My heart pitter-patters at the thought. When I was dating Robert, I could barely get him to take me to a work function. Yet, Chase just announced to the entire Facebook population that he’s in a relationship with me.
“I see that look on your face.” She points an oatmeal-covered spoon at me. “You’ve totally fallen for him.”
I nod, not even wanting to deny it. “I have, Lex. I mean, it’s too soon, but…”
“Time doesn’t determine anything. Look how quickly Alec and I got married once we finally gave in to our feelings.”
They were married within three months, but… “You guys were in love with each other for years and just wouldn’t admit it. Up until recently, I couldn’t stand Chase, and I don’t think he even noticed me.”
Lexi snorts. “Oh, trust me, he noticed you. Alec is super pissed about all this. Apparently Chase wanted to ask you out a long time ago and Alec told him you were off-limits.”
“What?” I shriek, shocked as hell.
“Yep. He didn’t want to take a chance of you getting hurt by Chase. They got into it yesterday.” She wipes Abigail’s mouth with a wet-wipe, then hands her her sippy cup, helping her take a sip of water from it.
“I don’t want Alec and him to be on bad terms. I’m a big girl and can make my own decisions.”
“That’s what I told him,” Lexi agrees. “Plus, if Chase hurts you, I’ll kick his ass.”
She lifts Abigail from her mini high chair I keep here for when they come over and hands her to me. Abigail grins and giggles as I place kisses all over her cheeks. The sound wraps around my heart like the most beautiful rose covered vines.
I’m still giving her kisses when the door opens and Chase walks inside. His eyes meet mine, and those same vines tighten, forcing my heart to clench in my chest.
“Hey,” he says, a small smile splaying across his face.
“Hey,” I say back.
“Oh Lord.” Lexi groans. “I’m getting out of here before I end up pregnant by just being in the same room as you two.”
Chase snorts a laugh, but otherwise ignores her, coming over and giving Abigail a kiss to her cheek and then giving me a kiss to mine. “I’m going to jump in the shower,” he says. My eyes stay trained on his body—on his ass—as he saunters down the hall and disappears into the bathroom.
“Oh em gee,” Lexi says once he’s gone. “You’re totally going to F.U.C.K. him.”
I bark out a laugh. “You know she doesn’t know the word yet, right? And you could just say sex and it wouldn’t be a bad word.”
“Don’t you change the subject.” She wags her finger at me. “What happened to waiting until you’re in love?”
I swallow thickly. “We’re not going to have sex. We’re just getting to know each other.” But even as I say the words, I know if Chase wanted to, I totally would. I want him that badly.
“I gotta go,” she says. “Have fun being in denial and call me afterward so we can talk deets. Bye!” She grabs her diaper bag and her daughter and flits out of the condo, slamming the door behind her.
I clean up the dining room table and kitchen, then head to my room so I can get changed and be ready to go when Chase gets out of the shower.
As I’m walking down the hall, Chase steps out of the steamy bathroom in nothing but a towel hanging low on his hips. He halts in place to let me pass by, but I’m flustered at seeing him half naked and dripping wet, and I stumble over my own two feet. He reaches out to catch me, and I would be thankful that he’s the reason I’m not going to land face first on the wood floor, except when I go to grab a hold of him, my hands slide down his slick chest and abs and tug on his towel. The material drops to the ground, leaving him naked as the day he was born.
“Shit,” he says, grasping my shoulders. “That was close.”
Before I can stop myself, my eyes descend to where the towel was… to where it no longer is, and catch a glimpse of his dick.
He clears his throat and bends to scoop up his towel. My gaze goes back up to his face and he’s sporting a knowing smirk.
Embarrassed, I scurry to my room and close the door, leaning against it once I do. Holy shit, I just saw my first dick… and it was Chase’s. I didn’t stare at it long enough to catch too many details, but the area above it was neatly trimmed and it was dangling between his legs. I drop to the ground and my head bangs slightly against the door. I close my eyes, trying to calm my erratic heart and start counting.