Page 20 of Legacy
He releases my hand and claps Luke on the chest. “We’ve been best friends since childhood. I’m one of the only people who can fuck with him and he can’t retaliate. Are you here for the party?” Chase asks, gaze flicking over my sloppy clothing.
I avoid eye contact with Hart. “I was just leaving,” I announce. “I’m also in the category of people he can’t retaliate against.” I make sure my smile is wide and true.
“Oh really,” Chase says, shoulders moving in a slick, sleazy way. “How do you know the infamous Hart?”
Luke speaks before I can. “I’ll walk you out.”
“Oh, I see,” Chase says.
“It’s not like that, dude. Back off. Meet me in the study. I’ll be there in a few.”
I sigh. “It’s not like what?”
“You had a date with him?” Chase asks, getting more confused about our dynamic by the second. “On family Sunday?” Ah, so this guy does know Hart well. “That’s a new one.” Chase looks at his friend, and then me.
Deflection by thinly veiled truths. “No, no, no. Not a date. Hart is bound to me for life.”
Luke laughs, shaking his head while Chase’s gaze flits back and forth between us.
“Walk me out, then. I don’t want to have to take your security guard out,” I deadpan. “Nice meeting you,” I toss over my shoulder as I exit. Chase is watching us closely, picking apart every movement. This invite over for family day meant more than I initially thought.
As we walk down the stairs to the drive, I say, “He’s a different sort of guy, Hart. Didn’t tell me about your party, huh? Didn’t want me to crash it?”
He explains that Chase is an old friend, what he does for work, and that he’s been close with him since childhood. He talks a little bit about the progression of Chase’s businesses and how he deals with his friend’s sleazy ways for reasons that benefit him. “The club chicks. He’s your source.” I brighten at my discovery. “Is that who Chantal is?”
His hand on the hood of my car, he lifts his eyes from the pavement. He’s not confused, he knows I heard them speaking. Expected it. Has my number. “She’s an ex of sorts. And yes, she works at one of his nightclubs.”
“You do have girlfriends,” I fire back, one brow raised.
The driveway is fully lit and the security lights are beaconing down on us so strongly it feels like afternoon instead of night. Luke’s tan skin appears alabaster in the glow. “No. She was a mistake. But I guess she was a good employee and Chase is pissed that I pissed her off.” Hart clears his throat. “Not that it’s any of your business or anything.”
I shrug. “Trying to understand you better. If we’re going to be friends, it helps.”
“You’re going to go back and tell the guys everything I say,” Luke says, tone accusing.
I smirk. “No. I’ll keep your girlfriends between us if that’s what you’re asking. Plus, I want to drive your cars, so I’ll keep on your good side if that’s what it takes.”
A breeze catches my hair and pastes it across my face, I pull it back quickly. “I’ll return the bathing suit and the clothes next time I see you outside of work.”
“Little Dempsey, I don’t let anyone drive my cars, and I can’t reiterate enough that I don’t have girlfriends.”
“Do you ever want girlfriends? Have you not met the right person?” I think of his parents. Of my parents. “Surely there’s more than a career in the Teams until you’re old and wrinkly.” His gaze is a cautious flail. I see the panic—the lies he tells himself. I don’t know why, though.
“Ah, you’re mistaken. That’s where the cars come in,” he replies, jaw clenching. “Maybe I have met the right woman. Maybe it’s not what I want.”
The salty ocean aroma seeps into my next breath and his face shutters.
Enough, Aara.Stop pressing him.“See you tomorrow, Hart. Don’t party too hard.”
He puts a hand on the roof of my Camry. “What do you have under the hood?”
I cross my arms. “Are you making fun of the Toyota? It is the most popular car in America, so you really can’t say much. It’s reliable.”
His eyes narrow. “You’re not really a reliable kind of car kind of woman…Aara.”
Pressing my lips together, I weigh whether or not to call him out. “Did you bring up my car so you could call me by my first name?”
“Maybe.”
Touché. No denial. “Fine, Luke. See you when we’re hurling ourselves out of airplanes.”
“I can’t wait to watch your face,” he says.
Swallowing hard, I get into the car and start it. Hart throws up the bull sign as I back out of the parking spot and leave the solace of his compound.
