by Shana Gray
The weight of the limited time they had together hung heavy in his chest. She’d just dropped into his life, turned it completely upside-down, and then it would be time for her to leave. The sandwich he’d just eaten felt like a rock in his gut now and he knew nothing would ever be the same again.
Tonight was the night they needed to talk.
His phone chimed.
Ava: Just finishing up this pedal-bike bar tour. I think I could use a massage and a hot tub.
Chase: I have an idea for our last test for you.
Ava: Oh Lord, do I want to know?
Chase: Want to know or keep it a surprise? Can you get away after your bike tour?
Ava: We’re supposed to go to the Nissan Center tonight…later?
Chase: Can I encourage you to send your friends off without you?
He watched his phone and waited for a reply. Maybe he was putting her in an unfair position. He was about to type back to her not to stress it when his phone pinged.
Ava: I think so.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Once he’d picked her up after their pedal bar tour and they were on the road she decided it was time to tell him something. “Chase…” She paused, trying to find the words.
“What’s up?”
“I kind of have a confession to make.” She wondered how he’d take the news.
“Oh no, I’m not sure this is going to be good.” Chase glanced at her and his mouth tipped up on one side in a very sexy smile that could quite easily distract her from the talk. She was determined to soldier on through.
“Oh, no, it’s nothing really bad.” Ava twisted in her seat to look at him. It was important to see the expression on his face.
“OK, out with it, then.”
She chewed her bottom lip, wanting to be honest with him but, while it was the right thing to do, she was suddenly hesitant. It wasn’t fair to keep hiding it.
She drew in a steadying breath. “Okay, well, you know how you think I’m a city girl?”
“Yep.”
“I’m not, actually.” She paused, holding her breath she watched him closely and waited for his response. Ava expected him to be upset with her for keeping this from him.
He burst out laughing, which was not what she expected at all. “You just want to get yourself out of this bet.”
“I do not! I can hold my own.” She crossed her arms and stared him down, quietly relieved he wasn’t mad but also determined to prove him wrong.
He continued to chuckle and softened his voice, “I’m sure you can. But I’m pretty sure I’m gonna win this one, too.”
“You’re awful cocky and, you know what? I don’t think you will.” She gave him the sternest glare she could muster. “Bring it on, superstar.”
“Oh, I plan to. Trust me.” He tossed her a confident look which made her even more dogged she would win this last bet.
Ava sat behind the steering wheel of the all-terrain vehicle Chase had said was hers and looked ahead at the muddy, wet, dirty track running along a low area that was clearly a mire. This was not what she had expected. At. All. Mudding, of all things. She’d never heard of it before and, sitting in an all-terrain vehicle—something she’d never driven before—wearing a helmet, goggles and gloves, Ava knew deep in her bones this was definitely not up her alley.
Nope.
But she had to win. If she didn’t, then it was over and Chase was the winner. She gritted her teeth and gripped her gloved hands on the steering wheel a little tighter.
“This is your last test,” Chase had told her when they arrived.
She had no choice but to do this. They had each won and this was the tiebreaker. She had to win this. She just had to, so she could prove him wrong.
She glanced over at Chase.
“Whoa there, Boots, you’re scaring me with that fierce look on your face.” He laughed and adjusted his goggles. He also wore a helmet, just like she was, and a great big smile shone through his beard.
She shook her head and focused on the track ahead of her. The countdown started, a horn blew and then she was off. Not flying as easy as she thought it would be. It was damn hard keeping control. The vehicle skidded all over and if she put the brakes on, it slid; if she gave it gas, it would fishtail. She was having a hard time controlling it and grew frustrated trying to keep up with Chase. He was a demon and doing his best to run her off the track. He zoomed in front of her, cut her off and sent a spray of mud raining down in her path all over her.
“Chase!” she screamed at him then realized she should’ve kept her mouth shut. The mouthful of muck was not appetizing. She spat it out with very unladylike gusto and pressed her lips together.
Ava accelerated and pulled on the steering wheel, trying to get herself back in contention. He was ahead of her and she had a sinking feeling she was going to lose this bet, too, unless she stepped up her game.
For someone who wasn’t a sports fan, she was beginning to feel at a disadvantage. Sure, she’d won the fishing. Failed abysmally at the football. And now this. Maybe she should’ve just settled for a game of poker.
Her emotions rode high and she was shouting at this machine to pay attention to her commands and quit getting stuck. It thwarted her and continually got bogged down in the gooey muck. She gave it gas and the tires spun in the mud, sending an impressive rooster tail out behind her.
Ava looked over her shoulder and gave a maniacal laugh. She didn’t have to be girly right now, she could be tough and no nonsense. The true country girl she been born and raised. Somehow, she had to get this cart moving. Rock it. That’s what she’d do, rock it back and forth. So, she did reverse and forward, giving it gas and then the brakes, repeatedly, until finally it popped free.
She leaned over the steering wheel, gritted her teeth and followed Chase. Now she was going too fast and couldn’t keep it in a straight line, nearly veering back into the bog, trying to catch up. Her saving grace was that he stopped to look over his shoulder to see where she was. It gave her a few precious moments. His eyes widened in surprise and he frantically tried to get his cart going again. She let out another crazy laugh and a loud whoop.
