They reached Cat’s car all too soon.
“So,” Chase began, “I can’t talk you into a private dance lesson this Friday?”
“I’m afraid not.”
He rested his back against her car, folding his arms. “That’s too bad.” She thought—hoped—he might press the issue … persuade her to go out with him. Instead, he shrugged his shoulders. “Okay. I guess I’ll see you around … sometime.”
Her stomach tightened. “I guess so.” She offered a strained smile. “Thanks for lunch.”
“You betcha,” he winked. ”See ya around, slugger.” Lightly, he pushed his fist against her arm. “Don’t be a stranger.”
“You either,” she responded as she got in her car. Her stomach churned with disappointment as she started the engine and backed out of the parking lot. They’d not made plans to get together again. Was this it? The juncture where they would part ways and fade into each other’s memories like they had before? A smile tipped his lips as he offered a farewell wave.
She did the same, blinking to fight the assaulting tears threatening to spill.
11
Friday turned out gloomy and rainy, matching Cat’s mood. She’d not heard from Chase since their lunch. Maybe she should’ve just agreed to teach Chase a private lesson. She missed him. Was he spending the weekend with Amber? Her imagination had conjured up all sorts of pictures of Amber. She was probably drop-dead gorgeous, insanely smart, and sophisticated. Stop it, she commanded herself. Her last class had ended nearly an hour ago, but she’d opted to hang out in the studio instead of going home to an empty house. Harper didn’t need her to work tonight, which was a bummer. Cat was resigned to spending the evening with her own morose thoughts.
She went over to the sound system and put on one of her favorite music tracks. The music penetrated Cat’s melancholy as she began to move, slowly at first with small swaying movements, and then a pirouette. She leapt through the air and began gyrating, taking up the entire studio with her dance. The music took control as she moved with a fast intensity. The beat pulsed through her like a second heartbeat. On and on and on she went, molten energy, venting her frustration. The song ended as another began. She kept going around and around the room until she collapsed into an exhausted heap in the middle of the floor.
Finally, she picked herself up. Her muscles felt stiff as she stretched them out. One minute, everything was completely normal. The next, goosebumps popped over her flesh, a feeling of foreboding trickling down her spine. She hugged her arms, glancing out the large windows at the black squares of night staring back. The rain had turned to a steady drizzle, the street out front glistening silver in the pale glow of the streetlight. The street was empty, not another soul in sight. Where had that feeling come from? Were her senses heightened due to the turmoil she was experiencing over Chase’s reappearance in her life? She shuddered, wondering if she was imagining things. She looked around the studio, feeling like a fish in a bowl. Anyone looking in would have a bird’s eye view of her. She’d not felt this vulnerable since she first came to Clementine. Back then, she’d been so traumatized by Drew, fearing that he would come after her, that she was afraid of her own shadow. Thankfully, that fear had been in vain. As the years passed, she’d put the threat of Drew out of her mind, especially after realizing he was married.
Using the back of her arm to wipe the perspiration from her forehead, she went to turn off the music. Suddenly, she was eager to get home to the safety of her cottage. She felt vulnerable here in the studio. It was a little after eight p.m., and the square was like a ghost town. Her skin was damp from sweating, making her feel chilled. She slipped on her jacket, gathered her things, and turned off the lights. As she got to the door, she paused, not wanting to venture out alone. She pushed aside the fear with a soft grunt. It wasn’t like she could stay here all night in the studio. Straightening her shoulders, she offered a silent prayer, feeling a little better.
She stepped outside, pulling her jacket closer around her. She wished the jacket had a hood. Oh, well. She’d just have to suffer through the rain. At least it was slight. She began walking, trying to appear more confident than she felt. She glanced around, not seeing anyone. The feeling of unease intensified as she quickened her steps. Her pounding pulse sprinted a descant against her feet as she hurried down the sidewalk. Her skin crawled as the empty space around her loomed large and menacing. By the time she turned onto the street her cottage was on, she was practically running. Her heart raced a mile a minute. She was almost to her house when she spotted Chase’s car. She stopped in her tracks, stumbling before regaining her balance. Confusion whirled inside her. Then came the swift burst of relief so all-consuming that it brought tears to her eyes.
