Chased (Love like Yours Series Book 4)

by Nicole S. Goodin

  That woman is like a hibernating bear.

  I grinned to myself and my step faltered as I realized I’d just thought about Quinn in a totally new light. I wasn’t bitter, or jealous, or angry.

  God that feels good.

  I turned my keys over in my hand, looking for the key I had to Harrison’s door.

  “Lost something?”

  Her voice surprised me and I dropped my keys. I swooped down and snagged them off the gravel.

  I looked up at her and my breath caught in my throat. She looked beautiful. She had on black tights, a zip up fleece, Nikes and her hair was tied back in a loose ponytail. She had a big bag slung over her shoulder.

  I noticed all that in the flash of a second it took for me to work my way up her body and lock my eyes onto hers. She’d cleaned all the makeup from last night off her face and I was mesmerized by the sight of her smooth complexion and bright blue eyes.

  Eyes shouldn’t be that blue…

  I could feel myself getting lost in the deep pools.

  She’s spellbinding.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” She asked abruptly. “Is there something on my face?” She started wiping at the sides of her face with the sleeve of her jumper.

  I stood up straight and grabbed at her hand before she did some serious damage to her pretty face.

  “Stop.” I instructed. “You’re perfect.”

  She stopped trying to pull her hand back and smiled shyly up at me.

  I pulled her in closer and used my free hand to tip her head up to look at me. I was a full head taller than her.

  I grimaced. “I’m so sorry.”

  “What? Why?” She asked, confused.

  “I see why you wanted to wear heels.” I told her solemnly.

  “You’re a dick.” She told me with a laugh. “I get it; I’m the size of a hamster.”

  “C’mon.” I tugged at her hand. “Let’s go buy you one of those little running wheels for your cage.”

  She mock punched my arm with a laugh and let me lead her to my car.

  ***

  “We’re here.” I announced.

  I stifled a laugh as I watched her confused expression take in the deserted parking lot.

  “I don’t get it.” She stated after a minute of thinking about what we could possibly be doing here.

  I laughed loudly at her expense and got out of the car. I rounded the front and opened her door for her.

  She still looked confused as hell, but she took my offered hand and stepped out.

  “Just come with me.” I told her as I led her back around the front of the car.

  “What are we doing here?” She asked with confusion.

  “Here.” I replied, handing her the car keys as I gestured for her to sit in the driver’s seat.

  “Oh… um…” She blushed. “I… actually, I can’t drive.” She admitted.

  “I know.” I smirked. “Reeve told me…and I decided that you’re not leaving Boston until you learn.”

  “What?” She gaped.

  “You heard me. I’m teaching you to drive.”

  Her eyes bulged.

  “I don’t care if it takes the whole week.” I told her with determination in my voice.

  “This is a really nice car Colt… what if I break it.”

  “You won’t.” I reassured her. “And besides, it’s insured.” I added with a wink.

  A slow smile spread across her face. “Alright then.” She nodded.

  “Yeah?” I asked in surprise. I’d been expecting a little more of a fight.

  “Yeah.” She confirmed. “But it might take all week.” She pouted. “I’m a terrible driver.” She added in a flirty voice.

  She stepped into me and reached up to hold on around my neck. My arms found her waist and pulled her flush against me.

  “You know what? I bet I’ll need lessons. Every. Single. Day.” She admitted. “And maybe I’ll be really bad and you’ll just have to spend hours and hours with me.” She sighed dramatically. “Are you up for that?” She grinned.

  Oh hell yes.

  “Does a bear shit in the woods?” I replied.

  She frowned. “Well I guess so?”

  “Well then…” I bent down and lowered my lips to hers and brushed them lightly. “Well then I guess I’m up for it.”

  ***

  Jesus. Christ.

  When Lexie pouted those sexy lips at me and told me she was a terrible driver, I’d thought she’d been exaggerating.

  She wasn’t.

  She was undoubtedly the worst driver I’d ever encountered – and that included the time I got in the car with my fourteen year old neighbor when we were in high school.

  The steering, stick shift and foot pedals had been about two things too many for her to manage at one time and we’d ended up bunny hopping around and around that lot, stalling over and over again, for forty minutes before she’d thrown in the towel.

  “You could have at least let me try an automatic.” She scolded me. “It’s my first time in years, for god sakes.” She muttered under her breath as we drove, me behind the wheel, to our date destination.

  I couldn’t stop myself from laughing at her; she was so damn adorable when she was flustered. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes were wide.

  “Stop laughing at me!” She cried in mock outrage. “I wasn’t that bad.” She crinkled up her nose and burst out laughing at the ludicrous statement she had just made.

  I raised my eyebrows at her.

  “Okay, okay.” She admitted. “I was terrible.”

  I shook my head in amusement.

  “In my defense, I did warn you.” She pointed her finger at me.

  And yet I wasn’t prepared…

  “You’ll do better tomorrow.” I reassured her.

  Her mouth fell open. “You can’t be serious?”

  I frowned in confusion.

  “You don’t really want to endure that all over again do you?” She asked in disbelief.

