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“I don’t know, Beth. I didn’t think I’d see you again. And I guess I didn’t wanna freak you out.”
I nodded in understanding. Now it made sense why a look of familiarity had flitted over his face when I’d looked up at him as I closed the door to the house I’d lived in since birth.
And all too soon, we were at the Pruitt home.
Chase lifted his shoulder. “It wasn’t your actions that made me take notice of you in the beginning.” Unbuckling his seatbelt, he reached over to me so that our faces were inches apart. He unlatched my seatbelt. “It was hard to look away and go to that meeting.” He barely settled his soft and full lips over mine. “Very hard.”
And then he pulled away and I felt the heat of a blush rising over my face. He’d initiated the contact and a sudden, desperate need to connect my lips with his threatened to overtake me, but I couldn’t give in. If I did, I wouldn’t know how to stop. I wanted him too much for my own good as it was.
Chapter 6
Chase
I missed three calls from an unknown number while Pierce and I had been setting the table. My phone wasn’t supposed to accept unknown or blocked numbers. I hadn’t had this number for long, so it could’ve been someone trying to call the person who'd had my number before I did.
Mrs. Pruitt and Nancy had just taken out the roasted chicken and all of the freshly cooked side dishes when Mr. Pruitt came into the kitchen, washed his hands,
and kissed his wife like none of us were there. They did that sometimes. I’d caught them making out in the mornings about four times. Pierce scratched his head and focused on the floor. I thought it was pretty funny to see him squirm a little. I guess I’d feel a little grossed out if I had to watch my parents make out. Acting like her aunt and uncle weren’t making out, Beth entered the kitchen in another one of her tank tops and enticing skirts, a complete contrast to how covered up she had been earlier today.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No, dear. Have a seat,” Nancy said in a spritely manner and sent me a half-grin. She was by the door when we’d come into the house. She probably thought that Beth and I had made out or had sex from the way she looked at us, but we hadn’t done anything—yet.
Beth peered at Pierce and then at me, and we got on our feet up and pulled the seat for her.
“This chair is free, Noodles. Cassidy should be down in a few.”
Beth sat down between us and released a rush of air. She smelled like mild vanilla and honey, and it made me think of tunneling my fingers through her blow-dried hair. I wondered if the sweet smell was her shampoo or soap that she lathered on her body.
“Thanks, Porkchop.”
Mr. Pruitt kissed his wife one more time and Pierce groaned, making his mom laugh heartily.
“When you’ve found the right woman, you won’t ever want to stop kissing her.” He gave Pierce a pointed look and then spanked Mrs. Pruitt on the rear. I trained my eyes on Beth because the only ass I wanted to watch as I spanked, grabbed, and massaged it was hers.
“TMI,” Pierce said.
Mrs. Pruitt gathered her hands together. “Anton,” she said with a dry laugh, “we’re embarrassing Pierce.”
He pulled her to him and whispered something into her ear that made her really laugh and swat the kitchen towel on his arm. She disengaged from him and joined Nancy in bringing the food to the table.
Beth queried, “Are they always…so…”
“Touch and grabby?” Pierce supplied the rest of the question. “No, but they get carried away sometimes. I’ve gotta get the image of them out of my head.”
Beth patted his shoulder in sympathy and shot me a cursory glance. Cassidy made a production of coming down the stairs, and Mr. Pruitt gazed at her like she was an angel.
“Dinner looks wonderful, as always.” Cassidy trotted towards Mr. Pruitt and gave him an air kiss on his cheek. And then she came around the table again, sitting beside me. Usually Nancy and Pierce sat beside me, but Nancy wasn’t finished serving all of the food. I wanted to switch places with Pierce, but if I did I knew Cassidy might make a show, act like I was ostracizing her.
“How did everything go in Miami, Father?” Cassidy asked Mr. Pruitt like she really cared. The only topic that mattered to her was whether or not he’d keep supporting her while she did nothing all day.
He took a seat beside Mrs. Pruitt, who just finished serving his plate. “We’re getting there. A little behind schedule. Nothing new in construction,” he answered with a sigh. “And I heard today was successful. Not one customer complaint or mishap.”
“Yeah, it’s really unheard of,” Pierce commented as we served ourselves.
“It is,” Mr. Pruitt said.
“Have you spent any time with Bethany?” Mrs. Pruitt changed the subject. “Cassie took her to our bar,” she explained to Mr. Pruitt.
