by Melody Grace
She explained briefly about the websites they were thinking of buying. “People are reading fewer print newspapers and magazines, everything’s on their phones now. So, expanding our online content is really important.”
“And these websites are popular?”
She nodded. “They don’t have big numbers yet, but the audience loyalty is through the roof. They don’t take paid ads, so everything is a genuine review, and when they post about an outfit, or makeup, everything sells out. That kind of trust from readers is priceless. Well, almost,” she said. “I need to figure out the right price to offer, and how to present the deal to our board. If I can pull this off, then could be really big for Prescott’s future. My dad will have to respect my work, then.”
At least, she hoped so.
Chase gave her a sympathetic smile. “It can be tough, fighting for attention. Believe me, I have four siblings, and they aren’t exactly the shy and retiring types.”
“And neither are you,” Letitia pointed out. “I’m surprised any of them got a moment’s attention with you around.”
Chase chuckled. “You’d be surprised. Aidan was always grown up, even when he was still in school,” he continued, rolling over to face her. “Straight As, honor roll. He made it look easy. Jackson and Luke… Well, they were the coolest. Staying out late, sneaking out to see girls. But they always stuck together.” he added, with a wistful smile. “I worshipped them all, growing up. I had Cassie, but it wasn’t the same. I guess that’s why I started pulling pranks, causing trouble. Just a little,” he added, toying with the label on his beer. “Just enough to make them notice me.”
Letitia could see it: the little kid, doing anything to make his big brothers notice him. She’d taken Chase’s easy swagger for granted, but now it was becoming clear, he hadn’t always been so charmed.
“It’s funny, isn’t it?” she asked, looking out over the water. “Whatever you had, it still feels like something’s missing. I always wanted a bigger family. A sister or brother, someone to understand what it was like, growing up the way I did. I’m fortunate, don’t get me wrong,” she added quickly. “But, being a Prescott… There’s a lot of expectations. I never wanted to let anyone down, but at the same time, I know I can’t give my parents what they want.”
“And what’s that?” Chase asked.
“Well, my mom wishes I was just like her,” Letitia confided. “Someone who cares about flower arrangements and society lunches, who wants to spend an afternoon shopping, instead of reading business reports. And my dad… Well, he wishes I was a son.”
Letitia swallowed. She’d never said it out before, but it was the truth – and she’d known it since she was old enough to know much of anything at all. “I’ve tried to make him proud: perfect grades, perfect reputation… But it’s just not the same. His father passed the company down to him and his brother,” she explained. “And I know he wanted to do the same. He was training my cousin, Cal, to take over, so I thought that maybe when Cal quit, it would be a chance for me… But nothing’s changed yet,” she said, sadly. “No matter what I do, he just doesn’t see me.”
“Then it’s his loss.”
Chase’s voice was determined, and when Letitia looked up, his gaze was on her, searching.
She gave a bashful smile. “That’s sweet.”
“No, it’s the truth,” Chase said simply. “You don’t need to prove that you’re worth something. He’s lucky to have you. He’s the one who should be bending over backwards to make you happy, not the other way around.”
Oh.
She froze for a moment, caught in the fierce intensity of his stare. She could have lost herself in that gaze: so certain. So protective.
So hers.
Letitia finally broke the stare, her heart pounding. She grabbed her champagne to take a gulp, but the glass was empty, so she folded and re-folded her beach towel instead. She didn’t know what to do with herself. Her cheeks were hot, and her skin tingled with a giddy awareness, and meanwhile, Chase was rummaging in the picnic hamper like he didn’t have a care in the world.
What was happening? Her head spun. A gorgeous, half-naked Chase, she could just about handle. But a sincere, sweet, supportive Chase, telling her that she was important, and deserved the world?
It was too much.
“You look red,” Chase said, glancing up. Letitia flushed even deeper. Oh God, could he tell what she was thinking? But luckily, he was digging a tube of sunscreen from his bag. “Here,” he asked, offering the tube. “You look like you burn easy.”
