Even though he didn’t really mean it, he had to wonder. Was it true? She had to come on this trip with him. To earn money. She wasn’t here because of him. What a fool he’d been.
He moved toward the restaurant doors, ignoring the girl who stuck out a bowl of candy. “Have a good night.” He grunted and pulled open the door, waiting as Autumn walked through it. Sometimes it annoyed him that the good manners his parents had ingrained in him always persisted.
Autumn pushed past him, just as annoyed. “That’s not true.”
The whole way back to the hotel, Chase couldn’t help feeling like a complete fool. He’d actually been finding himself caught up in her. What could he possibly be to her, other than part of a script for the moment?
As they headed through the hotel parking lot back to the elevator and got to their rooms, the tension crackled between them. She paused next to the door. “Chase, I don’t want to end the day this way. It’s been a great day.”
Part of the shield he had taken up, came down a bit. Looking at her perfect features, he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about the kisses at The Price Is Right. Had it all been just for show? He couldn’t believe that. “Fate.”
“What?” She looked confused.
“I was in love with a girl named Fate.” Dull pain surged into his chest. “She was actually Destiny’s cousin. Used to live next door until she had an accident and passed away.”
Her brows knit together and she reached out and touched his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Chase.”
Her sincerity touched the raw, vulnerable place inside his heart where it concerned Fate. He sighed. “Yeah, well, sometimes I’m fine and sometimes I think about all that could have been.”
She squeezed his arm and her frown deepened.
Not knowing why he was telling her, he leaned against the door. “I dated quite a bit in college, didn’t really get serious with anyone until last year. Dated a girl named Jenny who I thought might be the right one because we were completely opposite from each other.” Her face flashed into his mind. “But it turned out she wasn’t suited to the small town, dude ranch type.” He shrugged.
A smile played at her lips.
Pulling back, he felt offended. “Is that funny to you?”
Shaking her head, she let out a breath. “Actually, I just wanted to correct you, don’t you mean ‘corporate retreat’ type?”
Despite of the angst Chase was feeling about whatever was starting between them, he smiled. “You’re right.”
Pulling back, she moved for her door. “I had a good time today, thank you. For everything. We can put this night into the vault.” She hesitated.
Once again, their gaze locked and Chase wondered how he had such strong feelings for a woman in such short of a time. “Definitely goes into the vault.” Quickly, he turned for his door. He needed to clear his thoughts before he grabbed her and kissed her, again. “Good night, Autumn.”
“Good night.”
Chapter 12
Autumn watched Chase finish giving an amazing PowerPoint presentation to the conference room full of businessmen and women. Chase turned to her. “Now, my colleague will give you a rundown of the other amenities Moon Retreat will offer.”
Standing, she felt everything become calm inside of her. She was an actress; she could sell this. “Ladies and gentleman, along with top-notch equine training, there will be a full spa and massage at the ranch. In addition to that, there will be various activities to compliment the seasons. In the fall, there will be hiking. In the winter, there will be snowshoeing and snowmobile riding. In the summer, paddleboards at the lake. There are also hot springs near the ranch where people will be able to relax in complete luxury as they watch the sun go down.
“When a group of corporate executives come to Snow Valley, it won’t be just to help them build their interpersonal skills. No, it will be to rebuild their emotional, spiritual, and physical reserves. At the end of five days, they will leave having more than skills to bring back to your companies. They will have clarity in their lives. They will have calm. They will know how to bring themselves back to focus during any situation. You will notice increased productivity, increased sales, and a general increase in morality in the work place. Guaranteed.”
The group was silent for a second. Then one guy crossed his arms. “Guaranteed seems to be a pretty big bill to fulfill.”
“Guaranteed.” Chase agreed, standing and moving behind her at the head of the conference table. In his cowboy hat, he was the perfect image of strength, charm, and complete calm. He hooked his thumbs in his belt and gave what she imagined was his winning rodeo smile. “Take a chance and watch the results.”
One woman, who had put together all the businesspeople, stood and beamed at them. “Okay, Chase and Autumn, we’ll give these people a chance to discuss it. Thanks for the presentation.”
Chase put his hand on her lower back as they exited the room. When they walked out the door, he turned to her with a big smile. “You were amazing.”
Wanting to pull into him to a hug, but also wanting to keep her distance, she settled for smiling back. “No, you were amazing.”
“Okay, we’re a good team.”
“The best.” She turned to him and surprised herself by asking him, “Want to take me dancing tonight?”
A smiled played at his lips. “You’re on.”
* * *
At eight p.m., Chase knocked on her door. She’d insisted she didn’t want dinner after the presentation, so he’d told her he would pick her up at eight.
Emotions filled him as he stood at the door. He’d been talking himself out of having any kind of hope in regards to a relationship with this woman.
What was he doing? She wasn’t ready, she’d been hiding from an ex fiancé for two months.
But when she opened the door and stood there in a beautiful pink and white lacy shirt with her jean skirt and black spiked shoes that brought her to his eye level, all he could think about was how beautiful she was. He didn’t care about anything. Only taking her dancing making sure she had a good time. “Wow. You look great.”
