Chapter Nine
A S GOOD A girl as she was to the rest of the town, Katie was amazingly bad in the bedroom. Three times, not counting the car, she had had her way with him, and he’d loved every minute of it.
Turning over to look at the clock, Chase noticed the flashing numbers. The power must have gone out at some point, but it was light enough outside now that the room was dimly lit, so it must’ve been around seven. He didn’t hear rain anymore, but it could just be taking a break. Either way it was probably a good day to stay in bed. Possibly with some very warm company.
He rolled over to look at the beautiful woman sleeping beside him and smiled. Katie was lying on her side with her back to him, and he leaned over to rub his prickly cheek against the skin of her shoulder. He’d found out the third time they’d made love that it drove her wild to have him drag his stubble all over her body. He enjoyed hearing those sweet noises and the soft way she said his name.
He’d never been with a woman like Katie and he’d definitely never wanted a woman so much before. When he’d heard her yelling at her ex yesterday, he’d come around the corner ready to pound someone. But that look she’d given him, that boy-am-I-glad-to-see-you look, had been enough for him. He’d been fine just ignoring the little shit, but last night at the pageant had been too much. He didn’t like to see Katie hurt, especially by people who weren’t good enough to lick her cute little toes.
Katie moaned and stretched, turning her head to smile at him with closed eyes. “That feels amazing.”
Chuckling, he slid behind her so her sweet, round ass was cupped by his groin and wrapped his arm around her waist. Kissing her shoulder, Chase said, “I’d love to make you feel more amazing, but I have no idea what time it is and I don’t want you to be late for work.”
Katie twisted her head toward the clock and groaned. “Ugh, do I have to go? I don’t want to leave.”
A zing of happiness went through him. “I wouldn’t mind if you played hooky to lie in bed with me all day, but I know you’re too goody-goody to do something as irresponsible as call in sick.”
She turned all the way onto her back and raised her eyebrow. “First of all, I own the salon. If I want to call in, I will.”
“Oh sure, if you wanted to.”
Her eyes narrowed and she said, “And second of all, that sounds like a dare, Mr. Trepasso.”
He leaned up on his elbow. “That’s because it was, Ms. Connors.”
Sitting up, she held the sheet to her chest and said, “Can you hand me my purse on the chair?”
Chase rose from the bed stark naked, knowing she was checking him out as he walked over to grab her purse. When he turned around, she was licking her lips and looking hungry. He crawled across the bed, dropped her purse in her lap, and started to lean in for a kiss. “You look like you want to eat me.”
“Mmm ... maybe I do.” She reached out for him, and a rumbly noise came from her stomach, making them both laugh. “I guess I’m hungry for other things too.”
Giving him a quick peck, she pulled out her phone and dialed. Chase took the opportunity to pull the sheet down and latch onto her breast, tonguing the nipple into a hard point.
Her voice came out strained as she spoke. “Hey, Kitty, it’s Katie. Yeah, I think I might be getting a summer cold. My throat’s a little ... oh ... um ... tickly. Could you ... um ... cancel my appointments?”
He felt her hand go into his hair and tug. Laughing softly, he slid his hand down under the sheet to play with her in other places, and she hissed, “Stop it. No, Kitty, it’s just the cat. He keeps trying to get up on the counter. Thanks for doing that for me. I’ll call you later. Have a good day.”
Suddenly she grabbed his hair so hard it felt like it was coming out by the roots and he yelled, “Ouch, woman!”
“You suck! If Kitty knew what was going on, I would die!”
He didn’t like the way she said that. Like she was doing something wrong by being with him. Rational Chase told himself that it was just Katie being modest, but the small part of him that remembered a girl ducking down in his car so she wouldn’t be seen with him was hurt.
Chase pulled away from her and stood up. “I’ll see what I have in my cupboard to eat.”
Grabbing his hand, she stopped him, and he saw the confusion on her face as she asked, “Hey, what did I say? I just don’t want her to think I’m having sex with her on the phone.”
You sure it’s not that you don’t want them to know you’re screwing the tattoo guy?
Trying to swallow his doubt and insecurities, Chase leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I know what you meant. I’m going to see what I can scrape together.”
He picked up his boxers, pulled them on, and left the room without looking at her again. He couldn’t explain why he was making this more complicated. He hadn’t wanted complicated. Hell, she hadn’t wanted complicated. Yet here he was, acting like Mr. Sensitive, getting his feelings sore over nothing.
Get it together, man. So you like her more than you’ve liked any other woman. This thing was supposed to be fun. You need to get a grip on your balls and man up.
U NSURE OF WHAT she’d done now, Katie pulled on her clothes and went to the bathroom to wash her face. Sleeping in her makeup always made her feel grungy the next day, but once she was cleaned up a little, she went out to the kitchen to find Chase with his head in the fridge, cursing.