Chase got out of his car. “Hello,” he said with a hesitant smile.
“Hey, what’re you doing here?” It was all she could do to keep from bounding into his arms. She was cold to the bone. Water droplets had nested in her hair, dripping into her eyes.
He stepped up to her. Rather than answering her question, he switched gears. “Are you doing okay? You looked stressed.”
“I’m good,” she said with a shaky laugh. “I just got a little spooked walking home.” She glanced behind her. The coast was clear. Why had she felt so threatened? She’d walked home alone countless times before and was completely fine. A thought occurred to her. “Hey, did you come straight here, or did you go to the studio first?” Maybe it was Chase who’d been watching her.
“I came straight here.” Concern touched his features. “What’s going on?”
She shook her head. “I’m sure it’s nothing.” She offered a wan smile.
“Do you mind if I come in?”
“Sure.” A surge of exhilaration ran through her. Chase was here! Forget that he had a girlfriend and that she’d told herself she was better off without him. Right here and now, Cat was immensely grateful that he was here. Not only because she’d missed him terribly, but also because she was relieved to have the company. The feeling of unrest was still lingering. She went up the walk with him following close behind. It wasn’t until she got to the door that she took a mental assessment of the house. Yikes! It was messy! Nothing she could do about that now. Maybe she’d just do a quick sweep and pick up the big chunks.
“Make yourself at home,” she said as they moved through the foyer into the living room. Cat’s decorating style was an eclectic mix of shabby chic and pieces she’d acquired at consignment shops and discount furniture stores in Daphne. Her eye caught on the pile of clean, unfolded clothes heaped on the couch. Ugh! How embarrassing! “Hang on a sec,” she said as she made a beeline into her bedroom where she deposited her things on her bed. Next, she went back to the living room, scooped up the clothes, and dumped them on her bed also. She returned to find Chase sitting on the couch. She always left the light on in the foyer so she wouldn’t have to come home to a completely dark house. She went over and flipped on the overhead light as well as a nearby lamp, flooding the room with cheerful warmth that turned the beige walls to a soft butter color.
Her skin was sticky from the sweat and rain. Removing her jacket, she began fluffing her hair. She could only imagine how awful she must look right now. Her intent was to sit in the overstuffed chair across from Chase, but he patted the spot beside him. She gave him a questioning look, her hand going to her hip.
“I wanna talk to you.”
His voice had an aching quality that tugged at her heart. “I’m such a mess,” she protested, looking down at her workout attire. She was sure she stank.
“Cat, please, come here.”
Even before her mind could decide what to do, her feet started moving toward him. She sat down a mere foot from him. Her breath hitched when he scooted close, enfolding her hands in his. A tentative smile slid over his lips, crinkling the edges of his eyes. “Cat,” he began, “I never expected to see you again.”
“Nor I you.” The warmth of his hands felt good, seeping into her sk
in. Even though she was physically tired, having Chase here in her home was thrilling.
He chuckled. “I guess we have the avocado to thank for that.”
“Yes,” she answered quietly as she studied his rugged face, wondering where this was going.
His eyes moved over her face like he was absorbing every detail. “You are so beautiful,” he uttered. Releasing her hands, he cupped her jaw, rubbing his thumb over her skin.