  I pulled into the car park of the ferry terminal and turned the engine off.

  “Not really.” I told her honestly, turning to face her. “But I told you that I’d teach you, and I will.”

  She opened her mouth to argue, but I cut her off.

  “As long as I’m getting to spend time with you, I’m not complaining.” I promised as I took her hand in mine and lightly kissed her knuckles.

  “You’re being incredibly kind to me.”

  “What can I say?” I bragged. “I’m just that kind of guy.” I winked and jumped out of the car.

  I grabbed our bags and her door swung open and she jumped out to meet me.

  “We’d better hurry up or we’ll miss our ferry.” I told her as I took her hand in mine.

  “Where are we going?” She asked excitedly.

  I grinned at her. “To see Boston.”

  9. Lexie

  I glanced over at Colt, the wind whipping through my hair, and knew without a doubt that I’d never felt quite this free.

  Sure, I lived half of my life on a boat, but this was different. It was just for the sake of it. No one here knew me, or expected anything of me. Hell, even Colt didn’t really know me, not all of me anyway.

  But it feels like he does…

  I was having an amazing time with him. He’d told me about his brothers and his parents, and about the town they grew up in. He wasn’t close with his parents, neither were his brothers, and my heart broke for him. My parents were separated, and both re-married, but that had just doubled the love I’d had growing up. Being an only child and having no siblings to share things with was the only thing I considered a downfall of my childhood.

  Colt had smiled and laughed as I’d told him stories about my crazy dad, Mike and his equally kooky wife, Viv. My mom, Sally was quite the opposite; she was always the practical one, that’s probably why she was so much happier now with her husband of ten years, Alex, than she ever was with my dad.

  Colt had even talked a b
it about his ideas for the club, and while he did seem passionate about his visions, it didn’t sound like he had been investing the time required to make much progress lately. Of course I’d opened my big mouth and pointed that out to him… he’d just shot me a knowing smirk, and said nothing more about it.

  Then here we were, on the deck of the ferry, being taken to a place I’d never even heard of, let alone visited.

  Colt smiled one of his smiles that had my stomach flipping and gestured with his finger for me to follow him inside. I snapped another quick picture and followed after him. He took a seat near the front and patted the cushion next to him.

  “Pass me your phone.” I instructed as I sat down next to him.

  “What for?” He asked curiously, as he pulled it from his pocket and handed it over.

  I reached into my backpack and pulled out a pair of ear buds. “We’re going to see what kind of music you like.”

  “Shit.” He muttered under his breath as he took the ear bud I was offering and slipped it into his ear.

  I opened his Spotify and chose the playlist he had last played. I scanned through the songs.

  “This is your playlist? Jesus.” I shook my head at him. “Are you kidding me?”

  He grimaced.

  “That’s pathetic. It’s like heartbreak hotel in here. Snap out of it kid.”

  “Who are you calling kid?” He smirked.

  “You.” I jabbed my finger at his chest. “These songs reek of a fifteen year old boy.”

  He laughed deep and loud.

  “You actually follow a playlist called ‘Broken Heart’.” I hissed as I continued to scroll through his music library.

  “I was broken hearted.” He attempted to defend himself.

  “You were something alright.” I mumbled to myself. “There’s One Direction in here.” I hissed at him, completely outraged.

  He leaned back in his seat and chuckled. “What can I say; I’m a closet boy band fan.”

  “You a closet anything else?” I sniggered as I found some decent music and hit play.

  “With you sitting next to me?” he raised his brows. “Hell no.”

  I laughed at his lighthearted teasing

  “Unless Zac Efron makes an appearance.” He joked. “Then I’m gonna have to love ya and leave ya.”

  “Huh.” I mused. “I picked you as more of a Justin Bieber kinda guy.”

  He nodded his head and thought hard. “He’s a close second.”

  I giggled. The banter between us was fun and easy.

  “You wanna know a secret?” He whispered as he moved in closer to my ear.

  I nodded slowly. Goosebumps formed on my skin at his nearness, I could feel his breath fanning across my neck.

  “I’m actually the kinda guy that’s into the sexy little brunette woman sitting next to him.” His voice was hoarse.

  “I bet you say that to all the girls.” I breathed when I couldn’t come up with anything witty to say.

  “I do.” He agreed. “But the eighty year old lady I sat next to on the bus didn’t seem to appreciate it too much.”

  I swatted his arm and rolled my eyes.

  Clown.

  He leaned back against the seat and slung his arm over my shoulders, tapping his foot to the beat.

  He touched me so casually, as though he had the right to already. I didn’t mind, not one bit, there was a familiarity between us I couldn’t explain. I’d known him for less than twenty four hours, but I was already well aware that he was something special.

  “We’re here.” He smiled down at me, breaking me from my thoughts.

  He stood up, slinging the huge, suspicious looking bag he had brought along, and my backpack onto his shoulders.

  “I can take that.” I protested as I got to my feet.

  He just laughed at the suggestion and took my hand in his again.

  ***

  “This is incredible.” I told him for the one hundredth time.

