Page 42 of Just One Summer with the Grumpy

Curse it to Hades.

My cheek burned where his lips had brushed my skin. If that alone set my brain into a whirl, I couldn’t imagine how the real thing might affect me.

A second later, I found myself standing on unsteady feet as Chase eyed Ty. “Hey there. All good?”

Ty’s face had turned bright purple. “Uh. Y—yeah. Everything’s…fine.”

“Good. It almost looked like you two were arguing. But appearances can be deceiving, can’t they?” Even behind his glasses, I saw intensity in Chase’s eyes. His tone had dropped in warning with those last few words. The implications there almost made me shiver.

Ty nodded vigorously. “Absolutely. Of course. Nothing but an honest disagreement. I’d better find Veronica. Don’t want to miss those, um, butterflies.”

“Sloths,” I called, but he’d already fled.

When I turned to Chase, he examined me carefully. “What did he say to you?”

“Nothing of consequence. Just a very old argument that doesn’t matter anymore.” I released Chase’s hand and folded my arms, starting after the rest of the group.

“Don’t,” Chase said behind me, a faint growl in his voice. A second later, he slipped in front of me, blocking my path.

I looked up at him. “Don’t what?”

He gestured to my stance. “This. Don’t let him or anyone else make you stand like that. Not ever.”

I saw myself through his eyes—arms folded, shoulders hunched, probably a hurt expression. Not for the reasons Chase believed though.

Ty was wrong. Chase wasn’t the lying, manipulating one. I was.

Forcing myself to straighten, I met Chase’s firm gaze. “I’m fine. It’s just the memories, that’s all.”

A flash of pain appeared in his eyes. Faster than a bolt of lightning, it was gone, making me wonder if it had ever been there at all.

“He hurt you,” Chase said, his expression darkening.

I couldn’t answer that truthfully, yet I couldn’t think of a single lie to dissuade this man who suddenly seemed intent on exploring every crevice of my heart and soul.

“It doesn’t matter. You came over at the perfect time.” I touched my cheek without even thinking. What would his lips feel like on mine? Would I ever get the chance to experience it? “Thank you for respecting my wishes. About the kiss, I mean.”

“A kiss is an intimate experience, something freely offered. I will never take that from you without your permission.”

Without my permission.But if he had my permission . . . what then? My poor, muddled brain couldn’t make sense of all this.

“The group is moving again,” I said, walking faster. “Maybe they’ll see another sloth family.”

Chase caught up in two massive strides. “I won’t try to compete with your furry rodents without your permission either.”

I stuck a finger into the sky for emphasis. “Notrodents.”

“Probably not, but they look like it. And that smile? It’s a sinister one, I’m sure of it. Look at them the wrong way, and they’ll murder you in your sleep.”

“Thankfully, it’ll take them about three years to reach my bungalow,” I pointed out. “I’ll be long gone by then.”

The reminder dampened the moment like a raincloud over a patch of sunshine. Even if Ty did marry Veronica, the dry summer wedding season would end in a matter of weeks. I would face New York and a sterile office building, and Chase would stay behind.

Our fake dating agreement had an even shorter shelf life. The moment Ty and Veronica got married, I would lose both ChaseandTy.

“Any other animals you adore?” Chase asked as we walked, hand in hand. It was beginning to feel comfortable now. “We don’t have a zoo on the island, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“Horses.” My answer came immediately. “I haven’t ridden since I left Rosie at home. My gray mare.”

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