Damn him. Damn this.
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
Chase grinned, low and lazy. “I really am.”
Mallory shook her head, trying to regain some ground. “You know, I expected you to be a little more cocky about all of this.”
Chase hummed. “That’s the mistake people make. They assume I need to be cocky.” His fingers flexed slightly against her back, a subtle movement, barely there, but she noticed it.
And now she was in trouble. Because, dammit, she got it now. She heard the stories. She understood why people talked about him the way they did. Because Chase wasn’t about being the loudest guy in the room. He was about making you feel like you were the only one there.
And it fucking worked. Too fucking well.
The song began to fade, but Chase didn’t move right away. He didn’t let go. Not until Mallory finally exhaled, shaking her head with a smirk.
“Okay, Montgomery. I get it now.” She said.
Chase laughed, slow and satisfied. “Took you long enough.”
Mallory patted his chest, stepping back before she did something ridiculous, like admit this had been way too much fun. “Not bad, cowboy.”
Chase took a slow sip of his bourbon, watching her with that same damnable ease.
She reached for her phone and asked if they could take a picture.
Chase laughed, but he didn’t hesitate. He shifted closer, angling himself toward her as Mallory lifted her phone. The camera snapped, capturing him in all his heart-stopping, unfairly attractive glory.
The black button-up. Sleeves rolled, tattoos on full display. Worn jeans, perfectly broken in. Boots. Ball cap pulled low—just enough to cast shadows over those stupid, stupidly blue eyes.
Mallory barely resisted fanning herself. She pulled up Savannah’s text thread and fired off a message.
Mallory:I’ll let you know when to come in.
Mallory:And holy shit, he is looking so fucking fine.
She attached the picture and hit send.
A second later, three little dots appeared. Then disappeared. Then reappeared.
Mallory grinned.
Savannah was losing her damn mind.
And honestly?
Fair.
53
Reckoning Echoes
Savannahsatinhercar, gripping the steering wheel like it was the only thing keeping her from floating into the abyss. She had spent the last thirty minutes alternating between deep breathing exercises, cursing Mallory for convincing her to do this, and internally rehearsing exactly what she would say to Chase.
And then her phone vibrated. She didn’t even have to check the name.
Mallory:I’ll let you know when to come in.
Mallory:And holy shit, he is looking so fucking fine.
