by Shana Gray
His hand was still behind her on the seat and she leaned back slightly, wanting to feel his touch again. He shifted on his feet and she got her wish as he brushed against her bare shoulders. Ava didn’t even try to hold back the soft sigh that slipped from her lips.
It was like a flip had switched and now she could concentrate again. “So, another proposition, huh? Careful, superstar, a woman could get the wrong idea about all the proposing you’re doing.”
The corner of his mouth tipped up and Ava was distracted by the small movement, missing Chase pulling his phone out until he showed her the screen. She nearly screeched when she saw the godawful photo of her. She had been working with a dreadful but obscenely wealthy couple. The husband was a lech of epic proportions and the wife was insanely jealous of any woman she thought might cause him to stray. In order to keep both clients happy, Ava had deliberately made herself look as unattractive as possible. And now Chase had a picture of her like that.
She straightened up on the stool, as if her spine had solidified to steel, and made a fruitless grab for his phone. “Where did you get that picture?”
“Your boss sent it to my guy, who sent it to me so that I would recognize you. Gotta say, Boots, not sure I would’ve.” Chase’s gaze took another leisurely tour of her body and Ava was torn between dissolving into a puddle of lust and plotting the best way to murder David.
“So it’s clear the Nashville air does you right. I’m proposing you spend time with me, let me show you how to live life, country-style, before you go back to your stressed-out city living.” He leaned in to her and spoke in a low, intimate tone that sent shivers of desire racing along her skin, through her blood, to pool in a sweet heat deep inside. It was all she could do not to moan. Then his words sank in. Was he for real?
“So you think I need a crash course in being country?” she said, her tone sweet as sugar. There was an audible gasp from next to her and Ava suddenly remembered her friends. Celia had her elbow propped on the bar so she could rest her chin on her hand while watching the Chase and Ava show. Fredi raised her glass in Ava’s direction and mouthed, “Give him hell,” while Bonnie was looking down into her beer and shaking her head.
“It’s like the Alabama song,” Chase said. “In the city, you are rushing to get things done and life’s no fun. In the country, we know how to slow down and enjoy life. Spend time with me and it’ll be the most relaxing vacation you ever have.”
He slid his phone into his back pocket, before resting his hands on the arms of her stool, boxing her in. Ava should’ve felt trapped, but instead she just wanted to slide her hands up his chest until she could bury them in his hair and coax him down for a kiss. However, she was also appalled at his assumption that he knew what her life was like, based on one crappy photo.
“I’m not as unfamiliar with stereotypical country activities as you are assuming I am, you know. In fact, I’m a pretty damn good fisherman,” she announced, and Chase cast an amused glance at her. “What’s that expression for?”
“Where do you go fishing in the city? The local aquarium?” he replied. The bartender finally came over and started to ask them if they wanted any refills, but Celia was loudly shushing her and Ava could barely contain the eye roll.
“There’s always good fishing around, even in a big city, if you know where to look. So what makes you think I can’t fish?”
Chase gave her a knowing look. “The woman in that pic definitely does not fish.” He nodded and absently stroked his beard.
“That is totally what I would call judging a book by its cover. Yes, indeed. After all, you really don’t know anything about me, do you?” She crossed her arms and sat back in her seat, which nicely pushed her boobs a little higher over the neckline of her dress. She could tell that he tried not to let his gaze wander, but he failed.
“Okay, then,” he said. “Prove it. Prove that you could be a country girl.” He leaned toward her and his cowboy hat shadowed them, sheltering them with an intimacy from the dance-floor lighting. He emanated a confidence that told her he was a powerful man. She’d been around enough men to tell weakness from power, arrogance from spirit. And most of the men didn’t fall under the complimentary narrative.
“Really? You want to bet me that I can’t be a country girl because I’m too city?” Ava knew that the right thing to do would be to confess she was country born and bred, but he needed to be taken down a peg.
