Ride (8 page)

There was also an old photo of her family. One of those you got taken at the mall during some holiday or another, when you all dressed alike in matching, usually obnoxiously colored sweaters. Hard to believe her life had gone from that to this—running for her life in Vegas with nothing but the clothes she could carry.

She glanced up to find Chase watching her again. “Um, thanks for inviting me to the party.”

Chase let out another derisive snort. “Party. Yeah. I’m sorry I didn’t know it was going to be a kegger when I asked you. The guys can get a little out of hand sometimes.”

She shrugged. “It’s okay. I remember what it was like in college. That’s what kids get like when you put them together.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Kids.”

“What?”

“You’re not so old yourself.” He swung the door wide and after sticking his hand in to flip on the light switch on the wall, waited for her to enter before he followed her inside.

“I’m way older than that—what did you call him—Skeeter? Where’d he get a name like that anyway?”

Chase laughed outright now. “I’ll let him tell you.”

Amazingly, she felt herself smile. “I look forward to it.”

The door swung closed behind them with a decisive click, and Leesa felt a new sense of anxiety from being totally alone with Chase again. Almost nervous, like she wanted something to happen, but at the same time was afraid it would.

“Let me take that for you.” He reached for the strap of her bag.

“Um.” Leesa hesitated. She really didn’t want her wallet to be too far from her in case she had to run for it. The clothes, the toothbrush, they were all things she could live without or replace, but not the cash. “Just let me grab something out of it first.”

“Sure thing. I’ll run out and get us two beers.” He laughed. “And make sure that keg got inside somewhere out of sight.”

“Thanks. A beer sounds really good.” For the second time in a few minutes, Leesa was surprised by her own reaction. She wasn’t a drinker, but after the day she’d had, and with all the feelings swirling through her, she could sure use a drink.

“Good.” He flashed his pretty, white teeth at her. Then he was gone.

Leesa glanced around the room. It was obvious guys were occupying the space. Not much personal stuff was lying around, but what there was, was all over the floor. At least the beds were made, courtesy of housekeeping she was sure.

He’d be back in a second so she plopped her bag on the nearest bed and began digging through until she found her wallet buried deep in the bottom. She probably should have been carrying this on her the entire time anyway. This life, this world of hide and seek where the prize was her life, was all too new. She hoped she wasn’t in it long enough to get used to it.

The door opened again and Chase entered, bearing two large red cups that matched the one Skeeter had been carrying. “Here you go.”

She shoved the wallet in the front pocket of her oversized sweatshirt that bore the name of her college across the front in large black block letters. “Thanks.”

Aside from the soda and pretzels she’d grabbed while waiting for Chase’s signing thing to be over, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten. Probably last night before work. The cold, foamy beer slid down her throat easily. Too easily. Before Leesa knew it, the cup was mostly empty, and she’d only taken about three big gulps.

There was one chair, a desk and two beds. Realizing that, Leesa sat in the chair, then put her nearly empty cup down. Chase sat on the very end of the bed nearest her. The room wasn’t huge so they were pretty close. Close enough she could see clearly the way his eyes kept zeroing in on her.

He sipped at his own cup. “Hey, you hungry? We can order up a pizza. We found a menu for a place that delivers.”

She laughed, feeling lighter already. “Of course you did. What is it about men and pizza?”

“What?” He frowned. “It’s the perfect food.”

“And why is that?” This felt almost normal. Like the conversation any two attractive young people might have after just meeting. She flashed back to her and Chase’s actual first meeting last night and remembered there was nothing typical or normal about it.

“It’s got your carbs, vegetable and dairy—meat too if you order it with toppings. You don’t need a fork and knife, or even a plate to eat it. Napkins are optional, depending on how neat you want to be and if you’re in mixed company. It comes in its own storage container, and—this is key—the leftovers are just as good cold the next morning when you wake up.” He ticked off the last reason on his finger and grinned. “See? Perfect.”

Leesa smiled. “You’re right. It is perfect. I’d love some.” She felt like she could really eat, and more than just pretzels. Being hungry was worlds better than the last twelve hours when all she felt like doing was throwing up.

