“Is this too much?” Chloe stood in front of Kristin and turned around in a slow circle. “I mean, do I look like I’m trying too hard?”
Kristin laughed. “You look amazing,” she said. “I love that dress! Where did you get it?”
Chloe shrugged. “Bloomingdales, maybe, a few years ago?” She frowned at her reflection in the mirror. “I don’t want people to think I’m trying too hard.”
“This is a first date, right?”
Chloe nodded.
“Then who cares?” Kristin shrugged. “I assume this guy already knows what you look like.”
Chloe laughed and blushed. “Yeah,” she admitted. “We met at the zoo.”
Kristin laughed. “That’s perfect,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll be fine. You look great, Ms. Parks.”
“Chloe, please,” Chloe replied, holding up her hand and blushing. “I am way, way too young to be called anything other than my first name.”
When Clay arrived, Chloe stood in the foyer and watched him through the small windows on the sides of the door. Part of her expected that he would just sit in the driveway and honk. When he didn’t immediately get out of the car, she cringed, expecting to hear the klaxon blare at any second. Instead, he reached over and grabbed something in the passenger seat before gracefully leaping to the pavement and striding up the walk to Chloe’s house.
“These are for you,” Clay said as Chloe opened the door. He pressed a giant bouquet of purple, pink, and white roses towards her. “I thought you might like them.”
“They’re beautiful,” Chloe said honestly. She lowered her face to the flowers and gratefully inhaled. “Thank you.” She blushed. “I can’t remember the last time someone brought me flowers.”
Clay frowned. “That’s a damn shame,” he replied. “You’re beautiful. You should be used to getting flowers.”
But I’m not, Chloe thought as she trimmed the ends of the roses and tucked them into a glass vase shaped like a box. I’m used to guys who treat me like crap.
“You look great,” Clay said with a grin. “You sure you don’t wanna wear jeans, though?”
Chloe frowned. “You said we’re going to a club,” she said with a pout. “I don’t wear jeans to clubs.”
Clay held his arms up in the air and laughed. “Alright,” he said with a roguish grin that made Chloe’s heart skip a beat. “Off we go, then.”
During the drive into the small downtown of Ithaca, Clay chattered a blue streak. Chloe couldn’t remember the last time that she’d talked with a guy so effortlessly. You have to hold back, she found herself thinking more than once. You don’t know this guy. You don’t know anything about him, hardly!
Even though Chloe had grown up in a small town, she’d lived in New York City since turning eighteen. Most of her friends had been people much like herself – artists, dancers, and other creative types who enjoyed a more Bohemian lifestyle. She’d watched from the sidelines as people played games with one another, vowing that even though she found it a waste of time, she’d never do anything to compromise herself. She couldn’t imagine anything more embarrassing than being dumped by someone she really liked.
“Been single long?”
“What?” Chloe jolted out of her mind. “Sorry,” she added, flashing a charming grin. “I missed that, what did you ask?”
Clay shook his head. “You’re a little spacey,” he commented. “Everything okay? Something on your mind?” He turned and looked into Chloe’s green eyes. For a moment, she felt the sudden urge to tell him what had happened with her neighbor. She had a feeling that somehow, Clay would understand.
“No,” she said finally, flashing another smile. “I’m fine. Sorry, just a little tired I guess.” Chloe mimed a yawn. “What did you ask?”
“I asked how long you’d been single.” Clay raised his eyebrows as he pulled into a parking lot. Chloe’s hopes were dashed as she gazed over the row of ramshackle buildings. “I’m willing to bet it hasn’t been long. Not with a looker like you, anyway,” Clay added.
“It’s been a few years,” Chloe murmured. “I haven’t really wanted a boyfriend, though. I don’t feel like I’m missing out.”
“And your son?”
“He doesn’t have a boyfriend, either,” Chloe said, sticking out her tongue and making Clay laugh. “I mean, I had him by myself.” She swallowed, blushing slightly. “I wanted to start a family but there wasn’t anyone I wanted to marry. So I did it myself.”
“You and Gemma are gonna get along famously,” Clay replied as he switched off the ignition. “She had her son by herself, too.”
Chloe frowned. “Didn’t you say that she’s married to your brother?”
Clay laughed again and winked at her. Chloe felt strangely disarmed. “I did,” he replied casually as he slid out of the car and walked around to her side. “But sometimes things have a funny way of working out like that.”
Chloe’s glance darted around nervously as Clay escorted her into the club. It wasn’t like she’d imagined. It was more like a dive bar, with pool tables and a jukebox in the corner that was playing Top 40 hits from twenty years ago. The air was hazy with cigarette smoke and Chloe’s eyes burned almost immediately.
“This is a club?”
