Bad Boy (An Indecent Proposal) (10 page)

Meeting
with him was a mistake.

Just
looking at him in his blue jeans and white shirt was painful.

He was too
beautiful a reminder of what I couldn’t have.

“Why
couldn’t you give your explanation at the hotel?” I asked.

Where I
felt safe; where I could have walked away easily.

“Because
this is my treat,” he replied. “I wanted to do something nice for you.”

I sighed.
“I don’t want a treat, Chase. I want an explanation. It’s the only reason I
agreed to this.”

“And you’ll
get one.”

So he kept
saying.

“When?” I
asked.

He gestured
at my glass, and I took another sip. “Can we have lunch first? You look like
you haven’t eaten yet.”

He was
right.

“Why do you
care?”

He
shrugged. “Because you’re my wife?”

“Fake
wife,” I corrected, adding softly, “The target of your deception, in case
you’ve forgotten.”

He wet his
lips, his blue eyes darkening as he glanced down at his glass, the dark liquid
swirling, reflecting the changing lights above.

I don’t
know what I expected, but disappointment washed over me. Somehow, I thought
he’d tell me that I was wrong, but he didn’t say anything. Worse yet, the way
he avoided my gaze told me that I was more than right.

“So you
don’t deny it?” I asked.

“Please,
Laurie, not now,” he said softly. “Can we have lunch first and then talk?”

I bit on my
lower lip, considering whether to push him. With my stomach growling, and still
feeling tired and weak, I wasn’t even sure I had the strength to discuss
Chase’s intentions. I had no clue what his plans were or where they would leave
me. I had no idea if my instinct to run stood a chance against my feelings for
him, and that scared me. I didn’t want to go to that one place, where I became
a blindly trusting idiot.

“Where are
we going?” I asked, my fingers playing with the glass.

“You’ll see
soon enough.” He cast me a strange glance. “What? Are you bored already? Or
don’t you trust me?”

I shrugged.
“I don’t see what the big deal is. You understand this is no date?”

“Yes, I
heard you loud and clear,” he said and placed his empty glass back on the bar.
“It just isn’t the ideal place for it, that’s all.”

“Yeah?” I
frowned. “And what’s the place you envisioned?”

“One that
serves seafood.”

“Seafood?”
I let out a brief laugh, surprised by his answer.

“If life
gives you crap, then the only cure is crab.”

He laughed
and leaned back. “I was kidding.”

“It wasn’t
funny.”

“I thought
it was.” His lips twitched. “You’re not allergic to seafood, are you?” He
leaned closer and draped his arm around my shoulders, not waiting for my
answer. “No, you aren’t. See, that’s the beauty of our relationship. I know
everything about you thanks to your very detailed info leaflet you sent me.”

I pushed
his arm away. “First, we don’t have a relationship, Chase.”

“That’s
right. We’re married. There’s a difference.”

“No…yes.
Call it whatever you want, it’s over. Not to mention, it was fake,” I said
annoyed. “And second, I only sent you my detailed biography because you asked
me for one.”

“Thank you
for that. It’s helped me understand the complexity of your soul.” He tipped his
nose with his finger.

My soul?

His charm
was working, and it pissed me off.

“Good for
you,” I said, my annoyance rising to new heights. “I still have no idea who you
are. I’m not even sure why I’m playing along—” I waved my hand around as
I struggled to find the right words “—here when I should be thousands of
miles away, thanking my lucky stars that it’s all over.”

“Would it
help you if you saw some proof of identification?” Chase asked.

Definitely
couldn’t hurt.

My breath
caught in my throat. “Is that a joke?”

“I’m dead
serious.” Not waiting for my reply, he pulled out his wallet from his jean
pocket and tossed it to me. It fell straight into my lap. I stared at the
beaten, brown leather, then glanced up at him, unsure what to do.

“Come on,”
Chase said, watching me. “Take it before you go and accuse me of stealing
someone’s identity.”

I let out a
laugh. “As if stealing someone’s identity could top stealing someone’s money.
It’s just as bad, but definitely not worse.”

His hand
touched mine. I pulled back.

“Laurie,
I’m not after your money,” he insisted. His anger was palpable in his tone.
“Besides, one quarter of your inheritance is not exactly a lot.” My eyes
widened at his statement.

Judging
from the car he drove and the place he owned, he wasn’t exactly poor.

