Tennessee Heat Page 5

  He just squeezed her hand before raising it to his lips. Her eyes followed the action helplessly until he spoke and released her from her transfixed gaze.

  “You gonna tell me where we’re going?” He’d stopped at the end of the main road, which would take them into town. She gave him directions and then held her breath all the way to her neighborhood.

  She didn’t miss the change that came over him, or the way he cursed under his breath when he got his first look at where she came from.

  She was about to take offense when he pulled up outside her house and instead of letting her out drove right back out of the neighborhood without letting her out of the car. “What’re you doing?” She looked back out the back window of the car as it sped away.

  “Did you really think I would leave you there? Why didn’t you tell me?” She could have no idea that his anger stemmed from fear. Only the night before he’d seen something on the news about a host of attacks being carried out in that area. The thought that she might’ve been hurt and he’d never have known filled his heart with dread.

  “We can’t all live in Harpersville okay.” How dare he judge her because of where she lived? Why not? Her conscience asked? You do. Don’t you judge yourself and your neighbors because of your living conditions? She folded her arms and ignored his presence beside her as well as her own mind.

  Neither of them said a word, both lost in their own thoughts as he drove through the almost empty streets. For his part Chase was pissed at himself. He’d never asked about where she lived, too afraid of crossing some imaginary line that he’d drawn for himself. He couldn’t imagine his beautiful girl living in that hellhole.

  8

  She only stirred from her private reverie when he pulled into an underground garage. She could tell that he was still mad when he opened her door with his face set in stern lines.

  “Where are we? What am I doing here?”

  “Get out of the car, you’re staying with me tonight.” She gave him a very telling look, which he interpreted accurately.

  “I have two bedrooms, you can have one. If I wanted to fuck you I wouldn’t have gone through the pretense of taking you home. Now let’s go.” He was royally pissed and not even trying to hide it.

  She was speechless as he helped her out of the car after unbuckling her seatbelt, and didn’t find her voice until he’d hustled her into the elevator. “Why are you so mad again?” Surprisingly she wasn’t afraid of his anger, something she found rather strange.

  He shook his head but didn’t answer. There was no rationale for what he was feeling and he’d only end up making shit worst if he tried to explain. The truth is he was being a bit of a snob and wasn’t embarrassed about it. She didn’t belong there and he told her as much.

  “You don’t belong there. I’m not mad at you: just not happy with the situation. I know how dangerous that place is. Don’t ask me to be happy that the woman…that you live around such bullshit.”

  He’d almost given away too much. She wasn’t ready to hear that she was the woman he loved and he wasn’t ready to say it. Not the right time. She was already being so skittish, who knows what his declaration would do to her.

  She probably wouldn’t even believe him and he wasn’t in the mood to have his true feelings brushed aside as just another sly attempt to get her into his bed.

  He was well aware of her appeal and could imagine she’d been fielding offers from the opposite sex since a while ago, something else that had given him many a sleepless night.

  For now he just led her into his apartment overlooking the city’s waterfront. She stood just inside the door as if afraid to take another step and he gave her time to get herself together. He wasn’t liking this new show of distrust on her part one bit, but like he’d told her, he understood.

  He was able to relax now that he had her here and though he’d done it for her safety had to admit that he hadn’t realized how much he’d longed to see her in his place where she belonged. He vowed to overcome all her fears and hang-ups if it’s the last he did. But no matter what, he’d be damned if he was going to leave her in that place much longer.

  He was already calculating in his mind just how he could get around her refusal which he was sure would be forthcoming if he broached the subject now. So he made up in his mind that he’d bide his time until the time was right.

  “Did you eat?” He didn’t wait for an answer but headed into the kitchen. As if on cue her tummy made a most embarrassing sound, reminding her that she hadn’t had anything to eat at the party.

  She wasn’t quite sure how to take his explanation for bringing her here to his home. She knew she should be offended at the way he’d peeled out of her neighborhood like it was the worst part of hell, but didn’t she feel the same? At least she wasn’t dying of embarrassment the way she thought she’d be.

  She followed behind him slowly and stood in the doorway watching as he grabbed a loaf of bread from the refrigerator before going back for deli meat and cheese and the necessary condiments to make a sandwich.

  “I’m not going to pounce on you Annabelle get the hell out of that doorway and come sit down.” He didn’t like that she was being so skittish with him; she’d never done it before. Never had that look of distrust in her eyes when they were together in the past.

  Always before they’d been easy with each other. Well after their first few meetings anyway. So what if he usually left her with a hard dick and in a foul mood from sexual frustration? He’d never exposed her to any of that.

  Not once had he acted inappropriately, always showing her the respect she deserved no matter how hard it was to be around her and not take. Because even back then he knew what she was going to be to him in the future, what part she was meant to play in his life.

