by Lori Foster
She made a pouting face at him. “I thought you said I’d have my turn.”
“You will. Tomorrow.”
She looked his length over greedily. “Will I get to tie you up?”
“Hell no.” The frown she gave him now was mutinous, and he kissed her thoroughly in between chuckles. “The effect isn’t at all the same, I promise. Besides, there are a few things I still want to do to you.”
“Chase…” Her eyes were suddenly glowing warmly again.
He touched her cheek. “You’re an intelligent, independent, sexy woman, Allison Barrows. I wouldn’t have you any other way. Except,” he added when she looked flustered at his praise, “in the bedroom. In here, I’m in charge. And I already know how much you like it, sweetheart, so don’t bother protesting.”
Allison picked up a pillow to smack him with it. The bed teetered. Chase caught the pillow, then frowned. “Has this damn bed always been uneven?”
Still looking disgruntled that he could so easily know her thoughts, she muttered, “Not that I’ve noticed. But then you probably weigh a hundred pounds more than me. I don’t think I could make this bed move if I tried.”
Chase sat up and rocked experimentally, then felt the enormous bed wobble again. With a dark suspicion, he climbed off the mattress and looked down at the thick posts supporting the massive bed. Placing one hand on the edge of the mattress, he pushed. The bottom left leg of the bed lifted and fell because it was almost a quarter inch short. Chase noticed a small corner of cloth poking out. He bent down, but it was stuck inside the bottom of the leg. “Allison, come here a minute.”
“What is it?” She peered over the side of the bed, squinting in an effort to see clearly without her glasses. Her gaze was on his naked body, not the bed.
Chase shook his head in amusement, then tugged on his jeans so her attention wouldn’t be divided. “See if you can pull that piece of material out when I lift the edge of the bed.”
Chase was momentarily diverted from his quest when Allison scrambled off the mattress, breasts bare, drawers gaping open and hanging low on her lush hips. He felt a fresh wave of heat and almost forgot his purpose, especially when she went on all fours in front of him, then looked up. “Well?”
Damn. The erotic images that crept into his mind were probably still illegal in some states. It took all Chase’s resolution to reach down and heft the edge of the heavy bed. He barely managed to lift it two inches, but Allison quickly tugged out the thin piece of white lawn. It had something written on it.
“What did you do with my glasses?”
Chase reached for the small square of material, but she held it out of reach. “I got it. I want to look first.”
“Allison…”
She narrowed her eyes at him, still sitting on the floor. “You can control the sex, Chase, but that’s all.”
With a slow, satisfied grin, he picked up her glasses, then sat on the floor beside her, his back to the bed. “That’s all I want to control, babe, so I guess we’re in agreement.” He slipped the glasses on her nose while she watched him warily.
“Somehow I’m not sure I won that one.”
He leaned closer, eyeing a pert breast. “Later, when I’m showing you a position I’m particularly fond of, you’ll be more certain.”
She reluctantly pulled her gaze away from him and stared at the scrap of material. “Oh my God! Do you realize what this is?”
“Since you won’t let me look, no.”
“It’s the directions to where the jewels are hidden!”
Despite himself, Chase felt the rise of enthusiasm. “A map?”
“Not really. I mean, it just directs us to a certain spot in the basement. And judging by how complicated this is, without the note, we’d never find the jewels.”
The laughter erupted, so hearty he almost fell over. Allison smacked his shoulder. “What?”
“Don’t you see?” He wiped tears from his eyes and chuckled some more. “The note is hidden in a leg of the bed, and the only way anyone would know about it is—”
Her eyes widened. “If they indulged in some pretty passionate activity in that bed! Otherwise, the bed is so heavy, it would never rock, and no one would ever notice the hidden note.”
“Exactly. You have to admit, Rose was pretty damned clever.”
Allison jumped to her feet. “Come on.”
“Whoa.” Chase held her hand and pulled her back to stand between his wide-spread legs. “Don’t you think you should put something on first?”