“Yeah, I
read your file. I know the terms of your inheritance, and what you wanted to
agree to.” His finger tapped on the wallet. “Come on. Have a look. We’ll be a
step closer to where I want us to be after you do.”

He sounded
so forceful I couldn’t help but feel hopeful.

My fingers
shook as I grabbed the wallet from my lap. As I opened it, my eyes fell on the
countless credit cards and then on his driver’s license.

I pulled it
out, swallowing down the lump in my throat.

Chase Wright.

Even his
date of birth was correct, and the guy in the picture was definitely Chase,
albeit a younger version of him.

Confusion
washed over me.

I didn’t know
what I had expected. That maybe it would all be fake—just like our
marriage. I most certainly didn’t expect that he might be telling the truth.

He moved
closer to me, his lips almost touching my ear. “Did you really think I would
marry you with a fake name? How exactly would that have worked out?”

“I’m not
sure.” I turned my head to him and took a sip of my wine, then another until my
glass was empty, but the much-desired numbing effect didn’t kick in.

“I was born
in Texas, Mulberry, which you already know.” He stashed the driver’s license
back in his wallet when he caught my expression of disbelief. “What? Not
everything I told you was a lie.”

“Like your
acting?”

“I’m not an
actor per se,” he said. “But I did act when I was younger.”

“You did?”
I couldn’t hold back a snort.

“Mmm. You
think I would go to all the trouble of setting up several fake profiles? I
don’t have time for that.”

“As a
matter of fact, I think you’d do just that, Chase.” His name sounded so right
on my lips, I winced. We were married for real. No doubt about that now. The
thought both scared and excited me. “In fact, I think you’d go the extra mile
to meet me.”

He thought
it over for a moment. “I did go through quite a bit to meet you.”

Like
committing arson, trapping us in an elevator, and hurting a lot of people.

It was such
a long time ago that it all felt like a bad dream.

That
minuscule smidgen of despair intermingled with hope was back again.

I opened my
mouth to speak when the car stopped and Chase grabbed my hand again, giving it
a little squeeze. “We’re here.”

“Where’s
here?”

“The
shore,” he said the exact moment the driver opened the door. “There’s nothing
better than a bit of sunshine, wine, and—” He grinned. “Say it.”

“Crabs.”

“That’s
right. Crabs.” He grimaced. “Unless you get the bad kind. Now that makes one’s
life kind of bad.”

I turned my
head away from him, my lips twitching.

Would it be
so bad if I laughed?

Argh.

He was
making it so difficult not to like him.

Biting my
lip, I chuckled inwardly as I followed him out, inhaling the distinct smell of
salt, water, and seafood.

The
restaurant was situated on top of a hill overlooking the sea. I expected it to
be secluded. However, it was overcrowded with people and families. Mexican
folklore music was playing in the background, and children were laughing. I
turned to Chase questioningly, but he only grinned, as a waiter approached us.

All around
us, people were eating, chatting, and having a great time. It was so busy and
overcrowded that I was convinced the waiter would tell us they were overbooked,
until he led us through a doorway to an open patio. I held my breath, amazed,
as we followed him to a table near the railing.

Coming here
was a mistake.

The place
was beautiful.
Too beautiful.
Too
perfect for something that should have been a day of enlightenment, not
romance, happiness, and perfection.

I slid into
the seat, unable to pull my eyes away from the stunning scenery. Even though it
wasn’t quiet, the place was pure tranquility. It was a place I could imagine
myself sitting for hours, drinking coffee and relaxing to the sound of the
crashing waves. If only the situation wasn’t so awkward. If only Chase and I
were a real couple.

Somewhere a
child shrieked, and a thought occurred to me.

“Did you
choose a public restaurant so that I wouldn’t make a scene?” I asked. “If so, I
can tell you that your fears were unwarranted. I’m not one of those girls who
cause tantrums. I have a very good grasp on my emotions.”

“I know
that.” He sat opposite from me with an easy smile on his lips. “You’re one of
those girls who choose flight over confrontation. Am I right?”

“True.” I
nodded as I eyed him warily. “You didn’t answer my question, Chase.”

“No, it’s
not the reason we’re here.” He leaned back, watching me in thought. “I’ve been
told it’s the best place in town with a stunning view, as you can see.”

“And?” I
prompted after a pause.

“And it’s
safe and secure.”

“You mean
for you,” I asked, raising my eyebrows.

“No, I mean
for you, Laurie.” Was it my imagination or was there more to it?

