Or he doesn’t have land and money, Chase thought. “Allison, I’ve moved on.”
“With another woman?” Allison’s voice took on a familiar whine he hadn’t missed.
“Yes,” Kendra said, coming up on Chase’s other side and taking his arm.
“Wait, I thought you were with Cash,” Allison said to Kendra.
“You thought wrong,” Kendra replied.
Chase made a strategic move by swinging his right leg over the end of the picnic table bench where Coop was. Sitting made both women release their holds on him. Allison quickly seated herself in front of his spread legs. Outmaneuvered, Kendra sat down opposite him on the other side of the table, next to Coop. As planned, both women’s legs were somewhat trapped under the table. Coop knew who both women were, so introductions weren’t needed. They greeted Coop, eyeing each other as Coop politely replied.
“Jade’s bringing me some sweet tea,” his grandfather said with a mischievous grin.
Chase smiled. “Yeah, I saw your sly maneuvering, Coop.”
“Who’s Jade?” Allison asked.
Chase grinned at the gorgeous blonde as she arrived at the table with Coop’s sweet tea. Coop thanked her, and when Jade placed her hand on Coop’s shoulder, he patted it. Kendra scowled. Allison, seeing Jade for the first time, appeared stunned and then glared daggers at her. Chase rolled his eyes. Jade walked to the end of the table, stopped behind him, and leaned over his shoulder.
“Need rescuing?” Jade whispered in his ear.
CHAPTEREIGHT
“Yes, please.” Chase easily slid off the end of the bench and stood. “Excuse us,” he said with a tip of his hat, mostly to Coop. After walking Jade away from the table, with a twist of his wrist, he twirled her onto the dance floor into the traditional slow dance position. “Thanks, buttercup.”
“I owed you one, cowboy.” Jade smiled up at him. Seeing the handsome man caught between two pretty women had jolted her.
Exuding potent masculinity, Chase pressed her to his hard, muscular chest. Wearing a crisp black shirt adorned with his ranch’s logo, he also wore a black belt fastened by a bigger version of her new buckle. Dark blue jeans showed only the toes and heels of his shiny, black boots. Beyond any shadow of a doubt, she knew he attracted and captivated women wherever he went. She pushed that thought out of her mind. Being in his arms again was as exhilarating as when he’d held and kissed her in his kitchen. Just when she thought they couldn’t get any closer, he loosened his grip on her right hand and placed it on his shoulder. She tightened her left arm and then her right around his neck as his hands flattened to the bare skin of her midriff between her red halter top and blue jean skirt.
“For the record, I don’t want anybody cutting into our dance,” he said with a bit of aggravation touching his deep voice.
“The new brunette is standing up and looks ready to do just that.”
“If she does—”
“I’ll tell her no?”
“This will tell everybody.”
Chase slid Jade’s hat to the back of her head. His eyes closed, and his lips came down on Jade’s. She closed her eyes, savoring every sensation of his mouth, his hands, and her body molding to the length of his. So powerful was this man’s effect on her that her knees almost buckled. If not for Chase, Jade knew she would have tripped over her own feet. Masterfully, Chase kept her in step with him, and as their lips lingered, he slowed their dance until they were barely swaying to the music. When he raised his head, Jade opened her eyes, sinking into his royal blue gaze. What had placed that somber expression on his handsome face? As host, she figured he had a lot on his mind—like the two women at the picnic table. Or maybe she was a bad kisser. He moved her hat back into place on her head, and Jade glanced over his shoulder.
“You’re safe for the moment,” she said helpfully. “The new one sat back down, and Kendra is dancing with the ranch hand named Ragsdale.”
“I met Kendra a few minutes after I met you,” he reminded her. “Allison Hilliard is an old girlfriend who’s been out of the picture for a couple of years. No one invited her.”
Jade appreciated his candor but said, “I don’t want to cramp your style.”
“You’re not.” The song ended, and Chase grabbed her hand. “Hungry?”
“Starved.”
“Good. Cash is rustling us up a couple of filets. How do you want yours?”
“Medium.”
Jade would never forget the glorious sunset silhouetting the gorgeous cowboy as Chase smiled down at her and said, “I’m glad you’re here, Jade.”
Around a grin, Jade bit her lower lip and then said, “Me too.”
