Page 8 of Must Love Alligators

Wow.That was…unprecedented.Of course, he’d never dated a woman who was interested in alligators.That he could say for sure.

She rolled her eyes again.Something that was also fairly unprecedented in the women he hung out with.Other than his sister.Juliet definitely rolled her eyes at him.

Juliet would like Bailey.He wasn’t sure why that occurred to him just then, but he was sure of it.

“Why would youreallywant to introduce me to Bennett Baxter?”Bailey asked.

Chase thought maybe honesty would get him further with this woman than flirtation.“Because there’s something about you that makes me want to do something to impress you, and that’s about all I’ve got.”

She looked surprised for a moment.

“Oh!And money,” he said as the thought occurred.“I have money, too.”

“Uh.What?”

“I’m rich.”Okay that wasn’t something he generally blurted out.For one thing, most people he spent time with knew that.He was a Dawson from Virginia.His father was loaded.For another, even he knew that you weren’t supposed totalk aboutbeing rich.Juliet would have definitely rolled her eyes at that.

“You’re…rich.”

And suddenly his wish came true.Bailey Wilcox smiled.Big.And then laughed.

Chase felt himself grinning.“I am.Seriously.”

She shook her head.“Wow.I mean…who says stuff like that?”

He shrugged.“It just kind of popped out.But I am.I’ve got money.I’ll give it to you to save your alligators.”

She was clearly not sure what to make of that.She blew out a breath.“No, Chase, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“How can me giving you money for alligators not be a good idea?”he asked.“Of course, it’s my father’s money, technically, but maybe you could come home with me and give a presentation and win my dad over.Too.”

She looked beyond surprised now.She looked a little like she thought Chase might be a weird stalker.Probably because that was the kind of thing a weird stalker might say.They’d just met and he was talking about taking her home with him to meet his parents?And indicating that he was suddenly interested in alligators because of her?

But, stupidly, he was.He might just have some reading to do on the subject of the Louisiana coastline.

Not to mention his interest in the idea of taking Bailey home with him where he could take her out and show her around D.C.and… What the hell was he doing?

“I don’t think I’m going to take your money, Chase,” Bailey said.

Right.Because he was acting like a weird stalker.

“I understand.But I really would like to make a donation or something.Maybe—”

“I can’t take your money.”

But instead of backing away and looking for the nearest exit, she stepped forward.

Before Chase could react or analyze that, Bailey took the front of his shirt in her hands and pulled him forward while going up on her tiptoes.

If he’d realized what was happening, he might not have lost his balance and taken an unexpected step forward.But he would have never in a million years expected Bailey Wilcox to spontaneously kiss him.So, his chin hit the top of her head, snapping his teeth together, and he stepped on her foot, while also reaching out to keep from knocking her over and ending up with one hand on her left breast and the other grappling for the wall behind her.Bailey instinctively pulled back, her head thumping against the wall behind her.She tried to steady herself by grabbing the first thing in reach, which was his side, and the skin bared by his shirt pulling up as he stumbled.Her nails raked over his skin, the sharp sting making him suck in a breath.

Finally the clumsy cascade stopped and they both froze.Three ticks passed on the clock.Then they looked at each other.

And Chase became aware of several things at once.Bailey had tried to kiss him, this was possibly the most awkward kiss of his life, and his hand was still on her breast.

He gave her a small smile.“Maybe we should try that again.”

He leaned in, but she turned her head just as he was about to make contact.His lips skimmed over the corner of her mouth and he almost face planted into the wall as she ducked under his arm and slipped away.

---