Chase & Chloe

by Simone Elise

  "A bit like her brothers then."

  "Nothing like me."

  "Maybe not at the moment." Chloe smirked. "But don't sit there and tell me you aren't a player."

  "You're the one with men following you around." I scoffed and hit the highway, putting my foot down. I was changing lanes when my phone started ringing.

  "Don't you dare answer that when you are doing over a hundred!" She pulled her hand from mine and I'm sure that was only the beginning of her lecture.

  "Bluetooth, babe." I answered the call, and it went through the speakers of the car.

  She shook her head, still not impressed.

  I didn't have a chance to look at the caller ID, so I had no idea who it was.

  "Chase?"

  "Massie?" I frowned. Why would she be calling me this late at night?

  I noticed Chloe's expression tighten out of the corner of my eye. She did know she had nothing to worry about, right? I guess after our last fight, me speaking to Massie was a big deal.

  "How can I help you, Massie?" I kept my voice calm and professional. I glanced at Chloe, and she was glaring at the dash.

  "I just wanted to make sure everything went well this morning? It wasn't easy to get the keys to you earlier."

  "What?" What the hell was she talking about? We didn't settle until Friday.

  "Your girlfriend, she took the keys off me this morning? She also left me with a broken nose."

  My eyes were on Chloe. "Did she now?"

  "Yes. I thought you should know, so you can control her better. I understand men like you have a lot of girlfriends. I'm just giving you a heads up that this one is crazy."

  "Uh huh." My eyes were glancing between the road and Chloe. She was still glaring at the dash. "I'll handle it, Massie." I took the exit and then a side street. We were nearly home. Chloe still wouldn't look at me. "Thanks for letting us have the keys early."

  "Well, that girlfriend of yours was very convincing. Um…can you not mention I called? Because I think she was serious this morning when she threatened me."

  "So she hit you and threatened you?" Chloe had had a busy morning. Here I was thinking she had just spent the day studying.

  "Yes, and I would really like it if she doesn't find out I warned you about her. That's all I called for, Chase. Have a good night."

  "Night, Massie." I hung up and parked the car, turning to Chloe. "You got anything you want to say?"

  She dragged her eyes off the dash and looked me in the eye. I saw her stubbornness, her anger, and the fact she was feeling all sorts of embarrassment for getting caught.

  "Is this you handling it?" Chloe gritted out, looking more pissed off with the fact she was expecting me to give her lecture.

  She had her lips clamped shut like she was attempting to keep all her embarrassment and anger inside. I unbuckled my seat belt and leaned across the car and kissed her clamped lips. Her lips slowly softened just as I pulled away.

  "That's me handling it." I looked her in the eye. "I'm guessing you took my advice seriously when I said to mark your territory?"

  She nodded her head, running a hand down the side of my face. She looked guilty. "Should I say I'm sorry?"

  "No, babe. I don't care who you punch up."

  "Good, because I'm not." She grinned and shrugged her shoulders. "She shouldn't have called you though."

  Now it was my turn to grin. "I'm glad she did. What else did you get up to this morning?"

  "You'll just have to wait and see." She picked up her gym bag and got out.

  Guess this was my turn to follow. I caught her just as she opened up the front door. I took the gym bag off her shoulder.

  "God, this is heavy." I grunted. Why the hell had she been carrying this around all day?

  She opened her mouth but, as soon as she stepped into the house, the boys were calling her name.

  "Chloe, we are hungry!" Oliver complained from the dining table. "Where have you been?"

  "Everything in that fridge needs cooking." Archie pointed at the fridge.

  "There were frozen pizzas in there, why didn't you heat them up?" Chloe walked to them.

  "We tried that." Declan grumbled and looked at Dan. "For someone who has been living here for months, you would think he would know how to use the oven."

  "You seriously couldn't turn the oven on?" Chloe looked between them.

  When there was no answer, she laughed and turned to look at me. "Your brothers can't cook."

  "They'll have to learn." I gripped her by the hips. "WE are going to bed." I looked at them. They could bloody well starve. I wanted Chloe in bed, with little clothes on and pinned against me.

