Page 3 of Chase

“It is 2013 you know, you can pick up a frying pan and learn to cook yourselves,” I say simply, “gender equality and all that.”

“What’s the fun in that?” Kade snickers.

James chuckles, “Layla’s already busting balls.”

“I think you are just what this house needs, Layla,” Derek says, giving me small smile.

Kade gives Derek a reprimanding look. “Don’t even think about flirting with our new roomie Derek, she’s way smarter than that.”

Kade folds his arms over his broad chest, drawing my eyes to his ripped arms. I glance up at him to see his eyes twinkling. Busted. I shrug it off, “Come on, you’re all pretty sexy,” I blurt out.

Crap, did I just say that?

Masculine approval all around. Yes, I guess I did.

“But Kade is right, I am smarter than that.” I throw a wink at Kade.

He grins, opens a beer and hands it to me. This time I accept.

Kade sticks his beer out to me and I clink it with mine, giggling.

These guys are good fun. We all make small talk. Play a bit of PS3, in which I must say, I am not too bad. I excuse myself and go unpack and shower. I wonder which of the boys I’m sharing a bathroom with, considering there is masculine products all over the place. After calling my parents and assuring them all is well, I jump in bed and fall asleep.

Chapter Two

I wake up to an empty house, for which I am grateful, and I feel more comfortable checking the place out. The house is pretty big. Five bedrooms, three huge bathrooms, and they have made a small gym for them to work out in. After a morning of arranging and organizing my room, I do some grocery shopping, University book shopping and pick something up to eat. When I get home I almost run into Kade, who is just leaving our bathroom. Yes, it’s Kade that I’m sharing it with. I feel a little awkward sharing a bathroom with a guy. I don’t even have any brothers, so this is really out of my comfort zone.

“Hey,” I say a little shyly, as Kade offers me a faint smile.

“Layla! Just who I was looking for. Come on, I need you to come somewhere with me,” he says excitedly.

“Where?” I ask suspiciously, as he grabs my arm and pulls me out the front door. He opens the door to his Hummer and lifts me up onto the seat.

“Umm Kade...” This almost feels like I’m being kidnapped.

“Relax Layla,” he throws a cheeky grin my way, “it will be fun. I just need your help with something.”

Huh. “Um... okay,” I mumble.

The ride is silent, but not uncomfortable. Kade has a presence about him. I don’t know how to explain it, but I feel like he is the kind of man who you could tell anything to, and he would reserve judgment. Nine inch nails are playing as I stare out the window and wonder where the hell he is taking me. I can’t help but feel both nervous and excited.

Approximately fifteen minutes later, we pull into the car park of a rough looking bar. The motorcycles all around suggest it’s a biker bar. My door is pulled open and Kade pulls me into his arms and puts me down on the floor.

Let’s have a drink!” he suggests thoughtfully.

I look at the time on my phone, one pm. “A bit early, don’t you think?” I muse.

“Live a little Layla,” Kade says as we walk into the bar. We sit down on battered red bar stools and Kade orders us two beers.

I lean closer to him and whisper, “You going to tell me why we are here?” Seriously. The curiosity and suspense are killing me.

“Like I said, I need your help with something,” he says mysteriously. I sigh, and sip my beer. “This is my favorite bar,” he says randomly.

“Okay?”

“And here comes the reason I need you here. I owe you Layla,” he says quickly.

“Kade, what the hell are you... Who the fuck is this bitch?” I turn around and come face to face with an extremely mad woman. Her face is red, and she looks like she is going to kill someone. And that someone would be me.

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