“Why?”
“Because if you don’t,” he said succinctly, leaning forward to kiss her belly, “I won’t be responsible for the fact that we never make it to the basement.”
“We won’t?”
He stared at one taunting nipple. “No, we won’t.”
Allison grinned. “You make me feel very sexy, Chase.”
“That’s because you are very sexy. Incredibly sexy.”
“And here I’d always heard virgins weren’t supposed to enjoy their first time.”
Chase cupped both her breasts, his interest in cold jewels fading quickly. “You’re not the average virgin, honey.”
She flashed him a coy smile and stepped away toward her closet. “Or maybe you just have a rather unique way about you that…stimulates my sexier side.” She wiggled out of her drawers and pulled a dress off the rod. She slipped it on over her head. Chase stared.
It was another old-fashioned dress, fitted across the top, calf-length. It had no collar, just sort of scooped down in a narrow V over her naked breasts. There were about a zillion little tiny covered buttons down the front that fit into narrow, covered loops. Chase watched her start buttoning and knew it would take an excruciatingly long time to get her back out of that dress. To him, it looked like an opportunity for endless foreplay.
He already looked forward to the effort.
She pulled out chunky heeled shoes, then said with a wink, “These are my Brighton Beach hooker shoes.”
Chase narrowed his gaze. “You’re naked underneath.”
“I know.” And just that easily, she sauntered out of the room. “Come on, Chase. I’ll show you the way to the basement.”
Chase grinned as he followed her, watching the tantalizing sway of her behind in the full skirt.
Allison had the foresight to grab a flashlight from the kitchen. Once in the basement, they had a hard time maneuvering across the packed-dirt floor. The one bare bulb hanging at the bottom of the stairs wasn’t adequate to light their way. The basement was musty, the walls damp. They followed the directions carefully, counting off steps, making abrupt turns, steering around the odd pipe. They came to a stop in the far corner where the rough edge of a protruding, homemade laundry chute was just visible from the ceiling beams. Chase stared down at a rusted tub beneath it.
Fascinated, Allison paced around him. “That’s the old laundry chute, from when Rose used to have to do the wash with a wringer-type washer. Burke built it for her. When they first got this house, they couldn’t afford a maid of any kind, so he tried to make it as organized for her as he could. The chute starts under the sink in the hall bathroom, but a former heir had it boarded up when a modern laundry room was built off the kitchen.”
“We need something to climb on,” Chase said, moving to stand just beneath the chute. He aimed the flashlight at the square of linen in Allison’s hand. “It says the jewels are directly up from here.”
The flashlight beam bounced over the long, deep chute, then inside it. About two feet up, taped flat against the inside, was a narrow box. “Well, I’ll be damned,” Chase whispered slowly.
“Is it the jewels?”
“I think so.”
Chase felt Allison’s excitement roll over him, and then a thought occurred to him. “Where are Burke and Rose? There hasn’t been a single light flicker or breeze or anything. Not since…”
Allison froze. “Not since you asked them for some privacy.”
Chase gently
touched her cheek. “Maybe they realized things would work out.”
Allison bit her lip, her eyes huge behind her glasses; then she whispered, “Will they?”
They both jumped when a third voice intruded, amused and condescending. “Don’t tell me you actually believe in that ghost nonsense.”
Allison whirled around. “Jack?”
Chase stepped forward, forcing her behind his back. Jack stood at the bottom of the steps beneath the feeble bulb. In his hand was a gun. Very calmly, Chase asked, “Visiting again?”
Jack merely smiled. “Yes. That was me you found in the house tonight. I thought Allison would be in bed, and God knows, I never figured on you visiting that late. But not only did you visit, you stayed.” His expression hardened and he glared at Allison, who stood on tiptoe to peek over Chase’s shoulder. “After you sent me off without the slightest regret, I never suspected it was so you could have another man over. Somehow I had the impression you were a nice girl.”
Allison gasped, but it wasn’t the insult that shocked her. “How did you get in? I locked the front door behind you myself!”