  At first, because she was too young, he wouldn’t even let himself think of her in that way. Never crossed the line not even in his head. He’d just enjoyed her company because she was a genuinely smart sweet girl.

  But now that there was nothing standing in his way of having her, the tension was palpable. Maybe she was feeling it too and that’s why she was suddenly treating him like a stranger. I’ll be damned if I let her shy away from me like this for long. He thought as he put the sandwich together.

  She took his advice and sat on one of the stools, around the kitchen bar. The sandwich he made her seemed to be stuffed with everything as he sliced it neatly and placed it on a fancy plate before pouring her a glass of juice and placing them both in front to her.

  “Eat.” He left the room after giving that order and she was able to relax a little. She looked around the room as she bit into the sandwich not quite believing that she was here.

  The kitchen was roughly twice the size of her bedroom at home and everything had a high end label attached. It’s one of those places that you’re afraid to move around too much for fear of breaking something you can’t afford to replace.

  She wondered how much money he made to afford a place like this. Something she’d never ask in a thousand years. She wouldn’t want to give him the wrong impression, that she was more interested in his money than in him. Something that was far from the truth.

  She knew from past conversations though, that he liked doing things for himself without the influence of his family name and money.

  If she remembered correctly it was a big thing with him, making his own way. It was one of the things she admired most about him. That ambition that was so lacking in everyone else around her.

  It was strange that in all their conversations they’d never got around to discussing anything as personal as his career choice. Funny now that she thought about it, since they talked about everything else. But she was sure she’d refrained from discussing anything along those lines for fear of him mistaking her for a gold digger.

  But now she figured that since he’d taken it upon himself to practically nab her and drag her back to his lair she had the right to know at least that much, if only for the sake of con
versation.

  “What is it that you do anyway?” He’d reentered the kitchen and was grabbing a beer from the fridge. He turned and looked at her but she couldn’t read his expression.

  “Grab your sandwich and follow me.” He helped her down off the stool and kept her hand in his as he headed for the bank of windows in the living room.

  She tensed up for the barest of seconds when he moved around behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle, resting his chin on her shoulder.

  With the hand that held his beer he pointed towards the city skyline. “You see that building over there, the one that looks like the sail of a ship? That’s mine.”

  She heard the pleasure in his voice as she stared at the masterpiece. She even recalled what a big deal it had been when it had been built a little over a year and a half ago.

  “What do you mean yours?” Her voice sounded hoarse even to her own ears.

  “I mean that I’m an architectural engineer and a contractor.” There was such pride in his voice.

  “That’s a lot isn’t it?” She was beginning to feel inadequate. He had such great accomplishments and here she couldn’t even get into college. Her situation was never more depressing than it was in that moment as she looked at the beautiful building.

  As she once again replayed the differences between their circumstances she became instantly aware of her body’s reaction to his nearness and held her breath until her chest hurt.

  “Yes it is. I had two majors and I minored in business. Because I’m in charge from beginning to end, I get to keep most of the profits, which I put into other interests.”

  He didn’t expound on what those interests were and she didn’t ask. She couldn’t have even if she’d wanted to, not around the sudden lump in her throat.

  This was the second time tonight he was holding her this close and her body was going into meltdown mode. She expected him to release her after that, but he seemed in no hurry to and they spent the next five minutes standing there in silence with her body’s temperature elevating by the second.

  If he made a move she wasn’t sure how she’d react. A part of her wished he would so that she could get it over and done with, but the specter of her mother’s life and her own fear of ending up no better, refused to go away.

  She almost fell to her knees with relief when he eased his arms from around her, but she went back on tenterhooks when he kissed her neck softly.

  Her eyes became saucers at the feelings that rushed through her and if he hadn’t moved away she was afraid she might’ve embarrassed herself.

  He sat on the couch and picked up the remote before looking at her. “Come join me Annabelle.” With his beer on the table in front of him he reached out his hand for her to come to him.

  She walked slowly because her body felt like it was going to break into a million pieces with each step she took. She looked down at the half eaten sandwich in her hand that she’d completely forgotten.

  She couldn’t eat another bite to save her life. Her tummy was too full of butterflies and nerves. She placed it on the table and he looked at it with a raised brow but did not comment thank heavens.

  He took her hand instead, pulling her down beside him. That arm went around her shoulders and she sat stiff as a board, pretending interest in whatever was playing on the tube, but really she was too hyperaware of him to grasp anything other than the fast beating pace of her heart and his wonderful scent.

  She knew he was looking at her, she could feel his stare, but was too shy to turn her head and look. “Relax sweetheart. Do I make you nervous?” How was she supposed to answer such a leading question? Her only answer was an audible swallow before she finally got the courage to glance his way.

  “I’m not nervous.” Liar! At least I no longer sound like a drowning frog she thought. Even though she’d run out of words to say. How many times had she imagined just such a scenario? How often had she wished that one-day…?