Striking a little pose, she lifted her eyebrows and smiled. “Let’s dance.”
When they stepped out of the elevators and onto the roof of their hotel, they were instantly transported to an outdoor dance club. There was pop music on, and plenty of tanned people out dancing. The bar was lit up with neon green and pink in the middle.
Chase wanted to take her hand, but he didn’t know if she’d want that. She was in a good mood though, and he watched her dance to the middle of the floor and reach out to him.
As he took her hand, a song he didn’t recognize came on, but it was slow. She closed her eyes and lifted her arms into the air, swaying back and forth. He couldn’t resist moving right next to her, taking one of her hands, gently pushing her out to twist, and then pulling her back in.
Her eyes flashed open, and a huge grin spread across her face as she moved into an easy dance with him. Like she’d done at The Price Is Right, she turned and danced with her back to him, her head pushed up against his chest.
All he wanted to do was kiss her, but he just danced. A couple of dances later, he pretended to lasso her in and she played along, moving toward him. Then she surprised him by doing a pretend slap back and forth, which sent ripples of laughter through both of them.
Another slow song came on. He put his hand out, and she was in his arms, already doing the two-step with him. It was like they could anticipate each other’s moves.
Chase stared into her brown eyes, and his heart melted. He thought of the way she’d kissed him in line at The Price Is Right. If he were honest, it was all he could think about.
“What?” she asked.
“Oh, nothing.” He looked away, slightly embarrassed, and focused on the other couples around them. On the sticky, humid night air of California.
“You were definitely thinking something.”
“I told you.”
; Her lips turned down. “Right, don’t go accusing you of thinking.”
He let out a light laugh and spun her out into a turn then pulled her back in quickly. They were face to face, close enough that he could feel her breath. “I’ll tell what I’m thinking, if you tell me what you’ve been thinking.”
She searched his eyes. “Chase, I just don’t know if I can—”
He turned her out into a twirl again, not wanting to talk about reality at this moment. He tugged her back and flashed her a grin. “Never mind then. Tonight is the fantasy. Tonight is the dream. We’re just two people dancing, laughing, and having fun. No past. No future. Just right here.”
He thought about what the implications of just this moment could mean. He’d never been the kind of guy who had a woman in every town. Granted, he’d known a lot of those guys on the rodeo circuit. But not him. It wasn’t the way he’d been raised.
“Oh.” She cocked an eyebrow. “Just tonight.”
He coughed and corrected himself. “Just on this dance floor. For the next however many dances. Just right here. Everything’s perfect right here.”
To his amazement, she laughed like she’d been set free, throwing her head back. “Like your perfect singing in the shower?”
He laughed harder, twirling her out then back in. Feeling free himself, he dipped her back, and she kicked up her leg.
When he righted her, she stared at his lips, and he felt his heart rate kick up a notch. “So if I kiss you on the dance floor, it doesn’t mean anything. It’s just here. No future?”
All he wanted was to taste her lips. “You bet.”
She leaned in, and he met her halfway. She tasted like mint gum. She dug her fingers into his shoulder and pulled his head closer, and he pulled her waist closer to his.
Time stood still. He knew, no matter what else happened, he would never forget this woman or this moment. The perfect air. The perfect music. She was the perfect fit for him, tucked in close. He could feel their heartbeats pounding together.
Pulling back, her face widened into a grin. There was a playful glint in her eyes.
Before he could ask what she was so happy about, she tugged him into another kiss. They were flying. He’d slowed his two-step, and they synced in perfect harmony.
But it ended as all perfect moments do. Her cell phone went off, startling both of them. Pulling back, she tugged out her phone. “That’s Janet’s ring.”
He guided her to the side of the dance floor to a spot overlooking the other roofs.
“Hello,” she said into the phone. “Okay.” She put it on speaker. “We’re both here.”
“Chase.” It was Michael.
“Hey.”
“I wanted to tell both of you this. First, nice job today. I heard you guys really convinced many of my business associates to take a chance on the retreats. Some of them have been calling and trying to book time slots with my assistant.”
Chase’s heart lightened and he laughed. “Really?”
Autumn fist pumped the air. “Woot.”
Michael cleared his throat. “But on the home front, it looks like you’re going to have to show up in court.”
“What?” Autumn shook her head, her hand began to tremble in his.
Chase frowned.
“The lawyers say Brad’s driver is a witness and has a video on his camera phone of Chase manhandling Brad and throwing him on his butt in front of the flower shop.”
Chase felt his hands clench into fists. That had been the very thing Brad had wanted to do to Autumn—manhandle her into the car. Now, he was using it against Chase.
“I can’t believe it,” Autumn said.
“Hold on, Autumn, they did give us a way out,” Michael said.
“What?” Autumn and Chase both demanded.
“Well.” Michael sighed. “If Autumn agrees to go to the governor’s ball this Saturday with Brad as his fiancée, and we all sign a release that we won’t talk to the press, he’ll drop all charges.”
Everything inside of Chase told him this was a bunch of crap. “No. No way.”