“Thanks!” Letitia blurted. Sun. Because that’s why she was so red.
She gripped the tube too hard, and squeezed, and a huge glob of lotion spurted onto her arm. Chase laughed. “Let me help you with that.”
He moved closer, and scooped some of the lotion from her arm. “Turn around, I’ll get your back,” he offered, and Letitia couldn’t think of a single reason to refuse.
He was being helpful. Friendly.
Platonic.
Letitia caught her breath as he smoothed his hands over her bare shoulders, gently rubbing sunscreen into her bare skin.
Dear Lord...
Was her pulse supposed to race like this, just for a friend? She gave silent thanks that she’d picked a modest, sporty swimsuit to wear today. Because if she’d been dressed in a skimpy bikini …
Well, Chase would know exactly how she was feeling right now, from the way her skin was prickling, and her heart was beating fast.
“All done.”
Chase’s cheerful announcement brought Letitia back to earth again – or rather, the open sea. “Great!” she exclaimed, as he stepped back. “All set.”
But she wasn’t, not even close. And suddenly, it was all too much. The close contact, the romantic breeze…
So, Letitia did the only thing she could think of to save herself from the feelings whirling in her chest. She turned, climbed over the railing, and dove into the ocean with a splash!
10
The minute the boat was docked safely back in harbor at Sweetbriar Cove, Chase let out a massive sigh of relief. He’d been this close to leaping overboard and swimming for shore, but he was guessing that might have ruined his whole ‘calm and collected’ routine. Especially since he was trying so damn hard to play it cool.
Letitia was driving him crazy, and she didn’t even know it.
Chase averted his gaze as she shimmied back into her shorts and knotted a loose linen shirt at her waist. Even in that sporty swimsuit, she was still the hottest thing he’d ever seen. And touching her, smoothing suntan lotion into her soft, bare skin… He deserved a medal, making it through without dropping dead from a heart attack.
He deserved a goddamn Nobel Prize.
But clearly, his act was working, because Letitia seemed oblivious to the conflict tearing him apart. “Today was fun,” she beamed up at him, as they collected their things. “Thank you, I really needed the break.”
“Anytime,” Chase replied, even though the day had been anything but relaxing. His body was tense, and he was pretty sure his blood pressure was through the roof. Still, he couldn’t stop himself offering Letitia a hand to help her back onto dry land.
Was he torturing himself? Probably, because she took it, carefully stepping back onto the dock as Chase tried not to notice the softness of her touch, or the way her hair whispered against his cheek, wafting the scent of salt and was that… jasmine?
He covered his strangled groan with a cough. Dear God, would this day never end? Just a few more minutes, and he’d be home free – without taking her into his arms and kissing her, the way he’d come close to doing oh, a couple of thousand times in the past few hours.
But even once she was safely on the dock, Letitia didn’t let go of his hand.
“I mean it,” she said, giving him a private smile. Something quieter, more intimate than that sunny beam she usually flashed around. “It was nice to talk… about everything.”
Chase
swallowed. Nice didn’t even come close to describing those lazy, intimate hours, drifting far away from the rest of the world. “Like I said, anytime,” he replied hoarsely.
Their eyes caught, and for a moment, Chase forgot himself – forgot everything but the feel of her hand in his, and the breathless look in her eyes. Letitia’s lips parted, and he could have sworn she wet them softly, the very tip of her tongue peeking from her mouth.
He knew how she’d taste.
The realization hit Chase like a thunderbolt, wiping all sense and reason from his mind. His blood roared hotter, remembering the last time he’d thrown caution to the wind and kissed this woman.
If he took half a step closer… If he leaned in, and slid his hands around her waist, and claimed that sweet mouth with his own…
Chase caught himself just in time. She wasn’t his to be kissing, remember? This whole day was an accident; borrowed time, on somebody else’s dime. Hell, she’d probably spent the last four hours wishing she’d been with her real date, instead of stuck with him as a consolation prize instead.
