Page 14 of Hard To Love

Chapter Four

Iwas feelinga strange mix of nervousness and excitement as I settled into my seat. The proud feeling of expanding my boundaries was cut short when I felt that nervous energy growing in the pit of my stomach.

I slipped my phone out of my purse and shot Cassie a quick text letting her know that Chase was taking me home and we would talk tomorrow. After hitting send, I sat back in my seat and willed my heartbeat to slow down.

My nervous energy must have been obvious because Chase glanced over at me, raising his brow in question. “I texted Cassie to let her know that you were giving me a ride home. You know, just in case I come up dead or missing. There will be people looking for me and you won’t get away with it.”

He tilted his head back with his chest shaking in silent laughter. “Fortunately, I happen to know a very good attorney.”

“I’m sure you do.”

His grip tightened on the steering wheel. “You’re looking at him right now”

My head jerked back. I searched his face, looking for any signs that he was joking. He was too damned sexy to be a lawyer.

He let out a low laugh. “Why do you look so surprised? I dropped you a little hint back at the club when I mentioned law school.”

My eyes widened. “No way. I thought the lawyer shtick was just part of your pick-up line. I never would have taken you for a lawyer. All the ones I know are stiff and uptight.”

Although I was sure he could get very stiff, there was nothing uptight about him. To me, he seemed thrilling, exciting and adventurous, which was pretty much everything I wasn’t. Well, you know what they say, opposites attract.

“I’m a man of many talents,” he said with a knowing wink. “So where to, sweetheart?”

The thoughts of his many talents sent a tingle straight up my legs. I stared at him and found myself fixating on how gorgeous he was. There wasn’t a single thing about him that didn’t affect me. Between his looks, his personality, his sense of humor… Even his voice was sexy. It was gentle, yet commanding, and it sounded so smooth and silky, just like the sheets that I wanted to get tangled up in with him. Somehow, I managed to pull my mind out of the gutter and was able to give him the address to my apartment.

As he maneuvered his way down 2ndAvenue on the way to the financial district, he asked me, “So what’s the deal with you and this Jack?”

The mention of Jack’s name had me shifting in my seat “I’m sorry I never corrected your assumption on him being my boyfriend.” I forced myself to look at him while my brain searched for a way to explain why I had lied in the first place.

“I just wasn’t sure how to handle the situation and I panicked.”

I fully expected him to laugh, but the way his eyes softened in understanding had me wondering if I wasn’t the only one who felt that way?

He took in a deep breath and looked straight ahead. “You don’t need to apologize or feel uncomfortable. But I am damned glad that he isn’t your boyfriend. Because I like you, and I’m attracted to you. If you were spoken for then we wouldn’t be sitting here right now.” He glanced to see if there was a reaction in my eyes and then looked back at the road. When we came to the stoplight, he reached for the stereo and asked, “What kind of music do you listen to?”

I gave him a shy smile and responded, “Anything but classical or oldies.”

His hand paused on the knob and his lips twitched in amusement. “What’s your favorite kind of music?” he asked, trying to keep a straight face.

“Do you promise not to laugh?”

He held up his hand with a 3-fingered salute. “Scout’s honor.” The humor in his eyes told me he was going to have a little fun teasing me no matter what I picked.

“I love country music. Modern country.” I corrected. “I like the new guys like Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean.” My hands clenched the leather seat and prepared for whatever taunts he threw my way.

His mouth hitched up at the corner causing his dimple to pop out. “I wish I would have known, I would have worn my cowboy hat and boots,” he said teasingly.

“Ha ha.” I said sarcastically, trying to ignore the tingling sensation that was going on below my waist. “I take it you weren’t a boy scout either?” After he planted that image in my head, the inside of the car felt cramped. I was feeling hot and bothered in all the best ways possible.

“I’ll plead the fifth on that one,” he said, with a smirk.

A playful laugh escaped me as I pushed his hand away from the stereo knob and leaned forward in my seat. “Keep your eyes on the road, Mister.” It only took a couple of quick seconds of searching for a country station before I heard Brad Paisley singing ‘Then’.

The distance to downtown from the club was about as far as it got in Manhattan. As we rode in comfortable silence, my too short dress brushed against the cool leather of the seat as my fingers tapped on my thigh to the rhythm of the music. I kept sneaking quick glances in his direction. No matter how hard I tried, my thoughts kept finding their way back to that earlier feeling that this beautiful man sitting next to me, could be with any woman he wanted.

I must have stared a beat too long, because it was enough time for him to notice my shift in mood.

He snuck a quick glance at me as he skillfully maneuvered his way through the heavy traffic. “Everything okay?” he asked, lifting his brow with genuine concern.

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