What had she said to upset him? He seemed to be sensitive about people being ashamed of him, but she wasn’t. If she was, she wouldn’t have told Rock Canyon’s biggest blabbermouth how she had spent yesterday afternoon. Still, Chase had been hurt so bad, and she wanted to fix it. She wanted to show him how special he was, but she also wasn’t going to walk on eggshells around him.
“That bad, huh?” she said as she set her purse on the counter.
He pulled his head out of the fridge, and his grin was sheepish. “Yeah, unless you want one egg. And I’m pretty sure it’s about to hatch into something.”
Whatever had ruffled his feathers, he was acting like he was fine now. Katie toyed with her purse strap and avoided his eyes, feeling awkward as she said, “It’s fine. Do you mind driving me to my 4Runner? I’ll just eat at home.”
She heard the fridge close. “I thought you played hooky to hang with me?”
I did, but you acted like you were irritated with me.
Meeting his gaze again, she said, “You just seemed like you were upset with me, and I didn’t want to overstay my—”
Chase cut off her explanation with a kiss, and she only had a second to think about her morning breath before she was kissing him back. When he finally pulled away, he whispered, “I’m sorry I was an ass.”
“Yeah, you know, the ultrasensitive, sexy rebel thing only goes so far with me,” she said, only half kidding. Maybe as they spent more time together and got more serious, she would be able to help Chase work through his issues.
Wait, what was she saying? The minute he got the idea in his head that she wanted to take things to the next level, he was going to take off.
“I’ll try to work on that,” he said, running his hands down to intertwine their fingers. “Please, stay. I don’t want you to go.”
“Yeah, I got that now,” she said, leaning into him to give him a soft kiss. “Although I don’t know how we’ll survive the day without food.”
Even if he had been grumpy, he was definitely adorable in the morning, half naked, with his hair sticking up all over his head. He seemed younger, even with the dark stubble beckoning to be caressed. He looked like he was thinking hard about their dilemma and Katie laughed. “Okay, don’t strain yourself.”
His fingers tickled her ribs. “I was just thinking that we could go to Boise for the day. Do something there. Get out of town.”
“It sounds wonderful, but ... isn’t it still raining?” she asked, looking toward the window.
“Nope, the sun is coming out to play and it will be a beautiful day to take a long drive on the chopper.”
Katie gulped a little at the thought of riding on a motorcycle for longer than three minutes. “I need to go home first. Shower and change.”
He sighed. “Okay, I’ll take you to your car and then I’ll pick you up with breakfast.”
Now that sounded perfect.
K ATIE TOOK THE fastest shower of her life and wrapped her hair up in a towel. Heading into her bedroom, she decided to spend very little time primping, since a two-hour motorcycle ride would wreak havoc on her hair anyway.
She was just grabbing her light black jacket and her Skechers when someone knocked on the door.
“Great.” She looked at the clock and frowned. Chase was fifteen minutes early. Didn’t he know a girl liked to take her time?
Walking out to the front door, she looked through the peephole and saw it wasn’t Chase but Steph.
Pulling the door open with a confused smile, she said, “Hey, what’s going on?”
Steph cocked a perfectly arched brown brow and looked her up and down. “Well, you don’t look sick.”
“Oh, like you’ve never called in to work?” Katie said.
“Sure I have, but you don’t. Ever. Unless you’re dying, and only then because you don’t want to get anyone else sick.” Steph walked past her into the house, and Katie closed the door. “What’s up, Katie? This isn’t you. You don’t do weird things with your hair or dress like a ... well, actually, the clothes are cute, but still. And the guy ...” Steph said.
Katie was caught between surprise and anger. “What is wrong with Chase?”
Steph snorted. “Besides the fact that he’s got heartbreak tattooed on his forehead?”
“In case you don’t remember, I had my heart broken about eight months ago and I’m finally over it.” Katie laughed bitterly and said, “You should be happy for me.”
“I know that you were broken up over Jimmy and I was worried,” Steph said, reaching out to squeeze her shoulder. “And if a little fling with a hot guy gets you back in the swing of things, then great. I just don’t want you getting attached to him and getting hurt all over again. And I don’t like the influence he’s had on you. You aren’t acting like yourself, and I feel like I don’t even know you.”
That stung a little, and Katie wondered why Steph was being so dramatic. “Why are you being so down on Chase? You don’t even know him. I dated Jimmy for years and you never liked him, but you were never this adamant. Is this really about Chase, or something else? I don’t think I’ve changed that much, and if I have, it’s because Chase makes me stronger. He makes me not want to be the meek little mouse and stand up tall and say what I think. What’s wrong with that?”
