Taking Chase (16 page)
Even as she was getting ready to tell him she couldn’t possibly come again, she did. Not the explosion of pleasure she’d felt on the grass outside but a muscle-deep series of contractions. Wave after wave of pleasure rolled through her until she was nothing more than a boneless heap of satisfied woman laying against him.
“Oh, I wish I had a camera.” He chuckled and she raised her hand in a half-hearted one fingered salute.
They cleaned up. He refused to let her reciprocate for the moment and ran outside to retrieve her panties, skirt and shoes which, to his disappointment, she put back on.
They stood side by side in his kitchen, made sandwiches and ate them. Later they brought root beer to his couch, snuggled and watched a movie. The normalcy of the moment fed her heart.
When the movie ended he stood up and stretched. “So, darlin’, you staying over?” “I have an appointment in Shackleton at ten. I should probably go home so I won’t disturb you.” “What do you have to run all the way over there on a Saturday for?” “My therapist is there.” It wasn’t as hard as she’d thought, saying it aloud.
He sat again and nodded. “Good. Is it helping?” It felt slightly odd to talk to him about it but at the same time, good.
“I think so. Sometimes I have all this stuff in my head and I can’t say it to anyone. But I can to her. She doesn’t know me or my family, she doesn’t judge me. It’s very freeing.”
“I imagine so. You can always talk to me you know. I’m not going to judge you.”
“No, but you get mad about stuff. And sometimes, having to deal with other people’s emotions over it is more than I want to. Sometimes I want it to be about me just saying it and being rid of it.”
He bit his lip against what he wanted to say. He
did
get mad at some of the things she told him. When he’d seen the damage to her fingers and she’d revealed it was her ex’s doing, a wave of rage so deep and dark swallowed him for a moment he was quite sure he could have killed the man over it.
did
get mad at some of the things she told him. When he’d seen the damage to her fingers and she’d revealed it was her ex’s doing, a wave of rage so deep and dark swallowed him for a moment he was quite sure he could have killed the man over it.
Instead he nodded. “I understand. I’d still like you to stay over. We can get up early and I’ll run you home. You can shower here with me.” He waggled his eyebrows at her lasciviously, making her laugh.
“All of my stuff is at home. I’m very particular about my hair products. I know it’s terribly shallow of me. And I don’t have any night clothes.”
“Sleep naked. Or, I can loan you a T-shirt if you like. I’m sorry if I’m pressuring you. I just want to wake up with you in my arms tomorrow. But I do understand if you’d like to go home.”
She still had dreams, she had the scars. The weight of the hiding she’d have to do lay on her heavily. It warred with her yearning to be held in Shane’s arms all night.
“I can’t. I’m sorry. There’s…it’s…” She shrugged her shoulders, not able to find words, not knowing if she could trust him or herself to reveal more. “It isn’t you. I know that sounds like a cliché. But I can’t. Not yet. And I really do have to get up early tomorrow. Please don’t be angry.”
He pulled her against his body and kissed her temple. “Darlin’, I am not angry. I won’t say I understand because I don’t know all of it and I couldn’t possibly be in your place. But I do understand your wanting to go home and I’m not hurt or upset. I keep telling you we have time. And we do.” He moved to look into her face. “We do don’t we? I suppose I’ve just assumed that we’re in a relationship but I haven’t really asked you.”
“I told you, I’m not a casual person. But I don’t know what I have to give anyone just now. If you’re asking if I’d like to continue seeing you and that I have no interest in anyone else, yes. What I have to offer above that right now? I don’t know.”
He stood and helped her up. “That’s all I need for now. We can work through the rest as we go.”
The drive back to her place was quiet but comfortable. His hand lay gently on her thigh as he drove. When they got to her place he walked her to the door.
“Good night, darlin’. Would you like to come to dinner at my parents’ house on Sunday night? My momma’s been bugging me to bring you. I won’t lie to you, I think she’s got a bigger crush on you than I do. There’s a running competition to see who can talk about you more. She also tells me you’ve promised to come to dinner sometime soon. And I’d love for you to get to know them all better. Maggie will be there too.”
