Heat flushed up her body from her toes and settled between her thighs as she remembered the towel wrapped around his lean hips when he’d come out. His bare chest sent her heart racing and her fingertips itching to touch him. She wanted to feel the hard muscles, to smooth her palms across the bulging pecs, and to feel the soft curling hair against her hand. When he flashed his sexy grin, her heart dropped to the floor, and her toes curled in her boots as her mouth went dry.
Standing at the stove now, she shifted her thighs attempting to relieve some of the pressure in her pussy. The satin between her legs rubbed against her clit, sending more moisture to her already soaked underwear and she fought the moan rising in her throat.
* * * *
Lifting the fork to his mouth, Chase watched her shift her stance. Her ass cheeks begged to be touched and caressed. He wanted nothing more than to grasp them in both hands and feel the flesh mold to his fingers as he lifted her flush against him. It’s not like he could do anything to relieve the pressure in his groin right now, anyway, with his leg, but
damn
he wanted to.
He shifted in his own chair when he felt blood rush to his cock, forcing his jeans to tighten against his groin. Pain shot up his leg when he moved. He groaned out loud, and she turned to face him.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” Blood whooshed in his ears with every beat of his heart. “I think I probably did too much this morning with the shower or sponge bath as it was. My leg is killing me.”
A concerned frown pulled down the corners of her mouth as she asked, “Didn’t they give you something for pain when you left the hospital?”
“Yes, but I don’t want to be unconscious all the time so I haven’t taken any.”
“Stubborn man,” Abby grumbled and he laughed.
“Oh, you are one to talk, miss.”
Plate in hand, she walked toward him with a smile and took the chair across from him. “I’m not stubborn.”
“Yeah, right. I bet if I asked your mother she would say something totally different.”
Abby’s tinkling laughter sent chills down his arms as she said, “Probably.”
The compatible banter was much easier to handle than the sexual tension that seeped between them when they were in the same room. Chase wasn’t quite sure how she managed to infiltrate his life so quickly and so thoroughly in such a short time. He hadn’t brought any woman into his home since his wife died and here was Abby. Having her here was so comfortable, he didn’t even think about it.
“Do you have anything planned for today?”
“Not until this evening.”
He shot her a questioning look, but she avoided looking at him.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
He wasn’t going to ask. It really wasn’t any of his business what Abby had planned.
“Why?”
Abby finally looked him in the eyes, but he didn’t know whether he wanted to interpret what he saw or not. “I just thought maybe we could do something. Play cards, watch a movie, you know, just hang out, but if you’re busy…” his voice trailed off while thoughts of her being with anyone else sent disturbing emotions across his heart.
“Not until later.” She didn’t elaborate. “I imagine it’s driving you crazy being idle.”
He dropped his gaze to the food in front of him. “Yeah. I’m used to being active. You know, out with the horses all day, cleaning stalls, working with one or another. This sitting in the house is going to drive me up a wall before it’s over.”
“I’m sure we can find something to keep you busy.”
His head snapped up. Her playful words couldn’t mean the same thing to her they meant to him, could they? Making love to her would be the best way to spend the afternoon he could think of, but he knew that was impossible.
“Let me get the dishes washed up, and then we can find something to keep you entertained.”
Get it together, man! That’s not what she meant.
For the rest of the day they sat on his couch and watched several movies. Her laughter was contagious. He’d already seen all the movies in his collection, but there were several she hadn’t seen, so he just watched her.
As the sun started to set, she went out to the barn to feed the horses while he stood on the porch. The sway of her hips, the smile gracing her face, the swell of her breasts—all of it was driving him crazy, and if he didn’t make love to her soon, he would be a pile of ashes on the floor. The inferno raging inside his body had him on slow burn and being near her all the time, made it worse than anything he could imagine.
When Abby came back to the house, they moved inside together and she set about making dinner. Her cell phone rang and a frown crinkled her brow. Pulling it from her purse, she looked at the screen and murmured, “Shit. What time is it?”
“Six thirty-five, why?”
She flipped the phone open. “Hello?”
He could hear the murmurs of whoever was on the other end of the line.
“I’m sorry, Christopher. I didn’t realize what time it was.”
The name of the person on the other end made him feel like he’d been gut punched.
Christopher Bridges.
“I’m at Chase’s. If you want to, you can come over here and pick me up.” More murmurs. “All right. I’ll see you in a minute.”
Abby hung up and slipped the phone back inside her purse before her eyes met his. “Do you want me to fix you something?”
He knew a frown pulled at the corners of his mouth. “No. That’s fine, Abby. I’ll make a sandwich or something.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, no problem.”
“Can I use your bathroom to wash up a little? I smell like horses.”
“Down the hall there.”
“Thanks.”
He watched her walk into the bathroom and shut the door behind her.
* * * *
Abby washed her hands in the sink and scrubbed her face with a washcloth. Losing track of time wasn’t normal for her, but being around Chase made it seem like the time just flew by. After splashing water on her face to rinse the soap off, she grabbed the towel next to her and patted it dry.
She opened her eyes only to meet Krista Wilder’s penetrating stare in the mirror. She spun around and a chill raced up her back. Standing next to the tub was Chase’s wife.
I know you can hear me. Stay away from my husband.
