Ready to Love Again (Sweet Romance #2) (10 page)

Chapter Thirteen

Chase

The party is in full swing. Alyssa arrived a little while ago, looking stunning, as always. She and Clark are sat at a table a little too far away from me for my liking. I want her close to me at all times. The one problem with tonight is Lexi. She has been stuck to me like glue since her arrival. I don’t mind Lexi, she seems like a nice enough person, even if she gets by on her looks and air-headed persona. To me, she’s just another work colleague. But with the way she’s been acting tonight, I can tell she wants more.

Her finely manicured hands have been attached to my biceps. She’s been twirling her hair to
o—
the universal sign of someone flirting. She hasn’t been here very long but she’s been knocking back drinks like there’s no tomorrow. I can’t seem to get rid of her. I don’t mean that in a bad way, it’s just that I want to go and mingle, this party is in my honour, after all.

And when I say mingle, I do mean it, but I also want to spend more time with the radiant beauty sat at the table across the pub. With her fiery red hair and the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed, Alyssa had caught my eye the moment we met. I don’t normally date work colleagues in case something goes horribly wrong, but in her case, I would break my own rule.

I have been sneaking glances at her ever since her arrival tonight. The way she’s dressed isn’t something I get to see at work. Tonight, she’s wearing a blue off-the-shoulder dress and silver stilettos. It’s smart but casual and oh so sexy. I can’t help but think about our kiss, the urgency with which we had explored each other’s mouths.

“Shit!”

That was the only word I heard before Lexi was sick everywhere. And I mean everywhere. She even managed to get it all down my jeans. Great!

“I’ve got her,” Alyssa said as she put an arm around Lexi and guided her to the ladies’ room.

I couldn’t help but smile, even covered in sick. Alyssa was so kind, it was one of the things that drew me to her like a moth to a flame.

I made my way to the gents’ to clean off what I could. I’m going to have to go home and get changed though. There’s no way I can stay here smelling like this. I need a quick shower, fresh clothes, and some aftershave.

After cleaning off what I could, I returned to the bar. I could see Lexi sat at a table with Alyssa and Clark. She’s drinking water by the looks of it.

“Em, I need to call a cab. I’m going home for a shower and change of clothes,” I said to Emily as she came round the bar.

“Use the free phone on the wall, it’s linked directly to a cab firm,” she said as she smiled at me.

I’ve always liked Emily-Rose. My cousin Parker and she got together a few years back and he bought The Mermaid Inn, leaving her in charge. He’d much rather work in construction than behind a bar. But Emily had always wanted to be a landlady and Parker would do anything to please the woman he loves. They’re a great couple, they really cherish each other and every moment they have together. They have the kind of love I would like to have one day.

“There’s no need to pay for a cab,” a little voice said from next to me.

I turned and saw Alyssa’s bright blue eyes looking at me.

“I need to get home and get out of these jeans,” I said as I pointed to my now badly smelling jeans.

“I know, I can take you. I’m only drinking soda because I’m driving.”

Those blue pools swam as they looked at me and I could feel myself falling in.

“I don’t want to ruin your night.” I smiled back at her.

“It’s your night to celebrate your promotion. How can we all have a good night without the man of the hour? I will get you home, you can shower and change, then I can bring you back. No point paying a cab when I have my car here.”

“If you’re sure…?”

“Of course I am. We just have a stop to make first. I promised I’d see Lexi home.”

My goodness, this woman’s heart knows no bounds.

“Okay. Thanks.”

We went over to Lexi and both put an arm around her underneath her shoulders. We steadily helped Lexi to Alyssa’s waiting car.

I got in the back passenger seat next to Lexi so she could lie her head on my lap. I already smell like sick, so it won’t make much difference if she’s sick again—though I’d rather she wasn’t sick in the back of the car, especially as Alyssa is doing her a favour.

Alyssa handed me a bag, and I realised she had the forethought to get something ready in case Lexi decided to be sick again.

We drove away from The Mermaid and I wondered if Alyssa knew where Lexi lived because I sure didn’t.

As we pulled up outside a cream painted house with a white picket fence and finely manicured lawn, I knew this had to be Lexi’s place. You could tell a mile off. She had hanging baskets filled with flowers, rose bushes in front of the house, and the door was painted a soft shade of pink. By the state of Lexi’s manicure, I could tell she had someone to do her gardening for her. She didn’t have any callouses on her hands and if I’m being totally honest, it looks like the kind of place she got on daddy’s dime, not her own. As an editor for Emerging Butterfly, I know how much money she makes and it isn’t enough to buy a place like this.

We manoeuvred Lexi out of the car and then walked her to the front door. She was in and out of sleep on the ride and now she seemed unresponsive to Alyssa’s questions about her house keys. So Alyssa rummaged through Lexi’s little bag and found a key.

As we walked into the entranceway of this pretty house, I looked round and saw Tiffany lamps that were in no way knock-off versions. The Persian rug looked expensive too, as did everything my eye landed on. We took her upstairs to her room, not without some difficulty, I might add. Alyssa told me to wait outside once I had helped sit her down on the bed.

I stepped outside and closed the door.

I heard running water and realised that Alyssa must have been planning to help Lexi wash up before bed.

Fifteen minutes later, Alyssa slipped quietly out of the bedroom and came to stand by me as I admired a painting on the wall in the hallway.

“She’s sleeping soundly,” she whispered, her warm breath tickled across the back of my neck and made me break out in goose bumps. Good job I’m wearing long sleeves.

