Page 58 of Drawn to You (Chasing Olivia 1)

“I’d like to help you look for an apartment as soon as possible. You’ll need to make sure you find one before you start working,” he murmurs softly. His voice reverberates through my skin, making me tingle. Again, I can feel him smiling.

“Okay,” I say in agreement. Right now, I would do anything for this man. He kisses my neck and moves up toward my ear, nipping as he goes. I try to hold on to my self-control. If we weren’t sitting in this restaurant, I’d have him on the couch right now. I can feel my resolve weakening. At this moment, I really wish I had my own place. He stands before I realize he’s gotten up.

I see him hand over his credit card to the waiter, who runs it through the micros computer and hands it back. Once the slip is signed, he makes his way back up to me.

“Ready?” His voice is hypnotic. We walk hand in hand back to the front of the restaurant and to the car.

Back in front of my house, I notice my mom is home. I have thoughts, but the last thing I want is to have her walk in on me. She knows no boundaries. I have to lock the door when I’m in the shower so she won’t stroll in. I shake my head, realizing that I really need my own place.

“Maybe sometime this week you can come with me to look at some places?” I ask hopefully.

“Of course, it will be my pleasure,” he says exiting the car and walking over to my side. We walk a few steps toward my front door when he stops short. One hand slides down my back, flattening at the base of my spine, holding me close. I can feel his erection through his jeans. He reaches up with the other and caresses my face, his thumb tracing my lower lip. I look up into his adoring eyes as he leans down to kiss me. His lips are so soft and his kiss so sweet. His tongue finds mine, and our kiss deepens. He grabs the nape of my neck and holds me close. He clamps his teeth down on my lower lip and pulls, groaning low in his throat. Cupping my face, Chase kisses me like his life depends on it. Suddenly he stops, resting his forehead against mine. “We need to find you a place. Soon.”

I look up into those exquisite eyes. “I know.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow.” With that, he kisses my forehead and releases me. I turn back toward my front door and go in.

I don’t see my mom anywhere, so she must be upstairs in her bedroom. That’s good. As much as I love her, I don’t want to talk to her about Chase. She is still too bitter about Evan.

I go up the stairs to my room and change for bed. I start to think about all of the things I used to do for Evan. He was very needy. I think that’s his mom’s fault. She used to baby him. He’s the youngest, but the things his mom used to do were just absurd. She did everything for him, and he expected me to do the same. Not that I minded, but there was a limit.

We were sitting on his bed one afternoon and his mom was doing laundry. She walked into his bedroom and picked up all of the clothes that were scattered across his floor. That wasn’t the amazing thing. She came over and pulled the socks off his feet so she could wash them. His feet! She would ask him every night what he wanted for dinner. She wouldn’t cook what she wanted, or what his sister wanted or even his dad. But what he wanted. It was a little too much to take in. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.

Now I have someone doing all of that for me, and I am a little taken aback. I know Chase means well, but I don’t want to be like Evan. I want to be self-sufficient. I am self-sufficient. I would have gotten a job on my own merit. I don’t need anyone’s favors. I need to call Chase and tell him he was out of line. I don’t want to become dependent upon anyone.

I pick up my cell phone and dial Chase. He answers on the first ring. “Hello, beautiful.”

“We need to talk.” I try to sound stern.

“Uh, oh,” he chides.

“I’m serious.”

“Okay, what’s up?”

“I know you meant well when you pulled those strings at NOAA, but I don’t appreciate you going behind my back to do it,” I say, my tone clipped.

“That’s not what I intended. I was trying to help,” he replies.

“I know, but I need to do these things on my own. I don’t want to depend on anyone, especially when it comes to employment.” My voice holds a touch of menace.

 

; “I’m sorry, that wasn’t my intention.” He is starting to sound contrite, but I need to draw a line in the sand. And he needs to know that he can’t cross it.

“I’ve never had to depend on anyone, and I’m not about to start now.”

“Okay, I understand. I won’t do anything without your written consent again,” he half jokes.

“It’s not funny, Chase, I’m serious,” I snap.

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“It’s just . . .” How do I put this? I sigh. “Next time, give me a heads up or something.” I know he means well, so I don’t want him to think I’m furious even though I should be.

“I promise. I’ll try not to interfere. It’s hard when I know there are so many things I can do for you.”

“That’s all I ask,” I say.

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