“Why not?”
“Because I’m a virgin.”
CHAPTERTEN
Jade’s eyes flew open as the muscular man hauled her up to a sitting position beside him in bed. “What’s wrong?”
“How can you be a virgin?” Chase asked.
“I’ve never had sex.”
“I know how. I mean why?”
“I already told you.”
“Tell me again.”
“I’ve never felt the mental connection and physical attraction we just talked about with anyone but you. I’ve never even used—a certain kind of monthly feminine product.” She was too shy to say tampon. “Do you know what I mean?”
“Yes,” Chase said as he placed the sundress straps back on her shoulders. He swung his legs out of bed and stood. “I knew you were gonna be trouble,” he grumbled but with a crooked grin. He snared her hands and pulled her to her feet beside the bed. Casually handing Jade her blue-and-red polka-dot panties, he asked, “What did you bring for breakfast?”
“Breakfast burritos.” Jade wasn’t sure what she had done wrong. But it was something serious because he was stepping into his jeans. Dark hair dusted his bronzed chest, swirled the indented navel on his flat stomach, and disappeared into his snug, black boxers. She donned her underwear, and then his undeniable male magnetism drew her a step closer. “What have you got against virgins?”
Buttoning his fly, he said, “Never had one, and betcha, I’m not gonna start.”
Chase snagged the bag of burritos off the tray. Jade plucked the tray up from the cedar chest. She watched him swagger across his bedroom toward the French doors. Wanting more mind and body exhilarations from this irresistible man with every fiber of her being, she narrowed her eyes in thought.
“Guess I’ll never do a striptease pole dance on your bed.”
Chase turned with a cocked brow and warned, “Do not say another word.”
“Why not?”
“You roll dice like that again and all bets are off, buttercup.”
“Nope. Missed your chance, cowboy.”
Sticking her nose in the air, Jade playfully pranced to him. Giving him a dismissive head-to-toe perusal, she flounced past, but he caught her arm. She looked from his hand above her elbow to his blue eyes. When Chase nodded in the direction of the big, oval mirror on his headboard, she made a half turn and followed his gaze. The hem of her sundress was stuck in the top of her panties, exposing her entire polka-dotted fanny!
“Damn, if you aren’t a boot-scootin’ hoot, Jade.” With a howl of laughter, Chase left her in his wake and headed through the great room toward the kitchen. “Come on. I’m hungry.”
Balancing the tray of coffee, thermos, cups, and plates, Jade hurried after him. She wiggled her hips in an unsuccessful effort to make her dress fall back into place. This experienced male was smart, sexy, and a lot of man to manage. She probably wasn’t doing a very good job. But it was so much fun to try. Darn Chase Cooper for being so attractive.
“Hey, boss,” came a male voice from the kitchen.
Chase immediately stopped and caught Jade in the middle of a frantic wiggle. He tugged her dress out of her panties and gave her bottom a familiar pat. Her heart still pounding from their escapade, Jade took the lead, and they met up with his foreman in the kitchen. Bob greeted her, not surprised to see her with Chase or that Chase was barefoot and half-dressed.
“Hi, Bob,” Jade replied and set the tray on the granite island.
“Hi, Jade,” Bob replied politely, holding his cowboy hat against his chest.
“What’s up?” Chase asked, taking four wrapped-in-tinfoil burritos out of the paper bag. He pulled out a barstool for Jade, one for himself, and sat.
“Want a breakfast burrito and coffee, Bob?” Jade asked, more calmly than she felt as she poured coffee from the thermos into their cups.
“No, thank you,” Bob said with a smile. “Boss, I just stopped by to tell you that Ragsdale was late saddling up this morning, so I’ve put him on notice. Not only that, he was wearing spurs on his boots, which I made him remove. That’s two strikes.”
“Three, and he’s out,” Chase replied, holding a burrito. He glanced at Jade to ask, “Did you make this?” When she nodded, he turned to Bob. “Thanks, Bob. Anything else?”