She smiled. “I did promise her. It wasn’t like I could do anything else. She’s called me twice about it. And I do like her, even if she’s the world’s worst driver and a total menace behind the wheel.”
“Yeah? And what about me?”
Coyly, she cocked her head. “You? Hmm. Well, it appears that your driving is decent. Safe enough. Clearly you didn’t learn to drive from your mother.”
He laughed, the sound echoing through the quiet of the post midnight evening. “My dad taught me. And you know that’s not what I was asking.”
“I know, I just wanted to tease you. I happen to like you too, Shane Chase. More than is probably wise.”
“Good. Wisdom is overrated. Now, let me come in just to be sure everything is okay.” Her back went rigid and he sucked in his breath, making an agitated sound. “Okay, so I didn’t really phrase that like a request. And I know I’m pushy and I know you don’t want to hear that I just want to protect you. I’m trying you know. Would it be all right with you if I came in just to check the place out?”
Her posture relaxed and she put a hand to his cheek. “Thank you for that. It means a lot to me. And I’d appreciate that.”
He did a quick check of the apartment and all was well. After kissing her good night, he told her he’d pick her up on Sunday and waited on her doorstep until he heard her locking all her locks.
Whistling softly, he jogged down the steps and to his car, entirely sure he’d not been that happy in a very long time.
Chapter Nine
When they pulled up to the curb in front of the Chase’s beautiful home, nervousness clawed Cassie’s insides. Sure, she knew Polly casually and she saw Matt pretty much every day, but this was like a meet the parents date. What if they didn’t like her for their son?
Shane grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips to kiss across her knuckles. “Darlin’, don’t be nervous. They already know you except for my daddy and he’s going to love you. Trust me. Now come on.” He jerked his head and she laughed.
He had to put his hands in his pockets to keep from going to open her door but the smile she gave him for letting her do it herself was worth it.
She took his arm though as they walked up to the porch and he wanted to shout to the whole neighborhood that Cassie Gambol was his. Long, curvy and absolutely astonishingly beautiful, he couldn’t believe this woman beside him trusted him as much as she did.
Before he could reach out and turn the knob, the door opened and Marc stood there, grinning. “Hey there, Cassie. My, that blue does only good things for you.” He leaned in quickly and kissed her, just a friendly greeting. But Shane felt her startle and stiffen. Putting an arm around her waist, he shot Marc a look and his brother stood back quickly.
Marc seemed to understand, winking at her but backing off to let them both in. She relaxed and he kicked himself for not talking to Marc about how to approach her. Matt, he knew, understood and Kyle didn’t hug up on any women he wasn’t related to after he’d gotten together with Maggie.
“I thought I heard someone arrive.” Polly Chase came click-clacking into the hallway, wearing a big grin. “Hi there, honey. Welcome. Can I get you something to drink? Maggie and I were sneaking a beer in my sitting room. You want to come on in there after my Edward meets you? He’s been dying to after hearing us all talk about you nonstop.”
Shane tensed, not knowing how Cassie would react to his mother’s stream of consciousness, mile a minute chatter but she smiled and let his mother enfold her into a hug.
“Mrs. Chase, this is just a beautiful home. I love the period pieces you have. Are they family antiques?”
Shane wanted to laugh out loud. Now Cassie was in for it. She’d hit on some of his mother’s greatest loves. Antiques and the history of the house and the pieces in it.
“Polly. My mother-in-law is Mrs. Chase. I’ll give you a tour. Let’s go say hi to the boys in the family room. Dontcha know baseball is on and once the game starts you won’t see any butts moving from seats until dinner.” Polly took Cassie’s hand and Maggie came out of the sitting room and after a quick hug for Shane, followed Polly and Cassie into the family room.
Shane watched his father’s eyes widen when he saw Cassie. He’d told his father Cassie was beautiful but Shane saw his father really understand the full impact Cassie made. He waited for the voice.
“Well hello there. You must be Cassie.” His father, ever the gentleman, took her hand, giving her a courtly kiss. Cassie blushed slightly. “I’m Edward Chase. It’s very nice to meet you and see you in one piece after my wife welcomed you to Petal in her own special way.”
