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ChapterTwo
Chase
Hallie peered up at me, her stunning eyes blinking behind her glasses. “No last names,” she announced.
My system felt electrified. My heart was drumming hard and fast in my chest as I stared down at her. “Okay.” I heard myself saying.
I didn't know how I knew, but I knew this woman needed to forget something as much as I did. And maybe we could use each other to forget. The chemistry between us was enough to start a bonfire. Although I wasn't out searching for romance—unlike most of my friends lately who were falling in love at the speed of light—this woman gave me pause. Even though I liked to keep things casual, I wasn't an asshole.
“Just tonight,” she added. “I don't live here.”
I glanced down at her drink. “I've only had half of that. I'm not even buzzed,” she clarified, somehow reading my mind.
“Okay,” I repeated.
She slipped her hand into mine, her touch a little cool. I followed as she weaved her way through the bar. I caught the eye of my friend Ward as I passed by. His eyes dipped down to our hands. His gaze was unreadable when it lifted to mine again.
Moments later, we were standing outside what I presumed was her room on the third floor. For a second, I hesitated, doubts jostling in my mind. But then, she leaned up, slid her hand around the back of my neck, and brought her lips to mine, tugging me down just far enough to meet her. Her lips were plump and plush and warm. “Come on,” she murmured, the words forming against my mouth.
I couldn't help it. Ineededto taste her, so I deepened our kiss. When her tongue glided against mine, it felt as if threads of fire spun through my body, a tangle of heat and fierce need burning in the wake of sparks leaping.
I lifted my head, taking in her light-brown hair. It fell just above her shoulders in a swingy bob. Her eyes were a swirl of green and gold with flecks of brown and tilted up at the corners. She lifted her chin slightly as if she dared me to second-guess this.
Then the door opened, and she drew me inside. I forgot myself in her. In us.
When I woke the next morning, she was gone.
A tiny, square sticky note was left on the door.
Don't forget the rules: One night, no last names. It was everything I wanted. Thank you, Chase.
xo
Hallie
I lifted the note off the door, staring down at it before I folded it carefully and slipped it into my wallet for some reason.
Ihadwanted just one night, but it had been far more than I expected. Fuck me. We just clicked. I remembered Hallie’s hazel eyes darkening. I remembered the feel of her clenching around me. I remembered falling asleep beside her and thinking maybe I could talk her into another night this morning. All I knew was her first name and that she was a photographer. I didn't even know where she lived. We’d traded very few details about each other. She knew I was Chase, I was from Willow Brook, and I was a firefighter. But that was it. I wanted to find her. But that was breaking the rules.
I took a shower in the room and made my way downstairs, stopping in the bar to see if Delilah happened to be around this early. She was. Her dark hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she glanced over at me with a crooked smile. “Good morning, Chase. Don't usually see you here in the morning.”
A few guests had breakfast over in the buffet section that was set up in the mornings. Delilah was stocking the bar and tidying up.
“You usually work a late shift and then again in the morning?”
“Nah. I like the morning shift better. I was covering for someone last night. What's up?”
I eyed her, wondering whether to ask. Fuck it. “What are the chances you could get Hallie’s last name for me?”
“Zero,” Delilah said flatly.
“Come on,” I pressed.
“No, that's totally not cool.”
“But you vouched for me. You told her I was a nice guy,” I insisted.
“Yeah, you are a nice guy, but if she didn't give you her last name and you try to get it, that’s weird. I don't want to get fired for giving out customer information.”