“I’ll find the number and call. Just give me a second.” He glanced into her cup. “You need more beer.”

“No. I don’t think I should.” She held up her hand.

He dismissed her protest with the wave of a hand and took her cup. “Don’t be silly. It’s a party. I’ll call then get us refills.”

She did notice he didn’t make any move to bring her outside with him where the rest of the guys were, or even to bring them in. That was fine with her. She was far safer inside this room where it was quiet and they wouldn’t attract the attention of security or any other hotel patrons who might complain about the noise. Or the keg. She shook her head.

A keg party in one of the nicer casino hotels in Vegas. An entire floor filled with cowboys with names like Chase, Garret and Skeeter. Just when she thought things couldn’t get any stranger than her running for her life from her boss and his mobster brother, they did. Had she fallen down the rabbit hole?

The door opened again and halted her ponderings, but instead of Chase, Garret popped his head in. “Hey. Sorry. I just needed to grab something.”

He moved to the mini fridge and pulled out a bottle of some sort of liquor and a few cans of soda. “I’m mixing up some bourbon and cola. Want one?”

“No. Thanks, though.”

Garret glanced at her from his position near the fridge. “You know, you look kind of familiar. Were you at any of the competitions this weekend?”

Leesa wondered again what kind of competition he was talking about, but at least her other question was answered—he didn’t remember her from last night. Did Chase?

She shook her head. “No. I wasn’t.”

He grinned, wide enough to rival Chase’s usual expression. “Then you missed how great I rode.”

“I’m afraid I did. Sorry.”

Hands full, Garret shrugged. “That’s okay. Come next door and I’ll tell you all about it.”

The door swung open again and Chase’s return interrupted them. His eyebrows rose high beneath the brim of his cowboy hat when he saw Garret here talking to her. He pointedly stared at the items tenuously balanced in Garret’s arms. “Got what you need?”

“Yup.” Garret nodded but made no move to leave.

“Good. Let me get the door for you since your hands are full.” With that, Chase effectively dismissed him.

Garret shot him a knowing look before treating Leesa to a grin. “See ya later. Come on over next door when you get bored here.”

Chase looked like he wanted to kick Garret in the ass over that comment, but instead he said, “That girl you invited from the meet and greet just got off the elevator. I saw her going into Aaron and Skeeter’s room.”

“Really?” Garret’s eyes opened wide.

“Yup.” Chase nodded, a self-satisfied expression on his face.

Garret couldn’t seem to get out of the room fast enough. The door slammed behind him and he hadn’t even given them a backward glance.

Leesa laughed. “That must be some girl.”

Chase handed her one of the two cups he’d had balanced in one hand. It was filled to the brim with foam. “Eh. She’s his type. Not mine.”

Leesa took a gulp of beer. Again it went down much too smoothly. She should really refill it with water from the bathroom sink and hydrate since she’d hardly drank anything for the past twenty-four hours. She hadn’t realized how thirsty she was until she’d started drinking.

Feeling a bit lightheaded from lack of food and too much beer, she decided to ask the question uppermost on her mind, which was probably a bad idea. “What is your type?”

“You,” he answered her with one word, but that was enough to send her heart reeling. Then he raised his cup to her in a silent toast and took a long gulp himself.

To think she’d assumed he was the shy, silent type. It was true he wasn’t the biggest talker in the world, but when he did talk what he said could pack a real punch. She downed half the cup and wondered when the pizza would arrive. Then she realized that for the first time in over twelve hours, she’d actually forgotten about Jerry and Bruno and all the rest for a few minutes. Leesa wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, and at the moment she didn’t care.

“I ordered half-pepperoni and half-plain since I didn’t know what you liked.” Back on his perch at the end of the bed, Chase continued the conversation like Garret had never been there.

Leesa smiled. “You’re too sweet.”

“Don’t let that fool you.” His cherubic smile held a touch of the devil and she regretted not sitting on the bed next to him. Maybe when the pizza came she’d remedy that.

Glancing over the rim of her big red cup at the cowboy opposite her, she took another sip. She had a feeling he wouldn’t mind her joining him over there one bit.

