Conquering the Heart of the Bad Boy

by Nomi Summers

  “Oh yeah, what for?” Chase asked, ripping off a piece of crust for Zeke.

  “I asked him to put together a contract for us. For our business.”

  Chase nearly choked on the bite he had just taken. “You did what? Why would you have Aaron oversee our agreement?” he asked once he’d managed to swallow.

  “Because he’s my attorney. What’s the big deal?”

  “I didn’t know he was your attorney. I thought he was just an attorney.”

  “Well, he’s the best in town, and yes, he’s my attorney. That’s how we started dating, actually.”

  Chase didn’t want to hear about her dating Aaron. He didn’t want to hear another word about Aaron. But he had to know. He’d imagined Aaron had something to say about this, and Chase wanted to know exactly what that was.

  “Well, what does he think of our plan?” he asked, trying to sound nonchalant as he returned the sandwich fixings to the fridge.

  “Honestly, he’s not thrilled about it. But it’s not up to him, so what difference does it make?”

  “Well, what did he say, specifically?” Needles pricked at the back of his neck as he waited in anticipation.

  “He’s just being protective, as attorneys are.”

  “You mean as boyfriends are,” Chase corrected her.

  “Aaron is not my boyfriend, Chase.” Emma fired a look at him that said she was not pleased with his assumption.

  “Yeah,” he muttered under his breath. “Well, do you have the agreement?”

  “No, we went over the terms and he said he would get started on it. It should be ready on Monday.”

  Chase didn’t like the thought of Aaron overseeing their agreement, but he decided to let it go for now. He wasn’t going to let this ruin his evening with Emma.

  Emma wasn’t pleased with the way Chase had drilled her about Aaron, but she couldn’t blame him. If he knew how against their business plan Aaron was, Chase would really be upset. She decided not to tell him that’s why their meeting had run over and why she was late coming home. It had caused quite an argument between her and Aaron, and Aaron was convinced she was making a huge mistake. Still, he’d agreed to put the paperwork together—not because he’d wanted to, but because it was his job and she had him on retainer.

  After Emma went upstairs to freshen up, she met Chase back in the parlor. “This place looks amazing, Chase. You’ve really done a nice job with it.”

  “Thank you,” he said, giving her a once-over. She noticed how his eyes scanned her body in her formfitting, black dress. Was it too much? They’d planned to have dinner at La Fresca’s, the new fine dining restaurant in town. It was upscale, so she figured a dress and heels were appropriate. She couldn’t help but check out Chase herself. He wore black dress pants and a heather gray button-down shirt. She hadn’t seen him dressed up since … well, ever, and he looked good. Not that he didn’t look good in the tight-fitting tank tops and faded jeans he wore most days when he was working on the house, but this was a different look, and he was as handsome as ever. Heat traveled through her body as he made his way next to her and held out his arm to escort her to dinner, the light scent of his cologne intoxicating to her senses.

  They said goodbye to Zeke and made their way down Main Street. Everything was a short walk in Arbor Shores, and Emma loved living in the heart of town. In just a few short minutes, they were at the new monstrosity on the water. Emma was pleasantly surprised to find that Chase had called ahead and made a reservation for a table by the window with a clear view of the lake. The sun was starting to set, and the colors emanating from the sky cast a warm glow throughout the room. It was quite romantic, which was making it hard to look at Chase as just a friend. To anyone else around them, they probably appeared to be a couple—a very happy couple, indeed.

  The server arrived for their drink order and Chase took the liberty of ordering a bottle of red. He seemed to know his wines and that made Emma realize he had even more worldly experience tucked away that she didn’t know about. That’s something that might come in handy for the B&B.

  The server delivered the bottle and presented the label to Chase. He nodded his approval, and the server worked at the cork with his wine key and poured a taste in Chase’s glass first; he breathed the aroma in through his nose and then took a sip before approving Emma’s pour. She was impressed. This wasn’t something she’d expected from her bad boy best friend who’d shown up on his Harley. She appreciated that there were many sides to Chase—sides anyone rarely got to see except her. Something about that made her feel special.

