Things Good Girls Don't Do (12 page)

But the one thing he wasn’t going to do was talk about Katie with his mother. “There’s one girl, but it’s too early to tell. Do you need anything?”

Her voice sounded almost disappointed as she responded, “No, baby.”

A conundrum, that’s what his mother was. She had ignored him for most of his childhood, giving him food, shelter, and everything he could need except her time and attention. Instead she’d worked double shifts and dated her men, while he’d sat with one babysitter after another. Buzz was the first man in his mother’s life that he’d actually gotten along with, and if she had only met Buzz when he was a kid, maybe his childhood would have been better. But he had been an adult and already out of the house when Buzz had come along, and Chase knew he was just indulging in wishful thinking. His mother hadn’t wanted to get close to him and he had no idea why.

Yet when she called, it was almost like she wished things weren’t so strained between them. Like she wanted there to be more.

She’s had thirty-three years to talk to you. You don’t owe her a thing.

“Hey, Mom, I’ve got to go. Closing up the shop and I can’t talk and ride, so . . .”

“Sure, I get it. I love you, Chase.”

“Yeah, me too.” He hung up and stared at the phone. She had sounded weird. It wasn’t abnormal for her to say she loved him, but it was the way she had said it. He thought about calling Buzz to see what was up, but shook off the idea.

His relationship with his mother was complicated and he doubted it was going to change anytime soon.

Chapter Six

T
HE
F
OURTH OF
July kicked off with Katie having a slight hangover and being fifteen minutes late to help set up the craft fair tents. She was now on her third cup of coffee, and the dress she’d picked out for the Canyon Queen float still wasn’t looking better. She’d picked it up off the rack at an after-prom sale, and now that she had it on, she looked like one of those women who tried too hard to look young and wished she’d gone with something less juvenile. It was too late now. But the poufy strapless gown in an iridescent teal did make her eyes seem bluer, and made her purple streaks more noticeable, as they fell down around her shoulders in thick ringlets.

She’d brought a bag with a change of clothes and her makeup for later, and slipped on the cute, simple black heels she’d bought at Payless.

As she slid the tiara on top of her head, it took her back to her first Little Miss Magic Valley Pageant, when she’d been barely five. Her mother had loved to do her hair in stylish up-dos and bought the puffiest princess dresses for her, telling her the pageants would give her grace, poise, and confidence. She hadn’t minded really, although she had wanted to stop once she’d turned twenty-one, feeling too old to prance around singing Patsy Cline or answer ridiculous questions about where she saw herself in five years.

But she’d continued to do them for her mother’s sake until she was too sick to go with her, and when she’d died, Katie had assumed her pageant days were over. But Jimmy had bugged her and bugged her until finally last year she’d done the Canyon Queen Pageant one last time. When she’d won, he’d paraded her around afterward like a prized pig at auction and she’d felt like an idiot. Now here she was, about to get up on a float covered in cotton and streamers, in a huge, puffy taffeta skirt the color of fake seaweed. Every year the Canyon Queen gave her title to the next winner, and even though the pageant was for ages fifteen to thirty, most of the contestants weren’t over twenty-five. She’d be glad to never have to live through this sort of thing ever again, but the thought of standing up there and being compared to all the younger women competing . . . well, it just sucked getting old.

She walked out of the bathroom reluctantly and heard a wolf whistle from behind her.

“Whoo-ee, you clean up pretty.”

Turning, she found Chase leaning against the stone wall of the outbuilding, his smile neither teasing nor mean. She felt less awkward and picked up her skirt like a princess, curtsying. “So, you like?”

He pushed off the wall and walked toward her, inspecting her dress. “Oh yeah, I like. Reminds me of this fantasy I used to have about hooking up with the prom queen.”

She grabbed him and laughed. “Stop it. You’re going around me like a vulture over carrion.”

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pretended to look hurt. “Now that isn’t very nice.”

Katie was suddenly aware of the people around them, talking quietly, and said, “We shouldn’t do this here.”

He dropped his arms and gave her a blank look. “Do what? Tease? Flirt?”

She felt like a jerk and said, “What about the rules? I’m sorry, I just thought we had decided casual. To me, casual means no public displays . . .”

“Hey, don’t sweat it. I’ll see you after the parade,” he said.