Cassie’s delighted laugh sounded through the room and Shane wanted to laugh himself as he saw his father’s eyes widen again and he snuck a quick peek at Shane.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Mr. Chase. My neck has recovered from your wife’s welcome and my car is good as new. I’m sure your insurance company is less thrilled than I am though.”
“Edward, please, sugar. And my goodness, aren’t you just a bundle of gorgeous? Shane told me you were beautiful but he was right that I had to see you, and hear you, to get the full impact.”
“Okay, Daddy, enough. You trying to steal my girl?” “Oh no, my boy! Your momma is more than enough for me.”
Matt approached and paused a moment, making sure Cassie saw him before giving her a hug and kiss on the cheek. “Hi there, sweetie. You ready to run out the door yet?”
Cassie grinned. “Nah. I hear there’ll be cobbler. I can’t leave until after that.”
Kyle laughed and stood up to squeeze Cassie’s hand and reach around and smooch Maggie. It was an easy movement and Shane realized, not for the first time, just how good his brother was at making people feel safe.
Shane loved seeing Cassie so at ease and relaxed and hoped she’d come to be comfortable with his family enough to be like that all the time.
“Okay, we’re off for the tour. You boys behave. Dinner in thirty.” Polly took Cassie’s hand and they left the room. Shane grabbed a beer from the mini-fridge in the corner and sat on the couch, grinning at his father.
“Go ahead on and grin, boy. She’s something else. Your momma sure does seem to like her and I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you this way with a woman before. You watched her, made sure she was all right. I like seeing you that way.”
“I’m sorry I spooked her, Shane. I didn’t mean to.” Marc might come off as cavalier in public but those who knew him, really knew him, understood he was a truly sensitive person.
Shane turned and patted Marc’s arm. “It’s okay. You didn’t mean any harm. She’ll get used to you in time. She’s really easy around Matt since she sees him every day. Women don’t seem to spook her at all.”
“She’s a totally different woman than the one who practically shoved me out the door when she first came to town. You’re good for each other,” Matt said.
At dinner, Cassie marveled at how close they all were. Such an ease of communication and friendly banter. It was clear they all loved each other very much.
And they all went out of their way to make her feel included and welcome. She missed that kind of connection to family. Terry had interfered so much she’d backed away from her father until the very end and she’d had to sneak around to see Brian. Sitting there at the table, listening to the joking and the teasing, a pang of longing cut through her, and a tiny ember of hope flared too. She wasn’t so far gone that this wasn’t possible.
It was a scary thought but not as scary as it would have been even three weeks before. Suddenly she could see herself at this table with these people. See herself as part of their family. See herself with Shane.
The danger of hope was the very real chance of losing it. She wasn’t sure she could afford it but her therapist seemed very happy and sure Cassie had the strength to succeed in a relationship with a man like Shane. She just had to find the strength to keep on believing in herself. To let go of the Carly she’d been and embrace Cassie and her future.
“You ready to run for Florida yet?” Shane teased as he drove her home. “I like your family, Shane. They’re all very nice and worked to make me feel welcome.”
“They like you too, darlin’. I’d ask you to dinner next Sunday but with the party on Monday, I think my momma will be cooking and getting ready. The woman loves to throw a party.”
“But it’s her birthday. Oh see, I’m putting her out. I’m going to call a caterer so she doesn’t have to do all the work. I’d do it myself but I’m a terrible cook.”
Shane laughed. “Cassie, my mother
loves
to plan parties. She does. She loves to cook and be with her family. She lives for this stuff. You’ll see when Homecoming approaches. And I don’t want you spending any money anyway. I know it must be tight with just being part-time at the book store. My dad wanted to talk to you about some work in his office but he didn’t get the chance. You should call him about it.”
loves
to plan parties. She does. She loves to cook and be with her family. She lives for this stuff. You’ll see when Homecoming approaches. And I don’t want you spending any money anyway. I know it must be tight with just being part-time at the book store. My dad wanted to talk to you about some work in his office but he didn’t get the chance. You should call him about it.”
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