All That Jazz (Butler Cove #1)(20)

I looked off toward the ocean and for a moment wondered if my dad was looking at an ocean right now too.

“What is it?” asked Joey.

“It’s nothing. Was just thinking. So, Joseph,” I said brightly. “When’s your stalker due to show up?”

“That’s the downside of a stalker, isn’t it? I don’t think you know when they’ll pop up.”

“The downside?” I laughed. “There’s an upside?”

“Point,” said Joey. “So when do you start on beach patrol? I didn’t hear back from you about CPR Training at the Beaufort Y tomorrow. Did you preregister?”

I sighed thinking of the money for that plus the VW Bug Cooper just told me about. “No. But I’ll call in the morning and see if they can get me in. Is it still okay to drive me?” I cut my gaze over to him.

His blue eyes were dark indigo in the fire light, watching me. “Of course. I offered to do it. The offer is still good. Are you sure everything’s all right? You seem different tonight.”

“Different how?” I asked and registered another person walking toward us from the beach access.

“I don’t know. Preoccupied, maybe.”

I squinted at the approaching figure, my heart picking up a few extra beats. As he got closer in the almost faded dusk, I saw it was Chase. He wore rumpled cargoes, a sweatshirt with a red and yellow striped scarf wrapped around his neck. His brown hair was as messy as I’d seen it this morning. He was scanning the sea of unfamiliar faces. He looked relaxed to be approaching a bunch of complete strangers. He had more guts than me, that was for sure. “Sorry,” I said to Joey. “I invited someone. Looks like he just showed up.”

I leapt to my feet, leaving Joey with a surprised expression on his face, and jogged over to Chase. “Hey, Wall Street. You lost?”

“Hey, Local Girl.” His grin was broad.

“You showed up.”

He reached up and pulled at a tuft of his hair. “That I did. He looked past me at my group of friends. “You in high school?”

I pursed my lips and put a hand on one hip. “Yeah, about to graduate. So?” I glanced behind me briefly imagining what he thought when he looked at everyone. They were all laughing and chatting. Joey had moved and was talking to Colt again, but he was staring at me and Chase.

“So you probably don’t have anything real to drink to keep you warm,” Chase answered.

I shook my head. “Nope. We’ll get moved on by Colton’s father soon anyway. He’s the sheriff. For now he’ll let us be as long as we don’t get crazy.”

“Just so happens I come prepared. You wanna walk with me?”

“Sure,” I said. “Not far though.”

He breathed out with a small chuckle. “Of course.”

We wandered away from the group. I had the feeling Chase wanted to go farther, but I stopped him. “Here’s good,” I said, plopping down on the cool sand. “So what’s with the Harry Potter scarf?”

“The what?” Chase laughed.

“Your scarf. It’s the Gryffindor colors.” My heart climbed into my throat as I realized how juvenile I’d just painted myself.

He raised an eyebrow while he unscrewed the lid on a metal flask.

“Ugh,” I said. “I should really hide my dorkiness until we know each other better. Not a Harry Potter fan?”

“Not really.” He handed me the flask. “I mean I probably don’t think of him one way or another.”

“What is this?”

“Whiskey.”

I’d drunk beer, wine, and wine coolers but had never tried whiskey. I’d already shown my youth with my dumb Harry Potter comment, so I felt a bit stuck. I took a small sip, letting it burn my tongue. Yikes! My eyes watered, and I blinked rapidly.

“So what are you into, Chase? Apart from Wall Street and whiskey?”

He took the flask back from me, not bothering to wipe the opening, and set it against his lips. “You,” he said, watching me over the metal as he tipped his head back for a drink.

My stomach flipped over. I dropped my gaze from his in surprise, not knowing how to respond. But God, that had felt really, really … good. “Um, I uh—”

Chase’s fingers slipped under my chin. I looked up. He leaned close, his gaze on my mouth. His lips caught the light just as they lowered to mine. He tasted of whiskey and wildness. He tasted delicious. Of things I shouldn’t be doing. My eyes fluttered closed.

I didn’t even know him, but in the moment I felt his tongue slide into my mouth, I didn’t care. I felt triumphant! This was so easy! I wanted to tell Joey. You see? I can find someone awesome. Someone who’s not a chump. He kisses beautifully. He’ll make my first time great as well. He’s so into me.

Wait, I wanted to tell Joey?

Suddenly, Joseph’s face was in my mind. Blue eyes, not brown. Dirty blond hair, not Chase’s hair. I tried to refocus on the soft slide of Chase’s mouth and wondered if Joseph’s skin felt the same. Was Joey’s skin stubbly?

I definitely refocused on Chase when his warm hand that had suddenly materialized on my side, slid purposefully around to my front and dangerously toward my breast. Oh. Okay this was interesting. Warmth spread through me.

I expected his hand to stop. To wait for permission. To see if it was okay with me.