  He took her hand with the one that wasn’t wrapped around her, kind of boxing her in there on the couch. She felt at once protected and overwhelmed. There were too many new emotions running riot throughout her system for her mind to focus on any one thing.

  “If you tell me that you have no idea how I feel about you I won’t believe you. I know you feel it too. If you’re worried about being here alone with me like this, don’t. I’m not going to jump you first chance I get. If sex were all I was after trust me, I would’ve given up a long time ago.”

  What did he mean? She thought as she finally turned to look at him fully. His hand came up and caressed her cheek and she found herself leaning into his palm before she could help herself.

  “So beautiful.” Her eyes flew to his at the whisper and she just knew he was going to kiss her. Chase wanted badly to bring her lips to his and steal that kiss he’d been hungering for-for almost a damn year now, but her fear and reticence held him back.

  When she came to him he wanted her fully onboard with no doubts or fears standing in the way. So, instead of pulling her in closer, he just flicked her cheek with his fingertip before returning his attention to the TV.

  He smiled secretly at the sound she made. It sounded like frustration to him. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t as unaware of him as she’d have him believe.

  They sat there for the next hour both highly aware of the other even as they had a rather banal conversation about nothing of much import. But it helped her to relax, which is what he was after.

  When it was getting late he got to his feet and taking her hand in his, led her down the hallway to the second bedroom.

  “You’ll tell me if you need anything?” He opened the door and let her walk in while he stayed a safe distance away in the doorway.

  “Oh, wait, you need something to sleep in don’t you.” He turned and headed for his room without waiting for an answer and came back shortly with a large Titans tee shirt that she was sure was his.

  “Thanks!” She didn’t even look at him when she reached out to take it, her mind already ahead to the next few minutes when she had his shirt against her naked skin.

  He took pity on her and with one final goodnight left her. She didn’t know how long she stood there after he left, listening to him move around the room next door.

  She shook herself from her daydream and headed into the en suite bathroom. She looked in the mirror over the double sink.

  Her skin was flushed and her eyes wide and just a little dilated. She ran the water until it was very cold before splashing her face to cool down.

  In the shower she used the shampoo she found there, to wash her hair and showered with the bottle of soap he kept there as well.

  The bottle looked familiar and she recognized it as the brand his sister used. She relaxed her tense shoulders once she realized that he hadn’t had some other woman here. Then again, if he had why would she be in a separate room and not in his?

  Her mind tormented her with images of him with someone else and she remembered what he’d said about sex.

  What did he mean he would’ve given up? Given up on what? He couldn’t possibly be thinking of her. That would mean…that would be… No she won’t believe it.

  No way someone like him wanted anything more from someone like her than a few cheap fucks. Her tummy cramped when she remembered Lisa’s words and how true they were. He could never want her.

  “I won’t set myself up for that major fail.” She soaked her head again before washing it vigorously as if that would wipe away the thoughts that plagued her.

  She dried off before pulling the tee on over he head and walked into the bedroom rubbing water from her hair.

  She sat in the middle of the bed and dried her hair with the towel, her eyes glued to the door as if expecting him to walk through it at any second.

  He hadn’t made an appearance by the time she’d dried most of the water from her hair and by then she was tired from being tense for so long.

  She didn’t even realize she’d fallen asleep
until she heard the birds singing outside the window the next morning.

  It took her a minute to get her bearings and her first thought was, ‘aren’t we too high up for the birds to be at the window?’ Which was silly she realized once she came fully awake.

  She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and planted her feet on the floor before getting up and moving to the window.

  She saw that last night she’d missed the fact that there was a balcony running along this side of the building and as she stepped out into the early morning air she saw that he too was an early riser.

  “Morning beautiful.” She almost jumped out of her skin as his voice reached her from where he sat on his balcony sipping a cup of coffee.

  He looked laid back and relaxed as he leaned back in his chair with his legs up on the rail as he had the morning paper spread out around him while he sipped from his cup.

  Her only thought was what the hell did she look like. She was sure her hair was all over the place and her face bore the ravages of sleep. Oh damn, she thought, he can’t see me like this.

  Before she could make her escape though he stopped her. “It looks better on you than it ever did on me.” She looked down at the shirt that fell to just above her knees, it was huge, which was a testament to how built he was. “Why don’t you go clean up and I’ll get you some coffee, you can join me.”

  It was just the excuse she needed to get out of the embarrassing situation, but once back in the room she realized that she’d look a hot mess in the dress from the night before.

  She found a new toothbrush in the bathroom after ascertaining that she didn’t look as bad as she’d thought and pulled a brush through her hair after cleaning her face and headed back out to join him.

  9

  He knew she was uncomfortable so kept his leer to himself, but it was hard. How long had he imagined her here like this? Too long!

  The way she sat at the edge of her seat as if ready to take flight at the slightest provocation kept him from making any fast moves lest he spook her.