Oh, how she loved hearing that. The feel of Chase touching her skin circled intoxicating tingles down her spine. She didn’t want to think about tomorrow or the future. All that mattered was that Chase was here tonight. Her lips parted as she moved even closer. His lips crushed hers in an explosion of fire and emotion that ran clear to her toes. She slid her arms around his neck, her fingers threading through his hair. His strong hands moved over her back. Just when she thought being in Chase’s arms couldn’t get any better, he deepened the kiss, issuing a tiny moan from her throat. The kiss was long and thorough, filling her with a breathless contentment that spoke to her soul. She could do this dance every day for the rest of her life. Wait! No, she couldn’t, for Chase wasn’t hers to dance with. Her heart wrenched as she stiffened, disengaging her lips from his. She tried to move her body away from his, but he held her fast, searching her face with troubled eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
Emotion rose thick in her throat before anger ruptured inside her, spilling out molten lava. “I told you, I won’t be the other woman,” she seethed. She wasn’t sure how she’d expected Chase to respond to her outburst, but she was jolted to see a flicker of humor in his blue eyes. This spiked her anger to new heights. “Are you laughing at me?”
A smile played on his lips. “Carmelita Hernandez … such a fighter.”
She arched an eyebrow, giving him a look that said he’d better do some explaining … fast.
“I broke it off with Amber.”
For a second, she wondered if she’d heard him correctly. “What? You did?” Tears rose in her eyes as a large smile filled her face. “That’s fantastic!”
“I figured it wasn’t right to be dating one woman when I’m totally and completely enthralled with another.”
Jubilant laughter rippled through her as she pulled him in for another long, drugging kiss that thrilled every inch of her body. When the kiss ended, they were both trying to catch their breath.
Chase’s eyes sparkled with teasing. “You taste salty.”
She winced. “I’m sorry. I probably stink too. I need a shower.”
“Why don’t you go get one and we’ll go out?”
Excitement simmered inside her. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
The corners of her mouth dropped. “The Magnolia will be closing soon … if it hasn’t already.”
“That’s okay, we’ll go to Daphne.”
“Sounds great.” She touched his jaw, peering into his eyes. “You can’t know what it has meant to have you in my life again. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.” His eyes gathered intensity. “Now that I’ve found you—again, I have no intention of letting you go.” He wound his arms around her waist, locking his fingers.
Her hands rested on his shoulders. “You know,” she began, rubbing her fingers along the ridges of his corded shoulder muscles, “I’m no Harper Wallentine by any stretch of the imagination, but I can whip us up something in the kitchen. We could stay here and watch a movie.” Selfishly, she wanted to spend time with Chase in the intimate setting of her home. Also, it was nice and cozy inside. Cat didn’t want to get back out in the rain, and she didn’t want revisit the uneasy feeling she’d had earlier. Now that she was here with Chase, she wondered if she’d been paranoid. Probably. Clementine was such a safe area.
A large grin broke over Chase’s face, revealing that adorable dimple. “You talked me into it. We’ll stay here.”
“I’ll go and get a shower then make us something.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Cat hopped up off the couch and turned on the TV for Chase before gliding into her bedroom. This day was turning out infinitely better than she’d expected. Maybe dreams really did come true.
Two days later, Cat was still walking on air. After attending church, she went over to The Magnolia to visit with Harper. Cat was bursting at the seams to tell Harper the news of her and Chase. As it turned out, the news had to wait. Harper and the staff were running full speed, trying to take care of the regulars who frequented The Magnolia after Sunday services, as well as a busload of senior citizens from Nashville on their way to the beach. Andi was out sick with the stomach flu, making matters worse. Even though she wasn’t scheduled to work today, Cat grabbed an apron and got to work.
Finally, when the dust settled, Cat caught up with Harper in the dining room. “So, she began, want to know what’s new with me?”
Harper chuckled. “Judging by that mile-wide grin you’ve been sporting, I’d say things are going well with Dr. Blue Eyes.”
“Yep,” Cat sang. “The two of us are dating.”
Harper perched a hand on her hip. “Good for you. See, you’re one hot biscuit. I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist you.”
A giddy laugh escaped Cat’s lips, making her feel like a schoolgirl. “Chase surprised me by coming into town Friday night. You’d be proud of me. I made us some French toast and omelets. The French toast was almost as crisp as yours.”
“Did you use my recipe?”
“Yup,” she said proudly, “sure did.”
