Things Good Girls Don't Do (7 page)

“Fair enough,” he said. “So, your list is all about breaking a bunch of rules, right? Whose?”

Katie flushed. “My mom’s rules. She had certain ideas on what a lady did or said, but following the rules hasn’t exactly gotten me what I wanted.”

“What is it you want?” he asked.

Katie’s laugh was bitter, even to her ears. “What does any girl want? A big house with a wraparound porch and a few rocking chairs facing the best view. A couple of kids running around, making mischief, and a husband who loves me and wouldn’t hurt me for the world.” Sighing, she walked over to the box of pizza and asked, “Do you want any more?”

Chase just shook his head and she went to slip it into the fridge.

“If that’s your goal, then why the list? How are purple streaks and a one-night stand going to help you get those?” he asked.

“I have pretty much given up on finding the guy of my dreams. The list was just about living my life, and not playing it safe anymore,” she said.

“What are you, thirty? You’ve got plenty of time to get married and have kids,” he said.

“Not in a town like this. If you don’t find someone to marry in high school, or maybe even college, you have to move away ’cause Mr. Right’s not here,” she said.

“So why don’t you move?” he asked.

“Because this is my home. I love it here. My friends are here and honestly, I’ve accepted my lot in life,” she said.

“No you haven’t, and you shouldn’t. A girl like you is supposed to get married and you’ll have buckets of kids someday. Trust me,” he said.

“A girl like me?” she said, smiling.

“Yeah, you know. Pretty. Sweet. Likes kids. Helps old people across the street. Every man wants to marry a Girl Scout,” he said.

“You make me sound boring,” she said, losing her smile.

His face split into a grin. “Not trying to. I just mean most guys want to marry a girl who acts like a lady, but when the doors close . . .”

“I get your point,” she said quickly. “How do you know I’ll be like that? Behind closed doors, I mean.”

His voice went dark and smoky. “Just a feeling I get.”

She shivered at his suggestive tone and was nervous about disappointing him. It would have been better if he had just walked away, but deep down, she was glad he hadn’t.

She wanted him bad. She wanted to live and have fun and just be . . . wanted. And she could just tell that Chase wanted her. Simplistically, maybe, but he wanted
her.

“Well, I hope I live up to you expectations,” she said softly. Clearing her throat, she added, “I think that’s it for boundaries on our arrangement. No PDA and no romance. I mean, it’s not like either one of us is looking for something serious, right?” Seeing him shake his head in agreement, she asked, “So should we do something to seal the deal?”

Moving closer, he reached up and trailed his fingers over her temple as he pushed some of her long bangs back behind her ears, making her knees turn to jelly. Just when she thought he was going to give her another heart-stopping kiss, he said, “Sure. What did you have in mind?”

“A handshake?” she said, holding her hand out between them.

His amusement reached up to those gorgeous eyes and she wanted to take it back. Why was she being such a dork?

“A bit formal considering what we’re talking about, but okay,” he said, taking her hand in his, squeezing it gently. “We have a deal.”

Disappointed that he still hadn’t tried for a kiss, she said, “Deal.”

“So do we start now or . . .” Chase started.

“No!” she said loudly. Clearing her throat, she added, “I just mean I’m not ready yet. I would like to get to know you a little better before we . . .”

“You do know that casual works better when we don’t know each other, right?” he said.

“I know, but I just can’t hop into bed with some strange guy, okay? I have to at least know a little bit about you,” she said.

“I hate peas, don’t enjoy long walks on the beach, eat my burgers with mayo, and I wear boxers, not briefs,” he said, grinning.

Great, now I’m picturing him in nothing but a pair of boxers.
“That’s not what I meant . . .” Taking a deep breath for strength, she said, “Look, can you just take me back to my car? I think I’m sober enough to drive and I have a lot to do tomorrow. Plus, I need a night to process.”

“Whatever you say, Firecracker,” Chase said, walking toward the door with a slow amble that would have done John Wayne proud.

Still in shock over what she had agreed to, Katie followed him out the door and down the steps to the dreaded beast of metal and mechanisms. He climbed on first and she swung up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist again as if her life depended on it. Squeezing her fingers, he started up the motorcycle and headed back toward town. She liked the feel of his muscles bunching under his T-shirt and caught herself rubbing her cheek against his back, shivering. Whether it was from the wind as they sped down the street or Chase’s proximity, she wasn’t sure.

