The Bachelor Pact (33 page)

Lance ran a hand through his hair, glancing around at the crowded street. "Of course not. You may be a ladies' man, but you'd never seduce our baby sister."

* * *

An hour later, Chase sat in his dark apartment, the lights out, nursing a beer. His whole world was falling apart. His business, his friendship with Lance and Reid, his reputation—and all because of this crazy attraction to Maddie.

An attraction that could go nowhere.

And now he'd lied to Lance and Reid. How would he ever fix things?

Maybe Maddie was enjoying this... this wild fling with him. But she'd been a virgin for Christ's sake. She had no other experience. She'd been on the rebound from Oglethorpe, looking for someone to assuage her pride or sow a few wild oats with. But one day he'd disappoint Maddie just like he had everyone else. She would grow tired of his wild-ass ways and want more. A family. A man with a name she could be proud of. Not a jailbird's son with a bad reputation in town. And after today, Oglethorpe would no doubt spread the news of their encounter and rip what little bit of respect Chase had earned to smithereens.

He pulled out an old worn photo of his mother and stared at the faded image. She was young, about twenty-two when she'd given him away, long, straight, brown hair; thin, hollow face; gaunt-looking, shadowed eyes as if she'd lived beyond her years. Her face floated like a distant memory in his mind.

But her parting words were just as sharp as if she'd said them yesterday. "You're just like your no-count daddy. You make me miserable."

Chase's chest tightened.

No, he wasn't cut out to be a family man or a husband.

He had no idea how to make a woman happy, not in a long term relationship. He didn't think to buy fancy gifts or use flowery words, all the things women desired, or eventually desired once the hot lust died down.

Hell, his own mother hadn't wanted him. And she hadn't loved him. How could anyone else?

Chapter 24

The tour was set to begin in two hours, but desperation forced Reid to find out the scoop on Sophie Lane now. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he pulled up to the model home where he was supposed to meet Lance and Chase, punched in Knobby's number and waited. Three rings, four, five...

On the sixth ring, Knobby's churly voice echoed on the voice-mail system. "Smaltz here. You know the drill."

"This is Reid Summers. Listen, about that problem we've been discussing. I have a name—Sophie Lane. She's that pretty talk-show host on
Sophie Knows.
Her show airs every day at three on cable." He paused to catch his breath, hoping the machine's tape held out. "I heard she's been asking around about our family. She even cozied up to my sister the minute she got to town. Check into her. I want to know everything there is to know about her."

Feeling slightly relieved to have made the call, he hung up, frowning when he saw Lance staring at him through the window. Had he heard?

Lance pecked on the glass. "What are you doing?"

Reid opened the truck door and climbed out, his knees wobbling. "Just checking on some last-minute details."

Lance's face crinkled with worry. "Don't tell me, more problems? It's almost time—"

"Don't worry." Reid patted his big brother on the back. "I've got everything under control." At least he hoped he did.

Lance breathed a sigh of relief, and Reid followed him inside the model-home office. He would just have to wait for Knobby to investigate Sophie Lane and discover whether she was someone from his father's checkered past. Someone who was only pretending to be Maddie's friend—someone who'd come to wreak havoc in all their lives.

* * *

Maddie paced the foyer of the Greek Revival home, her stomach in knots. She'd checked everything in every home twice, had her business cards in place, the greeters for the homes all lined up at their stations, but she was supposed to meet Chase before the tour and he hadn't showed.

She was so nervous she'd been biting her acrylic nails.

He'd finally phoned her this morning, claiming he had to see her before the tour, there was something important he wanted to tell her. Jeff had also phoned, saying he really wanted to see her tonight, too.

She had to see Jeff eventually, but first, she needed to talk to Chase. Would he announce his love tonight? End their wonderful affair? Suggest they go together to tell her brothers about their involvement, then see how their relationship developed? Or maybe he was going to propose?

No, Chase was a confirmed bachelor.

Excitement stirred along her nerve endings though at the possibility of a future with him. She and Chase had great sex, they worked well together, and if they decided to marry someday, they'd make beautiful babies. A little boy who looked like Chase, that dark hair, those big, dark eyes. She could already picture Chase teaching him how to build, constructing a treehouse for their son....

Reservations kicked in, replacing her daydreams. She hadn't seen Chase since that day in the exercise room. According to Lance and Reid, he'd locked himself in his office to finish some work for the next building phase, but they'd acted funny when they'd talked to her. And they hadn't once mentioned the fact that she and Chase had made love.

He had told them, hadn't he?

If not, maybe he was waiting for the tour. Or maybe he had never intended on telling them; maybe he planned to show her the bachelor pact and send her packing.

In the background, she heard the tour guide rehearsing her notes, practicing her spiel. Maddie's hand flew to her throat, automatically feeling for the missing heirloom. She'd frozen up yesterday when Lance had asked her if she was going to wear it to the open house. Finally, she'd had the good sense to tell him she was having the necklace cleaned. Soon she would have it back. Very soon.

Another motor rumbled, and she recognized Chase's truck through the branches lining the drive. He swerved into the driveway and climbed out, looking handsome and powerful in a dark blue shirt and khakis. Had he dressed for the tour or her?

Sunlight glinted off his bronze skin as he stepped onto the covered portico and opened the door. Maddie's heart raced, her stomach fluttering.

"Hey," she said, unable to hide the smile that slipped onto her face.

His gaze raked over her, hungry and dark, and maybe a little bit troubled.

"Chase?"

"Can we talk?"

"
Sure
." Maybe he wanted a quickie before the tour.

Arousal sparked, hot and titillating, through her body. She'd be more than happy to accommodate him.

Instantly hungry for his touch, she dragged him upstairs to the master suite, and then to the master bath where she eyed the Jacuzzi with interest.