Harper gave her an appraising look. “Smart girl. Everyone knows that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” Harper’s lips pressed together as she tipped her head. “What happened with the other girl?”
“Amber?” Cat didn’t want to think about Chase’s ex-girlfriend, much less talk about her. She’d been so overjoyed by the news that Chase broke it off with her that she’d not thought to even question him about it.
“Yeah.”
“Chase broke up with her.”
“See, I knew he was a keeper. When are you going to see him again?”
“Soon, I hope. Doctor Simpson is leaving tomorrow for a week-long fishing trip to the Gulf. Poor Chase says he’ll be working around the clock for several nights and days.”
Harper gave her a look of sympathy. “Aw, that’s too bad. That’s a lot of stress and responsibility for a med student.”
Cat chuckled. “Chase said he figures all the other docs are just glad they don’t have to cover for Doctor Simpson. He hopes they’ll back him up if he needs help, just to keep him from leaving.”
A wry grin curled Harper’s lips. “He’s probably right.”
Cat made a face. “I guess I’ll have to get sick just to be able to say hello.”
“Don’t say that. No more cut hands.”
“Yes, Mother, I’ll be careful,” Cat said dryly.
Harper shook her head. “Poor Andi. She sounds terrible. That stomach flu is bad stuff. Sam’s seen lots of cases of it at the clinic.”
“Yikes! I hope we don’t get it.”
Harper shuddered. “Amen.”
Cat’s phone buzzed. She pulled it out, a large smile filling her face.
“Is it from your man?”
“Yep, sure is,” she chimed. It was a text, asking her how her day was going.
Harper waved her arm. “Go ahead and respond to him. Don’t mind me. I’ve got some paperwork to get caught up on. Then, I’m heading home to spend some much-needed time with my patient husband who has been home alone, pining away for me.”
Cat giggled. “Sam’s one in a million.”
“Yes, he is,” Harper agreed heartily, a quiet glow settling over her face.
The old saying, A picture is worth a thousand words rang true. Harper and Sam were so much in love that the two of them were sickly sweet. That’s what Cat wanted. And, she wanted it with Chase. Was it premature to be thinking about the future? She laughed inwardly. Of course, it
was. They’d been together for less than forty-eight hours. During her growing up years, Mami always semi-teased Cat about being relentless in the pursuit of her goals. Cat had always set goals, and then worked hard to achieve them. She couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t wanted to be a dancer, and she couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t been enamored with Chase Brooks. His moving away from the neighborhood about broke her heart. Now that they were together, Cat had no intention of letting him go, assuming that he always wanted her as she wanted him.
Cat moved over to a vacant corner in the dining area and responded to Chase’s text. She especially loved how he’d started it with Hey, Beautiful. Chase made her feel like she was a rare jewel. It was so different and refreshing from how Drew had treated her. Cat was so young and inexperienced with men that she had no idea what to expect from a relationship, especially since her dad was deported when she was so young. She knew now that nothing about her relationship with Drew O’Hannon had been healthy. He was controlling, demeaning, and treated her like his property. A shiver slithered down her spine. Why was she thinking about Drew? Maybe because she’d gotten freaked out Friday night? Or maybe it was because she was starting a new relationship and had nothing to compare it to except her old relationship.
It was interesting how natural it felt to be around Chase, almost as though they hadn’t been apart all these years. Warmth rushed over her as she thought about their kisses Friday evening. After dinner, she and Chase had snuggled on the couch and watched a movie together. Finally, around one a.m. Chase left, saying he had to be at work the next morning at six a.m. Cat felt guilty for keeping him out so late. Yesterday, Chase had to work so they didn’t get to see one another, but they spoke on the phone for over two hours last night. The conversation had flowed easily between them as they spoke of old classmates, teachers, the neighborhood, and every other thing that came to their minds.
They texted back and forth for a few minutes until Chase told her he had to go. It was just as well, the restaurant was getting busy again. Several hours later when the dinner rush was over, Cat could finally go home.
Dancing With the Doc Page 10