Under a Georgia Moon: Georgia Moon Romance Book 1 (19 page)

Chase knew the moment his friend made the connection as a look of understanding crossed his features.

“Wait a minute.” Beau pointed his finger at her. “Are you tellin’ me you’re the niece from Idaho that Chase had to pick up?”

“Yes,” Addie answered hesitantly. “That’s me.”

“I know you’re not what Chase was expecting.” Beau laughed as he slid his gaze toward Chase. “Bet you’re glad you changed your mind about making me pick her up once you saw her, huh?”

Nice one, Beau
. Chase felt his neck flush with embarrassment as Addie tipped her face up to look at him with questioning eyes.

Jackson put his arm around his wife. “And you thought
I
was gonna cause trouble?”

Sydney crossed her arms in front. “Addie, don’t listen to a thing these boys say. I swear when they get together they are worse than a bunch a teenagers.” She pointed a finger at Beau. “You better be nice, or you won’t get any of the dessert Addie brought.”

“If she’s the dessert then I’ll shut up right now.”

Jackson snickered and Sydney elbowed him. “That goes for you, too.”

Chase should’ve known his friends would be annoying. He reached for Addie’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “We’re gonna get started on the hamburgers.” He grabbed the plate of meat, leaving Beau and Jackson laughing.

Keeping a hold of her hand, Chase stomped over to the grill. “Sorry about that.”

She squeezed his fingers and he felt her gaze on him. When he finally looked at her, she smiled. “What are you sorry about?”

They stopped in front of the grill and he felt the heat radiate as he opened the lid. “Beau and his big mouth.”

“So,” she said, holding the platter of meat. “Do I get to hear the story?” Her voice was laced with laughter.

Using the spatula, Chase transferred one of the patties to the grill. It sizzled as the flames shot up around the meat. Then with a sigh he met her eyes. “I guess.”

He loaded the rest of the meat on the grill and closed the lid. “I wasn’t that excited to pick you up. I remembered this red-headed bratty girl who was taller than me. Beau was razzing me about it and I threatened to make him pick you up.”

She set the empty plate on the table, looking at him incredulously. “So, you really didn’t know that was me when you helped me with my luggage?”

Chase shook his head. “I really didn’t.”

She tilted her head and smiled. “I think that it so sweet. Your mama really did raise you to be a gentleman.”

He grinned. “I hope I would’ve helped anyone, but to be perfectly honest, I was attracted to you the minute I saw you.” Jackson’s words flashed in his mind.
“I fell in love with Syd the first time I saw her
.
”

Addie took a step toward him. “Is that so?” Her voice was soft and flirtatious.

“Yeah.” Chase took her hand and tugged her to him. He couldn’t help it. Whenever she was near him all he could think about was touching her. She studied him for a few heartbeats, and he wondered what she was thinking. Unfortunately he didn’t get the chance to ask her. Jackson and Beau burst outside, laughing like a couple of hyenas.

Chase cast his friends an irritated look, which only added to their fun.

“Don’t mind us,” Jackson said, wearing a playful grin while tossing a tomato in the air and catching it again.

“Just pretend we’re not even here,” Beau said, standing so close they could smell his aftershave.

“Like that’s gonna happen.” He eyed the two men and was tempted to push them both into the pool.

The door to the house slammed shut. Sydney stepped out, her hands to her hips. “Jackson McCall!”

Jackson sobered up at the sound of his wife’s voice. “What?” He tried to appear innocent.

“I thought I told y’all to stay inside,” she said as she marched toward him.

He pointed a finger at Beau. “He suggested we take over the cooking.”.

Flattening his palm against his chest, Beau said, “Me? You’re the one who said it looked like things were getting way too hot.” He smirked as his eyes flickered over to Chase and Addie.

Sydney made an irritated noise in the back of her throat. “Jackson…”

Placing the tomato on the table, he straddled one of the chairs, barely holding back a laugh. “I meant the grill. The grill was getting hot.”

“Uh-huh,” Chase said dryly. He handed the spatula to Beau. “Go ahead and take over. Just don’t burn mine.”

* * *

The second Beau took over the cooking, he looked over his shoulder and gave Addie a wink. “Wanna help me?”

Addie could tell Beau was just trying to annoy Chase. Judging from the look on his face, it must be working. “Um, do you really need me to?”

