Page 12 of Chasing Lyric
I burst out laughing as I rush over to the desk, trying to avoid the topic of how utterly gorgeous Chase is. I have to spend the next couple of hours with the man, driving to and from the San Fernando Valley to drop off a goat. I don’t need to be thinking about his stunning face or what his abs might look like beneath his crisp, white business shirt. Or how thick his thighs are, and what they might feel like pounding against me. Or how big his co—
Suddenly, a pair of snapping fingers is in my line of sight, and they break me out of my daydream. “Earth to Lyri. Where did you go just now? It was a sex daydream, wasn’t it?” Rory asks with the biggest of smirks as I try to catch my frantic breathing.
My cheeks heat as I shove her shoulder over the counter. “No. And anyway, a man like him wouldnotbe interested in a woman like me. He was probably flirting because it’s in his DNA. So, can we drop it? I’m in here for a reason.”
“Well, that’s good. Because if he’s not into you, then can I take control ’cause I’d love to ride his gear sti—”
“Rory, concentrate!”
“Sorry, continue…”
I exhale, exacerbated by her overzealous hormones, even though I totally understand them. “He knows Doughnut’s owners, so he’s coming with me, then I can return Doughnut to the San Fernando Valley.”
Rory’s suddenly very quiet. Her eyes linger out the window on Chase like she’s assessing him. “You don’t know him.”
I furrow my brows. “I know.”
“He could be a serial killer.”
“You were his number-one fan a second ago.”
She folds her arms over her chest in defiance. “Stranger danger, Lyri! Your precious goat won’t protect you.” She lowers her voice, “He could be a felon, a serial rapist… who knows?”
My heart leaps into my throat, so I turn to take him in again. Chase’s sitting on the back of the tailgate, cuddling into Doughnut, his shoulders bobbing up and down in laughter. The whole look tells me he’s a good guy. Icanfeel it.There’s no way he has ever been in any trouble. That man is too clean-cut.
“You honestly think the guy cuddling into a goat like that…” I point at him, “… is a serial rapist?”
Rory observes him for a few seconds. I see her mind ticking over, just the way mine does when I look at Chase. He seems to have an effect on women, so I need to be aware of that fact and not get caught up in anything here.
She shakes her head. “You’re right. There’s no way. Sorry.Go… have fun. Just keep in touch. Message me often. Let me know you’re okay.”
“Love you, Rores. Thanks for caring.”
She waves her hand through the air. “Bitch,please, I have a heart of steel. Now, go on your adventure. I got this end covered.”
I turn to walk for the exit. “Don’t forget to order the—”
“Out,” she yells, pointing to the door.
Pushing slowly on the handle, I step through. Chase glances up at me from his cell, where he was typing something. As I approach, he stands from the tailgate, shuts it, then gives Doughnut a scratch behind the ear. “It’s good to see you again, boy.” Then he walks around to the driver’s side of my truck.
I let out a long laugh. “Oh, hell no, I’m driving. Thank you.”
His eyebrows scrunch together tightly. “But I know the way.”
I walk to the driver’s door, yanking it open. “And you can tell me where to drive. But dude, you arenotdrivingmytruck.”
He dips his head and turns, making his way to the passenger’s side, mumbling something unintelligible under his breath.
As we both slide inside, the outside noise of the day disappears, and silence filters around us. I glance sideways at Chase, but his eyes are straight ahead, like he’s unsure of what to do as well.
We’re alone.
Truly alone.
And neither one of us knows what the protocol is.
The only thing I do know is that the energy I felt before is back, only this time we’re confined, and it’s making me want to reach out and touch him. But that would be fucking weird. Instead, I start the truck, pulling out of the parking space.