“Go faster! Go faster!” she shouted at the cart, then she was on Chase’s bumper, then up at his side, and finally ahead of his front bumper and out in the lead.
“I got you, Chase Hudson! I’m going to win this!” And she zoomed past him. She was nosing ahead when he roared up beside her.
They looked at each other and he yelled, “You don’t stand a chance against this cham-peen driver. Me!”
“Wanna bet?” She leaned over the steering wheel again and took off. But he was right there. She couldn’t shake him, and she thought about cutting him off, like he’d done to her. But she didn’t have the guts. Then she hit some kind of bump and her vehicle launched itself off the ground.
She was airborne and let out a wailing screech. Ava didn’t want to look down and closed her eyes. Her scream ripped through the air and, when the vehicle came down with a crunch, her head snapped forward. The vehicle did a couple of precarious bounces on two wheels before jolting down to all fours. Chase zipped across the finish line just as she was gaining control.
“This isn’t fair! You’ve done it before. I never have.” Ava crossed the finish line and slid to a stop. She pulled her helmet and goggles off and rubbed the back of her neck. “I think I’ve got whiplash.”
Chase was waiting for her. He helped her out, rubbed the back of her neck and wiped her face and hands with a hot cloth. It felt like absolute heaven, and then he gave her a big kiss.
“You did good, Boots.” She wrapped her arms around him. “But I won,” he murmured against her lips.
She looked up at him and gave him a playful swat on the arm, shaking her head. “You may have won our bet but this loser demands a shower and a whole lot of TLC for this aching body.”
“I really do have to wonder what it is with you and showers.” He pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back and neck
with his strong fingers.
“Mmm, then I suggest we find out what I find so appealing,” she purred into his neck then pressed her lips next to where his vein throbbed. The mud was beginning to harden on them both and she longed for a hot shower with her sexy superstar.
“Are your friends okay with you coming back to my house?” He took her hand and they walked back toward his truck.
She answered, “Yes, they decided to go out and get something to eat before going to the concert tonight, and I told them I was going to be with you.” She placed a towel over the seat of his truck so she wouldn’t get it dirty and climbed in. “So, you’ve won. Just how are you going to exact your pound of flesh?”
Ava fully expected him to want some kind of sexual thing. Which, of course, she wasn’t opposed to.
He looked at her, and something in his expression made her pause.
“I really want to keep seeing you after this weekend.” His words filled the cab of his truck and Ava fell silent, digesting what he’d just said.
“What do you mean?” She couldn’t stop the wavering in her voice and cleared her throat.
“Well, keep seeing each other and see where it goes.” His words were clear and honest.
Ava looked out the window to try and figure out the right thing to say. “I don’t know. Long-distance relationships don’t work.”
“That’s not true. Your friends have made it work.” Ava was surprised he knew about Bonni and Celia.
“How do you know?”
“They told me yesterday when I showed them around the house.” He looked both ways before turning the truck back on the highway
“Things don’t always happen perfectly for everybody. Just because they made it work out doesn’t mean I can.” Ava watched the fields and trees whip by.
“We can make anything work if we want it bad enough.” His voice softened.
“That’s them. Everybody’s different.” She wasn’t ready to tell him she’d been through this before. Ava stopped herself from looking at Chase. She was getting upset. She didn’t want this to ruin their day; she wanted to enjoy it. She knew they had to talk about it, but not right now. “Listen, maybe I should go back to the hotel. I don’t have a change of clothes and I’m a mess.”
“If that’s what you want.”
She heard the disappointment in his tone and wanted to scream, No, it’s not what I want. But Ava felt at an utter loss right now. “I think it’s for the best.”
“Okay, I can tell this upsets you. But I want you to promise we’ll talk about this later.” He certainly was an understanding man, and it made her even more upset.
Ava looked at him and gave a quick nod. “Okay, that’s fine.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up around seven thirty.”
Ava felt like her heart was breaking, thinking about the impending conversation and its likely eventual outcome.
Ava was glad the girls had already left for their dinner and the hotel room was empty. She was in no mood to talk and her friends would want to know why she was here and not with Chase. The looming conversation with him later was upsetting enough.
She went into the bathroom, dropped the muddy clothes into the shower and stepped in. She turned the water to almost scalding hot. Steam filled the room and she rested her hands on the tiled wall, letting the water rain over her.
After she had scrubbed every inch of her body and her hair, she felt much better and wrung out her clothes, hanging them over the shower doors. She kept running the conversation through her head. With every new thing she learned about Chase, it made her want him more and more. Getting ready, she gave herself some time to sort out her thoughts before their talk.
She did it slowly, making sure her hair and makeup were casually perfect. Ava still had half an hour before he was coming to pick her up and felt like a beer. She found a note scribbled on a piece of paper left on the bar.
Went out for some food then over to the NC. Have a great night if you decide to indulge in Loverboy. If not, you know where we are. Xoxox B, C, F
She could relax and think for a while. Ava grabbed a beer from the fridge behind the bar and walked out on the balcony. She watched all the people below. There were families, kids running around, couples and lovers—it was everything she wanted and everything she feared she’d never have. Except…maybe…with Chase.