I frowned.
“What do you mean?”

“I want you
to feel safe in my presence, considering you ran away.”

I stared at
him.

Safe from
Chase?

Confusion
washed over me until realization hit me.

He thought
I had fled because I was scared.

“That’s not
the reason I ran away, Chase,” I said coolly. “I’m not afraid of you.”

“You’re
not?” He seemed surprised, as though any other explanation wouldn’t make sense.
And then he leaned forward, his eyes taking me in. “I thought you felt scared
because you thought I’d hurt you.” I shook my head, meeting his warm glance
with a cold stare. “Then why, Laurie?”

“I…” I
flicked my tongue over my lips, unsure how to say it.

Was I
scared that I’d get hurt? Probably.

But not in
a physical sense.

I was
scared of having my heart broken more than he had already broken it. Of never
being able to pick up the pieces he left behind. Of hoping for something that
would never be there—his love, his devotion.

“Because of
what you discovered?” he insisted.

“Yes.
That’s probably one of the reasons.” I stared at my hands fiddling on the
table, and his hand, so close to my fingers, beckoning to me to grab it. “The
other one is…”

I thought you were really into me
.

I thought what we had was real.

“You really
fucking hurt me,” I said instead, speaking out the truth before I could stop
it.

The words
lingered in the air, heavy, real.

He glanced
down at his hands, guilt flashing across his face. And suddenly his whole body
tensed. “For what it’s worth, I really like you, Laurie. And…” He leaned
forward and grabbed my hand, his eyes on me, begging me to understand a message
only he knew. “…if things were different, if I didn’t have to do what I’ve
done, I would have asked you out.”

If things were different, if I didn’t have to
do what I’ve done…

I laughed,
his words echoing in my mind.

I eyed his
fingers on mine, caressing my skin, and fought the sudden urge to pull back.

“So let me
see if I understand,” I whispered. “You married me for my inheritance.”

“Yes,” he
said cautiously. “But I also like you.” He let the words linger in the air. “If
things were different, I would still want to date you.”

“Why?” I
asked, my voice breathless.

“Simply
because. Do you need a reason for it?”

My breath
hitched as I regarded him. The wind blew my hair into my face, and I pushed the
strand behind my ear. His eyes softened.

“What? Is
that really so hard to believe that I might be developing feelings for you?”
Chase asked.

There, he
had just said it. All of a sudden, my world began to spin.

“I don’t
know.” I swallowed. “It’s hard to believe. I’ve been… I don’t think—”

God, what
was happening to me?

I couldn’t
finish sentences whenever he was around.

“Laurie.”
He breathed out an impatient sigh. “You’re beautiful. Why is it hard to believe
that I like you?”

Because I’m nothing like you.

“I’m not
confident. I’m not…” I struggled for words.

Perfect.

Godlike.

God, I had
to stop before it got out of control. There was something about his penetrating
stare that threw me off. Or maybe it was his touch—gently and warm, and
completely out of place—that my whirling thoughts couldn’t formulate one
single sentence. Whatever it was, it had to stop.

Withdrawing
my hand from him, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“You don’t
have to be confident,” he replied. “I like you for who you are.”

“Why did
you marry me?” I asked. My question was meant to be casual. Instead, it came
out like an accusation.

There was a
long pause.

“Because I
had to,” he said at last.

There was
something in his voice: hope that I would believe him. Hope that I would
forgive him even though his words were the painful beginning of a longer story.
I scanned his face and saw the despair etched in his features.

“Is it
because of the money?” I asked.

“No.” He
shook his head, his frown deepening, and I knew, whatever the answer, whatever
explanation he would give me, I wouldn’t like the truth. And he knew it. He
knew I knew, judging from the way he couldn’t even look me straight in my eyes,
and kept delaying the inevitable.

Everything
inside me burned with the knowledge that if he had wanted, he could have
disclosed his reasons back at the hotel.

That he
didn’t, that he couldn’t do it now, didn’t just bother me.

It
confirmed to me that whatever he had to say was going to be difficult—for
both of us.

Heck, I
wasn’t sure I was ready to hear it.

The entire
situation was worse than facing my stepfather.

It was
splitting me into two.

“I wish
things could be different,” he said and turned his attention to the ocean. I
did the same as I let go of my thoughts and
him
.

