Page 3 of Just A Little Chase

“So, can I take your quiet internalizing as a yes?” she persisted.

He nearly choked on a bite of his sandwich. “No,” he said once he swallowed, his voice emphatic and gruff. “And I’m not internalizing anything. I’m quiet because I’m trying to eat, for God’s sake.”

“Please?” Undeterred, she set her fork down and folded her hands together beneath her chin, her eyes imploring him. “Having you on that stage would mean the world to me, Chase.”

It was those words that made his heart constrict in his chest, because they were honest and true and without any manipulating intent. The truth was, Billie never asked him for anything, when he wanted to give her everything she’d missed out on growing up because of their mother’s shitty decisions—mainly, her choice to stay involved with Billie’s deadbeat father who’d cared more about finding his next fix instead of his daughter’s welfare.

When their mother died in a tragic car accident when Billie was eight—something Chase hadn’t known until he’d hired a PI to find the sibling his own father had told him about on his death bed—he’d discovered that Billie’s dad had surrendered her to child protective services shortly after Darlene’s death. Because he didn’t want to raise a child he’d never wanted in the first place. Asshole.

Chase had also learned from the investigative report that from the age of eight to when she’d aged out at eighteen, she’d been shuffled through a series of foster homes. Some decent, and others more problematic, the latter of which he didn’t want to think about her enduring, all alone and afraid.

But despite her crappy childhood and the adversities she’d faced, she’d become a resilient young woman and a champion for other foster kids who needed help and guidance once they no longer had the support of the system. He was so damn proud of how well rounded and independent she was, how positively she viewed the world, despite her traumatic upbringing, when his own childhood had fucked with his head and left him skeptical and jaded.

Jesus, in some ways she had her shit together better than he did. At least emotionally and mentally.

As she continued to look at him with that hopeful expression on her face, a familiar guilt wove its way through him. He hadn’t lived a charmed childhood. His father was rarely present and suffered from depression, requiring constant care, but Chase definitely had more stability and security than Billie ever experienced. He’d tried his best to make up for all of that now by spoiling her but his sister was such a simple creature when it came to what she needed and wanted from their relationship, and she’d told him many times she didn’t want the things his money could buy. She only wanted an emotional and familial connection between them. Which was why he loved her so much.

She was so selfless when it came to others, and in the scheme of things, he was being a selfish dick by denying her the one thing she’d ever asked him for. Unfortunately for him, what she desired wasn’t something his money could buy. It required him to step up and show Billie how much he supported the nonprofit she was so passionate about.

“Fine,” he grumbled, still not thrilled at the prospect of being auctioned off to some random woman for a weekend. “I’ll do it.”

Billie beamed at him, her smile as bright as the early October sunshine warming the café patio. “Thank you, Chase. I knew you’d come through for me.”

He narrowed his gaze, but softened his scowl with a hint of a smile, just for her. “Only because you were clearly determined to wear me down until I said yes.”

“Maybe,” she admitted impishly as she went back to her lunch, looking extremely pleased with herself. “Just a little.”

He shook his head and resumed eating his sandwich, trying to resign himself to his fate.

Was he happy about the situation? Absolutely not. But for Billie, he’d suck up his discomfort and be the big brother she needed him to be.

Chapter Two

The day of the Future Fast Track charity gala was chaos, but it was the kind of exhilarating hustle and bustle that Lauren loved about her job as an event coordinator for the Meridian Hotel. And with her boss, Jade Dare, on maternity leave, she was in charge and busier than usual.

From early morning to mid-afternoon that Saturday, she was caught up in a whirlwind of activity, from overseeing the setup and décor of the lavish ballroom for the formal dinner and fundraiser, to coordinating with Billie and Aurora at Future Fast Track to ensure that everything they’d requested was in place, to making sure the chef in charge of the catering crew had everything they needed for the five-course meal that would be served to the guests.

Once Lauren felt confident that everything was ready for the evening’s festivities, she’d rushed home to change into something more appropriate for a formal gala. She’d chosen a comfortable burgundy gown with a skirt that was more billowy than formfitting so she could move around quickly and easily, just in case there were any potential issues that might arise that she needed to take care of during the course of the event.

While Aurora and Billie encouraged her to enjoy the festivities, Lauren was always aware that she was still on the job and had her eyes on everything as the evening progressed, making sure the event ran smoothly and efficiently. There were small fires to put out, which was normal for any big venue, but for the most part the welcome reception and dinner went off without a hitch, much to her relief.

By the time the bachelor auction was announced, Lauren found herself relaxing a bit, since the most crucial parts of the evening were now behind her. She met up with her coworker and good friend, Skye, and accompanied her as they joined the rest of the single women gathering around the stage.

“So, I told Tripp yes to his offer,” Skye said once they’d found a place, referring to her old flame she’d recently hooked up with and the fact that he’d volunteered to give Skye the baby she wanted so badly—by impregnating her the old-fashioned way instead of the insemination process she’d originally planned on. “And he asked me to bid on him, no matter the amount, so that he wouldn’t have to spend the weekend with any other woman.”

Grinning, Lauren looped her arm through Skye’s, happy for her friend, and equally impressed that Tripp—as one of the bachelors up for auction—had his sights set on only one particular female in the crowd. “That’s because he’s a stand-up guy with morals and integrity. I mean, why would he want another woman when he has you?”

A blush swept across Skye’s cheeks as she rolled her eyes at Lauren. “He doesn’t have me.”

Lauren waggled her brows playfully. “Well, technically he will be ‘having you’ for the foreseeable future until you get pregnant.”

Skye shook her head at Lauren’s comment, but was smiling as they watched all the bachelors gradually take their places on the stage. Lauren didn’t miss the way her friend’s eyes remained on Tripp, who’d also found her in the throng of women and gave her a sexy smile that made Skye blush all over again.

As the men continued to take their positions, Skye managed to tear her gaze from Tripp to glance at Lauren. “Okay, so which guy did you decide on for yourself?” she asked curiously.

Considering they worked together, and were good friends, Lauren had told Skye about her idea of buying a bachelor to take to her sister’s wedding when they’d gone out for drinks the previous weekend. After solidifying her plan with Tara, Lauren had taken a good, long look at her options and had settled on a guy she deemed the best man for the job as her fake boyfriend.

“His name is Neil Pierson, and according to the information he sent in, he’s an accountant,” she told Skye, waiting for the man to arrive onstage so she could get an in-person glimpse of him. She hoped he at least looked somewhat like his photo, which had depicted a mild-mannered, but decent-looking guy. “I decided to go for someone boring but dependable who will hopefully be willing to fake date me at my sister’s wedding and help convince my family I really am happy.”

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