, I shake my head and step into the room. “What’s that noise?”
“Oh, that’s the dryer. It’s only loud because I tossed your sneakers in.”
I nod. “Oh good. They’re my only pair.”
“You mean to tell me you went shopping yesterday and didn’t buy shoes?”
“Do slippers count?”
He shakes his head. “Come on,” he says, slipping on one of Elliot’s t-shirts that’s clearly a size or two too small. “My bike is back at the Inn. I’ll call an Uber and we’ll head over.”
“In those pajama pants?”
“Elliot’s pants are too small and it was either your sneakers or my jeans.”
He stands and hands me something. They’re his aviator glasses. “Put these on and keep them on until we get to Denver.”
“Denver?”
“Yeah. I’ve got practice.”
“I’m coming with you?”
“Yes.”
I nod as I process. “Remind me how this is different than being a politician’s wife and being told where to go and what to wear?” I ask, half teasing.
“Simple. You’re not my wife. You’re just stuck with me. Which means you’re living on my schedule.”
Suddenly, being stuck with Chase Reeves…doesn’t sound so bad.
Chase shuts off the flatscreen above the bar where his brothers and father are watching quietly.
“The town is going to be all over this,” Levi grumbles.
“No, they’re not,” Chase snaps.
“What do you mean, they’re not. It’s one million dollars. That’s nothing to you, but it’s a lot of money for a lot of people here,” Aiden reminds his son.
I glance at Noah, whose wheels are turning, but the way he’s watching Chase makes me think he’s curious about his plan.
Chase points at the television. “The woman they’re on the lookout for—is Penelope Walker. This is Pepper Woods. She’s never been to New York, never even went to college. When she left town, she went west—not east. They’ll be looking for a blonde. After this evening, Pepper will be her old redheaded self.”
I hold my questions, processing.
“Besides, she couldn’t possibly be engaged to Troy Mayfield.” He pins me with his eyes. “She’s been engaged to me for the last year and a half.”
“What?” I shriek.
“That’ll do it,” Levi agrees.
Noah nods. “Why not just get married?”
“Someone want to fill me in here?” Dad asks.
“Because it’s too obvious. Pepper needs a backstory. She can’t have just shown up and be my wife. This needs to be something the entire town believes. Including the media.”
“Why the media?” Levi asks.
Noah wiggles a finger, catching on. “It’s risky, but if Troy does find out and comes after her, he’ll be known for stealing the Denver Kings’ MVPs’ fiancée.”
“Which is worse than a runaway bride,” Chase finishes. “My fans are louder. He won’t risk hurting his campaign.”
I shrug. “Can’t be that loud. I’ve never heard of you.”
Chase rolls his eyes. “You guys in?”
“One more question.” Noah narrows his eyes. “What does she do for work?”
Chase smiles and motions to me. “You’re looking at the newest Denver Kings Ice Queen.”
“What?” I repeat.
“Starting this evening.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I agree,” Aiden objects. “Why can’t we just have her work here at the bar?”
“Because if Troy’s people track her back here, the Inn is the first place they’ll look. And believe me, they’re not sending someone that Pepper would recognize.”
My hands shake. “So being on camera is better?”
Chase turns to me, his tone slightly softer. “Ice Girls are shot from afar and with your new look, no one will question it. The people coming to see Denver Kings play aren’t looking for a lookalike of a runaway bride. They’re there to see a game.”
“What about everyone here?” I ask, my voice smaller than I’d like to sound.
He steps up to me and grips my shoulders. “You’re hiding in plain sight. If you keep walking around with a hoodie and sunglasses, you’re making yourself a target. Just act like you belong and no one will question it.”
Noah nods. “It’s a stretch but…” His eyes shift between Chase and me. “Works for me. I’ll keep tabs on Troy’s people.”
“And I’ll keep a lookout for anyone suspicious walking in here and…asking questions,” Aiden offers.
Chase nods appreciatively and turns to me. “Ready for your makeover?”
“Do I have a choice?”