“Wait . . .” But he was already walking away, without even looking back. Had she really hurt his feelings? It certainly hadn’t felt good on her end to have him just go marching off in the middle of their conversation.

Mrs. Andrews broke her trance by yelling, “Come on, Canyon Queen, get a move on! You are the highlight of this parade!”

Following her, Katie hurried to get on the fluffy float, and was greeted by a group of giggling teenagers and young women, all hoping to be the next Canyon Queen. They stood along the sides, sacks of candy in their hands, as Katie climbed up to the big throne and sat down. She kept thinking about Chase’s reaction to her PDA protest. They had said they would keep things casual, but somehow they’d been caught kissing in public twice. If she openly kissed him in the middle of a town event, it would be . . .

Well, people would think they were serious about each other.

The parade started, and she waved while the girls on the float tossed candy to the crowd. Her eyes scanned the faces for Chase, but she didn’t see him. By the time the monstrosity was over, all she wanted to do was find him and apologize. But first she needed to make sure the booth for her salon was set up and ready to go.

She went back to the bathroom to change and Mrs. Andrews came in right behind her. “Oh Katie, that was wonderful. The parade went off without a hitch. Now don’t forget to be at the booth at three for your kissing shift!”

As the woman left, Katie found herself muttering, “Yeah, I know when my shift is. I organized the damn thing.”

Too bad Mrs. Andrews hadn’t heard her, rushing from the bathroom like her skirt was on fire. The woman was like a hurricane: fast and emotionally destructive.

Katie changed into her new white halter, jean skirt, and cowboy boots, and hoped Chase would love the top, which tied behind her neck, and once across her back with thin shoe lace straps, leaving most of her back bare. Another sexy and adorable buy from Sweet Tarts. She left the bathroom to make sure everything was set for the fair. After that was done, she would find Chase.

Like every other business in Rock Canyon, K.C.’s Salon had a booth, and all the employees were taking shifts. They had set up a ring toss where people could win little sample bags of products or free haircut coupons, and a table was covered with products and accessories for sale. Katie’s shift was from twelve to two, and then the kissing booth at three.

It was eleven thirty when she headed toward Chase’s booth. Katie saw him sitting down, putting a henna tattoo on Kirsten Winters, and felt a stirring of jealousy. Kirsten was very pretty and one of those girls who would do anything to get a man’s attention.

She almost kept walking, but he looked up and saw her, his gray eyes dark. He was just so damn beautiful, she couldn’t look away from him.

He patted Kirsten and said something to her with a smile. She stood up with a smile, handed him a few bills and said hello to Katie as she passed. Katie liked Kirsten, had been doing her hair for years, but she didn’t like the invitation in her eyes when she’d looked at Chase. After one last wave, she walked her cute size-two butt away with an exaggerated sway of her hips.

Katie raised her eyebrow at Chase and said, “Guess I’m not the only one who noticed you, huh?”

He shrugged. “She’s not my type.”

“Since when is cute, blond, and perky not every guy’s type?” she said.

He gave her a small smile. “I have cute, perky, and blond. Well, mostly blond.”

A warm feeling spread through her chest. Stepping into his booth to stand in front of him, she said, “About before . . . I’m sorry. I wanted to kiss you, it’s just we said casual, and I’ve never done this before, so . . .”

He pulled her into his body and cupped her face, kissing her hard. When he finally let her up for air, it was to whisper, “I’ve been waiting to do that since last night.”

Katie realized that little things Chase did or said were starting to make her forget. Forget about her rules and that they weren’t supposed to be serious. If she didn’t stop melting every time he said something sweet, she was going to forget that he wasn’t the type of guy you lost your heart to.

Needing to get off the dangerous track her thoughts were taking, she said, “Well, I’m glad you did, because I’m going to be thinking of that while I’m being kissed by every toad in town. Blech.”

He lost his smile. “You signed up for the kissing booth?”

She blinked at the deep growl in his voice and said, “I’m the current Canyon Queen, I have to take a turn. It’s only a half hour.”

His scowl didn’t lift, and she kissed him on his frowny mouth. “You’re not jealous, are you?”

Running his hands over her bare back, he said, “No, I’m just going to have to sterilize your mouth before I kiss you again.”

“Well, if I’m that distasteful . . .” she said, playfully trying to pull away.