Clay laughed. “I thought you might be more comfortable in jeans,” he teased. “But nope, you were dead set on having every man stare at you all night.”
Chloe blushed and tried to tug up the front of her dress. “Sorry,” she said as she glanced around. “I mean, I guess I thought when you said club, that you meant something different.”
Clay put his arms over his head and thrust his pelvis out in an approximation of boy-band dance moves. “Like this?” He winked at Chloe as he gyrated wildly and she was surprised to find herself more than slightly turned on by his little display. “Or like this?” Clay smoothly transitioned into sexier dance moves, bumping and hopping along the floor. Chloe laughed out loud, even though she felt slightly embarrassed that everyone was staring at them.
“Something like that,” she muttered. Once her eyes adjusted to the inside of the dim room, she saw that it was even more dilapidated than she’d first imagined. “What kind of club is this?”
Clay grinned. “It’s a karaoke club, baby,” he said as he put an arm around Chloe’s shoulders and pulled her close. “And just wait until I have a few shots of tequila!”
A man who looked much like Clay and a cute, casual-looking brunette woman walked over to Clay and Chloe.
“Chloe, this is my brother Rock and his wife, Gemma,” Clay said as they shook hands.
“Do you two have another brother named Tree?”
Clay and Rock laughed uproariously. “No,” Rock said with a glint in his eye. “But we do have one named Rust.”
Chloe blushed hard. “Wow,” she said. “I had a sister named Allyson.”
The foursome walked over to a table and slid into battered wooden chairs. Chloe’s feet were already aching from her stiletto heels and she winced as she crossed her legs at the knee.
“Shoulda worn better shoes,” Clay said with a guffaw. “You’re gonna be too sore to dance with me!”
Chloe glanced around the dark club. “People dance here?”
“Yes, princess, they do,” Clay replied playfully. Chloe blushed again.
“Sorry,” she said, more to Rock and Gemma than to Clay. “I’m not exactly used to places like this.”
“Where are you from?” Gemma’s voice was soft and sweet, just like the rest of her. She was a few inches shorter than Chloe with laugh-lines in the corners of her mouth, pretty grey eyes, and long brown hair tied back in a ponytail.
“New York City,” Chloe said. She glanced around, feeling self-conscious. “I moved here because of my son, Noah. He…..” She trailed off. “He didn’t do so well in the city. Everyone said he’d be happier in the country.”
“Our son, Arthur, loves it out here,” Gemma said. She beamed. “Kids love nature and trees.”
“And Chloe even had her baby like you did, Gemma,” Clay said casually. He rested his big hands on the table and Chloe blushed at the sight of them. There was something about his large, muscular, hairy frame that turned her on. She imagined how it would feel to be in Clay’s arms, to feel his strong hands caressing her slight body.
“Really?” Gemma smiled, more genuine this time. “I felt so self-conscious for going to a sperm bank!”
Chloe laughed out loud. She was beginning to feel a little better, now that she was actually talking to reasonable adults. “I had my agent take me,” she said, glancing down. “And I wore sunglasses.”
Rock stared at Chloe. His eyes moved from Chloe to Clay and then back again. “So, you two-“
“Shut up, Rock,” Clay said good-naturedly. “We all need a beer. Who wants a beer?”
Chloe bit her lip. “Wine, please?”
Clay laughed and shook his head. “Nope, beer it is. Sorry, Chloe. You’re in the country now!”
As the night progressed, Chloe was surprised to discover how much fun she was having. Rock and Gemma were a sweet couple, and she and Gemma even exchanged numbers. Gemma wasn’t like any of her old friends, but she didn’t seem completely dissimilar, either. Deep down, Chloe hoped that she was making a new friend.
“How did you two meet?” Chloe leaned over the counter. Her skin felt hot and itchy and she was well aware that she’d already had too much to drink. The inside air of the bar suddenly felt stifling and hot, and she put a hand to her forehead.
Gemma blushed. “Well, I had a birthday party for my son Arthur,” she said softly. Chloe had to lean forward to hear her – Gemma was one of the most soft-spoken women she’d ever met. It was funny to see her with Rock, who was basically a louder version of Clay. They even had the same shaggy brown hair and golden eyes. “And Rock showed up. He basically saved the day,” she said, looking at her husband with clear affection in her eyes. “And he even brought Arthur a pet rabbit.”
“Aww,” Chloe cooed. “That’s so sweet! But how did you really meet?”
Rock and Clay and Gemma all exchanged looks. “Well,” Clay said carefully.
Rock held up a hand. “I had a feeling that Arthur’s party was exactly where I needed to be that day,” he said with a grin and a wink. “And once I saw Gemma, well, I was a goner.” He pulled his wife close and kissed her temple.
“When did you get married?”
Gemma blushed. Her left hand sparkled with a small, tasteful diamond and matching wedding band. “Well, about six months after we met,” she said casually.