He didn't mince words. "You all set?"

Maddie twisted her hands in front of her, wanting to touch him, but hoping he'd make the first move. "Yeah. I think so anyway."

"The house looks great, Mad. You should win a lot of clients from this tour."

"Thanks. You and the guys are going to impress everyone, too."

He leaned against the tub, shuffling as if he were nervous, then jammed one hand in his pocket. Maddie's heart thumped with anticipation and dread.

"I... we need to talk, I was going to wait till after the tour, but..."

"Chase, what is it?" Maddie reached for his hand and held it between both of hers, tracing lines across his dark skin. Her fingers burned from the erotic chemistry spiraling from the innocent contact. "Just say what's on your mind. You can tell me anything, you know that?"

Surprise registered on his face. "I went to talk to Oglethorpe yesterday."

Maddie sucked in a breath. "You talked to Jeff?"

"Yeah, did Lance or Reid tell you?"

"No." Maybe that was the reason they'd acted so odd on the phone. Her hand flew to her neck again. "It's about the necklace, isn't it? Jeff told you?" She sank onto the side of the tub, dropping her head into her hands. "Lance and Reid know, don't they?"

Chase shook his head. "What necklace?"

"My heirloom." Maddie shook her head. "I didn't want the boys to find out."

Chase sat down beside her, tipping her chin up to look at him. "I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing, Maddie. What's going on?"

"Then they don't know?"

"Know what?"

"That I put Mom's heirloom up for collateral to back my decorating business."

"You mean Oglethorpe actually took your mother's necklace?" Chase asked in an incredulous voice.

Maddie nodded miserably. "I was surprised, too, but he said I'd made the rules. I wanted a business loan so that's exactly what he gave me." She tucked a stand of hair behind her ear, relieved to have the secret out in the open. "That's why this tour's success is really important to me. I have to make money, make a go of my business so I can get the necklace back."

"I don't think your brothers have a clue," Chase said, massaging her back.

Maddie frowned. "I hope not. They'd be disappointed, and I really want to make them proud. This heirloom means a lot to all of us. It's the only thing I have of my mother's."
Other than that strange recipe book, and I certainly couldn't have put it up for collateral.

* * *

Chase's gut clenched at the misery on Maddie's face. "I can imagine, Mad. Your mom was wonderful."

"She was, wasn't she?" Maddie said.

"Yeah, a hell of a lot better than mine." He could kill the man for taking the prized piece of jewelry from Maddie. Did Oglethorpe think that if he made their business fail, Maddie's would also fail, and she'd come running back to him?

A twisted, selfish plan, but one he could imagine the wuss conjuring.

Unfortunately, one he doubted he could ever prove. Oglethorpe was the type to hide his sneakiness in legalities and well-chosen syntax, covering his bony ass all the way.

On the ride over, Chase had debated how to handle the situation with Oglethorpe. And what to do about Maddie. He'd planned to end their affair before the tour, but he couldn't stand to upset her or add to her worries now. She looked so sweet and vulnerable....

He reached out just to comfort her, to hold her. But holding Maddie led to other things. Things that were supposed to be off-limits.

No, he had to break it off. Maybe if he told her about his own mother, she'd be so repulsed she wouldn't want him either. He screwed up his courage, but his voice still quivered, "Maddie, I always admired your mom. My mother hated me. The day she left me, she said she was glad to be rid of me, that I was so mean I'd tear up a rock."

"How awful." Maddie's hand gently cupped his jaw. "Little boys are supposed to tear up rocks, Chase. That's why they're little boys."

This wasn't going as he planned.

Her tender concern made his throat tighten. "I didn't tell you to gain sympathy, Maddie, I only wanted you to know how lucky you were to have a mom like yours. So, don't worry, honey, the tour will be a success, and you'll have the necklace back in no time."

Maddie's face split into a radiant smile that sent a tingling feeling all through his body. "You're wonderful, Chase." She threw her arms around him and hugged him, her breasts pressing against his chest in an erotic tease. "I've missed you so much. I'm so glad you're here now."

Suddenly her lips found his, her hands tunneled through his hair, and he forgot all reason. He swept her into his arms, his body aching and hard, his sex swelling painfully against his slacks. She arched into him, her nails scraping his back, drawing him closer as she suckled his lips and plunged her tongue into his mouth.

"God, Maddie, the tour."

"We'll make it fast," she whispered hoarsely, already tugging at his shirt. "But I have to have you, Chase. I've been so empty without you."

Her words destroyed any lingering reservations.

"And I have to have you, Maddie."
Just one more time.
He dipped his head to lick her neck. "I've never tasted anything as sweet as your body."

She caressed his chest, then dipped her hand lower into his slacks and stroked his sex, freeing him from his underwear and into her hand. He moaned and snaked his arm around her to lift her onto his aching shaft.

"Yes, Chase, oh, yes." She spread her legs, straddling him as his hands worked the front clasp of her bra. Her beautiful breasts spilled forward in his hands, and he cupped her weight, bowing his head to suckle her. The sounds of his mouth feeding on her echoed in the empty room. He didn't care.

He pushed her skirt up further, groaning at the sight of her garter. With a devilish, teasing grin, she impaled herself on him.

Footsteps clinked on the hardwood floor downstairs.

"Chase, Maddie?"

"Damn," Chase whispered hoarsely, "your brothers are here!"

"Oh, my God!"

Maddie jumped up to grab her clothes and banged him in the eye with her elbow. He moaned and reached for his pants.

"They have the absolute worst timing." Maddie quickly fastened her bra, righting her shirt just as her brothers appeared in the doorway.

Chase was trying to fasten his pants, but they were caught on his boot!