“Ah, but first we went to the parlor and talked, and while you were busy explaining to me why we couldn’t see each other anymore, I unlocked the window. You thought I was staring despondently, when I was actually planning.” He smirked. “Your door is now a little damaged by the way.”
“But why?”
“For the jewels, of course. You told me they were here somewhere, I want them. They must be worth a fortune.”
Chase said nothing. He was busy watching the bulb over Jack’s head dim slightly, then turn bright again. A small smile touched his mouth. “You want the jewels, you bastard? Fine they’re up there.”
He pointed at the chute, but Jack just shook his head. “I think you can fetch them down for me. And Allison can come over here by me to wait.”
“No.”
Jack raised the gun. “I’m not asking, bartender. I’m telling you.”
Before Chase could stop her, she darted around him toward Jack. He saw her glance up at the light. He hoped like hell they weren’t both nuts, trusting in ghosts that might not even be around anymore.
Once Allison was pinned to his side, Jack said, “Well hurry it up. Get the damned jewels.”
Not willing to waste a single moment with Allison so close to the other man, Chase turned over the heavy, rusted-out laundry tub and climbed on top of it. His fingertips could just barely reach the package. He used the edge of the flashlight to work it loose, and finally, after several minutes, it fell down into his grasp.
“Give it to me.”
Jack held out one hand, and Chase started toward him, but the gun lifted. “No, toss it to Allison.” He shoved Allison forward, and she stumbled, then righted herself. Staring at Chase, she held out her arms. He carefully tossed the heavy package and she caught it in both hands.
Jack grinned and snatched it away from her. “Excellent. You know, I’m thrilled to finally have these, but I swear, Allison, I would have enjoyed having you, too.”
She shuddered in revulsion, then sneered at him. “I didn’t want you, though, and that’s all that matters.”
He laughed. “Because your damned ghost said it had to be passionate?” He gave Chase a man-to-man look. “Can you believe that nonsense? When she first explained it to me, I went along. I mean, what the hell, she’s pathetically naive, and I figured it’d be fun.”
Chase turned his molten-hot gaze on Allison. “You actually planned to sleep with this bastard? You went so far as to explain to him why?”
Allison’s face turned bright red. “I didn’t think you would be…”
“Obviously. Hell, Allison, even Zane would be preferable to him.”
She lowered her head, chagrined.
Chase inched closer. He didn’t know quite what Jack had planned, but he didn’t doubt for a minute that it wouldn’t be pleasant.
Before he could take two steps, Jack snarled at him. “That’s enough. Both of you, over in the corner.”
Allison stared up at him. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to lock you both down here until I can get away, that’s all.”
But Chase knew he was lying. His brow furrowed as he realized exactly what Jack would do. Had Rose let him read another mind? “You’re going to set the house on fire.”
Jack looked abashed at first, then wary. “How did you know?”
“Rose told me.”
Jack began backing carefully up the steps, keeping the gun on Chase the whole time. He tried for a sneer but wasn’t overly successful. “I don’t believe in ghosts.”
The lightbulb flickered, almost going out, then blazing so brightly, Jack had to lift one hand to shield his eyes.
Chase smiled. “Neither did I, until I met two of them.”
“It a trick! How the hell are you doing it?”
“I’m not. Rose and Burke are. And if you’re smart, you’ll put the gun away and give Allison back her jewels.”
“Ha!” He had almost reached the top step. “So she can sell them?”
Allison gasped. “I would never do that!”
Jack stopped on the top step. A cold wind blew down the stairs with an eerie whistle. Jack’s breath frosted as he shouted, “Stop it!” He lifted the gun. “I don’t know how you’re doing it, but—”
Suddenly he was pushed forward and his gun hand went up in the air, then resounded with a loud crack as Jack instinctively pulled the trigger. Allison covered her ears, while Chase covered her with his body. Jack lost his balance and tumbled head over heels down the hard stairs, squealing the whole way. He landed in a heap, the gun skidding a good three feet from him. Chase jumped up and grabbed it, then leaned over Jack. The man was unconscious but alive. Judging by the twist of his right leg, it was broken. He turned to Allison and held out his arms.