“That’s good. Do you think she’ll be okay alone tonight?”

“I hope so. She’s clean, has a glass of water by her bedside and has a phone on the bedside table. She was sobering up as I got her clean and she said she’d be okay, she’s just tired. She also asked me to apologise to you, she’s very embarrassed.”

“It’s okay. I just need to get cleaned up myself now.”

“Let’s get you home then,” she said as she turned toward the staircase.

Alyssa stumbled as she got to the top step and if it wasn’t for my lightning quick reflexes, she would have fallen. I slipped my arm around her waist and caught her just in time.

“Thank you,” she said a little breathlessly.

“No problems,” I whispered as I winked at her.

We made our way quietly out of Lexi’s house and to the car. Alyssa opened the doors and this time I sat in the front passenger seat. I liked being closer to Alyssa. She was beautiful, warm, and there was a hint of her perfume in the air. I didn’t know what it was, but the smell invaded my nostrils, attacking my senses and I felt this weird feeling in my chest. My heart beat slightly faster and felt like it was trying to break through my ribcage.

I felt a hand lightly brush my leg as Alyssa changed gear and my heart rocketed at the brief touch.

We were at my house in no time. Of course, Alyssa had never been here before and I had to give her directions, but once we arrived, there were no words as she looked over the front of my house.

My house was once a project for Parker. I had bought it when it was in dire need of refurbishment. The frontage itself had an aging porch and looked a little dilapidated. I had needed new windows, a new front door, a lick of fresh paint—and that was just outside.

I sat back and looked at Alyssa’s profile as she looked up at my house and let out a low appreciative whistle.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” I said as I opened my door and stepped onto my driveway.

Of course, the driveway had needed new gravel too, but Parker had been only too happy to help. He loved having a “pet project” to keep him occupied in his spare time.

“Wow,” she said as she climbed out of the car and met me at the front door.

“Do you like it?” I asked I slowly opened the door.

“It’s beautiful, Chase.”

“Thank you. I’ll be sure to tell Parker you appreciate all his hard work.”

“Parker?” she seemed confused.

I forgot she was new to town.

“Parker Williams, my cousin. He’s engaged to Em, the girl behind the bar at The Mermaid. The landlady, actually.”

“Oh, I see. And he did some work for you around here?”

“You could say that,” I replied as I led her into the hallway.

I heard another low appreciative whistle. It made me happy to hear and to see a look of awe sweep across her face.

“I won’t be long. Take a seat,” I said as I directed her to the lounge.

“Wow. I could fit my whole apartment in here. Well, I say apartment, it’s more like a shoebox.”

I watched as her eyes swept over the lounge. I could tell she liked what saw.

“Get comfy, I’ll be back shortly.”

I made my way upstairs to shower in my en-suite.

***

The water was running hot when I stepped under the spray from the shower head fitted in the ceiling. The wet-room had to be one of my favourite rooms in the house. I had told Parker I wanted a luxurious shower and he had provided one that I was over the moon with.

As I showered, I thought about the beautiful woman in my lounge. From her fiery red hair, to her mesmerising ocean blue eyes, to those luscious full lips. From head to toe, she was one sexy woman. The best thing about her had to be the way she didn’t realise how beautiful she was. She didn’t see the way men looked at her. And good for me she hadn’t noticed me giving guys the evil eye if I caught them staring at her.

I want to make Alyssa mine, but the question is how. 

I started to get hard as I thought about her. Damn, this was not good. I can’t get out of the shower with a hard-on. Thinking about her was making me harder and thus making it harder for the stiffness to subside.

I tried in vain to think of something, anything else. Nothing was working.

I turned the shower to cold and concentrated on the water as it hit me like heavy rainfall.

***

I got dressed and made my way downstairs.

There she was, sitting on my couch. She looked at home on the end of my corner-suite. She was facing away from me, looking lost in the tranquillity of the lounge. It was another of my favourite rooms, for that very reason—you could sit there in the peace and quiet, undisturbed by the world outside.

I cleared my throat quietly to announce my arrival without making her jump.

“Chase,” she said as she looked at me. Was she appraising the way I looked?

“Hi,” I said as I made my way further into the room.

Her eyes followed me. She was definitely looking me over from head to toe, but trying to be crafty about it.

The heated look in her eyes made me twitch. I needed a stiff drink. If she was going to keep looking at me that way, there was no way I could discreetly rearrange myself in my boxers.

I walked over to the cabinet in which I kept my scotch, amongst other things.

I took hold of the decanter and drew out a glass.

“I’d offer you one, but you’re driving,” I said with a small smile in her direction.

“I’d love a glass of water, if that’s okay.”

“Sure.”

I walked through the large lounge-dining room and into the kitchen. Alyssa followed closely behind.

“This is a stunning property, Chase. A true home. Sometimes a house is just where you live, but sometimes it’s a real home. You know what I mean?”

“Yeah. I got Parker to knock through from the lounge to the dining room so there was more space. Plus a lot of other adjustments throughout. I’ve really and truly made this place mine. I should give you a guided tour.”

“That would be nice.”

She smiled at me and her eyes glistened like beautiful ocean waves.

Another involuntary twitch had me shifting as subtly as I could.

I wanted this woman. I wanted her a lot. But not just in a carnal way. I wanted her to be mine in every way.

I placed her water on the kitchen island and reached my hand for hers. She placed her hand in mine, looking a little confused.