  Oliver groaned. "But that means I'll have to wait until breakfast. You are cooking breakfast again, right?" He looked at Chloe hopefully.

  The sooner the club girls got here, the better then this lot could move into the clubhouse and leave Chloe and me alone.

  Chloe put her hands on mine and gently pushed me away. "It won't take me long to whip something up." She turned to look up at me. "You wouldn't let them starve, would you?"

  "Yes."

  "CHASE!" She whacked me on the arm. "Well, I'm not going to let them starve."

  I groaned while the rest of them cheered and went on about how amazing she was. I knew how amazing she was, and I wanted her in bed, not cooking for my stupid brothers who couldn't even turn on an oven.

  Marc walked through the front door about the same time Chloe started pulling ingredients out of the fridge.

  "Let me guess, they are hungry?" Marc grumbled, leaning against the wall, looking at me, but I saw his eyes flash to Chloe. "You know she isn't a maid, right?" He was about as impressed as I was with the boys using her for her cooking skills.

  "You took your time to get here." I turned to him. We needed to talk. "Wanna go outside for a smoke?"

  He knew I wanted to talk to him, away from this lot and away from Chloe.

  "Sure." But just as he said it, we heard someone pull up the driveway.

  "Who would that be?" Oliver stopped talking to Chloe and asked a question we were all thinking.

  Marc pushed himself off the wall and went to look out the window. His calm expression changed immediately.

  "Cops."

  "You get Chloe out of here, and I'll handle them." I pushed past him and headed for the front door while he went straight for Chloe.

  "All our cars are out the front!" Marc yelled at me, frustrated. "How the hell am I meant to get her out of here without them seeing her? It's not like we have a next-door neighbor's car I can steal!"

  "Guys, it isn't a big deal if they catch me," Chloe said calmly, like she would willingly get arrested. She shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe it's meant to be."

  Like fuck I was letting that happen. She and I were meant to be. Her getting arrested and spending the rest of her life in prison wasn't.

  "If they have a warrant, they are going to turn this house upside down," Dan said. "Follow the river. When it hits a bend, there is a house just up from it. The old man has a truck, you can take that."

  "I'm not running!" Chloe yelled, frustrated.

  "Marc, get her out of here," I said just as there was a knock on our door. If there was one thing about Marc I could count on, it was he was going to listen to me right now and not her.

  He started to drag her out of the kitchen and when they disappeared into the lounge, I opened the door.

  Chapter 61

  Chase's Point of View

  I had one hand on my gun, which was tucked in the back of my jeans. I would do anything to make sure Chloe and Marc got a head start. I opened the door and was winded as she launched herself at me.

  "CHASE!" Sammie squealed with delight.

  "What the fuck are you doing here?" I yelled, pulling her off me.

  "Our car broke down." Jess walked up the porch stairs and waved to the police car that was pulling out. "The guys gave us a ride."
>
  "So you thought, fuck it, I won't call my brothers to come get me, I'll get the fucking police?" I gritted out as Jess shoved past me while Sammie was still trying to cling to me.

  Did they think nothing through?

  “Okay, where is Chloe?" Sammie let go of me and walked in. Immediately, she started giving the boys shit. "Hey Chase, considering my car left me broken down on the highway, can you buy me a new one?"

  "Oliver, call Marc before he drags Chloe to a new state," I yelled, closing the front door.

  Bloody sisters.

  "Where is Chloe?" Jess frowned.

  "Being dragged away by Marc because the fucking police were here! Can you two be any more stupid?! You know she's wanted. I didn't want the police knowing where I fucking lived!"

  "It's not like we broadcasted it to them that you do, Chase." Sammie rolled her eyes.

  "Yeah, we told them it was grandma’s place. They seemed to believe us." Jess added.

  "You two are as fucking stupid as each other. Why are you here? I told you two this morning not to come anywhere near here." I had ignored their complaining this morning on the phone when they went on and on about wanting to be with me for my birthday. How many times did I tell them no?

