All That Jazz (Butler Cove #1)(33)

I gave a nod. “Obviously.”

“Can you imagine if they hadn’t accepted me?”

“No.” I sucked in my cheeks to keep from laughing. “That would have been terrible. You would have been resigned to making deals on the golf course. Totally old school.”

“I know, right?”

“I need to send a text. Mind if we stop?”

“Nah, sure.”

We slowed our bikes, and I dropped a foot down to stop moving, slipping my phone out my back pocket. Chase stopped a bit ahead of me just before the path emerged out of the trees toward the main road.



To: Jay Bird.

I f*cking hate it when you’re right.



There was a text from Mom asking if I’d be home for dinner. Damn. I hated to miss nights she was home. She’d sent it two hours ago. That meant she’d probably gone out with one of her friends by now. Maybe I could catch her at Woody’s back at the marina.

An incoming message displayed across the top of my phone.



Jay Bird: I’d ask what you mean, but I know. He’s a dick. Also? When will you learn I’m always right.



I rolled my eyes.



Jazzy Bear: Not true. When you are it’s a rare and major event. Hence my text. It deserved a mention.

Jay Bird: Need an excuse to ditch him? Coz I think I saw Courtney loitering at the house scared face I might need you.

Jazzy Bear: I think you redeemed all three favors in one go. That kiss was not sanctioned.

Jay Bird: It was necessary.

Jazzy Bear: It was gross.

Jay Bird: It was a surprise.

Jazzy Bear: A hideous one. Did I mention I hate surprises?

Jay Bird: Whatever. You loved it.



My belly flipped over.



Jazzy Bear: About as much as I love being at the dentist.



I looked up at Chase. He raised his eyebrows as if to ask if I was coming.



Jay Bird: Being at the dentist doesn’t taste like chocolate and strawberries.

Jazzy Bear: I have to go.



I pocketed my phone and caught up with Chase.

“Hey,” I said. “So my mom texted. She was expecting me for dinner tonight.”

“Ah, really? That sucks.” He climbed off his bike and leaned it against a tree trunk.

“I know, sorry. I better just ride home from here.” I smiled apologetically.

He shoved his hands in his pocket. “So can I call you? You’ve been hard to catch up with the last few days.” He looked away and back at me. A cute and unsure grin teased his mouth, and for a moment I was reminded of why I thought he was cute in the first place. He had a knack for looking innocent. Like a mischievous child. I’d bet he’d get away with quite a lot in his lifetime. If he hadn’t already. “I was beginning to think you were blowing me off,” he said.

Right then would have been the time to let him know he should probably find someone else to chalk his cue, but for some reason I chickened out.

“Nah, I’ve just been busy.”

He nodded slowly, his lips pursing. “Okay. I mean, it’s cool. If you’ve got something with your best friend’s brother, or whatever. I mean I’m leaving next weekend. I’m not gonna stand in your way.” He stepped in close and before I knew it, brushed his lips across mine. “He never has to know if we get together, you know?” He nipped at my lips again, his hands slipping around my waist.

I guess it was his comment about having something going with Joey that paralyzed me momentarily. The fact that someone else had noticed there was something going on with us. “There’s nothing going on with Joey.”

“Okay, babe. Just, I’m cool with it, yeah? You seem like you’d be up for some fun. We’d have fun together.”

What did looking like I was “up for some fun” mean?

Chase smoothed a finger between my eyes. “Stop over thinking. Go do what you’ve gotta do tonight.”

He was right. For some reason, I’d been looking at him to see if we were relationship compatible. Clearly we weren’t. But fun? Yeah, we’d probably have fun together. I wasn’t looking for someone who’d want to stick around. I didn’t want that danger. I’d asked for this. If he was any nicer, or we had more in common, I’d be charmed. And sad when he left. This was what I wanted, an affair without messy feelings. I was being an idiot. It was just sex. One time and my virginity was gone. I wouldn’t have to think about it anymore.

“Fun sounds good.” I smiled. “Just fun is what I’m looking for.”





CHASE LEANED DOWN under the shade of the trees on the bike path and kissed me again. It was okay. No sparklers. His hand slipped down to my ass. The only thing I could think of was I hoped we were still sufficiently hidden in the trees and no one I knew was driving past. We lived in a small town after all.

He pulled away. “I can’t believe I’m going to ask this, but you’re not a virgin or something are you?”

Blood rushed to my cheeks, then to my feet. I guess my face showed it.

“Ah, shit. Really?” Chase took a step back.

I shrugged as I figured out what to say. I wasn’t going to lie about it. “So? It’s not a big deal. Here one minute, gone the next.”