Page 14 of Just A Little Chase

Finally, he spoke. “Unlike you, I didn’t have a charmed childhood,” he said, and while his words were blunt, his tone wasn’t hurtful or mean, but rather painfully honest. “My mother left my father and me when I was seven years old and ran off with another man. And my father stopped giving a damn about anything after that, including me. He fell into a dark depression. He lost his job and sat in his recliner drinking beer all fucking day long feeling sorry for himself, and yes, he watched those shows over and over and over. That’s all we fucking did.”

With every little bit he revealed, Lauren’s chest ached with sadness and sorrow for the little boy Chase had been. That those awful memories were all he had to look back on. She already knew he wasn’t a demonstrative man after that hug she’d given him in his office, but that didn’t stop her from wanting to climb onto his lap and wrap her arms around him, to tell him that it was okay to be angry that his father had abandoned him, just as much as his mother had. And to let him know that he wasn’t alone, that despite only knowing him a short while, she cared about him.

But she stayed in her seat and she didn’t reach out and touch him, either, like she wanted to do.

After a long moment passed, he exhaled a deep breath and pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose. “Sorry,” he muttered, then dropped his hand and met her gaze again, seemingly calmer now. “The last thing I want to do is talk about my parents. As far as your family is concerned, they only need to know that they’ve both died and I have one sibling, Billie.”

“Okay,” she said softly, respecting his wishes.

He abruptly stood up and since they were done with their dinner, he started collecting their plates and silverware. “Why don’t you go out to the terrace and sit by the fire while I clean up the kitchen and put the food away.”

She stood, too. “Can I at least help you clear the table?”

He shook his head. “No, I’ve got it, and I could use a few minutes to myself, if you don’t mind.”

There was nothing harsh about the tone of his request, but knowing what a private, reserved man Chase was, she understood his need for space to regain his composure. “Of course.”

He managed a small, appreciative smile. “Marcus made cannolis for dessert. How about I bring you a few with some coffee? I can add Baileys in it, if you’d like?”

“I would love that.” The last thing she’d ever turn down was dessert.

“And then we can talk about your sister, and your ex,” he said, taking the dishes to the sink.

“Now there’s a fun conversation,” she joked, but knew it had to be done. While Chase’s past was clearly off limits, hers was going to be blatantly in their faces for the weekend, and he needed to be prepared.

“By the way,” he said, stopping her before she could walk out to the terrace. “Where are we staying while we’re there?” He grimaced. “Please don’t tell me we’re staying with your parents.”

She laughed. “No, that would be extremely awkward,” she assured him. “I know staying at the house would be my mother’s preference, but once I moved out she made my room into a sewing and crafting area, and my sister Ashley’s room is now where my gramps stays. I’ll make reservations for us at the bed-and-breakfast in town.”

“I’ll pay for it, and any other expenses,” he insisted. “Call Victoria with the information and she’ll get it taken care of.”

Lauren wasn’t going to argue. “Okay. Thank you.”

Even though she really wanted to help Chase with the cleanup, she headed out onto the terrace and sat on the outdoor couch situated around the lit firepit, instead of one of the single chairs. The low flames chased away most of the chill in the October air, but she still grabbed the lightweight blanket draped over a cushion and spread it out over her legs.

She glanced back toward the condo, seeing into the kitchen through the bank of windows. Chase was standing at the island putting the leftovers into containers. There was a slight crease between his brows, but the earlier anger she’d provoked with her question about his father was gone, thank goodness.

At least he wasn’t holding her curiosity against her, and really, for the most part he’d been very pleasant and amiable. Likeable, even, as shocking as that was when she remembered the gruff and grumpy man she’d met at the bachelor auction.

Lauren found herself smiling as she continued to watch Chase as he made two cups of coffee and plated a few cannolis, remembering her conversation with Billie. She’d told the other woman that she wasn’t looking to fix Chase and his issues, and that still held true. However, in that moment Lauren decided she was going to give Billie her other wish, to shake up her brother’s neat and orderly world and get him to loosen up and relax during their time together.

Going home for her sister’s wedding was undoubtedly going to be difficult for various reasons, but why not enjoy her time with Chase, and vice versa? There was no denying their mutual attraction, so there was no reason why they couldn’t indulge in a little no-strings-attached side benefit to their arrangement, right?

She just needed to see if he was game.

Chapter Six

Chase added Baileys to the two mugs of coffee on the counter, grateful for the short time he had alone in the kitchen to recenter his mind and emotions after Lauren had shifted their conversation to his father, which was always a touchy subject for him. He didn’t discuss that part of his past with anyone, ever. The day his dad died was the day Chase swore he’d keep those terrible and painful memories locked up in the past, where they belonged.

But leave it to the persistent woman sitting out on his terrace to press the issue. She’d been nice about her inquiry, but her question had been equivalent to her shaking up a bottle of champagne (him), to the point that all that pressure he’d been suppressing for so many years had popped the cork he’d shoved into the bottle, and his anger had flared. He’d only told her a small fraction about his past, but there had been a moment when he’d wanted to spill everything, just to release all the bitterness and resentment festering deep inside.

He hated that he’d lost his composure when he was a man so in control of his emotions. Most of the women he’d dated would have been insulted or hurt that he’d snapped at them, but not Lauren. No, this woman wasn’t offended by much, and knowing he didn’t have to put on any pretenses with her made him feel relieved, and too damned comfortable around her. Which was why he’d probably allowed himself to slip and say anything about his relationship with his father.

He exhaled a deep breath and grabbing the two mug handles with one hand, and the plate with the dessert in the other, he walked out onto the terrace. Lauren watched him approach with a smile that soothed the last frayed edges of his emotions. He set the coffees and cannolis on the stone table built around the firepit, then took a seat next to her on the couch.

He handed one mug to her, then took the other for himself, waiting while she took a drink of the Baileys-infused coffee before broaching the subject of her ex marrying her sister.

And yeah, he was well aware that it made him a hypocrite that he was about to make her talk about her past, but she didn’t have much of a choice if she wanted him in the loop of what happened between her and her ex. And, if he was being honest with himself, he was curious to know what idiot would let a woman like Lauren go, then turn around and backstab her by hooking up with her sister. Totally fucking classless, in his opinion.

---