Page 45 of Just One Summer with the Grumpy

Chase stared at me as if seeing me in a new light. “You can access almost any show from around the world, yet you’re watching a movie made a hundred years ago?”

“Eighty years, and you don’t understand. The scene when his love rides away on the train, and he rides to stop her? Drops everything, including the criminals, and gallops off with his trusty steed to claim the future he knows they can still have? Tom Cruise only wishes he could pull that off. Best stunts, best music, best scene ever.”

“Really.” He looked thoughtful. “I’d like to decide that for myself, if you wouldn’t mind the company.”

In that instant, I remembered the time I’d asked Ty to watch this show with me. I’d even made pizza for the occasion. He’d spent half the movie grumbling and the other half texting. At the train scene, he’d actually made fun of my cowboy, ridiculing him for chasing after his love and taunting Cavil as he tried desperately to win her back.

Did I really want a replay of that experience with Chase? Could I hand him something I loved and watch him rip it to shreds?

“You have to see the whole thing from the beginning,” I warned him. “You won’t get it unless you see how their relationship started. It’s one of the best meet cutes ever.”

I expected him to tease me for the term or run at the first hint of a chick flick, but instead, he looked thoughtful.

“Fine.” He slapped his thighs and rose to his feet.

Wait. What?

Chase saw my confusion and smirked. “If you’re starting the movie over, I’m making popcorn.”

“I don’t have any,” I said, feeling bewildered.

“Yes, you do. I put it in the far-right bottom drawer just before you arrived. Filled the fridge too. Can’t be accused of starving my employees after that long flight.”

I tried to picture Chase hurrying to my quarters from a long flight that had arrived only slightly earlier than mine, tidying everything in preparation for my arrival. This definitely wasn’t the boss I’d seen at the office in New York. “I figured you sent Agwe to do everything.”

“He offered, but I insisted. I read in your employee file that you’d never been on an island before, so I thought I’d make this as homey as possible. For the record, the pillows werenotmy idea.” He grimaced and went into the kitchen.

I chuckled, grabbing the remote and restarting the movie just as I remembered the current state of my kitchen. Why hadn’t I done the dishes this morning? Thankfully, I heard no complaints from Chase—only the sound of drawers and cupboards opening and closing.

Then I realized I’d be sitting next to Chase Everett and eating popcorn, and whipped out my cell phone to check my appearance.

Yikes.My post-horseback-riding hair looked windblown and wild, and my black bra strap peeked on one side of my wide shirt. I straightened everything, combed my hair back with my fingers, and pulled a few strands to frame my face before remembering it didn’t matter whether Chase found me attractive.

Except he’d said he was bad at reading people. What exactly had he misread? If I had led him on somehow and then snapped at him for acting on that…no wonder the poor guy had been confused.

But if he’d acted on it because he wanted to, because he enjoyed my company…because helikedme…

The thought of this turning into anything more than a sham felt more surreal than a Salvador Dali painting. Chase dated millionaires—beach-wave women who got manicures, boob jobs, Botox, and instant social media followers. Not frumpy farm girl employees who chased grooms that didn’t want them and watched ancient cowboy romances because fictional men could never break her heart.

The microwave beeped as the entire bungalow smelled like delicious melted butter…and shortly afterward, something not so delicious and very much burned. Chase cursed.

“That microwave runs hot,” I warned. “You’ll have to stop it early.”

“Yeah. Figured that out.”

Five minutes later, Chase returned with a giant bowl of popcorn (batch number two) and a couple of cups. He immediately settled onto the loveseat next to me, his leg resting against mine and sending pleasant zings ripping up and down my limbs.

He scooped a cup of popcorn, handed it to me, and gestured to the TV. “I’m ready to be wowed.”

I hit Play on the remote and settled back. “I’m not sure you’ve been adequately prepared for the majesty of this moment, but I’ll give you a chance.”

“One chance is all I need.” He filled his cup and dumped half of it into his mouth at once. It was all I could do not to stare. Here, in this moment, Chase seemed almost normal.

Thisfelt normal. That was, perhaps, the most stunning revelation of all.

The movie passed quickly, yet seemed to take forever at the same time. Chase seemed completely engrossed, laughing at the funny parts and looking somber at the sad ones. When Samantha climbed onto the train and said goodbye, Chase shook his head in disappointment. All the right reactions, yet I felt hyper-focused on his every movement.

It shouldn’t have mattered to me what he thought of my favorite movie.

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