Loving Lauren (22 page)

“Hot date?” Haley looked at him as he chuckled and shook his head.

“Dinner with my dad. It's a standing Friday night thing.” He looked over at her. “I thought you might want to join me?”

Her chin dropped a little so she quickly closed it. “No, I'll pass tonight.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “No problem. I'll just head out and clean up.” He walked over to her and leaned over. “Standing offer. Just let me know and dad will add another place setting.” He quickly kissed her, lingering on her lips for a few seconds. “I'll see you later.” He stood up and nodded to Haley, then walked out.

Less than two seconds later, Haley turned on her, salad tongs in hand. “Okay, spill.” She leaned back against the counter.

“What?” She tried to look innocent.

“Lauren Marie West, you were in bed with Chase and you are going to tell me everything.”

Her eyebrows shot up. No one had used that tone with her since her mother had been alive. Haley stood by the stove, apron on, the smell of cooking filling the air, and all Lauren could think about was how much Haley reminded her of their mother. Tears started to fill her eyes and in the next second, Haley was by her side.

“Was it that bad?”

She shook her head. “You just reminded me of mom for a second.”

“Really?” Haley was the only sister that didn't have any memories of their mother. Lauren nodded her head and hugged her sister.

“You remind me the most of her. She had lighter hair, but you move a lot like she did.”

Haley smiled. “So, you and Chase, huh?”

Lauren sighed. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“What?” Haley stood up and got back to work. “Don't you want   Chase to hang around?”

“I don't know. I don't have time to have a relationship.”

Haley turned on her, a startled look on her face. “This wasn't a one night stand was it?”

Lauren laughed. “With Chase? Chase doesn't do anything once.” When she realized what she'd said, she blushed a little.

Haley laughed and turned back around. “Good. I'd hate to have to sic Alex on him.”

An hour later, Chase walked into his father's place with Buddy in his arms and stopped cold when he saw his father's arms wrapped around a tall blonde woman.

“Oh, excuse me.” He turned to go, but his father turned around.

“Don't be silly, boy. Come over here and meet my new gal. Charlotte, this is my boy I've been telling you all about.”

Chase set Buddy down and he quickly disappeared, no doubt looking for his father's dog to play with. Chase shook Charlotte’s hand and took in the woman's appearance. She was around his father's age, but a little shorter and a whole lot skinnier. Her clothes were neatly pressed and she looked like she'd taken great care in her appearance. His father had dated in the past, but no one had ever stuck around long. Somehow, he thought this time would be different. He could see it in his father's eyes.

“How do you do?”

“Oh, just fine. I told Johnathan that he should warn you I'd be coming along tonight.” She shook his hand in a firm but friendly handshake. His opinion of her tripled with the warmth he felt in her hands and the humor he saw in her eyes. Chase always disliked women who shook hands like they were so fragile they couldn't muster enough energy to hold onto someone’s hand.

“Don't worry about it. I like surprises.” He took her arm and steered her towards the dining room. “Well, since my father has left out mentioning you, ever”—he looked over his shoulder at his dad, who immediately looked away—“I'd love for you to fill me in on all the details of how and when you two met.” Charlotte smiled and chuckled a little.

An hour later, Chase was laughing so hard, he could hardly contain himself. Charlotte had told him the story of how she'd met him at the medical clinic. She was a physical therapist assigned to her father. Needless to say, his dad hadn’t wanted to listen to her but, in the end, she’d whipped him into shape.

“Damned if I don't like this one, Dad.” He slapped his father on the shoulder. “If you don't keep her, I think I'll take a shot at her myself.” He watched a slow smile cross his father's face.

“You're too late, son. I called dibs on her first.”

Charlotte smiled and reached across the table and took his father's hand.

“So, tell me all about this girl you're living with. Lauren was her name, right Johnathan?” Chase started coughing on the mouthful of water he'd just drunk. When he finally cleared his throat, he said. “I'm not living with her, per se. I'm staying in one of her ranch hand's houses.”

“Sure he is.” He watched his father's eyes fill with humor.

“Oh,” she chuckled, “I was led to believe—”

“Yes,” he broke in, “I can guess what you were told.” He looked towards his father, who had quickly looked away again, a slight smile on his face.