It took only a few minutes to make the trip back to her car, and she was surprised by the depth of her disappointment when they arrived. He parked the motorcycle across from her 4Runner and she climbed off a bit more gracefully than the last time. This ride hadn’t been as terrifying, although she still didn’t like the feeling of vulnerability she experienced with nothing between her and rough, deadly asphalt.

Walking across the street, she unlocked the 4Runner and was just about to escape inside when she heard his heavy boots behind her.

“Wow, that eager to get away from me, huh?”

She turned to him and smiled nervously. “No, it’s just, it’s getting late, and I have a lot to do tomorrow, so I just figured we’d start our little . . . experiment . . . tomorrow.”

He put his hand against the side of her car and leaned over to kiss her, teasing her lips with his. “I think whatever you have going can wait a few more minutes. And who says we can’t start our little experiment tonight?”

Trying not to lean into him, to stand firm when her body wanted desperately to melt into his kisses, she said, “Because if I’d wanted to do anything more than sleep, I could have asked you to stay at my place. Remember the rules: sex on my terms.”

Chuckling, he said, “But you didn’t say we couldn’t do other things. And at my place, no one would see your car, whereas everyone has probably already seen and heard my baby.”

“Seriously? You’re one of those guys who gives his toys pet names like
baby
?” she said, groaning with disgust. Were all guys the same?

Without warning, he kissed her again until her eyes crossed and she leaned back against the car for support. “Again, you are trivializing my motorcycle, but it’s okay. By the time I’m done with you, you will be one hot motorcycle loving woman and if you’re really sweet to me, maybe I’ll even let you drive it.” He slid his leg between hers and rocked against her as he nibbled his way across her throat. She sucked in her breath and tried to control the urge to press down on his hard thigh to ease her throbbing arousal.

She realized her jeans were still unbuttoned when he moved his other hand down her body and slipped one finger down along the opening, leaving blazes of heat where his skin touched hers. Struggling to keep her eyes open, she lost the battle when he laid his palm against her lower stomach and started to slip down, a breathy moan escaping her at the sensation.

“Believe me, once you get that kind of power between your legs, you’ll crave it.”

Holy cow, what am I doing?
She was leaning against the side of her car, letting a man stick his hands down her pants and basically just saying
take me now.

This wasn’t what she’d signed on for. Casual fling, yes. Destroying her reputation? No. Before she lost her resolve, she reached down and grabbed his wrist.

Chase pulled back, his breathing coming a little faster and his eyes looking dark in the fading light. She tried to soften the rebuke. “Like I said, you have a high opinion of yourself and your skills.”

He shrugged. “Never had any complaints before.”

“Well, there’s a first time for everything,” she shot back, feeling a little more in control of her body, although the heat of his leg between hers was still distracting.

Chase’s eyes widened and he shook his head with a grin. “There might be hope for you yet, Firecracker.” He kissed her hard once more, then stepped back with a little salute. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As he sauntered back to his chopper, she stayed propped up by her 4Runner until he climbed on and tossed her that same smug grin before taking off.

Arrogant, obnoxious, egotistical, high-handed . . .

She ran her fingers over her swollen lips and smiled. He might be a hundred different negative adjectives, but if his kisses were any indication, his skill probably wasn’t exaggerated.

At least she hoped not. Because she was starting to really look forward to finding out if Chase Trepasso could walk the walk.

Chapter Four

K
ATIE WAS TIRED,
her tattoo hurt, and she had a raging headache, which hadn’t gotten any better after having Mrs. Andrews’s high-pitched, nasal whine ringing in her ears.

“Hey, pretty, want a coffee?” Steph called as she walked across the grass.

They had decided to have the Rock Canyon Independence Day Extravaganza at Liberty Park. The large, grassy field held the town pool and a playground already, so all they needed to do was add a bunch of booths and a few bouncey houses to make it the perfect place.

Steph’s long, dark hair swayed around her hips and her green eyes were sparkling as she handed Katie the cup. “You look like you could use this.”

