“Is that how this works? One night together and you’re claiming me?” she teased.
“Hell yeah, Red, I’m claiming you.”
She shivered at his proclamation. “You know for a guy who never really talked that much before, you certainly are vocal about your thoughts now.”
His low laugh in reply warmed her all over. “Did you ever wonder if maybe the reason I didn’t talk much around you, was because I didn’t trust myself not to reveal my feelings?”
“Well aren’t we a matched pair. I was always too intimidated to talk to you.”
“Intimidated? The woman I had in bed last night was anything but intimidated. Why the hell would you be nervous around me, Red?” Chase’s voice was incredulous.
Reagan bit the tip of her finger as she thought of her reply. She had already revealed to him her insecurities about her body and certainly did not want to revisit that. Yet, there was something about Chase that made her want to be open and vulnerable. To let him see the real Reagan, the woman only Callie, Simon and Daniel knew. The woman who had dreams, but didn’t know if she deserved them. The woman who loved herself, but worried others would not.
“I don’t know, Chase. It was ridiculous I know. The first time I saw you, I had just left my asshole ex who cheated on me. I wasn’t exactly feeling my best and there you were, all sexy and perfect. Then I just never got over it. Crushing on a guy who you think is way out of your league is hard, okay?”
The line was silent for a moment, and Reagan worried she had either disconnected, and all her words were for nothing, or had actually scared Chase away.
When he finally spoke, the gravelly emotion in his words was stronger than she had expected.
“Listen. I wish I were there in person so you could see me when I say this, but I’m not, so I hope you can tell I’m serious. You need to stop putting yourself down. You have been with some real fuckers before, and maybe they made you think that you were not good enough. And I get that the world wants women to look one way and you think you don’t measure up. But listen to me, babe, you’re better than all of that. You’re mine now, and trust me, Red, you are everything I have ever wanted, the woman of all my fantasies. You’re beautiful, funny, kind, smart, and one hell of a lover. So can we forget about leagues and crushes, and just be together?”
It was Reagan’s turn to be silent, as she was at a loss for words. The intensity of what Chase had said, the depth of emotion in his words, it was all so much. Instead of responding with something sassy, she felt her own emotions swell, and what came out was raw and real.
In a voice barely above a whisper, she said, “Chase, we’ve only been on one date. How can you feel all of this already?”
“Can you honestly tell me you don’t? I’ve learned to trust my gut, Red. And my gut—and every other part of my body—is telling me that you’re the woman for me. I’m done wasting time. I’m all in.”
* * *
An hour later, Reagan was over at Anna’s house with Callie, Anna, and Melanie. Jake and Ryan were working at the bar, so the girls had the house to themselves to hang out and catch up. Over a charcuterie board and several glasses of wine, they heard all about Callie and Jake’s honeymoon to Napa Valley, at least the not so scandalous parts that Callie was prepared to share. After she regaled them with one final story about the romantic dinner Jake planned for their last night away, Callie turned to Reagan expectantly.
“So, you’ve got some explaining to do, Miss Grant. I saw right through your ‘headache’ excuse on my wedding day, and my suspicions were confirmed when Ryan told Jake he saw you and Chase kissing! I have two questions. First of all, why did my brand-new husband find out about the kiss before me?” Callie waggled her eyebrows suggestively before she continued, “And second of all, did the rock star’s kiss rock your world?”
Anna and Melanie cheered and Reagan bit back a grin at Callie’s words.
“Well, I guess I should let you both know it’s been more than just a kiss. Yes, he rocked my world. And my bed.”
“Oh my god!”
“Finally!”
“Yeah, girl!”
Reagan laughed as her friends celebrated with her. The fact that Chase was already friends with everyone she cared about was both a blessing and a curse. Sure, she didn’t have to worry about the man she was dating fitting in, but wouldn’t it be awkward if things didn’t work out?That’s tomorrow Reagan’s problem…she thought, dismissing that worry for now.
“Okay, Reagan, I need details. How the heck did things change so quickly?” Callie’s question was expected, but difficult to answer.
“Oh, Cal, I wish I could explain it but I can’t, I barely understand it myself. I mean, he followed me home after your wedding—did you know that? And then we saw each other the next night at the pub and he just wouldn’t take no for an answer. I guess we were both avoiding how much we were attracted to each other, until Ryan pushed us together on the dance floor at your wedding.”
Anna nodded her head toward Reagan. “You’re welcome on behalf of my fiancé.”
Reagan laughed and said, “Yeah, I guess I do owe him for this. Ryan basically told me to stop being an idiot, then spun me around into Chase’s arms. Once his body touched mine…” She shivered. “I was powerless to resist.”
Melanie raised her glass and in a teasing voice said, “Who could possibly resist that man? He owns the ‘tattooed mystery man’ vibe like he was born into it. Throw in the guitar, and he’s every woman’s fantasy come to life.”
The others giggled, but Reagan felt flash of jealousy at Melanie’s words. She was everything Reagan was not. Petite, slender, and take-charge confident. Reagan knew that Melanie had been burned by love before, but their friendship was new, so she didn’t know the details. She did however trust that Melanie would not go near Chase. She might be a flirt, but she would never go after someone else’s man. And as much as she might be terrified to admit it, Chase was clearly trying to be Reagan’s man.
Callie smiled at her best friend. “Well I’m just happy you guys finally got together. It certainly has been a long time coming. I seriously wondered if either of you would ever get the guts to just act on your attraction, or if you’d just keep dancing around each other forever.”
