Chapter Seventeen
F OR THE NEXT week, Katie was surprised with another item checked off Chase’s list every day. On Tuesday morning she found a CD on her windshield that read “Katie’s Mix.” She’d put it into the CD player of her car and smiled as The Band Perry’s “Better Dig Two” came on first. It was the song they’d first danced to at Buck’s, and she was beyond giddy that he’d remembered.
The rest of the CD had been a mix of country and pop, all songs she had mentioned. Except for two of them: “T.N.T” by AC/DC was one of Chase’s favorites, and The Backstreet Boys’s “If You Want to Be a Good Girl (Get Yourself a Bad Boy),” which had her laughing hysterically. Josh Turner’s “Firecracker” was the last song and was a favorite of hers, not just because she loved his voice but because it featured Chase’s nickname for her. She used to think it was silly, but now ...
She had missed hearing him say it.
The note attached to the CD read: “ Two. I’ve never made a mix CD for a girl. A classic romantic gesture, right? ” Funny, she’d watched Pretty in Pink a thousand times and never fantasized about someone making her a mix tape.
On Wednesday he’d shown up at the salon with takeout from Jensen’s Diner and asked her to have lunch with him. Bacon burgers in hand, they had headed over to the park, and Chase had pulled out a blanket and a cooler. After the blanket had been spread and their burgers consumed, Chase handed her a small card and grabbed the ice chest. She read the card, which had a simple pink rose on the front, and smiled. Three. I have never fed a woman chocolate-covered strawberries.
Chocolate-covered strawberries were her favorite dessert. She’d almost grabbed the ice chest from him as he slowly lifted the lid and pulled out a plate of perfectly dipped, red strawberries. He’d held one out for her and when she tried to take it, he’d shaken his head.
“Ah, ah, ah, it doesn’t count if I don’t feed them to you,” he’d said teasingly.
“What if I don’t like to be fed?” she said.
He started to put the strawberries away and she’d almost cried. “Fine! Okay, you can feed them to me.”
“Close your eyes.” His tone was soft and sinfully sexy. Katie did what he’d asked and felt something hard and cool against her lips. “Open your mouth.”
She did, and the strawberry slid into her mouth. She bit into the sweet, juicy fruit and moaned. She protested when he pulled it back, but seconds later his warm mouth replaced the strawberry, his tongue sweeping inside. The kiss had taken her breath and made her heart thump, but before she could decide whether she wanted the kiss to continue or not, he was gone.
Opening her eyes to find his dark gray ones searching her face, as if looking for something, had been frustrating. She’d waited for him to try again, wanted him to just do it, not ask her if it was okay. Because if he asked, then she would have to think about it, and what he had done. Katie leaned forward, giving him permission, but he had just held the half-eaten strawberry out to her and grabbed one for himself. He’d started talking about how good they were, and said that when he’d seen the chocolate at Hall’s Market, he knew she would love them.
She had finished off a half a plate of strawberries before she realized he’d done it on purpose. He’d teased her into a confused, wanting state, and unless she made a move, he would just sit back and blabber about whatever. Well, she wasn’t going to be manipulated, and he was just going to have to try a little harder.
Her resolve not to be so easily seduced was almost forgotten on Thursday when he’d stood outside her house with the Rock Canyon High School Glee Club and band and sang “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” by Chicago. If she hadn’t been standing in her monkey-see-monkey-do pajamas and the neighbors hadn’t started screaming, it would have been the most romantic moment of her life. As it was, her neighbor, Mr. Jefferies, had fired a warning shot in the air that sent the kids running.
Chase had merely ambled up to the porch with a smile. “Nice pajamas.”
“Katie Connors, what’s the meaning of all that racket in the middle of the night? I ought to call the chief!” Mr. Jefferies yelled.
“I apologize, it won’t happen again,” she said.
The older man gave Chase a disapproving look and pointed his finger. “As for you, all that caterwauling ain’t gonna make up for the fact that you broke this poor girl’s heart.”
“Mr. Jefferies!” Katie cried, horror and humiliation making her face flush in the dark.
Chase had taken it all in stride and said, “I know, sir, but I have to start somewhere.”
“Hmmm ... well, you just keep the shenanigans to a minimum from now on, you got me, young man?” he said.
“Yes sir,” Chase said, and the crotchety old guy went grumbling back into his house, carrying his shotgun by the strap.
“I am so sorry about that,” Katie had said, glad he couldn’t tell how deep her blush was in the dimness of the porch light.
“Don’t worry about it,” Chase said, handing her a little pink card. “This is for you.”
Opening the card, she read, “‘Four. I have never serenaded a woman by moonlight.’” She looked up in the sky and said, “Not much of a moon out tonight.”
“I think it’s the thought that counts.” He’d stepped up on the porch, inches away from her, and her heart skipped and jumped.
“It does,” she said, unable to look away from his lips.
“So, did you like it?” he asked, leaning his mouth down near hers.