With a small gasp, she ran to him, and it felt so good to hold her, to know she was again safe, he knew for certain he’d never let her go.
Suddenly there was a flurry of footsteps from above. “Chase!”
Chase lifted his brows. “Cole? What the hell are you doing here?”
Not only Cole filled the open doorway at the top of the narrow stairs. Zane and Mack, both wide-eyed, joined him. “What the hell happened? We walked in, and here’s this maniac, holding a gun and shouting.”
“It’s just Allison’s old boyfriend,” Chase explained, and though he was still holding her close with one arm, she managed to punch him in the side. He grinned and pulled her closer, then started up the stairs.
Zane peered down at him. “We were rushing over to help, but then…” He looked at Cole. “Did you, uh, push him down the stairs?”
Cole stiffened. “Me? I thought you did it somehow.”
“Well, no.” They both turned to Mack.
“Don’t look at me!”
Chase chuckled as he joined his brothers upstairs. “It’s a long story.”
“Then you better make it quick. I, uh, called the police.”
“Why the hell did you do that?”
Cole shook his head, then looked away. “Damned if I know. I was sleeping with my wife—which is usually enough distraction to block out the rest of world—and suddenly I just…knew you were in trouble.” He shrugged. “It was the strangest damn thing. I called the cops, then Zane and Mack, and we all met outside.”
The kitchen where they had all clustered suddenly glowed with warmth. The brothers looked around. Mack turned to Zane. “I think I’m ready to get the hell out of here.”
Zane nodded. “I’m with you.” They both turned to go. “If you need us for anything later on, just give a holler.”
Mack snickered as they walked out. “First Cole, and now Chase. I can’t wait to see what the hell you get into.”
“Ha! I hope you’re not holding your breath, because you’ll be the next entertainment, not me.”
“I’m still in school!”
“A
nd I’m having way too much fun to start acting crazy over one particular woman.”
Their voices faded as they went through the house to the front door. Cole, Chase, and Allison stared after them.
After shaking his head, Chase raised a brow at Cole. “What about you? You going to stick around?”
Cole sighed. “Well, I did leave a rather warm, willing female in my bed.” Then he laughed. “But I suppose Sophie will wait. Hell, I’m anxious to see how you rationalize this to the cops.”
It was several hours before the police left, content with the explanation that Jack was simply an insane intruder, the story neatly shored up by his loud claims of ghosts.
Allison and Chase were alone, back in the massive bed. It had taken Chase quite some time to get the dress off her, but the end result had been spectacular. Allison curled up at his side, then sighed.
Chase smoothed her hair. “What are you thinking, sweetheart?”
She froze, turning quickly to look up at him. “Don’t you know?”
The expression on his face was comical. “Uh, no.”
Her heart pounding madly, she asked, “You can’t read my mind anymore?”
Chase frowned, then shook his head. “I don’t have a single clue.”
“Oh God. Does that mean Rose and Burke are really gone? Have they moved on?”
Chase touched the modest emerald and diamond necklace around Allison’s throat. The jewels weren’t ostentatious or enormously valuable, except maybe to a collector. But they were beautiful, and she’d cried as Chase hooked the latch at the back of the necklace and helped her to slip the pierced earrings in. The ring was a little big for her fingers, so it was now on Chase’s pinkie.
He kissed her cheek. “The jewels are where they belong, sweetheart. It’s only right that they find peace now.”
“I’ll miss them.”
“But you still have me.”
His small jest didn’t make her feel much better. Would she have Chase? A thought occurred to her, and she asked, “Could you read my mind while we were, you know. Making love?”
Her face felt bright red, thinking of the way Chase had lingered over removing the dress, how he’d positioned her on the edge of the bed, how she’d eventually pleaded with him to take her.