Autumn had closed her eyes. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
“No,” Chase said.
“Yes.” Autumn opened her eyes and he saw tears already forming. She turned to the phone, bringing it closer to her lips. “Michael, tell him I’ll do it. He can have his dance and his confidentiality agreement, if he drops the charges against Chase.”
“No.” Chase shook his head, reaching for the phone.
Autumn turned away from him. “Michael, we gotta go. I’ll see you tomorrow, and I’ll sign the papers.” Autumn shut the phone and swung back around to him with fully formed tears in her eyes.
Anger surged in him, and he wanted to fight, to pound something. Once again, Brad’s face pushed into his mind. “Autumn, you can’t do this.”
For a moment, she just stood there, tears shimmering into her eyes. Then she broke off and looked away, laughing. “Don’t you see? Brad always gets his way. I can’t have him take you to court and put you in jail.” She tried to push past him.
He took her by the arm. “Autumn, we have to talk about this.”
She looked down at his hand. “Let me go.”
He let go.
She moved to the elevators. “I’m going to go to the stupid ball with him, then I’m leaving Montana forever.”
Chapter 13
Chase sat in his parents’ kitchen in Snow Valley. His parents were still on their “tour de Europe” as his father had called it. He thought about Autumn.
Truthfully, it’d been all he could think about since they’d gotten back earlier today.
As they’d flown back to Snow Valley, she’d been quiet. Freezing him out. She was polite, but any time he tried to talk to her, or tried to take her hand, she pulled it back and shook her head.
It was suffocating. It wasn’t fair.
The whole plane ride, she’d put in her headphones and ignored him. The whole way back to Snow Valley, she’d put her headphones in again.
He’d wanted to scream. He’d put in his own headphones, ignoring her too and pretending his heart wasn’t broken.
It was strange to Chase how much he missed her since dropping her off two hours ago. They’d only known each other a handful of days. The whole trip to LA felt like a dream.
Michael’s assistant and CEO in LA kept calling him or emailing him about different businesses that were interested in bookings for the retreat next year. Michael had informed him when Chase had dropped Autumn off, he was looking for a new contact for him to help run the business end of things like booking the right speakers, finding catering, helping with all kinds of things. Meanwhile, Chase would be in charge of building operations, contractors, lining up workers for the busier seasons, and handling the day-to-day operations.
Chase didn’t want a new contact … he wanted Autumn.
It unsettled Chase that all he could think of were the little children that should be coming in July for theater camp.
When Chase had gotten home he’d tried to dig a hole for a fence post to fix the fence on his father’s south pasture. He tried everything to get her out of his brain. Singing country songs, pop songs, hymns. He tried reciting the poem “Invictus,” which he’d learned in the fourth grade. Nothing worked.
After dinner, he sat on the porch all bundled up and watched the sun set. It was cold. Freezing. He couldn’t feel anything.
She was going to the stupid ball with him. Would she let herself fall back into the same trap? It worried him, and he wanted to punch something. Someone. Again, he imagined Brad’s flesh against his fist.
Then he laughed. Before, he’d wanted to punch Brad just because of the way he was treating her. For all intents and purposes, at that point, she was a stranger. Now, thinking about what Brad had put her through, he wanted to bash his face in even more.
Going inside, he looked at the clock on the oven. Seven. It was only seven o’clock. He had the whole night left to torture himself
.
Then he had an idea. Taking the keys off the wall, he raced to his truck.
If he only had one night left with her … he had to be with her.
* * *
Sitting outside of Michael and Janet’s house, he stared at the little guesthouse at the back of the property. He’d been there for fifteen minutes. He’d seen Lacy come to the door and then rush back.
He’d been a fool to come. Just ask a twelve-year-old.
Out of nowhere, he got a text. It was from Autumn. What are you doing, cowboy?
He shut off his truck and got out, manning up and trudging through the snow toward the guesthouse.
He could see Autumn watching him through the front window of the guest house. Once again, all he could think was that she was perfection.
When he got there, she opened the door before he could knock. “I thought I told you I’m leaving Montana, so this is kind of pointless.”
“I guess I just like pointless.”
They stared into each other’s eyes.
“Are you gonna let me in?”
Hesitantly, she pushed the door open wider and stepped back. “Michael said he spoke to you, so you know I’m leaving tomorrow.”
Bending to slip his boots off, he didn’t respond.
She pushed the door shut behind him and turned for the kitchen. “Well, do you want some hot chocolate?”
He sniffed the warm air. It smelled divine. “That would be great.” Slowly, he took his coat off, put it on the coat rack, and followed her.
The guesthouse had a quaint yet modern feel to it. “Nice place.”
After pouring him some hot cocoa from the pan on the stove, she frowned. “I’ll miss it.”
He took the hot chocolate, and their eyes locked again. Not wanting to let it get uncomfortable, he moved to the table and sat.
She followed and sat across from him. Then she smiled. “Lacy texted me you were out there.”
He grunted, taking a taste of the hot chocolate and burning his tongue.
Winter in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance) Page 62