She licked her lips and whispered, “Hmmm, I don’t know. Making fun of my pajamas and pissing off my neighbors. Plus, you probably just traumatized a bunch of high-school kids.”
“But you liked it?” She could feel the warmth of his breath against her lips.
“Yes. I loved it,” she said.
Chase had dropped his head the last fraction of an inch and kissed her, placing his hands on her waist. She reached up to run her hands over the back of his neck and pressed her body into his. Her nipples hardened as they rubbed against the fabric of her shirt and his hard chest.
He pulled back slowly and she’d protested. “Where are you going?”
Kissing her again softly, he said, “Home.”
“What? Why?”
He’d reached up and taken her hands down from his neck. “Because it’s late and you need to get up for work in the morning.”
Kissing her cheek and turning to walk back to his chopper, he’d started whistling. Katie had scowled and said, “Seriously, I am inviting you inside and you aren’t going to come?”
“Nope. Good night.” He swung his leg over the chopper and started it up. He’d given her one last wave before pulling into the street and flipping around.
She’d stomped into the house and gone to bed grumbling.
Now it was Friday morning, and as she walked out to her car, Katie found a little pink card that read: Five. I have never told a woman no when she asked me to come inside.
Was that supposed to make her feel special? Chase gave in to everybody else, but with her, it was so much easier to resist?
Katie got into her car with a mission. She was done with this game. He had apologized, he had romanced, and he had teased, but when it came down to it, he was toying with her.
Something had to be done.
D RIVING OUT AND making a left onto Main Street, Katie headed to The Local Bean. She parked in the lot beside the big brick building and got out of the car, walking toward the coffee house with a determined gait. Opening the door, she walked inside to find Gracie McAllister talking to Ryan Ashton over a pile of magazines.
Katie almost turned around and walked back out the door. The last thing she needed when she was feeling so agitated was to run into Chase’s previous crush.
But she was caught by Gracie, who looked up and said, “Katie! Carmel mocha?”
Drat, too late. She walked to the counter and said, “Sure, that sounds amazing.” Her eyes shifted to Ryan, and she asked, “How are you, Ryan? Getting excited for the wedding?”
Holding up the stack of magazines, which appeared to be all wedding related, Ryan laughed. “Can you tell? I never knew how many things were on a bride’s to-do list.”
“I can imagine,” Katie said a little bitterly.
Ryan must have caught her tone because the look she gave Katie was pensive. “Yeah, hard to imagine that six months ago I was sure I was going to end up an old maid, living alone with lots of yarn and cats. If it hadn’t been for Gracie, I probably would’ve.”
“Please, your inner sex goddess would have come out eventually,” Gracie said.
Katie smiled. “Yeah well, at the rate I’m going, you can add a bit of hoarding to my future.”
Ryan’s expression was confused. “But I thought Chase was back, and from what everyone has said, is wooing you like crazy?”
“He is; at least I think he is. But he can’t take a hint that I’m ready to forgive him and move on. Instead he just keeps teasing and pulling back, and I just want him to man up!”
Katie’s face turned red when she noticed a couple of patrons were looking at her oddly. Great, now she was having a meltdown in public.
Gracie set her caramel mocha down and said, “You know, jealousy is always the best way to push a man over that edge.”
Katie took a small sip and made a soft moan. “Mmm, so good.”
“That is genius, Gracie! How fast can you throw together a bachelorette party?” Ryan asked.
“Do you know who you’re talking to? I’ll call Gemma. All hands on deck. When are we doing this?” Gracie asked.
“Tonight!” Ryan said.
Katie had no idea what was going on, so she said, “Well, you guys have fun with that. I’m off to work.”
Ryan laughed. “Hey, where are you going? We are scheming for your benefit, you know.”
“Me? You hardly know me? Why?” Katie asked.
Ryan’s blue eyes were slightly dreamy. “Because I think everyone deserves a happily ever after. Especially a guy like Chase. He’s not as tough as he looks.”
“And I like to meddle and party,” Gracie added.
“But how is a bachelorette party going to help me?” Katie asked, confused.
“It’s simple! Men love competition. If he feels like he’s losing you to someone else, it might be just the shove he needs to seal the deal,” Gracie said with a wicked grin.
Katie looked from one woman to the other and grinned. “Why not? But don’t worry about decorations. I have everything you need at my house.” As they sat down at a table to plan, Katie explained why she could supply a huge, puffy veil with neon condoms all over it.
Surprisingly, the other women didn’t think it was strange. Gracie called an un-bachelorette party a brilliant idea and, if she never found the right guy, was going to have one of those for her thirtieth birthday. Katie laughed and found that the longer she talked to Ryan, the more her initial jealousy faded. Ryan was sweet, funny, and completely in love with her fiancé. Plus, Ryan told Katie that when he’d dropped off the wedding gift, Chase wouldn’t stop talking about her, and that she shouldn’t have to push him too far to get him to declare himself.
Katie left the coffee shop praying she was right.
S ATURDAY NIGHT AT work was crazy for Chase and he found himself unable to leave the parlor until eleven. As he was closing up, he looked at his phone and saw a missed call from Katie.