The thought was a colder shower than any ocean dip. He swiftly pulled his hand away. “Hope everything works out with Seth’s family,” he said brightly. “He seems like a great guy.”
“He is.”
Chase grit his teeth. See? Letitia had a whole list of guys she would be happy spending the day with, and his name didn’t figure anywhere on the page.
“Well, I better be going. Places to go, people to see…”
Trite phrases to repeat, to keep his dignity intact.
“Oh, right, of course.” Letitia smiled, hitching up her bag. “I should have figured you’d have plans.”
“You know me,” Chase gave an easy shrug. “There’s always something.”
“Or someone.” Letitia looked amused. “What’s her name this time?”
Chase paused, his mind blank. “Uhh…”
“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten it already!” Letitia laughed. “It’s OK, just call her ‘honey’, and she won’t notice at all.” She patted his arm, and gave a wink. “Have fun!”
Chase watched her walk back to her car, feeling weirdly thrown. Sure, he knew he had a reputation but did she really think he was such a player that he couldn’t remember a woman’s name?
And why, after weeks of playing up his Romeo image, did he suddenly care?
Chase went to turn in the keys at the harbor master’s, then found himself heading up the coastal road into town. He needed a distraction, some way to clear his head, and when he found himself at his brother’s studio, watching Luke try to heave a massive coffee table into the flatbed of his truck, he knew he’d come to the right place.
“Need a hand?” he asked, reaching him just before Luke was crushed under the weight.
“Thanks,” Luke replied, wheezing. Chase helped him lift the table in place, straining at the effort.
“Jesus, this thing weighs a ton.”
“Original railroad steel,” Luke replied, wiping his brow. “Wes wanted a statement piece for the back patio.”
“You mean, Cassie wanted it,” Chase said with a grin.
Luke chuckled. “No doubt. Want to come help unload it on the other end?”
“Sure, I have some time.”
Chase climbed in the truck, and they drove the short distance out of town. Their buddy Wes had recently finished restoration of a grand estate by the ocean, and Cassie had just moved in. “I still can’t believe she’s all settled down,” Chase said, as they passed through the wrought iron gates, and drove the winding driveway towards the house.
“Tell me about it,” Luke agreed. “We had dinner with them the other night, and I thought it was a practical joke, seeing Cassie serving salad, and helping clean up like a perfect hostess.”
“What? She did the dishes?” Chase asked in disbelief.
“I mean, she loaded the dishwasher,” Luke admitted with a grin, “But still… Baby sister’s all grown up.”
Chase wasn’t so sure about that. When they pulled up outside the house, the front door was wide open, and he could hear Cassie’s shrieks from inside.
“Archie! Archie, put that down!”
The dog came tearing out front, something pink and plastic clutched between his jaws. A moment later, Cassie followed, barefoot and dressed in cut-offs and a cropped tank. “Archie!” she yelled frantically, as he dropped his toy, and set upon Luke and Chase instead.
“Woah, boy!” Chase laughed, as Archie nearly sent him flying with enthusiastic licks and barking. “When did he get so big?”
“I know, he’s having a growth spurt,” Cassie sighed. “Which makes it even harder to carry him around.”
Chase fished the toy from where the dog had left it. Then he stopped. It was long and slim, and—“Do I even want to know?” he asked Cassie, who rolled her eyes.
“It’s a wireless speaker!” she said, snatching it away.
“What you and Wes do in the privacy of your bedroom—“ he began teasing, before Cassie thumped his arm.
“Gross! You stay out of our bedroom.”
“Gladly.” Chase agreed. “Now, where do you want the world’s heaviest coffee table?”
Cassie turned to the truck, her eyes lighting up. “Finally! I’ve been waiting for this forever!”