“C’mon, Boots. Come explore the country side. I’m confident I can show you how.” Confidence is not one of your weak points, my man. Ava all but shivered and sat taller in her seat, which brought her face closer to his.
“Well…” She hesitated, and his even white teeth showed when he gave her a crooked smile. “Deal. I bet you I can adapt to country life better than you could ever imagine. Shake on it?”
She gave him a sassy look. He straightened and laughed, a booming deep laugh that reached right inside and twisted her all up. Her lungs decided she no longer needed air and Ava had to force herself to breathe. Her attraction to this man was off the charts. He had some kind of country-boy charm, but she was going to show him the flaws in labeling women based on their appearance.
Bonni caught her eye and gestured to a restless-looking group of women that were whispering to each other and glancing over at Chase. They were beginning to realize who he was. She turned back to him and wondered if he was aware of the rising buzz around them. He seemed unaffected and kept his focus tightly on her. It made her feel special that he could ignore his popularity and make her his priority.
Ava was about to suggest they leave before things got hectic when Celia said, “I would suggest we start a pool, but we all know Ava is going to destroy him because—”
“She is a Cancer. And when Venus meets Mars in the fifth house—woo, boy, you better watch out,” Fredi said, nonchalantly running her finger around the top of her beer mug. Ava looked at her a little askance and Fredi winked at her. Fredi, who dismissed astrology as “a load of bullshit designed to give people a false feeling of control over the chaos of life,” was clearly on board with teaching Chase a lesson.
Bonni giggled behind her and added, “Ain’t that the truth.”
“Okay, enough cheap-seat comments.” Ava decided to take charge of what was happening here. “I think Chase and I need to find a quiet place to discuss the terms of our bet, without the three of you chirping in the background.”
She slid off the stool and faced Chase. Ava took a moment to truly look at him. Lean and tight, his jeans hugged his hips and thighs and he had a huge silver belt buckle. His shirt looked like a soft denim and the buttons appeared to be mother of pearl, shining under the lights.
They weren’t very far apart and the energy vibrating in the air between them was enough to make her knees weak. Ava tossed her hair back over her shoulder and reached for her purse, which was resting on the bar. She paused when Fredi called her name.
“Hey, Aves, see what happens when you stop looking?” Fredi smirked and toasted her again.
Ava couldn’t say that she hadn’t thought of it. The romantic in her already had them married, with a house with a white picket fence, a golden retriever and babies. But all the reasons she walked away the first time still applied. Chase lived his life under a magnifying glass, under constant scrutiny from fans and press alike. Any woman who entered his orbit would find herself equally exposed.
“Here we go again. Another weekend, another fling,” she heard Celia murmur behind her, and Ava shot her a glance. Then she looked at Bonni, who gave her a very secretive smile and nodded imperceptibly.
It could be a weekend fling if she wanted it to be. What was the harm in that? Really, who would pay attention to a nobody who blipped in and out of Chase’s circle of fame? Just one weekend, and not even the whole time, since she had plans with her friends and she was sure he had CMA Fest things to do. Surely she could handle a single weekend. Then they’d go back to their separate lives.
Ava dre
w in a deep breath and grabbed her purse from the bar. “Okay, then, shall we go find a quiet spot to talk about this wager?”
He nodded, grinned and held his hand out to her, palm up. She looked at it. If she placed her hand in his, then she was setting a whole new ballgame in motion.
He had a big hand, powerful, to go with the rest of him, she noticed, as he waited patiently for her. His sleeves were rolled up and it was the first time she noticed tattoos curling around his corded forearm and down to his inner wrist on his left arm. The images of his ink were unbelievably scintillating and now, on top of the rest of his yumminess, she was curious to find out if he had tattoos anywhere else on his body.
She placed her hand in his and loved the thrill that exploded inside her. “Shall we?”