He leaned down to kiss her, but she turned her head away and all he caught was her cheek. Next he grazed the little spot below her ear, leaving invisible heat marks long after his mouth was gone. “I was only kidding, Firecracker. I’d kiss you if you ate dog shit and barfed fish guts.”

Her mouth twitched as she tried not to laugh, coughing instead. “You would not, and that is disgusting.”

Laughing, he said, “But it’s true. I love kissing you. In fact, I think it may just be my new favorite hobby.” He moved his head as if he was coming at her from the right and when she turned away, he caught her mouth from the left. She laughed against his lips; she couldn’t help it.

“Ahem!” They broke apart to look at a very disapproving Mrs. Andrews, who snapped, “Katie, I need your assistance, please.”

Katie started to pull away and follow Mrs. Andrews obediently, but at the last minute she went back for one more quick kiss. Forget her rules. Forget other people’s opinions. She liked kissing, flirting, and just being with Chase. She didn’t have to explain their relationship or their lack of serious intentions. She could loosen the reins and let go.

Quickly, before the older woman had a coronary, she broke off the kiss and caught up with her. She looked back at Chase over her shoulder for a moment, and he blew her a kiss. Warmth spread through her that had nothing to do with the sun or the embarrassment of being caught kissing a man she wasn’t really dating, and had everything to do with happiness. She was happy for the first time in—if she was being honest—years.

And anyone who had a problem with that . . . well, New Katie would just tell them to go to hell.

T
HE
K.C.’
S
S
ALON
booth was hopping and Katie was so relieved when two o’clock came around, she nearly ran to get away from it. She grabbed an elephant ear pastry and snacked on it as she explored the different booths, slowly making her way over to see Becca’s. The fact that it was next door to Chase’s was a happy coincidence that in no way influenced her. She saw Steph snooping around Becca’s goods, walked up behind her grinning, and yelled, “Boo!”

Steph jumped and said, “You’re a dumb ass.”

“So what are you buying?” Katie asked, eyeing the pile of clothes in her arms.

“Everything in my size.” Steph grabbed a cute tank top with little pink butterflies on it as if it might disappear at any moment.

Becca laughed from inside the booth and asked, “Do you just want me to make you a bag back here so you don’t have to hold on to all that?”

Steph nodded vigorously, handing her load off to Becca. “Thank you.”

“No, thank
you
,” Becca said, smiling.

“Jared is going to murder you,” Katie said.

“I make money too, and I haven’t spent very much this month,” Steph said, reaching to rip off a part of Katie’s elephant ear.

“Thief!” Katie laughed, holding her food away from Steph.

“Come on, you’ll never finish that thing by yourself,” Steph said.

Katie ripped the ear in half and handed her some more. “Mooch.”

“Thanks, sugar mama,” Steph said, giving her a sugary kiss.

Laughing, Katie walked around the large table display of modest lingerie and trinkets, her gaze landed on several pairs of fuzzy handcuffs.

Katie shoved the last bite of the buttery pastry in her mouth, wiped her hands on a napkin, and pointed to the pink pair. “Becca, I want these. Can you set them aside for me?”

Steph made a howling noise, and Becca grabbed the handcuffs, teasing, “Ooooh, Chase is going to be surprised.”

Katie blushed and would have given a very smart comeback if she hadn’t noticed a cute straw cowboy hat with little purple and white charm beads on it. She reached out and picked it up by the brim at the same time that a high, whiny voice said, “Excuse me, but I saw it first.”

Katie turned to face a short blond woman with a sour-lemon expression on her face. She looked familiar, but Katie couldn’t place her immediately. Until she saw Jimmy standing next to her.

Selena.
Jimmy’s fiancée.

Katie froze as Jimmy’s wide eyes traveled up and down her body. “Katie?”

“Is there a problem here?” Becca asked.

Selena looked between Katie and Jimmy, completely ignoring Becca. “Katie, your ex?”

It wasn’t like they’d never seen each other before, so why Selena was acting like she didn’t know her was beyond Katie. In fact, she was pretty sure she had gone with Steph a couple of times in high school when she’d babysat for Selena and her brother Kyle. Selena had gone off to Boise State after her graduation five years ago and hadn’t come back until last year, right before Jimmy left. They had hardly seen each other since Selena was a snotty teenager walking around with her nose in the air like her daddy had never shoveled cow manure. And she obviously hadn’t matured with age.