“That’s it?” Luke folded his arms. “No, ‘Thanks for moving your schedule around, Luke.’? And working over-time, and putting up with all your ‘helpful’ suggestions’—”
“OK, OK.” Cassie laughed, giving him a hug. “You are an artist, and a genius. I appreciate every late night and grueling sacrifice that it took to bring my amazing design—”
“Whose design?” Luke interrupted.
“—Our amazing design to life,” Cassie finished. “There, happy now?”
“Ecstatic,” Luke cracked, dead-pan. “Now where’s your better half? We could use some help moving it inside.”
“He’s on a very important call,” Cassie replied. “But I’m sure two big, strong men like you can manage?”
She fluttered her eyelashes. Chase snorted. “Nice try.”
In the end, it took all three of them to carry it around the house, out to the backyard by the patio… and then by back doors… and finally, by the pool. “No, I think it should go little to the left,” Cassie said, assessing the latest position.
“Feel free,” Luke replied, sinking into one of the loungers, and kicking off his boots. “Move it anywhere you like. But I’m done.”
Cassie paused. “Or maybe it’s great just where it is.”
“Atta girl.”
Chase took a seat, too, and gave a yawn. His brother saw, and gave a smirk. “It wasn’t that heavy,” Luke said, looking amused.
Chase shook his head. “Long day,” he replied, and immediately regretted it.
“With who?” Cassie demanded, her eyebrows shooting up.
“No one special,” he lied. “Now, how about a cold drink for your poor, weary brothers? Since we’ve been busting our asses on your decorating.”
Cassie gave him a look like she knew exactly what he was doing, changing the subject, but she didn’t argue. “You’re perfectly capable of fetching your own beers,” she told him instead. “But since I was heading inside anyway, I might just help you out. If you ask nicely.”
“Thanks, Cassie!”
“Thank you, Cas,” he and Luke chorused obediently.
Work done, his brother sprawled back in the sun, and Chase tried to do the same, but every time he let his mind wander, it drifted back to one thing.
Letitia.
He could picture her now, diving into the ocean and slicing effortlessly through the water. Every motion had been smooth and fluid; every stroke as precise and thoughtful as she was… In another universe, he would have leapt into the ocean after her, and pulled her into his embrace. Their bodies hot against the cool water; their mouths roaming as the waves swelled around them...
“Earth to Chase.”
/> He looked up, and found Cassie offering him a beer. He took it, even though he was pretty sure he was still light-headed from the scent of Letitia’s shampoo. “Another late night partying?” she asked, with a knowing look. “Or don’t I want to know?”
“It’s nothing.” Chase gave a casual shrug. Nothing except trying to resist Letitia day in, day out. Which was a harder task than he’d ever expected. Had it really been his idea to play wingman, and hand-deliver her men to date? Men who weren’t him.
Genius planning, there.
“So, who’s the flavor of the week this time?” Cassie asked, collapsing on one of the outdoor couches. “That redhead from the gallery event? What’s her name, Kirsty—?”
“No, Kirsty was the girl with the nose-ring,” Luke spoke up. “The one he brought to Thanksgiving, nearly gave mom a heart-attack when she started talking about healing crystals and extraterrestrial life.”
“I remember!” Cassie laughed. “But I think that was Kirsten. Wasn’t Kirsty the lawyer? She was way too good for you.”
“And figured it out pretty fast,” Luke added. “Smart girl.”
Chase rolled his eyes. He was used to the family teasing him about his love life, but he had to admit, it was starting to grate. “Ha ha, very funny,” he said, deadpan. “I get it, I’m a hound dog.”
“I’m just looking forward to the day when some woman knocks you on your playboy ass,” Luke said affectionately. “The way Natalie did for me.”
“Never going to happen,” Chase replied, even as he wondered:
What if it already had?
He shook his head. That was crazy talk. A day out on the water with Letitia didn’t change anything. Hell, with that kind of romantic date set-up – the sun, the swimsuit, and the champagne – he would have been sent spinning over anyone.
Right?
“Want to call and invite Nat over?” Cassie was saying, when Chase snapped back to reality again. “We could make it a pizza night.”