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With a short hesitation, Chase took a swig of his beer before beginning. “My dad liked to hit the bottle and my face from time to time. I got sick of it and left when I graduated from high school,” Chase said casually, like it wasn’t a big deal. “I got into MMA fighting because I had grown up having to defend myself. I was good at it too; MMA I mean. I won a few titles and had some pretty great sponsors. Then I broke my leg performing one of my signature kick moves, and I was told I’d never fight again. It was tough, but then I found a job here at Hard Rock Casino, and I never looked back.”
“Don’t you ever think about going back? I mean, into the MMA fighting world?” I asked.
Sucking in a deep breath, it was like my question had punched him straight in the stomach. “I think about it every day. But it’s just not possible anymore. I broke my leg in three places. Even after surgery and months of physical therapy, I just couldn’t perform like I used to. My opponents knew it, too. They could really hurt me if I wasn’t healed one hundred percent. I justhad to bow out. Maybe I’ll get back into MMA one day, not as a fighter, but maybe as a trainer. I don’t see myself just working security forever.”
My heart broke for him, and I wanted to hold him and hug him, but I knew I should wait.
“What about you?” he asked. “I know you’re full of secrets, too,” he urged.
Sucking in a deep breath, I contemplated spinning a wild story to keep him interested in the conversation. I had worked so hard to keep my identity hidden, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to tell anyone else who I really was.
“I had a rather difficult life growing up. Nothing too bad really. You know the story… rich girl doesn’t get enough attention,” I lied, as I looked away from Chase.
“That’s a lie, or at least you’re not telling me everything. Look, I get it if you’re not ready to tell me the truth yet, but please don’t sit here and lie to me,” Chase urged.
Could I trust him? Should I trust him? Without realizing what I was doing, I opened my mouth and spilled my secret. The real secret.
“I left home at eighteen too. My parents hated me. I had a twin, but he died at birth. In some sick and twisted way, my parents blamed me and reminded me daily that the twin they wanted had died,” I said. It was the first time I had spoken those words aloud to someone other than Avery, and it sort of felt good to do so. Even though I shared a part of my truth, I wasn’t ready to expel the rest of the disgusting part of my life I had kept hidden for so long. Chase didn’t need to know that in the eyes of the world, I was long gone.
Nodding, Chase smiled at me, and I felt my nerves settle. He had this tantalizing effect on me that caused me to relax and find a calmness I never knew existed.
It was clear that Chase was slowly becoming my new obsession. I had thought about him every day since the first day I saw him in the casino. Even though he had irritated the shit out of me, he still held a place in my heart and mind that I wasn’t sure whether I was ready to explore or not. From the way Chase was looking at me now, I could tell he was dealing with the same conflict too. Our relationship was growing stronger each day, and the intensity was overwhelming. How we had gone from co-workers who despised the other to now sharing our deepest secrets baffled me.
Since I was used to pain over pleasure, I decided to try one last trick to see if he was really interested in me.
“Wow, that’s tough. Hopefully, you’ll find a way back to MMA,” I said, hoping I was right.
“Maybe. So, what about you? I’m dying to hear what makes Lizzie so fascinating,” he urged.
I decided to test him—to make him prove that what he was saying was honest and real. Being with guys who had tried to win me over with sweet words and promises they could never keep, I knew exactly the right words to say to make him run through this bar, ready to pick up the next female he encountered.
“Nothing too exciting about me.” I sighed.
Leaning across the table, Chase lowered his hungry eyes at me, and I felt myself tense. “Trust me, I can imagine a few exciting things about you,” he breathed, winking at me.
Oh shit, was he coming on to me? I had been fantasizing about him just moments ago, but hearing the sultry words he spoke, made me wonder if he felt the heat between us.
I opened my mouth to say something, but I suddenly forgot how to form words.
Chuckling, Chase settled back in his chair. “Forgive me if I’m coming on too strong, but when I look at you, I just can’t help myself. You’re so sexy, and there are so many things I would loveto do to you.” Chase’s eyes drank me in as though I was a meal he was about to feast upon.
“I don’t just sleep with guys I just meet,” I rush out.
Ugh, I wanted to slide out of my chair and hide under the table. Why did I just say that? The last thing a man like Chase wanted to hear was that I didn’t put out.
“Good to hear,” he replied.
“You wouldn't be interested in me once you really got to know me. Sure, we have broken homes in common, but there’s more you need to know. I’m a virgin, and I plan to be until I’m engaged or married,” I said, waiting for him to turn and run away from me as fast as he could. “Plus, I’m more fucked up than you are. You were right about me being innocent, just not in the way you imagined.”
I decided that since I couldn’t tell him my ‘real’ truth, the next best thing would be to tell him a fact that usually drove most guys away the moment the phrase left my lips.
“Okay,” he replied, still watching me carefully.
“Okay?” I asked, confused. This was usually the point where most guys turned and walked away. But he was still sitting here and looked interested. Something was wrong with him.
“Why do you look so angry and confused?” he asked, a hint of a smirk on his face.
“Well…” I bit my lip as I awaited his response. I was sure he would fire back with ‘it’s cool because we’re friends,’ type of conversation.