  Sammie had just finished her rounds of hugging each one of us when I heard the lounge room doors open up. Immediately, Sammie and Jess squealed and charged for Chloe. They weren't used to me letting them be friends with someone I was seeing.

  I never did girlfriends. Normally, they wouldn't even know the woman's name I was sleeping with. When it came down to it, all us boys never let mom or them near a girl and I was beginning to regret letting them near Chloe as they engulfed her in a hug.

  They automatically started peppering her with questions. Chloe looked too shock to even answer one. She was just looking between them both as they went on about how they had actually lied to me this morning when I had told them not to come because they were already on their way.

  Sammie gripped Chloe's arm. "Geez, Chase said you were hurt, but he didn't say you had your arm sliced open!"

  "It's not that bad," Chloe said, and I knew it was killing her not to rip her arm from Sammie's grasp and hide it.

  "Sammie, let go of her," I snapped. Sammie shot me a glare over her shoulder but listened and let go of Chloe's arm.

  "So, why are you two here?" Chloe asked.

  "For Chase's birthday," they both said at the same time, smirking.

  They knew I didn't want them here. I had made that clear.

  Chloe looked directly at me. "I didn't know it was his birthday."

  I shrugged my shoulders. It wasn't a big deal.

  "It's Friday, and we are celebrating it whether he wants to or not." Sammie gave me a pointed look and then smiled. I knew that smile. She wanted something. "About that car, Chase."

  Right, she wanted a new car.

  "You two hungry? I was about to make teriyaki chicken," Chloe said, walking back into the kitchen.

  "Aww, that's the best." Oliver quickly stepped out of her way.

  "How would you know?" I snapped at him.

  "Chloe's cooked it for me before at the clubhouse. See, I knew she was a good cook before you did." Oliver smiled smugly at me, and he linked his arms around her, bringing her back to his chest.

  I hated the way he thought he could touch her whenever he felt like it. Hated seeing it.

  "Oliver, we spoke about this, no more teasing Chase." Chloe firmly shoved Oliver's arm off her. Did Chloe know how much it bothered me? "Your black eye still hasn't healed."

  I gave him a smug look, and I'd happily give him another one if he didn't keep his hands to himself.

  "Chase will get over it." Oliver shrugged and looked me in the eye as he went back to touching her.

  Clearly he wanted me to remind him of boundaries.

  "Hands off, Oliver, or I'll show you my right hook. I told you I wasn't playing games with you anymore." Chloe looked slightly annoyed, as if she knew Oliver was just doing it to get under my skin. "Why don't you do something useful and cut the vegetables." Chloe handed him a knife.

  Oliver looked between the knife and her and then finally took it from her, taking his hands off her.

  "It's not fair that you just start dating him and ditch me. Remember who had your back when Chase didn't."

  "Wait a sec, you and Chase are dating?" Sammie looked at Chloe with a grin so big you would think I had given her that brand new car. She looked at me, grinning still. "You don't date. You are like me."

  "Think before you say another word, Sammie." I gave her a firm look. I would pull my little sister back into line if I had to. She could give me that sweet innocent look all she wanted. It wasn't going to work.

  I wasn't about to let her list the reasons why I didn't date anyone in front of Chloe.

  "You don't do commitments." Sammie looked me in the eye. "Ever."

  Would she just stop there? I was sick of everyone giving me crap about it. When Marc wasn't reminding me that I'd fail, one of my other brothers thought it was their place to step in and remind me Chloe was out of my reach and I'd screw it up.

  "I think it's incredibly romantic," Jess gushed. She was a sucker for fairy tales. "Chase only commits to family and club so to say he is going to commit to you is basically him saying he will marry you one day."

  Chloe had been sipping on wine but, when she heard that, she started choking. Oliver gave her a firm whack on the back.

  "What, don't like the idea of becoming my sister-in-law?" Oliver grinned at her.

