Savannah groaned, pressing her fingers against her temple. "I swear to God, you’re all insufferable."
Chase leaned in, his voice just for her. "You sure about that?"
She turned to him, already regretting it the moment she locked eyes with him. His gaze was steady, unreadable, but his presence? It was suffocating in the best, worst way.
Sara sighed dramatically. "Alright, alright. Enough of this foreplay. Just go talk. Somewhere else."
Jaxon clinked his beer against Chase’s. "Yeah, get out of here before we start narrating your inner monologues for you."
Mallory grinned. "I can already hear it now: 'Savannah, why do I still want you? Why do I still dream about—'"
Savannah shoved her chair back with a groan. "Okay! We’re leaving."
Mallory laughed, raising her drink in victory. "You’re welcome."
Chase stood too, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced at Jaxon and Sara. "Appreciate the warm welcome."
Jaxon smirked. "Anytime, Montgomery. Go do whatever it is you need to do."
Savannah rolled her eyes but led the way out of the booth, Chase following closely behind. As they moved toward the edge of the bar, Mallory called after them, "Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!"
Jaxon added, "Or, better yet—do everything she would do."
Sara just sighed, sipping her drink. "Idiots. All of you."
Savannah exhaled as she and Chase stepped away from the table, the bar suddenly feeling too small, too hot, too charged. She felt the heat of his presence beside her, the awareness of how close he was settling over her like a heavy weight.
And she knew—whatever happened next wasn’t something she could ignore.
12
Temptation Rising
Outside,theairhither first—thick, salty, warm against her skin. Chase stopped near the railing, bracing his hands against the wood, staring out at the dark water like it held all the answers. The distant sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the silence between them, stretching it tight like a wire ready to snap.
Savannah exhaled, arms crossed over her chest, heart still hammering in her ribs. "What’s on your mind, Montgomery?"
He let out a quiet laugh, rough around the edges. "Still call me that, huh?"
"It fits," she shot back, voice laced with snark.
At that, he turned—finally looking at her. Really looking at her. His gaze dragged over her face, slow and deliberate, like he was memorizing every inch, like he wasn’t sure when or if he’d ever get to do it again. The weight of it settled low in her stomach, a deep, unwelcome ache.
"You look good, Savannah."
She swallowed, trying to ignore the way her breath stuttered. "You do too."
Silence stretched between them. Not awkward. Not empty. Just heavy with all the things they had never said. Every breath felt charged, like the air between them was alive, humming with unspoken truths neither of them were willing to say aloud.
Then Chase exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw. "I don’t even know where to start. I wasn’t expecting this. Seeing you. It just… threw me."
She nodded, fingers trailing along the railing. "Yeah. Me too."
He turned fully now, his broad shoulders tense, hands shoved into his pockets. His voice dipped lower, like he wasn’t sure he wanted to ask but had to anyway. "Did you ever think about it? About us?"
Her breath caught. "Chase…"
He shook his head, his voice rough and raw. "No, let me—let me just fuckingsay it." His jaw worked, his frustration clear. "I spent years moving from one girl to another, acting like none of it mattered. Like I didn’t care. But I did." His voice roughened. "You were the only one who ever fucking mattered."