Chloe’s jaw dropped. “Six months?” She opened her eyes wide. “That’s all?”
Gemma nodded. She smiled sweetly at Rock. “It just felt right,” she said with a shrug. “I couldn’t imagine not being Rock’s wife. And Arthur just loved him right from the beginning.”
“We’re a great family,” Rock said. He grinned at Gemma and Chloe felt her stomach twist. She swallowed hard, faintly aware that she was jealous for one of the first times in her adult life. How is that even fair? They barely even knew each other and they got married and they look like they’re so in love! I’m never going to find anything like that!
“I can tell,” Chloe said honestly. Clay pushed another shot of tequila towards her on the table and she tilted her head back, swallowing all of the clear, fiery liquid.
“Sometimes when people meet, they just know,” Clay said. He gave Chloe a knowing look and she shivered. It felt like he was speaking about some hidden meaning, and although she didn’t know what he was getting at, she couldn’t deny the warm feelings of arousal and pleasure that were shooting through her body. Suddenly, all she cared about was being alone with Clay. She wanted to wrap her arms around his strong, muscular neck and pull his lips to hers.
“I get that,” Chloe said softly. She glanced down. “I’m just used to a different lifestyle.” She winked at Clay. “You know, most of my friends wouldn’t even date men they’d known for years!”
“What was the hold-up?” Rock leaned in close. “Are things really that different in the city?”
“Well, everyone does like to pretend they’re about twenty years younger than they actually are,” Chloe said dryly. “My friends never wanted to admit they were growing up. I was the youngest one to have a baby, and I had Noah when I was twenty-nine.”
“Wow,” Rock replied. “Well, things ain’t like that out here. Are they, Clay?”
Clay snorted. “Enough,” he said, standing up from the table. “Come on, Chloe. Better get you home before my brother embarrasses me any more tonight.”
Chapter Three
“My head,” Chloe whined as she leaned against the window on the passenger side of Clay’s car. “Ouch.”
Clay laughed. “I take it you’re not used to tequila,” he said in a smooth, low voice as he turned the key in the ignition. “Strong stuff, that,” he added. “I’ve had my fair share of nights feeling like shit over it.”
Chloe closed her eyes and winced. Her head was throbbing and she could still taste every shot of the liquid fire that she’d swallowed back at the karaoke bar. Talking to Rock and Gemma had been so much fun. It was the most fun she’d had since moving west from New York. Impulsively, she leaned across the seat and tried to press her mouth against Clay’s. For a moment, they were tantalizingly close. Clay’s breath washed over Chloe’s face and she shivered with lust. As her hot lips pressed against his, she moaned softly.
Then, Clay’s firm hands were on her shoulders and he was pushing her away. When Chloe opened her eyes, Clay was staring deep into her face.
“Whatever happened to not even dating people you’d known for years?” Clay’s voice was teasing, but Chloe could sense an underlying current of serious meaning beneath. Even in her drunk state, she felt embarrassed about the comments she’d made earlier in the evening.
“It’s just a kiss,” Chloe protested. She leaned in again but Clay gently held her off.
“It’s not just a kiss to me,” Clay replied. “I’m not that type of guy. I don’t hook up with women and then just forget about them. That’s never been my deal.”
Chloe felt a shiver of anticipation rip through her body. She pouted. “I understand,” she said softly. There was a moment of silence in the car, then Chloe hiccupped loudly and covered her mouth.
“You’ll be okay,” Clay said in a soothing voice. He handed Chloe a capped bottle of water. “Drink as much of this as you can, and when you get home, take some painkillers. You should be alright in the morning.”
Chloe obediently drank the whole bottle of water. By the time Clay had pulled up in front of her house, she was feeling much better When he got out of the car to open her door for her, she felt suddenly shy.
“Wanna come in?” Chloe unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to face Clay. “I have the sitter for another hour or two. You could have a coffee, or another drink.”
In the dark of the car, Clay’s golden-brown eyes seemed to glow. “Alright,” he replied. “I’ll come in. Just for a little bit, though. I don’t want you getting too worried that I’m going to try to marry you immediately.”
Chloe bit her lip. “Clay, I didn’t mean anything rude about your brother and Gemma,” she said. “It’s just, well, I’m from a different planet. You understand that, right?”
Clay laughed good-naturedly and again, Chloe wondered if there was some kind of hidden meaning in that sexy grin of his. “As long as we can understand each other,” he replied as he climbed out of the car. “That’s all I care about.”
Inside the house was quiet. Chloe could hear the TV on a muted whisper in the living room. She turned to Clay. “Well, coffee or a real drink?”
Bear Anchor (BBW Shifter Romance) (FisherBears Book 2) Page 40