  “To Hemlock House.” Chase held up his glass for a toast after the server had finished pouring both glasses and had taken their appetizer order.

  “To Hemlock.” Emma held up her glass to clink with his. “And to us,” she added. Chase locked eyes with her as she said it, and she quickly took a sip and set her glass down. She unfolded her linen napkin and placed it in her lap, looking down to smooth out the wrinkles.

  “So, when do you think we’ll be ready to open?” Chase asked, taking out his own napkin and following suit.

  “Well, the downstairs is ready now, thanks to you. The upstairs just needs updating. The rooms have been closed and nobody has stayed in them. They just need a good cleaning, and we should probably update the bedding with new linens.”

  “I’ll get started cleaning up there tomorrow.”

  Emma took a sip of wine and continued. “I think we will be ready to open by the end of the month. We just need our agreement finalized, and I have Aaron checking to see if we need any permits or licenses updated. I’m sure we do.”

  Emma noticed Chase’s jaw flinch at the mention of Aaron’s name. She was sure he was jealous of Aaron, but he’d never say it. If he only knew Aaron had nothing on him in Emma’s eyes. She’d take spending time with Chase over Aaron any day.

  The server brought their appetizer first, and then their salads. They talked about their plans for getting people to Hemlock House, and decided they’d try social media advertising to get the word out to people downstate as soon as they started to generate some income. In the meantime, they’d attend the Chamber mixers so the locals could help spread the word. Another thing Emma appreciated about Arbor Shores was the sense of community, and how everyone was always so supportive of NovelTea. She was well-respected in town—people loved her baking and her bookstore, and she was often asked to supply baking orders for other local businesses. She’d just have to get Aaron to lighten up on Chase and accept the fact that she was starting this business with him whether he liked it or not.

  They enjoyed their entrees—Chase a steak and Emma the lake perch—and then split a small piece of cheesecake with local cherries on top before finishing their wine and asking for the check. Emma reached for it. She’d planned to pay for half, but Chase grabbed it quickly and pulled out cash to cover the total. It was odd to her to see someone pay with cash anymore, and she wondered if he even owned a credit card.

  Getting up from the table, Chase followed Emma through the maze of white linen-clad tables as they headed toward the exit. Side by side now, the comfort of his strong arm sliding around her waist sent another rush of heat through her body as they made their way toward the exit.

  They had to walk through the lounge to get back toward the front door, and as they did, Emma saw Aaron get up from the bar and head towards her and Chase. She sucked in a deep breath and held it. He was the last person she wanted to see tonight.

  “Surprised to see you here,” he said to Emma as he approached, leaning in to plant a kiss on her cheek.

  “Hi, Aaron. You remember Chase, right?” Emma asked, ignoring his comment.

  Aaron shoved his hands into his pockets and rested back on his heels, staring Chase down. Chase dropped his arm from around Emma’s waist to mirror Aaron’s stance, and neither one spoke. You could cut the tension with a knife. He finally gave a nod in Chase’s direction, but shifted his focus back on Emma.

  “We were jus
t celebrating the progress of Hemlock House. You should see what Chase has done with the place this week,” Emma said, looking over at Chase and offering him a small smile.

  “Is that so?” Aaron asked, but Emma could detect something in his tone that wasn’t sitting well with her. Something she didn’t like one bit.

  “Yes, he’s really fixed it up nicely, so we should be ready to open soon. We were just discussing the details.”

  “Well, it looks more like you’re on a date to me,” he told her, folding his arms across his chest.

  “I’ll see you on Monday, Aaron.” Emma refused to give his remark a response. This wasn’t a date, was it? And, so what if it was? She didn’t belong to Aaron, and she didn’t like this new side of him that had emerged ever since Chase had shown up in town. Chase wasn’t going anywhere, and Aaron would need to get used to it. “Ready, Chase?” she asked, turning toward the door.

