by Julie Morgan
“Dirty martini, extra olives.”
He repeated my drink request to the bartender and then turned back to me. “So that letter.”
My stomach flipped again, and my heart sped up. I nodded. “Yes. Look, I was drunk. I’m so sorry.”
“Drunk on my Scotch,” he added.
I felt my face heat up from blushing, and I nodded. “Yes, your Scotch. I’ll replace it soon.”
“Don’t even worry about that,” he said and turned toward me on the chaise. “I didn’t realize you felt the way you did.”
Now I knew my face was red because it was burning hot. I wanted to look away, get up and run, but I couldn’t. I needed to face this, talk to him about why I wrote what I did…and maybe get us past it.
“You’re a beautiful man, Chase,” I told him. “I see the women who swoon over you. It’s hard to not be intimidated by your presence.”
His brow rose. “Are you intimidated now?”
I shrugged my shoulder slightly. “Maybe?”
He chuckled. “Let me tell you my story, Ainsley. There’s more to me than this pretty face and the women you say swoon over me.”
I smiled and appreciated this moment. He wanted to let me in—at least on a part of himself, anyway.
“When I was a kid, twelve years old, my father was arrested for murder.”
I widened my eyes. “Oh, my God!” I wasn’t expecting that.
“Obviously he didn’t do it. He was set up. Our family couldn’t afford the legal fees that came with a murder case, so he was appointed an attorney through the court system. He was awful. He was there for his buck, and it didn’t matter to this man if my dad was innocent or not.
“The case was over pretty quick. Dad pleaded not guilty, but the court didn’t agree. He was found guilty and was sentenced to life without parole. A few years later, he died in his cell, stabbed to death.”
“Oh, Chase,” I whispered and reached for his hand.
He let me hold him as he continued. “About two years later, new evidence came forward that would have released my father from any accusations. But since he was already dead, there wasn’t much they could do. The person whose DNA was found, though, was arrested for another murder. They had enough evidence to prove the man was guilty without using my father’s case.
“A pardon was issued for my father. Although it was too late for my father, it cleared our family’s name. Since that moment, I knew I wanted to be a defense attorney. I wanted to be able to help those who were falsely accused of crimes. The innocent. It’s been a tough road but one I would do over and over again.”
My heart bled for this man. I wanted to hold him in my arms and tell him I was sorry for his loss. He had to carry that on his shoulders, day in and day out.
“I’m sure your father is looking down on you now, proud of the man you’ve become,” I told him.
“Maybe,” he said. “Wow, that was heavy.” He chuckled. “Tell me about you.”
I blinked a few times. “Well, I haven’t lived an exciting life, and I haven’t experienced anything as you have. My life is pretty dull in comparison.”
“Maybe I like dull. Go ahead.”
I smiled and nodded. “One of my best friends in our school lost her father. He was murdered. The man who did it was found and tried and then put away. When it was time for his parole, it was denied. My friend fell into a life of depression, drugs, and prostitution. I tried many times to intervene, but it never helped. Eventually, I had to walk away. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he told me.
“Thank you.” I continued on. “Since I was a little girl, I wanted to be an attorney. I wanted to help those who needed it. I wanted to represent women who had been through hell and back and to protect their children.”
“Because of what your friend went through?”
I nodded. “I saw a darkness in this world I never wanted to experience for myself.”
My drink was brought over, and I stared at the contents, with three green olives speared with a metal stick. I picked it up and took a sip. “Thank you,” I offered to the server, who returned a nod.
“Is that why you decided to represent the defense instead of the prosecution?”
“No, not exactly. I read many cases similar to yours and wanted to help make a change. However, I also wanted to prosecute the dirtbags responsible for the crimes they committed.”
“Sounds like you’re on the fence, then,” Chase said.
“I think I still am, in a way, but I want to help people who can’t help themselves. If that means representing them as a defense attorney, then that’s what I’ll do.”
“Are your parents still alive?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes. They’re both in the Fort Worth area. I’m close with my mom, but my heart belongs to my daddy.”
He grinned. “That’s great to hear. My mom is still alive, but she’s not in the best of health.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks,” he said and took a sip of his amber liquid. “She’s in a nursing rehab home right now in Austin. She’s had dementia for a while.”
I wanted to hug him again. This man had been through so much torment in his life. It wasn’t fair. Yet, here he was with me, smiling and enjoying himself.
“How do you do it?” I asked.
He pressed his brows together. “How do I do what?”
“All of this? Run your own firm? Smile? Live? Be out with me?” I felt I was rambling but didn’t care. “You’re like some kind of Superman, you know that?”
He chuckled. “There comes a time when you have to push everything you feel to the back burner and put your best foot forward. At some point, you have to put yourself first. If not, there’s a chance you could hurt yourself in the process. Am I sad about my mother? Of course, but there’s nothing I can do for her other than be there. The days she remembers me are the best days of my life. When I walk in and she screams because she has no idea who I am, it kills me a little more every single fucking time. So, Ainsley, you have to do what is best for you and put that foot forward and live. You must choose to live. You have only one life, and it’s up to you what you do with it.”