“It’s not wrong . You just used to care if you hurt people or made them feel bad, and now it just seems like you’re only out to please yourself,” Steph said.
“And what’s wrong with that? I have done what other people wanted my whole life. Why can’t I, just once, do what I want? Be happy and not constantly worry about what other people think!” Katie said, her voice rising.
“Because you’re better than that!” Steph yelled back.
“God, I am so sick of everyone saying that. I’m too good, I’m better than this and that and whatever. It’s my life and I want to live! You of all people should get it and support me. You’re my best friend, Steph, not my mother,” Katie said firmly, trying to calm down.
Steph’s face went red and she snapped, “Yeah, well, if she was here she’d be ashamed of the way you’re acting.”
Katie felt like she’d eaten six bad tacos and they were all making her sick at once. She had never been a violent person, had never even been in a fight before, but right now all she wanted was to slap Steph’s horrified face. Of all the things Steph could have said to her ...
And part of you thinks she’s right. Your mom would be ashamed of you.
It was one thing for Mrs. Andrews to say something like that, but for Steph, it was almost unforgivable. She had said the one thing she knew would hit Katie the hardest ... and hurt her the most.
Katie’s eyes stung as she growled, “Get out of my house.”
“Katie, I’m sorry ...”
“I want you out of here now!” Katie yelled, her vision blurred with unshed tears.
Steph turned with what sounded like a sob, opening the front door with a jerk, and burst out of the house. Katie slammed the door behind her and leaned against it, trying to stop the tears from overflowing. Straightening up, she walked into the living room to sit down on the couch, swiping at her wet cheeks.
Steph was wrong about her. She was just having fun. Trying something new. And as far as Chase went, they were good together. She was happy, and Steph hadn’t respected that. Hadn’t respected her.
I’m sure she didn’t mean it. She was just worried about you.
Katie knew that Steph was protective of her. They had been friends since preschool, and Steph had always been there to support and defend her. While Katie had smiled and taken things with all the grace her mother had instilled in her, Steph had been outspoken and sometimes impulsive, shooting off her mouth without thinking. She had been Katie’s champion more times than she could count, but that didn’t give her the right to push her opinions on Katie now. Especially about what her mother would say or do.
Steph had loved Katie’s mother too, but that hadn’t stopped her from telling Katie that she needed to stand up to her. Tell her she was an adult. Funny how Steph had forgotten all that rebellious talk today and tried to use her mother to control her.
But it had worked, like kryptonite; Katie couldn’t stop thinking about what her mother would say.
“ Didn’t you learn your lesson the first time, Katie? Boys only want one thing and if you give them that, you might as well show them the door. ”
Another knock pulled her out of her own self-doubt, and she tried to sound normal as she called, “It’s open.”
Katie heard the rustling of bags and Chase said, “So I got you a caramel mocha and a chocolate chip muffin, since Gracie said that’s your usual. And I was actually thinking we could take a drive to Hailey instead of Boise ...” He was standing by the couch and she tried to hide her red eyes, but he’d already seen them. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she answered, wishing her voice didn’t sound so nasal.
Setting the food down on the end table, he sat next to her and turned her face toward him. “Why are you crying, Firecracker?”
She shook her head. “That’s a stupid nickname.”
He tilted up her chin, studying her. “Maybe so, but I don’t think me calling you Firecracker really bothers you; you’re just changing the subject.”
“I’m fine. I just had a fight with Steph is all.”
“Already? What happened?” he asked.
She stood up and said, “I don’t really want to talk about it, okay? I want to get my hands on this mocha you promised me.” She grabbed the mocha off the end table and walked away from his penetrating gray eyes and his questions. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with either of them right now.
C HASE LET THE fight go, but he knew that something was really bugging her. They ate their muffins in the kitchen in relative silence, though he was afraid he knew why Steph and Katie had been fighting.
“Please, Chase, you can barely afford lunch. How are you going to pay for prom?”
Emily Wilson had said that after having sex with him in the back of his mother’s van. They had hung out for a little over a month senior year before he’d found out exactly what she really thought about him.
“You’re a hot guy, but I could never really date you. I mean, you live in that run-down trailer and you have no ambition. You’re going to end up stuck in this town with the rest of the losers.”
He came back to the present with clenched fists. Emily had spent a month with him and never knew a thing about him. She’d seen a boy her daddy would hate and a way to make him squirm. She hadn’t even known he was leaving for Berkeley at the end of the summer.
But Katie wasn’t like Emily. She was sweet and she was interested in him, in who he really was. When she wasn’t constantly worried about what everyone in this pissant town thought, she was fun.
More than fun.