  Chloe looked at us with wide eyes. She would have to know I wasn't letting her go by now, didn't she? When I wanted something badly enough, I wouldn't let anyone get in the way of it. Sammie was right. I was going to propose. Didn't know how yet, but if this shock was a taste of her reaction, I couldn't help but grin. What was she going to do when I actually did it?

  "I think you all are reading too much into this." Chloe put her wine down. "Seriously, you are acting like I'm Chase's first woman."

  "You are," they all said, making her go even redder. Guess this was where I stepped in to save her?

  "Alright, leave her alone," Marc snapped at them. "It's not like she is agreeing to marry him or something. Fuck, the way you lot are acting, you would think she had." Marc went to her. "Do you want a refill?" His hand hovered over her wine glass.

  "Thanks, Marc." Chloe looked relieved to have him on her side.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. He was still counting on me screwing things up with her, wasn't he? I was too busy glaring at him, and I hadn't noticed Sammie come over until she cleared her throat.

  "What do you want?" I snapped at her.

  "About my car?"

  "Why would you bring your car if you knew it was having problems?"

  "So it would break down and you would take pity on me." She looked at me like it was obvious.

  "Fine. I'm buying Chloe a car anyway. I'll just add whatever you want to the list. I am assuming you have one already picked?'

  "You are not buying me a car!" Chloe gave me a stubborn look. She was meant to be cooking, not listening to my conversation.

  "Shouldn't you be cooking and not listening to me?" I arched my eyebrows at her.

  "I can multitask." she said, throwing everything into the wok. "You aren't buying me a car."

  "But he is buying me one. I have it all picked, Chase. Now I know you don't want me to have a V8, but I really want one...please..." Sammie was trying to get my attention. I was more interested in trying to convince Chloe she needed a car.

  "You need a car, Chloe."

  "You aren't buying me one."

  "She can just have mine," Marc injected into our conversation. I took my eyes off her to look at him standing next to her. "Our bikes arrive soon and I won't need it."

  "See, you don't have to buy me one because I can borrow Marc's." Chloe gave me a look as if to say that was the end of the conve
rsation.

  I glared at Marc. Why would he offer her that? I didn't want her driving around in something he had given her.

  "Not happening." Then I looked at Marc smugly. "If you are so determined to give your car away, why don't you give it to your sister?"

  "Is it the Aston Martin?" Sammie's eyes lit up.

  "Chloe's used to driving it. Makes sense she keeps it." Marc gave me a firm look. He wasn't going to back down. "Clearly she feels safe in it."

  "Wait a sec, I'm not keeping it. I'm borrowing it. There is a difference," Chloe said between us.

  But she was missing the point. Marc wanted her driving something he owned. Something he had given to her. He wanted her, and this was his way of getting a bit of her.

  "We need that smoke," I gritted out. "Now." I'd just have to pull him into line.

  "Why don't you just smoke in here?" Chloe frowned, knowing I did smoke inside.

  "No, you are missing the point, Chloe. That is Chase's way of saying he needs to make his conversation private. Mostly likely to yell at Marc." Jess crossed her arms. "And it must be about you, for him to not want to do it in front of you."

  Bloody hell Jess for not keeping her mouth shut. Chloe narrowed her eyes at me. "Is that so?" She looked at Marc. "Suddenly, I need your help."

  "Chase and I need to have a conversation." Marc smiled at her, running his hand down her arm. "Stop looking so worried."

  Chloe looked directly at me. "Is this about the car?"

  "No." And it wasn't. This was about Marc's attraction to her. An attraction I was going to end.

  Chapter 62

  Chloe's Point of View

  Jenkins said no weights, and right now I wasn't listening to his advice. Sure, my arm was sore, but the burn I was getting up my thighs was worth it. I didn't realize how I was slowly losing my strength by not training with weights.

  If Sammie and Jess hadn't convinced me to drop my studies for the day and the client appointments I had to do a workout in Chase's gym, well, I wouldn't know just how much of my strength I was losing.

  “Okay, I'm jealous," Sammy said behind me as I came up from a squat with a deadlift.

  "Of?" I said, panting from my third set of fifty. I was really out of shape when it came to weights.