Chase called her and the phone rang a couple times before she picked up.
“Hello!”
“Hey, where are you?” he asked, listening to the shouts and music in the background.
“I’m at a bachelorette party at Buck’s! Where are you?” she said, and he heard a collection of female voices cheering.
Chase nearly ran to the chopper, thinking about how crazy bachelorette parties could get. “I’m heading there now.”
“Okay, see you soon,” Katie said cheerfully.
Chase heard a guy’s voice say something that made Katie giggle. Jealousy shot through him like a lightning bolt. He didn’t want anyone else making Katie do that cute little snort laugh. Hanging up the call, he got on his motorcycle and headed to the bar.
Seven minutes later he walked into Buck’s and almost exploded.
Katie was up on the bar, wearing a short jean skirt, cowboy boots, and a brown tank top that had a lace-up front. She was dancing to Miranda Lambert’s “Mama’s Broken Heart,” and a group of guys stood beneath her, enjoying the show.
Chase marched over to Eric and shouted, “Couldn’t you have stopped her?”
Eric passed beers off to a couple of guys next to Chase and said, “No, she told me to fuck off.”
Chase blinked. “Katie told you to fuck off? Katie doesn’t say fuck , ever. And why did that stop you from hauling her down and sending her home?”
Shrugging, Eric said, “You’re here now. You can do the hauling.”
“Who did she come with?” Chase asked.
“The bachelorette party,” Eric said.
“What bachelorette party?”
Eric pointed to the back of the room where Ryan Ashton stood, wearing a huge white veil with neon condoms on it. She caught sight of him and waved. One by one, the group of ladies turned to look at him, giving him mixed looks of disapproval and resentment. Chase caught Steph’s eye and pointed toward Katie. She threw up her hands as if to say “Oh well.”
What the hell was wrong with everyone?
Deciding it was up to him to get her down from there, Chase walked purposefully to the edge of the crowd surrounding Katie and pushed his way to the front. He looked up at his firecracker as she did a little turn and dip, almost knocking out a couple of “whooping Toms.”
He reached up and said, “Come on, Katie, let me take you home.” His suggestion was met with boos and hisses from the men around them.
Chase ignored them, his eyes glued on his girl, who had stopped dancing and was smiling at him.
“Chase! I’m just checking flirting and drinking too much off my list. Who knew dancing on the bar would be so easy? I was sure I would have fallen off by now.”
Chase held his hands up again. “Well, now you have, so why don’t you come down?”
K ATIE REACHED DOWN and put her hands on his shoulders as he swung her to the floor, feeling giddy as he frowned at her. She’d watched him from the minute he walked in, and by the look on his face he was furious. Gracie had said she needed to make him jealous, and she was pretty sure she’d succeeded.
“Whooo. That was fun,” she said, leaning against him purposefully, pushing her breasts against his chest.
His eyes flickered down to where their chests met and she almost grinned at the strained look on his face. It was nice to see Mr. Cool’s iron-clad control slipping.
“We need to talk,” he practically growled at her.
“Mmm, can it wait until tomorrow? I’m suddenly really tired,” she said, pretending to yawn.
“Why don’t I drive you? We can talk on the way,” he said.
“I think we’ve done a lot of talking this week. I feel kind of talked out,” Katie said, trying to move out of his arms.
Releasing her, he threw his hands up and shouted, “I don’t understand what you want from me! All week I’ve tried to make it up to you, tried to earn your trust again, and you come out here, trying to complete your list. Can’t you see I am trying to show you how I feel? I thought we were finally getting back to where we were, but if you aren’t going to take me seriously, then why did you even ask me to make that list? Are you trying to make me crazy?”
He turned away from her and started for the door.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. He was supposed to be so overcome with jealousy, he would tell her he loved her and haul her off to his place for incredible makeup sex.
Before he hit the door, she yelled, “I loved everything you did, but enough is enough!” He stopped and she continued, “I’ve waited thirty years to find you, and I don’t want to waste another minute! You’re my soul mate, the one guy who was meant for me, and I’m done playing games.” Finally he faced her again and, sucking in one last breath, she asked, “So do you have anything else on that list, or can we get out of here and really start making up?”
Chase’s feet ate up the distance between them, and he reached out to cup her cheeks in his hands. “Just one more thing,” he said, leaning down to kiss her softly. She would have deepened the kiss, but he pulled back too soon. “I love you, Katie. I have never said that to another woman, but I couldn’t help myself. You are irresistible, beautiful, and keep me on my toes. You make me want to be a better man, and I need you. You are my first, last, and only love, and I never want to be without you again.”
Katie laughed and threw her arms around him, kissing him with all the love in her heart.
When he broke the kiss, Chase said, “Well, don’t you have something you want to say to me?”
With a wicked smile, she said, “Hey baby, do you wanna do this thing?”
Swinging her up into his arms with a loud laugh, he said, “Yes. Let’s do this thing.”