Page 81 of Things Good Girls Don't Do (Rock Canyon, Idaho 1)

The older man gave Chase a disapproving look and pointed his finger. “As for you, all that caterwauling ain’t gonna make up for the fact that you broke this poor girl’s heart.”

“Mr. Jefferies!” Katie cried, horror and humiliation making her face flush in the dark.

Chase had taken it all in stride and said, “I know, sir, but I have to start somewhere.”

“Hmmm . . . well, you just keep the shenanigans to a minimum from now on, you got me, young man?” he said.

“Yes sir,” Chase said, and the crotchety old guy went grumbling back into his house, carrying his shotgun by the strap.

“I am so sorry about that,” Katie had said, glad he couldn’t tell how deep her blush was in the dimness of the porch light.

“Don’t worry about it,” Chase said, handing her a little pink card. “This is for you.”

Opening the card, she read, “‘Four. I have never serenaded a woman by moonlight.’” She looked up in the sky and said, “Not much of a moon out tonight.”

“I think it’s the thought that counts.” He’d stepped up on the porch, inches away from her, and her heart skipped and jumped.

“It does,” she said, unable to look away from his lips.

“So, did you like it?” he asked, leaning his mouth down near hers.

She licked her lips and whispered, “Hmmm, I don’t know. Making fun of my pajamas and pissing off my neighbors. Plus, you probably just traumatized a bunch of high-school kids.”

“But you liked it?” She could feel the warmth of his breath against her lips.

“Yes. I loved it,” she said.

Chase had dropped his head the last fraction of an inch and kissed her, placing his hands on her waist. She reached up to run her hands over the back of his neck and pressed her body into his. Her nipples hardened as they rubbed against the fabric of her shirt and his hard chest.

He pulled back slowly and she’d protested. “Where are you going?”

Kissing her again softly, he

said, “Home.”

“What? Why?”

He’d reached up and taken her hands down from his neck. “Because it’s late and you need to get up for work in the morning.”

Kissing her cheek and turning to walk back to his chopper, he’d started whistling. Katie had scowled and said, “Seriously, I am inviting you inside and you aren’t going to come?”

“Nope. Good night.” He swung his leg over the chopper and started it up. He’d given her one last wave before pulling into the street and flipping around.

She’d stomped into the house and gone to bed grumbling.

Now it was Friday morning, and as she walked out to her car, Katie found a little pink card that read: Five. I have never told a woman no when she asked me to come inside.

Was that supposed to make her feel special? Chase gave in to everybody else, but with her, it was so much easier to resist?

Katie got into her car with a mission. She was done with this game. He had apologized, he had romanced, and he had teased, but when it came down to it, he was toying with her.

Something had to be done.

DRIVING OUT AND making a left onto Main Street, Katie headed to The Local Bean. She parked in the lot beside the big brick building and got out of the car, walking toward the coffee house with a determined gait. Opening the door, she walked inside to find Gracie McAllister talking to Ryan Ashton over a pile of magazines.

Katie almost turned around and walked back out the door. The last thing she needed when she was feeling so agitated was to run into Chase’s previous crush.

But she was caught by Gracie, who looked up and said, “Katie! Carmel mocha?”

---