Sitting so
close to the railing overlooking the shore, the sight was beautiful. The blue
water stood in contrast to the sand, my dark feelings and the despair that
seemed to rise within me, reminding me that this was only a fleeting moment in
our lives.

Everything
felt surreal—the sparkling water, the warm sun on our faces, the excited
chatter all around us. For a moment, it felt as though it wasn’t my life, but
someone else’s.

“It doesn’t
matter anymore. I’m—” My words were interrupted by a waitress stopping at
our table.

“Quiere
algo para beber?” the waitress asked.

I looked
into her friendly face, ready to ask whether she could speak English. But Chase
replied.

“You can
speak Spanish?” I asked after she left.

“I wish I
were fluent,” he said. “But I only throw in bits of phrases here and there to
impress.”

As if he
needed to impress when his body already did the work for him.

“Have you
been here before?” I asked warily.

“No.” He
leaned forward, his eyes watching me with renewed interest. “What was it that
you wanted to say before you were interrupted? You said that it doesn’t matter
anymore.”

He had been
listening. I didn’t expect that. “I can’t remember.”

It was a
lie.

But he
couldn’t know the truth.

It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m already in love
with you.

Chase was a
weakness I couldn’t have in my life. My feelings for him would always make me
an easy target.

I might be
gullible, but I wasn’t weak. Before I could change the topic, the waitress
arrived with several plates. As she spread out the varied delicacies and
arranged the plates in what seemed to be a specific order, I stared in surprise
at the array of food.

I raised my
brows at Chase and he smiled, the skin around his eyes crinkling.

“I took the
liberty to order and paid for it before we came,” he clarified. “This place can
be quite busy. I didn’t want to keep you waiting.”

“You didn’t
have to,” I said and helped myself to a plate.

“It was my
pleasure. Can’t afford to disappoint my wife. What are you having?”

His wife.

As if.

His words
had me blushing, so I scanned the seafood. There was so much of everything, it
looked like someone had prepared an entire dinner table for a dinner party
rather than for just the two of us.

Everything
looked so delicious I didn’t know where to start.

“No idea.
Maybe everything?” I said.

“Try this.”
He picked up a shrimp taco and held it up to my mouth. “It’s spicy.”

I laughed.
“My stomach won’t tolerate it.”

“The taste
is worth the stomach pain.”

I laughed
again, realizing he acted as if nothing had happened between us, even though
everything had changed. I stared at him, my heart plummeting as I became aware
of how intimate the entire situation was—and how close he had come to
tricking my mind into thinking that we could go on with our lives, never talking
about what happened.

“Fine. But
you’ll wish you had tried it,” he said.

My laugh
died on my lips as I watched Chase withdraw his hand and bite into the taco. He
took a napkin and wiped off his hands, nodding appreciatively.

“Chase.” I
sighed. “Why are you doing this?”

“What?
Taking you out for lunch?” he asked. “I’m treating you nicely. It’s the least I
can do for you after…” he trailed off, leaving the rest unspoken.

“I meant
this
.” I motioned to the air between us.
“Acting like nothing happened.”

He shrugged.
“I’m making a fresh start.”

I let the
thought sink in for a moment. Grabbing a fork, I started to pop food into my
mouth, barely registering the taste.

“You
haven’t even started to explain your motives, and you already expect me to give
you a second chance?” I asked casually. “Wake up, Chase. It’s not going to
happen. It won’t work out.”

“It won’t
work out that I spill my motives, or it won’t work out between us?”

Argh.

What was it
with this man and his inability to keep a conversation on track?

“Both,
obviously,” I said dryly.

“I was just
asking,” he said.

“I thought
it was all pretty clear.”

“Not to
me.” He moved his chair to sit closer to me. “You mind?”

I did.

Very much.

The last
thing I needed from him was to touch me. To fool me. To remind me that things
weren’t over—not in my heart anyway.

“Go ahead.”
I shrugged, as though his proximity didn’t faze me.

“I didn’t
plan this,” he started. “I didn’t plan to like you, Laurie. You see, in my line
of work, you have to be hard and unattached.”

“Work?” I asked
slowly, my pulse speeding up. “What line of work are we talking about?”

God, my
heart was beating real hard. I popped another shrimp into my mouth as I
considered his words.

Hard and unattached.

Jude
already said that Chase was no actor, so what was he?

Somehow, I
couldn’t imagine Chase being anything but an actor. Even a porn star would do.
Or maybe he was a criminal who had to stay away from all emotional
entanglements.