Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
“Leave her be,” Adalynn insists.
Both guys lift a hand, waving their sister’s annoyance away.
“She has a point,” I tell them. “It’s never going to happen.”
“Never say never,” Donnie says, his eyes scanning me in a way that makes me lift my drink to my lips and all but drain the thing.
Despite Adalynn’s request, the guys don’t leave. They order me another drink, grabbing beers for themselves. We chat and talk, which becomes much easier when, after an hour, the local college band that was on the small makeshift stage takes a break.
After my third drink, their smiling faces start to grow on me, and only then do I start to think that maybe a wild and crazy night with two very hot men wouldn’t be so bad.
“Well, there goes our shot,” Ronnie mutters.
His brother looks over my shoulder before looking back at him.
“Good to see you guys,” a familiar voice says. Irritation runs up my spine.
One of the main reasons I left the house tonight was to put some distance between the two of us.
“Good to see you’re back home,” Donnie says, standing and shaking Chase’s outstretched hand.
Ronnie does the same thing, offering Chase the seat he just stood from. Chase declines, choosing to stand so close to me, I can feel the heat of his body through the thin fabric of my dress.
We make small talk, but as always, Adalynn’s attention is on the door. It starts to grow painful watching her get her hopes up every time the front door swings open.
“Is there something going on between you two?” Donnie asks, and it brings an instant frown to my face.
“What?” I snap, looking down at my empty glass. I may have a little buzz, but I know for damn sure that I haven’t said or done anything that would make anyone think something like that.
“You two haven’t said a word to each other. Are you fighting?” Ronnie asks.
“A lovers’ quarrel?” Donnie adds.
Adalynn smacks her closest brother with the back of her hand. “Would you two mind your business?”
“He’s my boss,” I tell them, hoping it will answer any questions they may have, but I know it won’t.
These two have always been too damn good at determining the moods of others.
“I guess we get all of our talking out at home,” Chase says before lifting his beer to his lips.
I should argue the implication that we say much to each other, but I find myself lost, watching his tongue snake out and dash away the drop of beer left behind when he lowers his bottle.
“I see,” Donnie says, but then his attention is no longer on me. “She’s here.”
Ronnie’s attention is turned completely away from our little group, but before I can turn my attention to wherever they’re looking, both guys are up and gone.
“Sorry about that,” Adalynn says. “They can be a little much.”
“They’re fine,” I tell her, wondering if one more drink would be taking things a little too far.
The three I’ve had are already making me see things. The alcohol has somehow changed my brain chemistry or at the very least has convinced me I now have some superpower because the look on Chase’s face can only be read as desire when his eyes skirt over me.
I open my mouth to spew out all the reasons that’s a bad idea, but Adalynn perks up, telling me the moment she’s been waiting for all night has finally happened.
I smile at Cash as he approaches the table, opening my arms for a quick hug. Chase no longer seems to be puffing his chest out since the Tate brothers have found another woman to focus on. He doesn’t see Cash as a threat, but why in the hell would he concern himself with a man showing me attention? It doesn’t make sense.
Chase and Cash say their hellos, shaking hands, but Cash’s attention waivers the entire time. I know he’s only biding his time until he turns his eyes to my best friend.
“You’re out of uniform,” she says, a certain level of breathlessness in her tone.
“I worked the morning shift,” he explains. “Traded since I haven’t had a Saturday off in months.”
“Let’s dance.”
I snap my eyes to Chase, the request coming from left field. I was so wrapped up and distracted by watching Adalynn and Cash circle around each other, that I almost forgot he was even here. Which is concerning because my body has been very aware of him for the last hour.
Instead of waiting for an answer, Chase pulls my empty glass from my hand before filling my palm with his own. I barely have time to wave at my distracted friend before Chase pulls me onto the dance floor.
Chapter 19
Chase
“Excuse me?”
Instead of allowing Madison to take a second step back, I press my palm to her back and pull her tighter to my chest. The beat of the song is moving much faster than we’re dancing, but it doesn’t matter.