I felt my eyes burn as they watered with tears. “I don’t know what I would do if it were my mom or dad.” I shook my head and swiped at my tears. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to cry.”
A white napkin was held in front of me. I smiled and took it.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“You’re welcome,” he said and slid closer on the couch. “Ainsley?”
I sniffed and set the napkin down. I met his gaze and felt my lips part. He was close, so close.
“I haven’t told anyone that story about my mom, or my dad, in many, many years,” he said. “What is it about you? Why do I trust you?”
I shook my head slowly. “I’m sure I don’t know.”
He leaned in a little more.
We were alone in this booth. No one would come in, and I’d be damned if we left.
“Chase,” I whispered, and a rush of breath pushed past my lips.
“I want to kiss you,” he told me. “Let me kiss you, Ainsley.”
I licked my lips, and Chase groaned in approval. I wanted to touch his face, his chest, his back, feel his skin against my own. But not here.
He lifted his hand and cupped my cheek and then with the other, pushed a few strands of hair behind my ear. Cupping both sides of my face, Chase leaned in and slanted his lips across mine.
Instant fire and electricity shot through my body. It was as if I had been running idle and the touch of Chase brought me back to life with a bolt.
I placed my hands on his chest and moved them up to his neck, holding on to him.
He tilted his head and deepened the kiss, pressing his tongue against my lips, and I opened for him. His tongue sought mine and teased it.
I scooted closer to him. I wanted to straddle his lap, but I remained on t
he love seat instead.
Chase tilted my head and trailed his lips along my jawline to my ear. His breath was heavy in sensitive areas of my neck, and chills raced down my spine. A heat ignited between my legs, and I pressed my thighs together in an effort to extinguish it. God, I wanted him to touch me, taste me, be inside me, and claim me. I also knew we shouldn’t do all of that here, in public. He was a prestigious attorney, and what was in his hands was my career. Not my body.
“Chase,” I whispered. “We need to stop.”
“I know we should,” he said and nibbled on my ear, “but I can’t find the strength to stop.”
I gasped when he pulled me closer. He moved his arms around my body and dug his fingers into my skin.
I pressed my hands to his chest and put a small amount of space between us. “We need to stop,” I whispered. “We’re still in public.”
With a sigh, he groaned and pulled away. Chase adjusting himself didn’t go unnoticed. I smirked, enjoying the feeling that I’d done that to him.
“I want to see more of you, Ainsley.”
I felt a giddiness overpower me, and a giggle managed to make its way out of my mouth.
He chuckled. “Shall we?” he asked and stood, offering me his hand.
I reached for it as a female’s voice interrupted our private moment. “Ma’am, you cannot interrupt the party inside. You are not an invited guest.”
“I don’t care if it’s the President of the United States! Get out of my way!”
Chapter Ten
Chase
“Ainsley, sit down, please.”
Rage bubbled to the surface, and I didn’t want Ainsley getting hurt. Not that I would be swinging my arms, by any means, but this was not her fight.
The curtains were yanked back, and in barged Patricia, the faux Monet.
From a distance, she was striking, beautiful, exotic. Her long blond hair was loose in curls and tumbled down her back. Her bright-blue eyes were wide with shock when she stared into mine. She looked at Ainsley and me and then crossed her arms over her chest.
“What the fuck is this?” she demanded.
“I should be asking you the same thing,” Ainsley growled.
“What do you want, Patricia?” I asked.
Before she barged into my office yesterday morning, the last time I saw her—outside of court—was her bedroom while she was getting fucked by my friend.
“I heard you were here, and well, I wanted to see you,” she said.
There was the familiar whine in her voice she used to use with me. I’d found it cute when we first started dating, but eventually it grew to irritate me. She sounded like a fucking child.
“You’re not welcome back here,” the bouncer told her.
“Fuck off,” she said to the man and turned back to me. “As I said, I’m here for you. But I can see you’re here fucking another one of your whores.”
“Excuse me?” Ainsley said and stood up.
“We’re done here, Patrica,” I said and then turned to Ainsley. “Please ignore her, Ainsley. Come on. I’ll take you home.”
“You’re not going anywhere with her,” Patricia ordered. “You’re coming with me. You belong with me.”
With a sigh, I lifted a brow and stared into Ainsley’s eyes. “Give me a minute to take out the trash?”
She grinned. “Take your time. I still have my martini to drink.”
I winked at her, and she giggled. How did I get so lucky finding this woman? Would just anyone have stood by my side while my ex talked trash? She was quite remarkable.
“I owe you one,” I whispered.
“Hmm, I’ll take you up on that.” She sat down, lifted the olives from her drink, slid one off, and chewed it. She then lifted her gaze to mine and winked.
Sexy as hell.
“Come on, Chase,” Patricia ordered. “Now. Let’s go.”
I turned back to Patricia. “Do like my friend here said and get out. You’re not welcome here.”
“Even after you fucked me the way you did? Oh, come on now, Chase. We both know we’re made for each other. We’re both bold and expect the same in someone else. I can handle you where no one else can.” Her last words were directed to Ainsley.