  They left Aaron standing in the middle of the lounge. As they made their way through the crowd, she could feel Chase’s hand slip back around her waist. This time, she couldn’t help but wonder if he had an agenda.

  They made their way out into the night and Chase found it was a pleasantly warm evening for September. There was a slight drop in temperature, but luckily Emma had grabbed a shawl before leaving the house, so he thought he’d give his idea a shot.

  “Wanna walk home along the beach?” he asked.

  Emma looked down at her shoes, and then leaned down to pull her sling-back heels off. “I’d love that.”

  Chase followed suit, and they made their way toward the shoreline. The sun had fully set, and the moon had moved in its place, casting a silver-blue glow on the sand stretched before them.

  “What’s Aaron’s deal, anyway?” Chase finally asked as they fell in stride, and made their way up the secluded beach. For such a nice night, Chase was surprised there wasn’t a soul to be seen besides them.

  “He’s just overprotective, I guess.”

  “No, I’m overprotective. He’s jealous. There’s a difference,” he corrected her. But was there? Chase had been secretly jealous of Emma and Aaron’s relationship, but he wouldn’t tell her that. He saw how she’d reacted to Aaron’s jealousy, and Chase didn’t want to have her upset with him as well.

  “Can you blame him?” she asked, stopping to turn and face him.

  Chase stopped walking and turned to her. “What do you mean?”

  “Come on, Chase. I have a hot, manly guy practically living with me, who I’m spending all of my time with and who I’m now opening a business with. It does kind of look like we’re together, don’t you think?”

  “So, you think I’m hot?” Chase teased as he wiggled his eyebrows. But inside, her admission had made his heart skip a beat.

  “You know you’re hot, Chase. You always have been.” She looked down at the sand and dug at it with her toe. Through the light of the full moon illuminating her features, he could see her cheeks redden.

  That overwhelming desire to kiss her had returned. He wasn’t sure if it was the wine, or the romantic atmosphere of their dinner, or the pull of the moon on his emotions, but something inside of him was telling him it was right. That this was not only the time, but the perfect setting. If it ruined their chance of opening the B&B, well, that’s a risk he was willing to take.

  He took a step forward, closing the space between them. Reaching out, he gently guided her chin up with his fingers, causing her to look up at him.

  “What are you doing?” she asked softly, but her voice shook. Chase knew she was well aware of what he was about to do, and she wasn’t doing anything to stop him.

  “Why can’t we be, Em?” he asked, his voice low.

  “Why can’t we be what?”

  “Together,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her against him. She didn’t fight it or try to break free. Another green light that was fueling his confidence for what he was about to do. He moved a hand to the side of her face, cupping it at first, and then slowly guiding her mouth closer to his.

  “But we decided that we weren’t going to—”

  Before she could finish her sentence, Chase swept his lips across hers. Gently at first, testing her reaction, until her body released the resistance she’d been holding between them. Her hands move to the back of his neck and pulled his mouth closer; it was clear she wanted this kiss as badly as he did. Taking the kiss deeper, wrapped in each other’s arms under nothing but the light of the moon, Chase had never felt anything so right.

  In that moment, all doubt disappeared and he had never been more certain—Emma Woods was meant for him.

  Chapter 12

  Emma flipped over in bed to get a view of the clock. 1:02 a.m. How long was she going to lie wide awake, replaying the kiss with Chase over in her mind? At the foot of the bed, she could hear Zeke’s gentle snore. At least someone can sleep.

  She moved her fingers to her lips and held them there, unable to shake the feeling of Chase’s mouth on hers. The way the scent of his cologne had ignited her passion for him when he pulled her close, the way his strong arms felt so safe wrapped around her body, the way his lips felt so soft, and the way they had tasted so good—it was all filling her with a giddy schoolgirl energy, as if it was her first kiss ever.

