Page 64 of Things Good Girls Don't Do

“No, of course not,” she said, taking her helmet.

Holding out his hand to stop her, he searched her face, a twinkle settling into his eye. “Damn me, you’re jealous.”

“I am not,” she said, trying to push his hand away.

Chase took the helmet and grabbed her arms to pull her against him. She struggled a little and said, “Let go, I thought we were having lunch.”

“We are, just let me say something to you first,” he said, laughing.

Glaring up at him, Katie stopped. “What?

Kissing her cheek, her forehead, and her nose, he finally teased her lips with his until she relaxed. When she met his gaze, his eyes were no longer laughing, and he said, “I am not into Ryan or any other woman in this town. The only woman I want to be with is you, Ms. Connors.”

Swallowing the lump that his words had caused, she said, “Well then, Mr. Trepasso, would you please take me home?”

“What about lunch?” he asked.

Stretching onto her tiptoes, she kissed his mouth teasingly and said, “I was thinking we could start with dessert and order a pizza afterward.”

“A woman after my own heart.”

Maybe I am.

Chapter Thirteen

BYSATURDAY, ITwasn’t just an idea anymore. Katie was head-over-heels, over-the-moon, heart-and-key in love with Chase. She hadn’t told him, of course, although they had seen each other just about every single day, and the feelings just kept getting stronger. Not to say he was the easiest man to read. The minute the conversation got too serious or consisted of any kind of actually “feelings,” he’d distract her with a snarky comment, teasing, or kissing. Except for the times when he would say something sweet and romantic, which just made her crazier.

Which she didn’t really mind, except she couldn’t get a read on whether they were just hanging out or getting serious. He had said he wanted only her, so were they exclusive? It wasn’t like she expected him to tell her he loved her. She knew it was too soon and that she was crazy for even thinking it, but at least she wanted to know if they were heading somewhere. Chase seemed content to just let things play out and not talk about it. Which for Katie was hard. She liked to be in control. She liked to organize. And she liked to know where she stood.

Katie parked the 4Runner at the Wilsons’ dairy, where they had the fireworks every year. The place was twenty acres of manure and dirt: the best place to set off the fireworks without starting a fire. People were already spreading out across the field with blankets and picnic baskets of food. Everybody knew that if you sat too close, you’d get ash in your hair, but people tried to get as close as they could. Chase had said he would try to close down shop for them but didn’t make any promises. Maybe they needed a bit of time apart anyway. Time to think about how they felt.

At least he did. She knew what she wanted.

Jared and Steph were waving at her from their blanket and she waved back, weaving through the families and couples to get to them. “Hey guys, enough room on that blanket for me?”

Steph scooted closer to Jared and said, “Of course. Want a beer?”

Katie took a cold Keystone. “Thanks. What’s the holdup?”

“They’re having some kind of issue with the fuses,” Jared said, leaning over to grab another beer.

Katie shivered. “I don’t like the wordissuesin the same sentence asfireworks.”

Jared grinned and said, “It wasn’t.”

“Okay, I don’t likeissuesattached tofireworks.”

Steph cupped her hands over her mouth and yelled, “Come on, dinglings, let’s get this show on the road!”

Katie heard some returned curses and grinned at Steph. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to upset men lighting explosives?”

“I doubt Sam and the rest of them will kill me over a little heckling. I’m sure I’ve done worse to them. I think I actually spit my beer out on Sam once when he tried to kiss me.”

“What?” Jared growled, looking furious. Considering they had been together since high school and married right after, Katie could understand his reaction.

Steph waved him off, though. “It was back in high school, and to be fair, Cory Hammish did dare him. And remember, there was no kissing, only beer spitting. My lips belong to you only.” She leaned over and gave him a kiss that gave off steam.

Katie turned away and took another sip of her beer. It had been hard hanging with Steph and Jared the past year, when she’d been hurting so bad, but now it was better. She still didn’t want to see them examine each other’s tonsils, though. “Dude, gross.”

---