Abby shook from head to toe as the words flittered to her ear and the woman stared like she could see right into her soul.
“We’re just friends.”
Chase knocked on the door, and her eyes swung to the piece of wood that separated them. “Abby? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, Chase, I’m fine. I’ll be out in a second.”
When her gaze swung back to where the woman was standing, the spot held nothing.
“Damn,” she grumbled.
She opened the door to find Chase standing on the other side leaning against the wall behind him.
“Who were you talking to?”
“No one, why?”
“I thought I heard you say something.”
She couldn’t tell him she was talking to his dead wife. “I talk to myself sometimes, that’s all.”
He cocked a questioning eyebrow. “Trying to convince yourself of something?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
The doorbell rang. “That must be Christopher. I’ll get it.”
As she scurried off down the hall toward the front door, she could feel his eyes on her back. When she reached the door, she heard him shuffle into the room behind her. Sucking in a fortifying breath, she pulled open the door to meet the eyes of her date.
“Hi. I’m really sorry. I lost track of time.”
“It’s okay.” Christopher stepped inside and his attention focused on the other man in the room. “Hi, Chase. How’s the leg?”
“Fine,” Chase growled low in his throat, drawing her gaze to his face.
Christopher frowned a moment, but returned his attention to her. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, just let me grab my coat.”
“Where are you two headed tonight?” Chase’s question hung in the air around them and she frowned for a second.
“Dinner and a movie probably,” she answered before Christopher could.
Frown lines settled between Chase’s eyebrows and she sighed.
What’s gotten into him?
“Shall we go?” Looping her hand through the crook of Christopher’s elbow, she looked at Chase for a moment before she said, “I’ll have Christopher drop me off here to pick up the truck.”
“No problem.”
“See you later, then.”
The walked outside and got into Christopher’s car. When they pulled away from the front of the house, she could see Chase watching from the window.
* * * *
Later that evening, when her date pulled into the yard to drop her off, she could see a light still burning in the front living room window. He turned off the car and they sat in the dark for a moment.
She really did like Christopher. He was gorgeous, nice, a gentleman and all that but… Her heart tripped over in her chest when she admitted to herself,
he’s not Chase.
“Can I see you again?”
The attraction he had for her sparkled bright in his eyes, but the only feelings she held for him bordered on friendship and nothing more. “I suppose that’s all right.”
“What is it, Abby? If you don’t want to, that’s fine.”
“It’s not that.” She twisted the diamond on her hand, and her eyes met his. “I’m just not ready for any kind of relationship.”
“I understand. I know it hasn’t been that long since your husband died. We can go as slow as you want.” His fingers caressed the hair at her shoulder, but it did nothing, no tingling, and no goose bumps—nothing.
“That’s fine.”
Why am I even agreeing to continue to see him? I don’t want to be with him.
“I have to work the next several days, but I’ll call you and we can set something up.” His hand dropped away, and he pushed open the door. Walking around to her side, he opened the passenger side for her, but when she stepped out, he didn’t move.
Abby’s gaze ricocheted up to his, as his hand caressed her cheek. His fingers moved along the soft surface before he let it slide down her neck. He bent his head toward her, and she let him kiss her. She wanted to feel something, anything, but his lips on hers just weren’t the same. Not like Josh—not like Chase, and she pulled away.
“Thanks for dinner and the movie.”
He smiled. “You’re welcome.” He brought his hand up to her face again to skim along her jaw.
The porch light flipped on. She closed her eyes as a smile flittered on her lips.
Chase.
She stepped back. “I guess I’ll talk to you later. I should get going. I have to be up early to feed the horses.”
“Yeah. I’ve got an early shift at the hospital, too. I’ll call you in a few days.”
“Sure. Talk to you soon.”
He walked back around to the driver’s side of his car, as she moved toward the porch of the house. She watched as her date backed out and pulled down the driveway. When she turned back toward the door, she wasn’t the least bit surprised to see Chase standing at the screen.
Chapter Ten
“How was your date?” Chase brought the bottle of beer to his lips, but his eyes never left hers.
“Good.” She stepped up to the screen, and he pushed it open, allowing her to move inside.
The silence between them was deafening.
“Did you get something to eat?”
“Yeah.”
He held the bottle up, and she wondered what his lips would taste like with the malty substance clinging to it. “Care for one?”
“Um…no thanks. I still need to drive back to my place.”
“True.”
Abby rocked back on her heels and stuffed her hands into the pocket of her coat.
I feel so guilty, like I’ve cheated on him.
“I guess I should go. I’ll be back in the morning.”
His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I’ll be here.”
“I’ll say good night, then.”
“Sweet dreams.”
The next morning, Abby pulled into the driveway and headed straight for the barn. She didn’t want to examine her feelings too closely. She liked Christopher, but he didn’t make her feel like Chase did.
Christopher doesn’t make my heart race or my toes curl with nothing more than a look.
Chase didn’t want a relationship, though, with anyone. He said as much, and she couldn’t do a strictly physical relationship. Christopher was looking for a mate. Even if he didn’t say it, she was sure of his intention. Chase—she didn’t know what he wanted. Then she had to think about Krista. Chase’s wife obviously didn’t want any woman taking her place in his life and that was terrifying.