When Ava placed her hand in his, the emotion that raced through Chase shocked him. How could a simple touch create such a mighty response? One that excited him. Her fingers, warm and soft, gripped him tightly. He liked it and closed his hand over hers. Chase faced her friends.
“Ladies, do you have transportation back to your hotel? I can arrange it for you.” His heart kicked up a notch when Ava stepped closer to him. The heat from her body wasn’t easy to ignore. Nor did he want to.
“Oh, we’re good, don’t you worry,” Celia replied, and clasped her hands together, watching them with the oddest expression on her face.
“Don’t worry, ladies, I’ll take care of Ava, and here…” He let go of Ava for a second to reach into his pocket. He had business cards in his wallet. Taking one out, he held it up and the dark-haired woman took it. Bonni, if he remembered correctly. The cop. He wasn’t surprised in the least.
Bonni waved the card at him. “Thank you. I appreciate this.”
Chase laughed. “All my contact info is on the card. But you have no reason for concern.” He put his arm around Ava. “She’s in good hands. I’ll make sure Ava gets back safely. It was nice to meet you all, and hopefully our paths will cross again.”
He liked them. They seemed quirky and obviously had a very special bond. He was close to his boys, but Ava and her friends were something else. Celia and Ava seemed to be conversing through facial expressions and eyebrow raises as Bonni entered his contact info into her phone. Fredi suddenly leaned in front of Celia, ending the silent conversation. She lifted her hand, mimicking a landline phone, and mouthed, “Call me,” to Ava. Then she shot Chase a warning look.
He could tell that Bonni was the direct type. If she had an issue with you, then you knew your ass was grass right up front. Fredi, on the other hand, she seemed like someone who would pretend everything was fine and then jump you outside the bar at closing time. God help him if things didn’t go well with Ava. He’d probably have to send out a search party for his balls once Fredi got through with him.
Fortunately for him and his anatomy, Ava had clearly had enough. “I’ll call you guys later. Have fun,” she said, blowing kisses to her friends.
Chase liked the feel of her body next to him and when she slipped her arm around his waist his blood heated. He did his best to keep chill.
He led Ava back through the crowd of people. It was unavoidable that they’d be stopped and greeted by many along the way. This was the only thing he’d had trouble getting used to. This weekend would be worse, too, with all the out-of-towners looking for celebs. He was polite, patient and signed a few autographs but he was very anxious to get Ava outside. He sensed a growing reluctance in her from the way she hung back from the crowd building around him. She clearly wasn’t a groupie drawn to the light of fame but she didn’t say a word and he appreciated her being a good sport. It wasn’t really an ideal first date.
After dodging more fans and finally pushing the doors open, they escaped out into the night. Even though he found that fandom aspect difficult, it had seemed more manageable tonight, with Ava by his side.
They’d left just in time, too, as the buzz of him being at the Wildhorse was going almost viral. His phone was going off and he pulled it out of his pocket. Instagram and Twitter were blowing up with posts of where he was, as well as photos of him and Ava and of them at the bar with her friends. He shook his head and frowned. Hopefully, the other girls would get out quick, or they’d be swamped.
“What’s wrong?” Ava asked, concern edging her voice.
“Nothing if we can get out of here ASAP.” Chase escorted her quickly through the parking lot. He didn’t want Ava scared her off by this side of his life.
“What’s happened?” she asked him as they made their way through the parked cars. The night was warm, sultry, and he inhaled deeply. He needed some nature; it always calmed the ruckus inside him.
“Paparazzi are going to be swarming soon and I try to avoid them.” He liked that she hadn’t let go of his hand yet and he flexed his fingers on hers a little bit. She fell behind him as they squeezed through a couple of cars parked a little too close.
“It must be hard, the way they invade your privacy.” She took a couple of quick steps to catch up with him so they were side by side again.
“It is, but it’s the trade-off for being successful. If I want people to hear my songs, I gotta get used to it. Anyway. Where you staying?” He fished the key fob out of his jeans pocket and unlocked the doors to his truck.