“So…” The shy cowboy she’d first met last night was suddenly back in full force as he kicked the heel of his boot into the carpet. “The pizza should be here soon.”

“Yup, I guess so. Thirty minutes or less. Right?” She actually smiled. How strange it felt. It was like the men chasing her were miles away when in reality they could be downstairs right now. Maybe it was the beer. Maybe it was being able to sit down and not have to keep moving, or being behind a closed door in private rather than in public. Or maybe it was Chase who made her feel this way. Whatever it was, she felt safe for the moment.

Jerry’s order to get rid of her wouldn’t go away, but for a little while she could pretend that the strip club and her life there didn’t exist.

“Um, so about last night…” Chase’s cheeks pinked in the shadow of his cowboy hat.

Maybe she wouldn’t be able to pretend her life at the strip club didn’t exist after all.

“Yeah?” Her heart fell. So much for her assuming, more like hoping, he hadn’t recognized her. God, she was so stupid. Did he only invite her here for more sex?

“I was just wondering, hoping actually, that you came to the meet and greet today because you’d changed your mind.”

Leesa’s guard, which she’d led slip for a bit, flew right back up into place. “Changed my mind about what?”

“When I asked you out, you said you didn’t date customers. I was kind of hoping you came to find me because you’d changed your mind about that. Or you know, if you haven’t, maybe I could promise you I’d never be a customer again. Would that count?”

She couldn’t help but laugh. Again he’d confused and surprised her. Could it be possible he was actually this nice and innocent? That he truly just wanted a date? “Why do you want to take me out, Chase?”

He drew in a long breath and let it out slowly. Then he stood and moved closer to her. Perching on the edge of the desk, he pushed both of their cups out of the way and then took her two hands in his. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“What am I thinking?” Her heart gave a little flutter. God, how she wanted him to really be this sweet. She hoped with all her might it wasn’t all just a line to get her into bed.

“You’re afraid that I only asked you out because of what happened between us at the end.” His cheeks pinked but he maintained eye contact and remained totally serious.

“Did you?”

“No. I mean, don’t get me wrong. You and me, together, it was pretty incredible…”

She smiled as he scrambled and blushed. He must have noticed her amused expression and smiled himself. “I know I look and sound like I just fell off the turnip truck.”

Leesa laughed at that. “No… Okay. Yeah. Kind of.”

“I know it might seem like I’m the type to fall for the first girl to show me any attention, but I have had some experience, you know, in that department.”

She felt her brows rise at his declaration. “You’re a cute guy, Chase. I’m sure lots of girls show you attention.”

He rushed to continue. “I’m telling you that because I want you to know you and me…last night…that’s not why I asked you out. I’ve been with women, doing lots more than what you and I did.” His sudden stammer and red face was testament to the fact he didn’t usually talk like this.

“Then why did you ask me out?” Her question sounded as filled with doubt as she felt.

Chase held her hands more tightly. “Because I like you”

“You don’t know me.” She shook her head.

“I know enough to see that I want to get to know more.”

“It’s not just because you want to finish what we started?”

He shook his head. “Oh, man. I’d be lying if I told you I haven’t thought of that a hundred times since last night. I’d be crazy not to want to be with a woman as beautiful as you. But if all I wanted was to get laid, I could have picked up one of the girls at the meet and greet like some of the other guys did. No dinner necessary. Hell, no conversation either. It sounds bad, I know, but if that’s what a guy is looking to do, bull riders hooking up with fans is pretty much a sure thing.”

Of all the things he’d just confessed to her, and in spite of the relief she felt that he really wasn’t being nice to her just to get into her pants, only one thing stood out in her mind. “Bull riders? You ride bulls?”

He laughed like she was joking, then stared at her closer, shock written clearly on his face. “You really didn’t know?”

Leesa shook her head. “No. I assumed, I don’t know, that you rode horses, I guess.”

Chase grinned wide. “Good.”

“Why good?”

“Because that means you weren’t at the meet and greet to see any of the other bull riders because you’re a fan. It means you really did come because you wanted to see me again. How did you know about it? Did one of the guys mention last night where we’d be today?”