  “I think you said that already.” He drawled.

  He was reclined back on the picnic blanket he’d brought along, and I was leaned back against him, the picture perfect view of Boston stretched out before us.

  “But it’s just so pretty.” I replied.

  He chuckled. “Well I’m glad you like it.”

  “I do.” I nodded. “It’s perfect.” I murmured.

  He couldn’t have chosen a better date. The ferry had taken us to Spectacle Island; we’d strolled around hand in hand before hiking up to view the city and have the picnic lunch that Colt had prepared.

  He’s thought of everything.

  I tilted my head back to look at him and smiled at the sight. He’d surprised me by pulling out a pair of black rimmed glasses and removing his contact lenses – I didn’t even know he’d been wearing them. He’d explained that his eyes were getting irritated. Apparently he didn’t like wearing the glasses, he didn’t think they suited him… but I wasn’t in agreement.

  I hadn’t realized that glasses could look so… hot.

  “What?” he murmured, looking down at me and sweeping a strand of hair away from my forehead.

  “Nothing.” I shook my head. “I’m just enjoying finding out what kind of guy you are.” I replied softly.

  “And what kind of guy is that?” He replied just as softly, his fingers tracing gentle patterns across my cheek.

  “The kind of guy who packs every different food group because he’s not sure what I like.” I told him with a smile.

  “I know now.” He replied with a triumphant smile, as though knowing what kind of sandwich filling I enjoyed was like winning a contest.

  He’s just so sweet.

  I smiled shyly. “And the kind of guy who’s not afraid to say how he feels or go after what he wants.” I continued, my voice a hoarse whisper.

  He nodded, his eyes locked on mine.

  “And the kind of guy who looks too hot for his own damn good, especially wearing those glasses.”

  He huffed out disbelieving breath.

  “It’s true.” I insisted. “And you’re patient, and sweet, and kind, and –”

  He cut me off, claiming my lips in a flash.

  His mouth was hot and demanding, firm and persistent. I kissed him back with a passion I didn’t know I possessed, and I felt a little bit of my heart start to belong to him. He kissed me like he was never going to get another chance – and the truth was he might not.

  He might not…

  The reality that we lived so far apart came crashing down on me and I felt tears welling in my eyes.

  Sensing my change of emotion, he pulled away slowly.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” He asked gently, lifting my chin to look at him when I tried to avoid eye contact.

  “I’m sorry.” I blurted out. “It’s just… I live over two and a half thousand miles away.”

  He searched my eyes, his fingers clasping my jaw.

  “I know I’m being silly.” I shook my head and felt a tear escape and roll down my face. “But I like you. I really like you already.”

  “I feel the same way.” He told me without hesitation.

  “But what’s the point?” I shrugged, my voice breaking at the end. “I’m going home on Friday, and then I’ll be there and you’ll be here. And we won’t be together.” I rambled.

  “Lex…” He whispered. “Don’t think like that.”

  “I don’t want to set myself up to get hurt.” I whispered before he could say anything more. “And I can feel it already, if we keep doing this, I know I’m going to be broken in six days time.”

  He nodded slowly, accepting the truth in what I was saying.

  This decision was killing me, but I knew myself well, and I knew that if things carried on this way, this good, I could very well be in love with this man by the time I needed to board that plane.

  It’s better this way.

  “I wish more than anything that we could give this a shot.” He replied, his voice thick with emotion.
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  He pulled me against his chest and held me tightly.

  “Me too.” I whispered back.

  “Do you want me to take you home now?”

  I shook my head. “Not yet?” I pleaded. “I just want to pretend that we have forever, for a little while longer.”

  ***

  I pushed the door shut and leaned back against it, tears welling in my eyes.

  My heart was screaming at me to go back out there and tell him that I’d made a mistake, but my head was telling me that it was better this way.

  I won’t get hurt this way… if only that were true.

  I was already hurting, and we’d barely even started anything yet.

  I took a deep, steadying breath and headed towards where I could hear TV in the living room.

  “You’re back already.” Quinn acknowledged with a frown as I came into view. She was sitting on the couch reading a book, Harrison’s feet in her lap.

  “Yeah.” I nodded, a fake smile plastered on my face.

  She narrowed her eyes at me. “What’s with the face?” She demanded.

  “What face?”

  “Don’t give me that shit.” She eyed me up, head to toe. “Something’s wrong.”

  Dammit.

  I’d forgotten just how much Quinn saw. It was like she had a knack for seeing through the bullshit.

  She turned to Harrison who was sprawled out on the couch, mindlessly flicking through TV channels. “You.” She pointed at him. “Out.” She instructed.

  He smirked at her. “Bossy.”

  “You like me bossy.” She teased, lightly shoving his feet off her lap.

  He sprung up from his seat with the grace of a wild cat. “What’d my idiot brother do now, little Lex?” He mussed my hair as he strolled past me.

  “Nothing.” I mumbled. “And don’t do that, I’m not five years old, I’m just short.” I called at his retreating back, my retort all bark and no bite.

  “What happened?” Quinn demanded, pulling my attention back to her.