On the drive home, he thought about his situation. Why was he staying in a small, lonely house out in the fields when what he wanted was less than a mile away? By the time he drove up to the ranch, he couldn't shake the question from his mind. He'd seen the look of disappointment in Lauren's eyes when he'd said he couldn't stay for dinner. The fact that she'd wanted him to stay had given him hope. Did that mean she wanted him to stay the night, as well? Now that both her sisters knew they'd spent the night together, why would they hide their relationship? He reached the turn off towards his place, but at the last moment decided to head straight towards the big house instead.

Parking in front of the garage, he picked up Buddy and tucked the sleeping dog under his arm. Looking up towards the house, he saw Lauren's light on and decided to avoid the possibility of running into her sisters in the kitchen. There was a small deck on the second floor. The stairs were a little rickety, but he made his way up the stairs and knocked lightly on her locked window. It took a few times, but finally her curtains were thrown back and she looked at him from the other side of the glass.

She reached down and started to open her window, but it didn't budge. He put Buddy down on a cushioned chair a few feet away, then walked over and started helping her lift the window. In the end, it took a few more tries and both of them to yank the old window open enough that he could step in. He walked over and gathered the sleeping dog and stepped through.

“That's a hazard,” he said, setting Buddy down on a lounge chair that sat in front of her other window. “What if there had been a fire? There is no way you would have been able to get out by yourself.” He turned and started looking at the old wood and sill. There was an inch of paint caked around the glass. It needed to be scraped off. Better yet, all the windows should be completely replaced.

“I would have broken the glass,” she said from behind him. He looked over his shoulder at her. She stood with her arms crossed over her chest. Little black shorts hugged her hips and a small black tank top showed her every curve. He forgot about the window and slowly walked towards her, his mind blanked of everything but her. All he could think of was getting his hands on her soft skin.

“What are you doing here?” She was oblivious to his mood. Well, he would just have to show her that he intended to spend the rest of his nights in her bed.

Chapter Thirteen

Chase stood in front of her, a funny look on his face. When he started coming towards her, heat flooded her body. It may have taken her brain a few seconds more to understand what his intentions were, but her body had picked up on it before her mind had.

By the time he'd gathered her up in his arms, she was back in sync and wrapped her arms and legs around him as he carried her a few steps to her bed. When she hit the mattress with a slight bounce, she had no time to recover before he was covering her, his mouth on hers, spreading warmth and heat to every inch of her. When had she lost control?

Her fingers dug into his hair as she tried to pull him closer. She didn't remember him removing her clothes or her pulling his off in return. He paused briefly to put on a rubber, but kept kissing her and building something deep inside her as he protected them. All that she could focus on was the feel of his skin next to hers, the feel of his hands on her, pleasing and pushing her to the very edge.

His calloused hands gripped her hips as he spread her legs wider with his knees. When he slid into her, she felt like something had been missing all day, and realized it had been this. Simply him.

His every movement made time stretch, made every breath she took seem like it was for him. How could he have changed her so much with just a kiss? He trailed his hot mouth down the column of her neck and sent shivers through her entire body. She felt like she couldn't get close enough, pulling her arms around him and wrapping her legs around his narrow hips as he moved above her.

“Faster, Chase. I can't...” She ended on a moan as his lips closed around her nipple and he sucked gently on the peaked skin. His tongue twirled around her heated skin, torturing her with his patience. How could he be in such control? Feeling a little frustrated that his desire wasn't matching hers, she pushed him up and over until finally she was looking down at his smiling face.

“My turn.” She dipped her head down and started running her tongue over his chest and flat nipples. His hands went into her hair, holding it back so she could explore every muscle, every inch of his glorious chest as she moved her hips and sent him deeper. She quickened her motion and was pleased when he groaned and grabbed her hips, helping her move.

Then, just when she thought she couldn't stand it anymore, she leaned back and looked down at him. His deep eyes were locked onto her own, a slight smile on his lips as he watched her move over him. Closing her eyes, she held that image as her body convulsed around his.

Then she was being gently moved as he reversed their positions again. He took her leg and pulled it close to his side, pulling her leg over his arm. When she looked up, his smile had deepened, and there was a fierce look of determination and unmistakable lust in his eyes.

“Now, it's my turn.” His hips started moving quicker, his thrusts grew longer and deeper until she was lost to the motion. He pinched her nipple between two fingers gently and she moaned moaning again. “I love the sounds you make as I'm pleasing you,”

he said against her skin. She reached up and held onto his arms as he took complete control. She watched his face and could tell he was building up to his release. Pulling him down towards her, she placed a soft kiss on his lips as every muscle in his body tensed with pleasure.