Ainsley, in response, ate another olive and smiled.
My God, this woman surprised me tonight. I had no idea she had this much moxie. Sexy as fuck was what that was.
I sighed and placed my hands on my hips. “You need to leave, Patricia. Nothing will ever happen again between us. We’re over, and you need to accept that.”
Patricia gasped and stepped into the private room. She snatched Ainsley’s drink from her and chucked it onto my chest. “Fuck you, Chase! Fuck you!” And then she turned and stormed out of the room.
The bouncer peeked in and shook his head. “Sir, I’m truly sorry. Everything will be comped and on the house tonight.”
“I appreciate that,” I told the man, “but please, it’s not necessary.”
The man nodded. “Yes, sir.”
I wiped at my jacket and then turned to Ainsley. As she stood, I gaped at her dress. The front was now wet from the backsplash of her drink.
“Ahh hell, Ainsley. I’m sorry.”
She looked at me and laughed. “Why are you sorry? This is by far the best date I’ve been on in a while. We opened up deep wounds, and I got to see the horrendous ex in her prime. I mean, she dumped my amazing martini on us, but to see you tell her off? Quite fun!”
I shook my head. “Where the hell have you been all my life? I think any other woman would have been completely offended by the turn of events.”
“Well,” she said and stepped closer to me, slipping her hands over my chest and wet jacket. “I’m not any other woman. I’m just me.”
I grinned and cupped her cheek. I swiped my thumb under her bottom lip and then leaned in and kissed her softly on her lips.
“I’m very happy about that.”
I hadn’t anticipated bringing Ainsley to my home tonight. The thought had crossed my mind, but I didn’t think it would happen. Yet here we were. My driver pulled up my driveway and into my garage and then opened my door.
I stepped out and then offered her my hand. She accepted it and stood by my side. I looked over my shoulder to my driver. He bowed his head, lowered the garage door, and made his way out a side entrance.
Once the garage door was closed, I turned back to Ainsley. “Nervous?”
“After the show tonight? Not at all.”
I chuckled. “I’m sorry that happened.”
“So, who’s Patricia really?”
I took her hand and led her into my home. Lights turned on as we stepped inside and closed the door behind us.
I shrugged off my suit jacket. “Let’s say she’s my worst mistake.” I unbuttoned my sleeves, then began working on my dress shirt.
“Umm, Chase?” she asked.
“Yeah?”
“Are you undressing?” She was blushing.
I smirked and gave her a nod. “Absolutely. We’re both soaked. Come on. I have a T-shirt and some boxers you can put on if you want?”
Her brows rose in surprise. “Am…well, am I staying here tonight or something?”
“Do you want to?”
She shrugged. “I hadn’t thought that far ahead, actually.”
She’d said she wasn’t nervous, but that changed as soon as we talked about changing clothes and the possibility of her staying the night.
Damn, I wanted her in my bed. I want to wake her by settling between her legs and licking her delectable pussy.
“Tell you what. You can change, and then I’ll have my driver take you home. Sound good?” My dick was hard and throbbed in my pants. I wanted to shower and take her with me. Push her against the tile and fuck her until the morning sun rose.
She nodded. “That’ll work.”
“Okay, follow me.” I led her toward my bedroom, which was more rustic than the kitchen.
“I love your bed
frame,” Ainsley said.
I had a king-size bed with four light-pine columns that looked like smoothed trees.
“I appreciate that. It’s from some of the land my family owns. I had it made.”
She smiled, walked toward the bed a few paces, and then turned around.
“I want to shower and clean up. Care to join me?” I waggled my brows.
She laughed and shook her head. “I don’t think that’s such a great idea.”
“Why not?” I asked. “I mean, we’re both covered in martini. The least I could do is offer you the shower.”
“Would I be alone in said shower?”
I smirked and stepped closer to her. I shook my head. “Not a chance.”
She pursed her lips together. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“I agree,” I started and lowered myself to my knees on the floor. “I think it’s a great idea.”
Ainsley grinned, and then a soft laugh left her. “You’re incredible, you know that?”
“So I’ve been told.” I loved her laugh, and she had an amazing smile. I scooted closer and pressed my chest to her knees. I rested my arms on her thighs and folded my hands. “I did have a great time tonight, regardless of Patricia.”
“Patricia who?” she said with a wink. “I had a great time too. And Chase?”
“Yeah?”
She paused before speaking and slipped her hand through my hair. I closed my eyes and tilted my head into her caress and was startled a bit when she pressed her lips to my forehead.
“Thank you for opening up to me.”
I lifted my gaze to hers. “Thank you.”
Ainsley then moved her legs apart and allowed me to move in closer. My chest was now pressed to her sweet spot, the entrance to her body, her pussy. My dick throbbed even harder being this close to her.
She bent down and cupped my cheeks and then tilted my head up. She slanted her lips over mine and, sighing into my mouth, kissed me with a desperation I had never encountered. It was hard, passionate, and erotic.
I stood and pulled her to her feet without breaking our kiss. I felt along her dress for a zipper but only shoved my hands through the crisscross of the back of her dress.