  But it hadn’t been her first kiss ever. It was, however, the first kiss that ever made her feel like this. Something about it just felt so … right. There was an undeniable chemistry between them when their lips touched. Not only did the kiss feel like nothing she’d ever experienced, but it had intensified every feeling she had for Chase times a million. There was no doubt in her mind they belonged together now. The only question was, why had they waited so long?

  But had Chase felt it, too? The curiosity of what he was feeling and thinking was getting the best of her. She sat up and looked at the clock again. 1:04 a.m. Grabbing her cell phone off the nightstand, she typed out a text:

  You awake?

  Nothing.

  Of course, he was sleeping. Why would he be awake at this hour after he’d worked hard on the house all day? He was probably exhausted, and she was being foolish. She just hoped her invasive late night text hadn’t woken him.

  Her phone buzzed in her hand and the screen lit up, sending a jolt of excitement through Emma’s system as she read the screen.

  Can’t sleep. I was gonna ask you the same.

  Her heart pounded in her chest. She hesitated for a moment, trying to think of what to say now that she was certain he was just as hot and bothered by their kiss as she was.

  What’s on your mind? She finally typed out and sent the text before she could delete it.

  A long pause from Chase had her holding her phone in one hand, chewing at a cuticle on the other.

  You. Your lips. That kiss.

  Reading Chase’s words on the screen sent a ripple of tingling sensations through her body. To think he was lying in bed, only a couple hundred yards away, replaying their kiss over in his mind, unable to sleep just like she was? What would she send in response to that?

  Me too.

  Nothing too clever, but at least now he knew she was on the same page.

  Any regrets?

  Not a single one.

  Good. Does that mean you’re ready to stop fighting this?

  Fighting what?

  This undeniable connection between us.

  I stopped fighting it at the beach, remember?

  Oh, I remember. So, does that mean we can give this a try?

  You and me?

  Yes, you and me.

  I’m ready to try if you are.

  Then it’s official?

  It’s official.

  A series of kissy face emojis appeared on her screen before Chase’s next text.

  See you in the morning, Em.

  Good night, Chase.

  Knowing that her and Chase were finally going to give their relationship a try, Emma was finally able to lie back down and doze off, visions
of Chase’s lips alive in her dreams.

  Chase made his way over to the main house the next morning, excited to see Emma. He couldn’t wait to plant a kiss on her lips and have coffee with her on the front porch. He opened the back door and was immediately greeted by a very excited black Lab with a wet tongue.

  “Hey, boy. Where’s your mom?” He’d developed quite the relationship with Zeke being in the house together all week. He was sure Zeke could understand all of their conversations, even if he couldn’t respond.

  Chase made his way to the kitchen to put on the coffee, and to his dismay, found a note sitting in front of the coffee pot instead.

  Had to go in early today. I’m doing all the baking for the party.

  Don’t forget, we have to be at the resort by 6. Can’t wait to see you.

  ~Em

  How could he forget? He’d been looking forward to Hunter and Rylee’s engagement party all week. His heart plummeted at the thought of having to wait until this evening to see Emma. He’d just have to keep himself busy today to pass the time. He’d figured there was no better time than now to get started on the upstairs.

  Emma arrived at NovelTea and was pleased to find Rose had come in early to help her. “Good morning, Rose. You’re here early,” Emma said, pulling an apron over her head and tying it around her waist.

  “I know you have a big day. I’m not going to leave you to do all this baking alone.” Rose looked up and smiled before going back to the dough she was kneading. Then Rose dropped the dough and headed over to Emma and stopped right in front of her. “I see I was right,” she said with a wink.

  “Right about what?” Emma asked, confusion clouding her thoughts.

  “I told you that man was crazy about you.”

  Emma cocked a hand on her hip and looked up from the pan she was prepping. “What makes you think that?”

  “Well, am I wrong?”

  A smile dug its way into Emma’s cheeks. She tried to control it, but there was no denying. She was dying to tell someone about Chase, and Rose wouldn’t judge. Rose was the best person to talk to about this. “You were so right, Rose,” Emma beamed.