Katie could have kissed her when she took a drink of the sweet, blended caramel mocha. “Have I told you today that I love and adore you?”

“No, but I’ll forgive you for the lapse,” she said.

Katie checked to see where Mrs. Andrews was and whispered, “I swear, I was three seconds away from strangling the old bat before you showed up.”

Steph scoffed. “Yeah right, you? You wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

Chase’s description of her came back in a flash. Playing with her clipboard, she asked, “Do you think I’m Jell-O? That I don’t have opinions?”

Steph looked at her in surprise, but there was a bit of guilt there too. “No. I just meant that you spare people’s feelings. You’re kind.”

“I’m a pushover.” Katie took a sip of her coffee to help fill the empty place her stomach’s sinking had caused. Even her best friend thought she was a marshmallow.

“No you aren’t! You give people your opinions. You just do it in a nice way.”

Katie shook her head and decided that this was it, this was the day she was going to unclog her filter. The next person to even look at her cross-eyed was going to be in for the sharp edge of her tongue. She could still hear her mother telling her to be nice, to respect her elders, but another voice had joined in. A very male, very sexy voice. She didn’t know why Chase’s opinion of her kittenish ways bothered her, but they did. She didn’t like that Chase, someone she hardly knew, had observed people treating her like she would just take whatever crap was dished out. If he had noticed it, then he was right about the rest of the town. They knew how to get around her.

She saw Mrs. Andrews heading back toward her with a bee in her bonnet, and Katie stiffened her spine.

Bring it on, you opinionated, gossiping old hag. I’m ready for you today.

“Katie, you have to do something! That . . . that woman wants to buy a booth! We can’t have her with all of those . . . things out for all and sundry to see!”

Katie looked past Mrs. Andrews to Becca Easter, standing about fifty feet away, watching them blandly. Becca had moved to Rock Canyon a month ago and bought the building next to Hank’s Bar. She’d opened a women’s clothing store called Sweet Tart’s Boutique, featuring intimate apparel and a black-curtained area in the far back. Some of the older people were having a wall-eyed fit about it, but Kate admired Becca for her screw-you attitude.

“Mrs. Andrews, Becca would never have anything in her booth that couldn’t be viewed by all.” Katie smiled at Becca, who watched them with dark eyes and a riot of black and red curls. Katie’s mother would have called her look strange, but Katie envied her brazenness. “Becca’s money is as good as anyone’s. Please apologize and put her next to the Jagged Rock booth.”

Mrs. Andrews drew herself up and snapped, “I will not be a part of this! It’s shameful what kind of derelicts we’re allowing to pollute our town.”

And with that, Katie unleashed the fury. “That’s enough! If you don’t want to help out, then leave. You’re being rude and insufferable and I’m done with it!”

Katie almost slapped her hand over her mouth as she took in Mrs. Andrews’s outrage, Steph’s drop-jawed expression, and Becca’s wide smile. It was the smile that gave her courage to walk past the other women to where Becca stood several feet away. “I’m sorry about the misunderstanding. We’ll put your booth between Chloe’s Book Nook and Jagged Rock Tattoo Parlor.”

Becca handed her the check. “Thanks. You know, you’re a lot cooler than I thought you would be.”

“Well thanks. I think,” Katie said, smiling.

Holding out a small white card, Becca said, “Come by my shop. It’s not all dildos and thongs. I’ve got this belt and a pair of jeans that would look awesome on you. You’ve got a great ass. It deserves to be shown off.”

Katie blinked at her and Becca winked, leaving Katie standing there, bewildered, with a two-hundred-dollar check in her hand.

K
ATIE HEADED BACK
to the salon, feeling freer than she ever had. Even after apologizing to Mrs. Andrews for her outburst, she had been proud of herself for finally telling the cranky woman how she felt, and that she needed to stop being rude to people just because she didn’t approve of their lifestyle. If they paid, they got a booth. Mrs. Andrews continued to grumble, but that was the worst of it.

Steph had given her a big hug and told her how awesome it was to watch someone tell “Battle-ax Andrews where to stuff it”—out of Mrs. Andrews’s earshot, of course. Katie had to admit it had felt pretty incredible to speak her mind for once.