But whatever Steph had said had to have been about him, and about the way Katie had changed. If Steph had thought warning him off wouldn’t work, going to the source would have been her next stop. It wasn’t like he didn’t know Katie was just experimenting. He knew she was going to wash the streaks out of her hair and always keep her tattoo hidden from view, and when it was all over, she’d move on with her life.
Without him.
Chase knew this was all temporary. He just got to be the lucky guy in the right place at the right time, but he didn’t like thinking about Katie not being around for him to touch. That she wouldn’t be there to laugh at his outrageous comments or run her hands over his scruffy face.
He liked Katie. Maybe someday it could be more than like, but he would never know.
“All you are is trailer trash, Chase, and that’s all you’ll ever be,” Emily’s voice said, taunting him from the past.
Katie wrapped her arms around his waist and nuzzled his chest. “I’m sorry that I’ve been such a bummer this morning. You want to back out? Find something else to do?”
He looked down into those clear blue eyes and slid his hands into her hair, kissing her softly. “Nope. Nowhere else I’d rather be.”
She snuggled closer. “You say the sweetest things.”
Only to you.
That thought brought with it a rush of panic. He had to stop entertaining these serious thoughts about Katie. Adventurous and ballsy he might be, but he wasn’t stupid. Especially when it came to women, and to putting himself out there. Which is how he had lived thirty-three years without a single broken heart. A few dents to his ego, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed with a couple of beers and a warm, feminine body. But if he let Katie become special to him, he was setting himself up for a whole world of pain.
Come on, man, you’re just fooling yourself. She’s already special.
Breaking the moment, he slapped her ass playfully and said, “All right, since it is already close to ten and I have to open the shop at five, what do you want to do?”
She rubbed her injured posterior with a grumble, “Wow, I cancel my appointments for the day and you can’t even close your shop for a few hours? Nice.”
He saw the challenging look on her face and conceded. “Fine. We’ll put a note on the door as we head out of town.”
K ATIE REALLY DIDN’T want to ride two hours on the back of Chase’s motorcycle, but she sucked it up and got on. The road to Hailey from Rock Canyon was an easy drive on a two-lane highway with lots of open space around them. Chase had brought a helmet for her, though even the extra protection didn’t calm her fears. She held on tight to his waist and tucked her head against his body.
After an hour she was squealing and yelling, “This is awesome!”
Of course she stopped yelling once she got a bug in her mouth, but she still loved the feel of the wind and the warm sunshine.
And the hot, solid man in her arms.
Chase parked along the main stretch once they reached Hailey and she got little tingles when he squeezed the hands she’d wrapped around him. “You okay?”
The helmet got in the way of leaning forward to kiss him, so she just said, “Yeah, except for the one bug who found its way into my mouth. Now I have bug breath.”
He laughed and turned his head to catch her lips in a kiss. When he pulled back, he teased, “You taste fine to me. Not buggy at all.”
Laughing, she reached up to unclasp the helmet and swung off the chopper. Catching his grin, she asked, “Why are you smiling at me like that?”
He slipped his arm around her waist to pull her against him, “Nothing, you just look good in my helmet. Very sexy.”
I’m trying so hard to keep things casual, and then you go and say something like that.
Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she said, “I’ve always fantasized about a tall, handsome bad boy taking me for a ride on his bike.”
He shook his head. “I’ve told you before, Firecracker, it’s not a bike.”
“Chopper, then. Are you going to kiss me or not?”
He kissed her and she leaned into him, not caring if anyone was watching.
I don’t want this to end.
Katie knew it would, though; he wasn’t the type of guy to stick around. He’d told her himself he didn’t like to stay in one place too long. He’d lived in six towns in the last twelve years, and when it got to the point that he was ready to go, he did.
Although he did say the house in Rock Canyon was the first one he’d ever owned. That meant something, right? Even on a subconscious level?
“I think your kisses are like crack,” she murmured.
Chuckling, he said, “If I’m crack, then you’re sugar. Probably why I can’t taste the bug. You’re so sweet.”
Katie melted at his words and pulled away reluctantly. “So, what do you want to do?”
Swinging off the motorcycle, Chase stretched out his arms and back, making his muscles twist and ripple. He was so wonderfully made; it was like a bunch of women picked all the best parts of a man and put them together to build him. Even the small studs in his ears added to his sex appeal.
“What do you say we just walk around? I haven’t really been up here except for snowboarding back in February.”
Of course he snowboarded. “Yeah, I don’t do that. Snowboard, I mean. The only thing I do in the snow is sledding down very small hills.”
Her stomach rolled excitedly when he draped his arm around her shoulders and said, “Well, maybe we’ll have to change that.”
She glanced up at him, and he looked a little surprised, like he couldn’t believe he’d said that. He might be regretting the slip, but it gave her hope. If he was imagining them doing things together in six months, maybe he wasn’t thinking this was just a casual thing anymore either.