"You get it?"
"He's more for you than anyone in this place will ever be. Just do your childhood crush a favor?"
"Anything." I smile to ease his tension.
"Don't let him hurt you."
His words echo in my head as I search for their deeper meaning. Surely Chase can't know how I've been feeling and how much I'm doubting my marriage to his brother? Unless Myles said something, but I know he's too proud to seek advice from Chase.
I don't know.
"He won't hurt me."
"He does, I'll fuckin' kill him."
I can't hold back my laugh. What he said wasn't exactly funny; however, it breaks the tension between us.
Chase's eyes darken as his face inches closer to mine. The skin on the back of my neck tingles and my stomach twists with anticipation. The sweet smell of the beer he drank mixes with the smell of mine. It's then I realize…
He's going to kiss me.
I freeze in place when his warm lips drop down and touch mine. The chaste kisses on each side of my mouth are soft and gentle. When his tongue runs the length of my bottom lip, I open and he goes for it.
Goes for it.
I take a step back, to no avail. The lowered tailgate hits the back of my thighs and a fierce sting forces me to bite down on his lip. It only serves to incite more aggression as he pushes me down and positions himself on top of me. His hands are no longer pulling me in to him, but positioning at either side of my body, caging me in.
Instinctively, my arms make their way around his neck. I bring him in closer and hold him against me. Once our chests come together, I feel the heat of his body increasing the heat of mine.
Oh, God.
Sensing my internal battle, Chase pulls back, lifting his head so it's looming above me. His small smile glistens from my kiss. The moonlight casts light on his face and I watch him suck his lips to taste me there. Letting me go, Chase stands, runs his hands through his hair, and takes me in. I finally gather the strength to bring myself to my feet.
"Christ, I shouldn't have done that," he hisses as reality breaks through.
"No. Probably not," I agree, but not for the reasons he’s assuming.
What he shouldn't have done was just give me a glimpse of the best, most meaningful kiss I've ever been given. Not because it wasn't only perfect and beautiful, but because I'm not sure I'll ever expect less than what the promise of being so close to him just offered.
Lust.
Longing.
Love.
Leaving him here, I have to come to terms with the fact I'll be walking away from everything I've ever wished for.
You've loved that one man your whole life, Ryleigh. Why did you stop?
The truth is, though, I don't think I ever have.
Chapter Eight
CHASE
I haven't heard from Ryleigh since I took her home in awkward silence over a week ago. I haven't been back to the bar for fear of running into her. I haven't answered her calls, not wanting to hear her make excuses for what passed between us. And I've refused to talk to Myles at all.
Shit.
My body aches from the workout I put it through tonight in my father's stable. The punching bag hanging from the rafters filled in for a good emotional escape. As I bloodied my hands, I closed my eyes and images of Ryleigh standing in my arms were unescapable.
In two weeks she's going to marry him and I'm powerless to stop it.
If I offered myself to her, she'd be a fool to accept. The future with me is so uncertain in comparison to her future with him. They're together. They've already planned a life, which I'm sure includes family.
Maybe she'll name their firstborn after me.
Son of a bitch.
"You look like shit, brother." Myles walks in my living room, freshly showered and changed.
"Where you going?"
Rolling his eyes, he tells me, "Mom's got some shit with Kate she wants me to sit and look over for the wedding."
"Where's the bride? She goin' with you?" I shouldn't ask, it's not my place, but I want to know where she is, even if I can't be with her.
"No idea," he flips back with boredom.
Ass.
I don't allow my mind to take the bait of anger; rather, I just turn my head back to the mechanic revealing his hot rod on the television.
"You stayin' in again tonight?" he questions, looking at the empty bottles of beer scattered around the table where my feet are resting.
"Yeah." My one-word answer is met with a scoff as he walks to the door and moves through it.
Bastard.
Chapter Nine
RYLEIGH
"Holy to high heavens," Kate exasperates on a breath while dramatically fanning her reddened face. "I don't… I can't even…."
Yeah, I agree.
"I haven't seen him since."
"Chase didn't call you after… that?"
I've called him, but he hasn't answered.
"What we did was a mistake." I sidestep her question and watch her eyes narrow from across the table. "And it was wrong. We both knew it."
"Oh, Ryleigh. What'd I say?"