Tell Me You Need Me (Search and Seduce #1)(8)

Yesterday at the bar, Chloe had made it clear she was going to fight him on this romance idea. She knew what she was doing to him, and part of him liked the challenge. He wanted to know her more, and not just because she was different, sassy, and equipped with enough attitude to whip him so hard he could taste it. But when the rope had loosened and his grip had slipped—when he’d started falling—he’d thought of her.

Her eyes. Her face. How she looked so damn beautiful in the early morning light before sunrise. He’d spent hours watching shadows play over her face as she slept, and he always hated watching the clock count down to the end of their amazing weekends.

Did she miss him? Were the few details they knew about each other enough for her? It wasn’t enough for him—not even close. He wanted more of her, in every way—and he wanted her to know him back. Because she was the closest thing to an honest-to-God connection he had.

He needed to know if a relationship was even possible. Sure, it’d be long distance, but he’d come back here whenever he could if he had Chloe to come home to.

He didn’t want to think about what he’d do if this gambit failed. When it came to an S&R, he was prepared for the worst. When it came to being rejected by the one woman he’d ever wanted? He didn’t know what he’d do. Fortunately, he had a group of trainees to take his mind off Chloe.

He pointed to the shrubs and the ground. “The prints and the broken bushes show someone came through here.”

The volunteers nodded, and East looked them over while Gage gave his lecture. The local team was a damn fine one, but with the new recruits coming in, they needed to get up to speed quickly. There were a lot of acres in the area to cover, and Beaufort’s S&R team handled the greater Carolina area. As soon as an S&R call came in, he’d be out there saving people, but in the meantime, he’d be damned if he didn’t make sure these new recruits were beyond ready for duty.

“Let’s call it a day,” East said.

Gage didn’t argue. It was broaching sundown, and he was ready for dinner…which he’d be having alone, apparently. He hadn’t stopped thinking of Chloe for a damn second. She was right, he wanted her. Bad.

“You all right?” East asked. “You look like someone pissed in your Wheaties.”

Gage scoffed. “Nope, just a certain woman pissing me off is all.”

East nodded.

“Yeah, I’ve known Chloe for a long time,” East said. “You sure you know what you’re doing? She can be vicious when she wants something.”

Chloe, East, and Natalie had been childhood friends forever. Nothing romantic, but East probably knew Chloe better than he did. Something Gage was a bit jealous of.

“I’m aware of how vicious she can be. But she’s fighting mostly to irritate me.”

“Or she really doesn’t want to date you.”

Gage nailed him with a glare. “Bullshit.”

“All I’m saying, man, is you really want her for more than your arrangement, it’s going to be tough. You two have been doing this for what? A year?”

“Two,” Gage said. Which was why he believed they were capable of more. Who stayed f*ck buddies for two years? Most moved on to the next person so they could keep it casual. “Christ, all I’m asking for is a meal and conversation before we take our clothes off, but she’s acting like I’m proposing marriage.”

“Aw, cute. You want to cuddle and talk about your feelings and she only wants to f*ck. Must be rough being you.”

“Shut up,” Gage said. He was aware of how this looked, and frankly he didn’t give a damn. Yes, he wanted Chloe so f*cking much he could taste it. But he also wanted to hear her laugh like she had the last time they’d stayed up all night, getting lost in each other’s body, then talking, then doing it all over again.

But he was too far in now. He had to stick to his guns. No matter how hard—literally—it was.

He pulled out his phone and shot her a quick text.

Dinnertime is coming up…have you seen reason yet? I’m hungry, sweetheart, and we both know you are, too.

In a few seconds, his phone pinged back with a text from Chloe.

I’ll see your dinner and offer up “a quick meal” instead.

He grinned. She was already caving. But he’d hold strong. Romance for sex. But a quick meal for some messing around could take the edge off…

Deal.

His phone pinged again.

Great. Why don’t you come get me in an hour?

His fingers worked fast to reply: I’ll be there.

With that, his evening was looking up and a sexy woman was in his future.





Chapter Three


Chloe tried not to cackle with pride as she went about setting up her “quick meal” to share with Gage. But she really wanted to pat herself on the back for being so clever. She never said anything about leaving her house to get their dinner.

The restaurant was in full swing downstairs, and her crew of wonderful employees was overseeing it while she attended to very important business. Her living space was on the third floor and had a private entrance around back, which Gage had used several times.

She glanced at the clock. He would be there soon, and the process for this meal was a carefully structured one. Hopefully when Gage walked in and saw what she’d prepared, he’d forget the silly date idea and give her what she wanted.