Page 68 of Chasing Lynda

Dodge forces me to look at him, with a gentle finger under my chin. “If I didn’t want you here, I wouldn’t have invited you. First of all, you won two nights at the hotel, so we kinda owe you. Secondly—”

I really want to stay with them. Both because I like them and also because a safe place, a real bed for two more nights isn’t something I can afford to turn down. But I don’t want to stay if they’re just offering because they feel bad about the fire. “You don’t owe me anything, Dodge. The fire wasn’t your fault. I actually feel kinda responsible. Monroe started the fire to get revenge for being fired, and he was fired because of me ...”

He shakes his head, the sun making his blond hair shine like a halo. “That might be true but it doesn’t mean you’re responsible for that bastard’s actions. Truth be told, the guys and I were already looking for a reason to let him go. Monroe couldn’t be trusted. Because of his negligence on keeping the fire inspections up to date, I might not see a cent from the insurance; and because of that, the fire department had us close down the entire resort, not just the hotel. So all the shit we had planned for this weekend is now canceled. It’s a fucking disaster but none of it is your fault.”

He looks sincere and his hand is now cupping my jaw, his gray eyes so intense that my body reacts by increasing my heart rate; Dodge is looking at me the same way he was last night when he was inside me. “Ok,” I utter, lost in that silver gaze. “As long as you’re sure ...”

He places a soft kiss on one of my temples. “I’m positive. We all need a relaxing weekend. If you had gotten hurt in that fire, I don’t want to even think—”

He looks like he cares and I try to ignore the warm, fuzzy feeling his words are causing to spread in my chest. “But I’m fine, Dodge. Nothing happened.”

He nods. “I know. Thank goodness for that.”

We look at each other for a long moment, as the guys are busy unloading their bags from Bennett’s Jeep. All my meager belongings were burned to smithereens.

“I also want you to know that you’re going to have your own room, Lynda. God knows I’d love to have you sleeping in my arms again, but this is about hanging out and getting to know each other. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want. With any of us.”

I’m about to thank him for being so considerate, when Bennett comes to wrap one arm around my shoulders, pushing Dodge away with a pop of his hip and chuckling at his best friend’s reaction. “Zane and Carter are taking our bags up. Let’s go say hi to Miss Watson and see if she can make us some lunch. I don’t know about you, but I plan to spend my entire weekend on the beach or by the pool. We’ll figure out the rest of our lives on Tuesday.”

Dodge agrees. “You’re right. It’s Memorial Day weekend and I doubt the insurance customer service line will be open anyway. Let’s just relax and catch up on our sleep. God knows last night didn’t end the way we were hoping.”

Bennet laughs at Dodge’s statement, squeezing me closer to his side. “If you’re referring to the fire, you’re fucking right. But judging by the way I found you and Lynda when I came to get you out of the building, I’d say that your night had gone way better than ours, up to that point. Right, GT?” He asks with mirth in his blue eyes.

I’m about to ask him why he called me GT when I realize that he was talking to me, but I have no chance to ask my question, when a tall, blonde woman runs out of the front door running to hug Dodge.

He envelopes her in his arms, lifting her off the ground and making her spin before kissing her temple, the same way he kissed me a few moments ago.

“Hey, Callie! I thought you were up in Sacramento with the parentals?” Dodge asks her, tucking a strand of her shoulder length blond hair behind her ear.

The girl twists her nose in a displeased way. “No, I got out of it. I have plans tonight anyway but regardless, I had no intention of getting caught in Dad’s political events. He’s kissing ass left and right because he wants to run for governor, so he’s looking for support within his party and maybe some donations for the campaign.”

The entire time, her arms are around Dodge’s neck but her gray eyes are fixed onto me.

Dodge sighs, his eyes darkening at the news. “I hope Dad’s fucking joking. Governor? He better start trying to find the money to replace what he ‘borrowed’ from Bridgeport’s public funds if he wants to stay out of jail.”

The girl looks at Dodge as he sets her back down on the paved driveway. “Did you decide not to help him with that money? I accepted his help to start up my company, just because he told me that you and the guys would help him out of his mess with the earnings from Pleasure Beach—”

Dodge takes her hand, marching into the house.

Bennett and I follow him through an imposing grand foyer and into a living room that looks like it came straight out of Country Living.

“Callie, that was the plan. But last night ...” Dodge explains what happened, leaving out the main reason why Monroe was let go.

“Oh my God, Dodge. Are you guys all right?”

Dodge nods. “We’re ok, but what happened means that we might not see a cent from the insurance.”

Callie looks perplexed. “Why? Even if that man started the fire to hurt you, you have nothing to do with it.”

Bennett intervenes. “You’re correct, but the useless piece of shit had neglected the last three fire inspections. So that will invalidate our insurance policy.”

Dodge confirms Bennett’s grim news. “Mom and Dad will have to sell everything they own to put that money back. Including this house.”

Callie’s gray eyes darken with worry. “This house has been in our family for generations. Dad grew up in it. He’ll never sell it.”

Dodge shrugs, his jaw set in a hard line. “Well fuck, he’ll have to choose between losing the house or relocating to a federal correctional facility.”

Callie’s voice trembles. “How could he, Dodge? How could Dad gamble all our money and steal from the city?”

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