He chuckles and presses his forehead to my shoulder. “You mean I can’t pee a circle around you and tell the guys that if they so much as look in your direction, I’ll beat their asses?”
I shake my head, biting back a smile as he straightens.
It’s been more than ten years since he played football, but he’s somehow even more handsome than he was in high school. His thick, dirty blond hair hangs tousled over those devastating green eyes, and his once lean frame has filled out with muscle from working on his father’s farm.
Before I lose my nerve, I run my hand through his hair, and he closes his eyes and leans into my touch. God, I’ve always wanted to do this.
His hair is damp from sweat and the thunderstorm that blasted him when the barn door blew open a little while ago, but it’s soft and smells like him. Like sandalwood and sexy man.
“What am I going to do with you?” I ask myself. Because what does a woman do with the guy whose father is trying to foreclose on your family’s property?
His gaze sobers and his eyebrows press together as if he’s considering my question. With mischief in his eyes, he answers seriously, “Hopefully, take me home and make me your sex slave.”
On a sigh, I run my finger down his stubbled jaw. “You’re trouble, Chase, with a capital T. Always have been.”
“Maybe,” he tells me quietly before claiming my lips in another kiss. “But I’d like to be your kind of trouble.”
My heart flutters. Yes, I’m definitely still at my father’s house. Probably suffering from a brain aneurysm.
A loud snort startles me, and I turn to see one of his huge horses eyeing us through the slats in his stall.
Chase waves him off. “Nothing to see here, Blackjack. Move along.”
With the moment broken, Chase lets me slide down his body until my feet hit the floor. After he steadies me, he straightens my skirt, and I’m touched by his thoughtfulness.
When he takes a step back, I can’t deny I’m disappointed that he’s stopped touching me, but I try to school my expression. No sense in setting myself up to get hurt. After all, every girl in this town knows that Chase is a “for now” kind of guy, not a “forever and ever” sort of man. He’s just not the settling down type, and I can’t imagine burdening him with my tears and my problems would change that.
His words rush back to me, giving me pause. I’ve always wanted you, Willow. You must know that.
How is this possible? Was I so overwhelmed by my parents’ marriage drama that I missed Chase’s interest? I know I was shy in high school, but how did I miss something this huge?
And judging by what Chase thrust between my legs a few minutes ago, huge is the right word to use.
My eyes bore into the ground. I’m confused, turned on, and feeling more awkward than I have since I was a teenager. It was easy to put up a front and run my mouth when I thought he was an asshole like his friends. But present me with a sweet, thoughtful Chase who says he’s always liked me, and I can’t form sentences.
Despite his previous admission, I’m still surprised when he threads his fingers through mine and walks me to the entrance of the barn, stopping to kiss my forehead.
He reaches for his T-shirt, all the while watching me as he slips it on and stretches it over his broad shoulders. “Wait for me? I just need to do a couple more things around here before I head out. But I’d like to take you to dinner if you don’t have any plans.”
When I agree and that heart-stopping smile breaks out on his face, I wonder if one of the worst days of my life has just turned into one of the best.
* * *
Willow
We run through the rain without umbrellas, dodging puddles the size of water buffalos, and hop into his truck. We’re laughing and shivering from the sudden drop in temperature from the barn to the windy field where he’s parked.
Water drips into his eyes, and he squints at me. “Guess I didn’t think this through too well. Sorry I don’t have anything to warm you up.” He peers into his back seat and riffles around, but comes up empty-handed.
We’re drenched, and I feel bad that we’re probably destroying his expensive leather seats.
“Do you think anything’s even open right now? It’s getting late. Bet the diner closed early when the downpour started.”
He sighs as he heads down the driveway. “You’re probably right.” Pausing, he turns to look at me. “Rain check or … I could make us a pizza back at my place. If you promise not to strip me naked and have your way with me.”
I snort and shake my head, trying my damnedest to ignore the electricity still zinging between us. “I could go for pizza.” And the nakedness too, if I’m being honest.
A seriousness settles over his expression. “You know I’m teasing you, right? I’d never take advantage of you, Lo. You’ll always be safe with me.”
I’m not going to hold the past against him. His cocky persona in high school made it easy to judge him, but he’s been nothing but sincere tonight.
This time, I reach for his hand and give it a squeeze. “I wouldn’t be in this car if I didn’t feel safe with you, Chase.”
We stare at each other a beat before grins break out on our faces. I feel like a kid in a candy shop. Giddy and light. Like anything could happen tonight. Oh Lord. What am I getting myself into?
A few minutes later, we’ve reached his house on the other side of the property, and I’m momentarily struck by the stupidity of this decision.
“We won’t … we won’t see your dad, right?”
I think his father lives in the main house, a sprawling complex on the other side of the compound, but I can’t be sure.
Chase shakes his head, but then holds up a finger. “That reminds me.” He digs out his phone, punches a few buttons, and then switches the call to the speaker on the truck, so I can hear it ringing.
A gruff voice answers. “You’d better be in jail right now to be calling me so late.”
Chase sighs and taps on the steering wheel. “Sorry to disappoint you, Duke.”
I freeze at the realization that he’s called his father.
“Well, get on with it. I’m about to go to bed.”
“I want you to cancel the foreclosure on the Summers property.”
An unamused laugh rings through the vehicle. “Why the hell would I do that? Larry Summers is an ingrate. Late on his payments for as long as he’s owned that farm. It’s about time I got my hands on that property.”
Chase frowns, sending me an apologetic glance. “You want me to compete next month, right?”
“What’s this about? You know you can’t bow out now.”
“Do you want me to compete at the Western Nationals or not? If you do, I suggest you find it in yourself to give Mr. Summers an extension on his payments.”
Duke’s string of curses make me flinch, but Chase gives me a wink.
I’m so stunned, my mouth falls open.
Chase comes from a family of cutting horse breeders and is a champion rider himself, so I’m guessing that bailing on this event would be a big deal.
When his father continues to balk, Chase sighs. “If the money is really the problem, then I’ll compete, but I’ll be giving you my winnings when I get back from Colorado, and you can send me the deed to the property. I’m sure I can cover whatever balance remains.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. What will you do with that land?”
“I don’t plan on doing anything with the land, but I will be giving the deed to his daughter, Willow.”
The wind could blow me over right now, I’m so shocked.
When Duke’s curses fill the car again, something about being “pussy-whipped” and “head up his ass,” Chase cuts him off and hangs up.
Without another word, he pulls into his garage. I follow him up into the house, all the while dazed from that conversation. Did this man really save my father’s farm? The one my dad slaved away over the years to keep afloat?
Words escape me, and all I can do is stand there.
A sense of relief passes over me. My dad isn’t going to lose his house. And this man, who I’ve been entirely wrong about for a decade and a half, saved him.
My breath stalls as I process what just happened.