“No,” Chase said, taking her hand. “Beau doesn’t need help.” And then under his breath added, “At least not with cooking.”

Laughing, Beau turned toward the grill and lifted the lid. “Talk about sizzling hot.” He slid another glance in Addie’s direction and winked again.

Chase shook his head. “Just ignore him.” He gave Addie’s hand a squeeze and led her to the table where Sydney and Jackson sat.

Sydney let out a loud sigh. “Can’t y’all act like grown men for a change?” She leaned next to Addie and whispered in a loud voice, “And they say women are hormonal?”

Jackson snorted. “Hey, I grew up in a houseful of men and trust me testosterone is nothin’ compared to a hormonal woman.”

There was an elongated pause of silence.

Jackson cast an innocent look at his wife and held up his hands. “Just sayin’.”

The side of Sydney’s mouth twitched. “What exactly are you implying, Jackson McCall?”

“Nothin’, baby. I’m just glad I’m a man. The Lord knew we wouldn’t be able to handle it like you women. Right, Chase?”

Chase laughed. “Yeah. Women are definitely more equipped to handle their—” He made quotation marks in the air with his fingers. “—fluctuating hormones.”

He must have noticed the look of disbelief Addie exchanged with Sydney because Chase quickly added, “That was a compliment.”

“Thank you,” Addie said smugly. “But I’m glad I’m a woman. I’d much rather be the one with the hormones than have to be the man who has to deal with me and my
fluctuating
hormones.”

All three men busted up laughing.

“Score one for the girls,” Beau said, saluting her with the spatula.

“I knew I liked you,” Sydney said, giving Addie a high-five. “By the way, the guys have a gig on Saturday. Please tell me you’re gonna come?”

“I’m planning on it,” she said, sounding like she and Chase were really a couple. Her eyes flitted over to him, and she found him watching her with a look full of appreciation.

“Good, you can sit by me,” Sydney said, drawing back her attention. “I hate going by myself. Drew’s wife, Kellie, doesn’t come that often, especially since her baby’s almost due. She was the perfect person to be sitting by, too. Not too many men want to try to hit on a pregnant woman. I’m hoping that between the two of us, we can limit the amount of pick up lines we’ll get.” She held out her left hand. “It doesn’t seem to matter to some men that I’m wearing a wedding ring and makin’ eyes at the keyboard player.”

Jackson leaned over and kissed his wife. “Yeah, it makes me crazy watching how all the men look at you. I think we need to start workin’ on getting you pregnant so they’ll back off.”

Sydney blushed. “I can’t believe you just said that.” She playfully smacked him on the arm. “My mother would keel over with a heart attack if she heard you talkin’ like that.”

He raised his eyebrows mischievously. “Why? We’re married, aren’t we?”

Sydney narrowed her eyes again and whispered, “You know, it’s gonna be a little hard to accomplish that when you’re sleepin’ in the guest room.”

Jackson grinned. “Honey, I’m sorry. I’ll keep my mouth shut the rest of the night.”

Sydney’s mouth curved up into a tender smile, her eyes filled with obvious love for her husband. “Sure you will,” she said with a soft laugh.

Observing the couple, a pang of envy shot through Addie. She could feel their love radiating with the looks they gave each other. She wondered if she would ever get to share that kind of love with someone.

Glancing away, she found Chase still watching her, his mouth lifted into a half grin. With a slight tug on her hand, he pulled her to his side. It was crazy what was happening to her. She was falling for him hard and fast, feeling very much like the first time she’d gone skiing, gaining momentum with each second, careening out of control down the mountain, and crashing at the bottom.

She had injured herself, twisting her knee and ending her day on the slopes. By the time she left Georgia, what condition would her heart be in?

Chapter Fourteen

With
her shoes and socks in her hand, Addie rushed down the stairs. She just about plowed over Miss Hazel. The tiny black woman placed her hand over her heart. “Where’s the fire, girl?”

“The kitchen?” Addie quipped, teetering on the bottom stair.

“Doubt it,” Hazel said with a hearty laugh. She put her fists to her hips and looked Addie up and down and raised one eyebrow. “I thought you were going for a ride with that Nichols boy. You can’t go out dressed like that.”

