Chasin' Eight (Rough Riders #11)(122)

“You didn’t tell me you were buying me the most expensive burger in New York.”

“It’s not the most expensive. I said it was the best. There’s a restaurant on Wall Street that has one that costs more than this.”

“Seriously? You almost coulda bought a cow for what you paid for two burgers.”

“Let it go.”

But Chase couldn’t help but think… Hell, he had no freakin’ idea what Ava was thinking, bringing him here, paying that much for what oughta cost six bucks, max. With fries.
The server returned with her credit card and the receipt.
“You ready?” she asked tightly.
“Yeah.”

The outside air wasn’t as chilly as her attitude.
Your fault. Fix it.
Chase wrapped his arm around her waist instead and pulled her against his body. “I’m not an ingrate. Thank you for supper, Ava.”

“You’re welcome.”

“But just so you know? Forking out a hundred bucks and change for a burger don’t guarantee that I’m putting out for you tonight.”

She laughed, called him a redneck, and all was good between them.
But Chase knew it wouldn’t always be that easy.
Chapter Twenty-Five

Chase left the room early to work out. She was editing the video images of the first time she’d taped Ryan riding, when her cell rang. “Hey, Han. You’re up early.”

“Don’t remind me. How’s New York?”

She stopped resizing images. “How’d you know I was in New York?”

“Courtesy of the New York City newspaper Talk of the Town, which contacted me at five a.m. for a comment on Ava Cooper’s newest squeeze. Apparently you were spotted out and about last night.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah. See for yourself. The picture of you and cowboy dude is online.”

“Then maybe no one will see—”

“And it’s in the print version too. I was already up and headed to Booksoup for all the trade rags.”

How had that happened so quickly? Ava remembered Chase’s concern last night when she’d mentioned Jason calling for reservations for them. Chase’s distrust of Jason wasn’t surprising; Chase didn’t trust anyone. With good reason. But Ava refused to believe Jason would violate her privacy. Most likely the host or waitstaff from the restaurant had contacted the press. She squinted at the picture of her and Chase, taken through the restaurant window, right when he’d kissed her.
It’d been a beautiful, sweet moment between them. Not something to be exploited. Something else occurred to her. “Did they give his name?”

“Not yet. But it’ll only be a matter of time. And everyone in the press knows where you stay in New York. Call me later.”

Ava couldn’t suggest Hannah leak Chase’s identity to end speculation. She wasn’t sure which bothered her more. Admitting Chase was right in reminding her they were supposed to lay low? Or that she thrived on the attention and she’d lived in the spotlight so long she missed it when it wasn’t an almost daily part of her life.
No. She didn’t want to court trouble. Or speculation. She wanted a normal life where no one cared if she kissed the man she loved, in a restaurant in one of the biggest cities in the world.
That truth shook her to the core. In showing Chase her world, she understood she didn’t want to live in it all the time anymore. But she’d seen the guarded look in his eye. Would Chase even believe her?
Her phone buzzed in her hand again and the name on the caller ID shouldn’t have surprised her, but it did. Ava answered, “Hello, Petra.”