“Opryland Hotel.” He glanced down at her and liked how the streetlights shot fiery sparks off her hair. He smiled. Wouldn’t you know it? Her hair was much redder than he’d first thought. Somehow, though, he couldn’t see Ava getting up to the same antics as Daisy. Ava had more of an innocent quality to her, like she believed everything could be settled with earnest conversation and a long hug.
“Nice hotel.” He opened the passenger side door, deliberately crowding a little closer than necessary.
The June breeze, warm and soft, caught her scent and buffeted it around him. It was wonderfully fresh and seeped into his very pores, filling him with her.
“Well, this is a nice truck,” she said as she stepped on the running board and looked for a handhold above her.
“Here, let me help you.” Chase took her elbow and she rested her fingers on his arm to help steady her as she got into the passenger seat.
“Wow, it’s so big and high. Fredi would have a heck of a time getting into it. She’d need a catapult.” He heard the humor in her voice. Another side to her he liked. He was sure that, if her friend was here, Ava would be gently teasing her to her face. His life had become far too serious since making it big, with lots of double-talking and schmoozing, and he was desperate for some chill time with someone who was honest and exactly who she appeared to be.
“Yeah, my mom has trouble, too.” He was reluctant to let her go, but he did, and shut the door to walk around the front of the truck, watching her through the windshield. He liked how she looked in his truck as she snapped on her seatbelt and settled into her spot.
He climbed into the driver’s seat and started the truck. The throaty growl never got old.
“So, you’ve managed to coerce me away from my friends on our girls’ weekend away, to talk about a bet that you’re going to lose, by the way, even though you still haven’t laid out the stakes.” Ava placed her purse on the console between them and he looked at it.
“Ladybugs, now I don’t think I’ve ever seen a purse quite like that.” He glanced at her.
“I like whimsical things. And that little bag just caught my attention. It’s a Kate Spade, I love her stuff. She was one of my favorite designers. It’s so sad when we lose people too soon.” She twisted in her seat a bit and she faced him.
“Yes, it is.” He paused for a moment, thinking about his uncle for a second. His dad’s younger brother, Uncle Trav, had always supported Chase’s dream to pursue music, even buying him his first guitar and sneaking him out to guitar lessons. His death three years ago in a car accident was still gutting to think about. Wanting to shake off the heavy mood, he said, in a deliberately lighter tone, “So, here we are.” He raised his eyebr
ows and gave an exaggerated wink.
Ava laughed and ran her fingers through her hair, pulling its length up and twirling it around her hands before letting it fall into a cascade of waves.
He. Was. Bewitched.
She looked at him and he knew he was being assessed. “Hmm, I don’t think you’re a serial killer or kidnapper, am I right?”
He liked her teasing nature and laughed, shaking his head.
“We also have a professional connection through my boss and my friends know I’m with you. Plus, you gave them your card. So…” She shrugged her shoulders and her tongue was caught between her teeth when she gave him a cute smile. “I believe I’m in relatively safe hands.”
“Even without that connection, I assure you, you have nothing to fear when you’re with me.” Chase felt like tongue-tied.
“Oh? You’re not the same as other famous country-music stars, who have a bevy of groupies always around? Who are always looking for the next hook-up?” She continued to tease him, and it was refreshing. He was about to reply but she continued: “I’m sure you’re in hot demand.”
“‘Hot demand.’ Well, I’ve been known to find a lady friend or two, but I value quality over quantity.” He backed out of the parking spot and kept his eye on traffic, really enjoying their banter.
“Oh, I don’t know, I think it would be pretty hard for a guy to turn down a group of pretty young things shaking their money-makers at him.”
He tossed her a look to see the expression on her face but she was looking out the passenger window. There had been something in her tone, though. He could tell she was teasing because of the barest curve of a smile on her lips, but there had been something else, something deeper. Something that gave him pause. She’d been hurt. And he wondered just how hurt.