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A man like that has it all.
“I know, I know. I’ll talk to Cooper and Hayley, see what they want to do.” Anything to keep Marcus out of the office and out of my hair while this guy does his worst.
Hanging up the phone, I focus on calming my fluttering heart and glare between my thighs. I remind my traitorous body that we dislike this man intensely and want him to leave town immediately.
It doesn't care.
Since my fling with Max ended, I haven’t so much as been on a date with another guy, and, apparently, my libido has lowered her standards. Not in the looks department, Chase is hot; but he’s not exactly out to impress me.
Reaching for the beer Sean has kindly deposited next to me, I swivel back to face the pool table. Satisfied I’ve suitably steeled myself against Chase Walker’s devastating jawline, I frown when I can’t see him. Straightening, I’m halfway off my seat when his voice behind me, low and gravelly, has my heart leaping into my throat.
“Looking for me, Deputy?”
“Fuck!” My hand flies to my neck and I squeeze my eyes tightly shut. How the hell did he sneak up on me like that? Or worse, how much did he hear? When the shock wears off, my anger quickly takes its place. He slips in front of me, his grin smug and extremely pleased with himself. “Why the hell would you do that?”
When I swat at his chest, it’s like hitting concrete. I refuse to wince. His imperious eyes drop to where my hand touched him, down to where my fingers now dangle at my side, and then up my arms. His stare feels like a caress, scorching a path along my skin and my mouth literally waters.
“Because I’m nothing but a jacked-up meathead.”
Settling into the seat beside me, his fingers trail along the mouth of my beer bottle, where my lips have just been. The action seems weirdly intimate and familiar, but I’m too stunned to give out to him.
“Oh, I remember.” Tilting my chin defiantly, I refuse to apologise. He is a jackass. He was rude earlier, and, now, he’s sitting in front of me looking all smug and handsome and sexy. It’s making me mad as hell.
“Why are you following me, Deputy?” he asks, voice low and rough.
Three men, still in steel-toed boots and dusty construction gear enter the bar, but Chase’s attention never waivers from me, even when one almost trips the other on the way across the floor and they all burst out laughing.
This guy is intense.
“I’m not,” I snap, even if I kind of was, I won’t admit it.
Sean drifts by, making sure I’m alright as Chase leans into my personal space, trying to assert his physical dominance with his big body. I point toward my drink, the one Chase mauled and from which he is currently taking a long swig.
“I’m going to need a fresh one of these. Thanks, Sean.” I give the barman a cheeky wink to allay his concerns then turn back to Chase.
His face is like stone, any hint of playfulness gone. His pale grey eyes, lined with thick dark lashes, bore into mine.
“Why are you following me?” His thigh brushes against mine and awareness of his looming frame makes me want to fidget, but I don’t. Instead, I let his tempting scent wash over me and try not to give away the reaction I’m having.
“In case you haven’t noticed, Grey Ridge is a small place. I’m not following you; I just can’t get away from you.”
He chuckles, standing to his full height and scanning the bar. Despite myself, I have to admit I preferred it when I could feel his heat.
“That you’re started tailing me makes it look like you have something to hide, Deputy.” There’s a twinkle in his eye and it irks me how much he’s loving this.
Schooling my features into an expression of boredom, I wait for him to get to the part where he tells me my motives. He doesn’t. The silence stretches on between us, neither of us willing to give an inch. Sean leaves my new drink on the counter and moves on, his sharp gaze bouncing back and forth between us, sensing the escalating tension but not wanting to overstep. If he calls Marcus, I’ll kill him. Lion or not.
Then Leila will kill him.
“You think very highly of yourself Mr. Walker, imagining I have nothing more interesting to do than stalk you.” Sliding off the stool, I leave some cash on the counter and grab the jacket I left hanging on the back of my chair.
“I heard what you said on the phone.” Chase’s eyes are not focused on my face as I slip my arms into my jacket. They’re fixed on my chest, which is thrust forward as I wiggle into the tight-fitting garment. His attention moves to my hair as I flick the long strands trapped under my collar. “Believe me, I’m not compensating for anything.”
Sweet Jesus.
It takes every ounce of self-control not to drop my gaze to the front of his trousers. I’ll have to take his word for it because I’m not letting him have the satisfaction of catching me looking.
From the corner of my eye, I see another patron swivelling to get a better look at my ass as I bend to pick-up my bag from the floor. When I stand up straight, Chase is gritting his teeth and has moved to block the other man’s view. So, he’s chivalrous. And an ass. At the same time? Confusing.