Ava sighed and leaned back in the chair, nursing her beer. She began to daydream and saw her and Chase as a couple, as lovers, as parents…with a family. But, how could they see a way around their distance and his fame?
Her cell phone chimed and she grabbed it.
Chase: Hey, my beautiful Boots. Got the mud all off ya? I really would have liked to wash you down myself.
Ava’s heart swelled with emotion for him.
Chase: I’m running a little bit late, but I’ll be there shortly. Will text when I’m pulling in.
Ava: k, cu soon.
Chapter Thirty-Three
An hour later Ava was sitting under the stars on Chase’s to-die-for patio. He hadn’t broached the touchy subject of what would happen after this weekend and she assumed he was waiting for her to bring it up. It was cooler than last night and she cuddled on a comfy lounge chair. This was the first time she’d been out here, and she instantly fell in love with it. The pool was gorgeous, made with colorful tiles and a slate walkway around it. Tucked at the far end was a hot tub under a beautiful arbor draped with flowering vines.
It was wonderfully romantic and had the cozy feel of a magical grotto. Ava was bewitched and decided this was her favorite place, aside from the bedroom, of course. Just like the landscaping at the front of the house, back here the ambient lighting in the lush gardens ringing the pool gave a fairy-tale sparkle to the magnificent flowerbeds and waterfalls. She’d never seen anything like it.
“This is so beautiful, Chase. Did you design all this as well?” she asked, relaxing on the deep cushions.
“I’m glad you like it.” Chase settled in a chair beside her, his long legs stretched out in front of him.
“Mmm, yes, I do. It’s so peaceful and…just lovely.” She was a little tense and tried to calm herself. But it was time and she decided she may as well just dive in.
“What is this?” she pointed between her and him.
“What do you mean, ‘what is this?’” he asked her, his beer bottle paused at his mouth.
She would never tire of looking at him; she was absolutely blown away by how handsome and breathtaking he was. How he made her feel alive. How he was a one-of-a-kind guy—she knew they had broken the mold after they made him.
“Us. We’re two different people from two different worlds. We haven’t even really talked about us and life, and what’s next. Where we’ll go from here.” She watched to see if he would display any kind of expression.
He was silent, and it frightened her. He’d alluded to it earlier, but what if there was more to what he wanted to discuss than she’d originally thought? What if he hadn’t thought past the now? What if he was content with how things are and there was nowhere to go from here? Oh, she was just so damn confused.
He reached forward and put his bottle on the table between them then took her hand. “Ava, I’ve been thinking the same. I’ve had the best time with you and I’ll be upfront and honest.” He pulled his chair around and faced her. Her heart skipped a beat, waiting for the words she didn’t want to hear again. “I’ve been wanting to talk about this and I was kind of hoping it would be here, after we’d had a shower…together.” He gave her a teasing wink.
She felt a blush rush up her cheeks. “I needed time to think. I know more about you than you do me. Like, what I do for a living, where I live, my interests. Why have you never asked? Didn’t you really want to know?”
“Good Lord, no! I mean, yes, I wanted to know, not no I didn’t. But, you’re absolutely right. I haven’t asked you and I was wrong not to. It just seemed we were having such a great time and those sorts of details were jus
t lost in the background. So I’m asking now. Tell me more about you, Boots.”
One moment she had wanted him ask her and now, a second later, she was tongue-tied. She didn’t know what to say. It surprised her.
“I live in middle of prairie belt, I’m under a contractual obligation to the company I work for. Been with them for a few years, working my way up. I’m a numbers girl—”
He raised his eyebrows. “Numbers?”
“Yup, numbers are my jam.” She gave him a quizzical look. “What, you don’t think I could be good with numbers?”
“I never said that. I just didn’t expect it. Ah, you’re a brainiac then?” The teasing look he cast her way calmed her down, easing the tension of the moment.
She laughed. “That’s exactly what my friends call me.” She remembered their jokey bantering back in Vegas when Bonni had won the jackpot and they insisted she go to make sure the money went through fine for Bonni.
“So, more about you, then. You admitted you’re a country girl. What made you go to the city?”
She searched his eyes in the low lighting and saw his genuine interest in knowing her answer.
She shrugged. “I needed to find myself. Small town, nothing going on, and I longed for the bright city lights. I danced when I was young and all through my teenage years, working toward my dream of Juilliard. But I had an injury and that was that.” Ava shrugged. “So I went to college and began a career I thought I wanted.”
“‘Thought?’”
She nodded. “Yeah, I wanted to climb the corporate ladder and break the glass ceiling but the higher I got, the more difficult it became.”
“Why?”
She let out a long, frustrated sigh and looked him dead in the eye. “Because the more I achieved, the less I realized I wanted it. Backwards, huh?”
“Not really. Sometimes we don’t know what we want until we don’t have it anymore.”
She met his gaze. Those words spoke volumes to her. It made her look back on how hard she’d fought and clawed her way to get where she was now, and these last few days had made her long for a simpler, less complicated way of life. A life with someone like Chase.