Addie frowned, looking down at her clothes. What was wrong with the way she was dressed? She had on red, knee-length basketball shorts from her days at high school and a white fitted T-shirt that said, “100% REDHEAD and I’ve got the ATTITUDE to prove it.”

Aunt Janie came out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. “Oh, don’t you look cute.”

Hazel snorted. “If you say so.”

“I declare, Hazel. What’s wrong with the way she’s dressed?”

Not really liking where this conversation was going, Addie tiptoed to the entryway and sat on one of the chairs to put on her shoes and socks. It’s not like Hazel knew her
that
well.

While she tied the laces of her Nikes, she peered through the screen door to see if Chase was here yet. He’d called about an hour ago and said he was getting off work early to take her on a bike ride to a park where she could get some fantastic pictures. He was also bringing a picnic along so to come hungry.

Just thinking about seeing him again made her stomach do a little dance that wasn’t from lack of food. Something had changed in their pretend relationship last night that felt more real than anything she’d ever experienced before. The night could’ve ended perfectly with a kiss both of them wanted if Chase’s little sister Ashlee hadn’t called him, needing a ride home from a party she should’ve never been to in the first place.

The minute his sister called, and Chase found out who she was with, his big brother mode kicked into high gear. Addie found it very endearing how concerned he was, enough that when they pulled up to Aunt Janie’s house, he allowed Addie to open her own door and hop down without his assistance so he could go rescue Ashlee.

The twins, she found out last night from Chase, were very opposite in many ways. Taylin was a straight A student, volunteered at both the youth center and the hospital once a week and had her sights set on becoming a doctor. Ashlee, on the other hand, was graduating from high school but with a much lower GPA. She spent most of her free time shopping, and had no idea what she wanted to do other than marry Beau Jacobsen.

Addie had been worried about the girl, and told Chase to text her with an update. An hour later he sent her a message, telling her that Ashlee was home safe. He was glad she’d been smart enough to call him when the college aged boy she’d snuck out with took her to a party that wasn’t the typical kegger with red plastic cups. Chase had been ticked off when he saw all the drug paraphernalia scattered around the room, and called the cops with an anonymous tip as soon as he had his sister. He’d apologized about cutting their date short, and said he’d make it up to her.

She heard the crunch of Chase’s truck tires on the gravel driveway as he came to a stop. Although she wasn’t thrilled with the idea of going for a bike ride, she figured it wouldn’t be too bad. Riding a bike was easy. At least it was the last time she’d ridden one. Like ten years ago.

She stood at the doorway and watched him climb out of his truck. Dressed similarly to her, he looked cute in a pair of black basketball shorts and a white Hard Rock Café T-shirt. With little effort he got his bicycle out of the back of the truck and wheeled it over to where hers sat waiting for them.

Not wanting to get caught spying on him, she retreated back to the entry way. She sneaked a peek in the mirror that hung on the wall to check her appearance one last time. Janie and Hazel came in and caught her primping just as the doorbell chimed.

“Addie, you look adorable,” Aunt Janie said, passing her by to open the door.

Hazel harrumphed disapprovingly, mumbling something about girls dressing like boys. Maybe Addie should go change. What if Chase didn’t like what she had on? She tugged on the bottom of her T-shirt as Chase stepped inside.

The minute their eyes met, she relaxed a little. The approval she read in his gaze boosted her confidence. After exchanging pleasantries with Janie and Hazel, he took a step toward her. “Hey,” he said, his eyes sweeping over her again. “Ready to go?”

She picked up her camera bag. “Yep.”

A smile tipped his mouth as he reached for her hand and laced their fingers together. “Let’s go.”

Aunt Janie grinned with delight. “Y’all have fun.”

“We will,” Addie said, following Chase out the door.

With one foot on the top stair, Addie overheard Hazel say, “I can’t believe it! They’re dressed exactly the same. It’s not proper, Janie.”

Maybe Chase hadn’t heard—or not.

He started laughing. “Should I be offended or you?”

“Me.” She stopped next to the bikes. “Miss Hazel doesn’t like the way I’m dressed.”

Chase stepped back, keeping a hold of her hand and slowly scanned her from head to toe. He squeezed her fingers and gave her a wicked grin. “I like the way you’re dressed, Miss Attitude.”

“Thanks.” She held onto the bike for support. That delicious southern drawl of his made her knees weak. “My sister gave me this shirt. Do you think she was trying to tell me something?”