Kiss Me (Fool's Gold #17)(61)

“I’m sure word has gotten around about you,” he said and chuckled. “The raccoon grapevine is filled with messages about the dark-haired woman with the endless stash of shiny possessions.”

Phoebe didn’t doubt that could be very possible. “Think I could get my pen back if I offered them the other earring?”

“We could try to set up a meeting on neutral ground.”

Phoebe couldn’t help laughing as she pictured herself in a trench coat on a foggy night, crossing a bridge to meet a nervous raccoon.

“Let me know if you make any progress with them,” she said.

“Sure thing.” Chase settled on the log next to her, straddling it and facing her. “So, tell me about Jonny Blaze. What’s he like?”

She wrinkled her nose. “He was fine. I told you, he treated me like his kid sister. The man actually patted my head. I’m not making that up.”

Chase looked disappointed. “So you didn’t date?”

“We had a soda once, while we were looking at houses. Does that count?”

“I don’t think so. You know any other movie stars?”

“Nope. Just the one. I know that in Beverly Hills I should concentrate on high-end real estate, but I don’t. Besides, a lot more of the rich and famous are moving into other areas.”

Chase removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “So you have a boyfriend?”

The unexpected question made her laugh. “No. Right now I barely have a houseplant.”

“Why not?”

She sighed. “Honestly, I have really bad luck with men. Or maybe I just have lousy taste.”

“What goes wrong?”

She wondered if there was enough time left in the universe to discuss that. “Pretty much everything. I tend to pick guys who need to be rescued. You know, there’s something wrong in their life. They stay until it’s fixed, usually by me, and then they move on.”

Often hurting her in the process, she thought sadly. Like Jeff sleeping with the eighteen-year-old intern Phoebe had hired. Okay, the girl had some responsibility in that one. She doubted the discussion of sex had been all one-sided, but the thought that he could have done that with someone who was so young and vulnerable was just plain icky.

“So look for different kinds of guys,” Chase told her with the absolute confidence of a young man who had yet to be battered by love. “You’re beautiful, smart and funny. Guys like that.”

His compliment made her feel good. Not as good as if it had come from Zane, but still, it was nice. “Thanks for the endorsement. Could I get a letter to carry with me and show prospective dates?”

“Sure.”

She patted his arm. “You’re very sweet, but dating isn’t that simple. At least not for me. Maya and I were discussing the fact that I should probably stop finding guys who need rescuing. At least with men who have it all together I would have a whole new set of problems. It might not work any better, but it would be interesting.”

Of course she didn’t mention the fact that the thought of being with someone who didn’t need her practically sent her screaming into the night. If she wasn’t fixing some problem, then why would a guy want her around?

“Zane doesn’t need rescuing,” Chase said. “You could practice on him.”

The unexpected statement left Phoebe more than a little flustered. She coughed, cleared her throat and tried to smile. “Yes, well, but I’m not dating Zane, am I?” She didn’t think that hot mind-altering kisses counted as actual dates.

“You could.” Chase shook his head. “On second thought, that’s not such a good idea. The more I think about it, the more I realize Zane is in some need of serious rescuing.”

Right, Phoebe thought as she rolled her eyes. Zane needed rescuing, and soon the baby goats would learn to dance like the Rockettes and take the whole family on a road trip.

“Zane is the most together and responsible person I’ve ever met,” she said. “The only thing he needs rescuing from is the rest of us who upset his perfect world.”

“You’re wrong.”

Chase glanced over his shoulder, as if checking to make sure they were alone. Phoebe followed his gaze and saw C.J. and the kids helping Cookie with lunch. The rest of the crew was nowhere to be seen.

“Zane’s not very good with women,” Chase said, his voice low.

Phoebe, having been in Zane’s presence while his mouth was on hers and his hand was between her legs, snorted in disbelief. “That is so not true.”

Chase raised his eyebrows.

Nanoseconds later, she realized that maybe she shouldn’t have sounded so adamant about her statement. She slid back on the log.

“Okay, well, not that I would know or anything. But he’s just so in charge and women really like that. Plus, he’s good-looking. There’s the whole cowboy thing.” She let her voice trail off and hoped she didn’t sound as lame as she felt.

Chase continued to stare at her. She’d never been very good with the whole “silence as power” concept. As always, she found herself stumbling over her words in an effort to fill the empty space.

“Your brother is great with women. Maya told me he was voted the guy all the girls in high school most wanted to—er—be with.”