“Missed you too.” Chase wiped a smudge of his dust off her nose. “I’m too dirty for you and your white dress.”
“Never,” she said as he put her feet back on the ground. “I talked to Katy. I can tell you all about it over dinner. I cooked for you tonight. Are you hungry?”
His grin was wicked. “Yeah, for you.” She stood on tiptoes and gave him another kiss. When she backed up, they both saw the dust on her dress. “Told you,” Chase chuckled. “Sorry.”
“Guess I’ll just have to take my dress off.”
“Is that the naughty-girl look I see in your eye?”
“Yes. She wants this dirty cowboy.”
Chase grabbed her hand, and as they left the stable behind, he called to Coop, who was heading home, “Thanks for holding down the fort today.”
“My pleasure,” Coop grinned, his chest puffing out.
“Come eat with us, Coop,” Teresa said, coming out of the house she shared with Bob.
“Don’t have to twist my arm,” Coop said and headed their way.
“Coop stayed with me all day.” Jade smiled and waved at Coop. “Thanks, Coop!”
Beyond thrilled at how things were working out, and so in love with Chase, she held tight to his hand as they walked toward the house. On the back porch, Chase looked her up and down, making her nearly swoon with heart-pounding desire. Giving him her best come-on smile, Jade playfully pulled the capped sleeve of her white dress off her left shoulder. With a tight-lipped grin, Chase dropped his chaps and lifted his chin.
“If you can catch me before I get to the master bath,” Chase began and swaggered away from her, “the naughty girl can shower with the dirty cowboy.”
Oh, how Chase could turn the tables on her when she least expected it! When she hurried to catch up with him, he chuckled and sprinted out of her reach. She laughed and called for him to slow down, which made him speed up. He was already in the bedroom when someone knocked on the front door. Maybe Katy forgot something. Jade changed course and hurried to the door.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
When Jade didn’t skid into the bathroom after him, Chase retraced his steps across the bedroom and heard voices. The front door was open, but he didn’t see Jade. A warning stabbed his gut, and he cut a fast path through the great room to the door.
“I’ll give the invitation to Chase,” Jade said to someone.
Chase stepped outside and found Jade accepting a card handed to her by Allison Hilliard. He saw, but could barely hear, the electric car running beyond the portico.
“Hi, Chase,” Allison said.
“What’s up?” Chase heard the irritation in his voice and didn’t care.
“Garrett and I got back together,” Allison said and held up her left hand to show them her engagement ring. “We’re delivering some of our wedding invitations.”
“Congratulations,” Chase said. He didn’t know much about diamonds except that he’d never give Jade such a small one.
Inside a black Tesla, a guy with a man bun and bushy beard pulled his eyes off Jade and looked at Chase. Evidently, that was Garrett.
“He’s not you, Chase,” Allison brazenly reminded him, ignoring both Jade and Garrett. When Chase placed his hands on Jade’s shoulders and tugged her slender back against his chest, Allison said, “And I’m not her.”
“Right,” Chase replied pointedly.
“Allison? Sweetie?” Garrett called from behind the wheel.
“We wish you both the best, Allison. Don’t we, Chase?” Jade asked helpfully.
Allison, showing her true colors, snatched the invitation out of Jade’s left hand. “It wasn’t for you, it’s for Chase.” She held the card out to him.
Instead of taking the invitation, Chase ran his hand down Jade’s left arm. “Don’t come back, Allison. This is the last time I’ll be polite.” Protectively turning Jade toward the open doorway, he placed himself between her and the brunette. With a gentle nudge, he steered Jade inside the house, and over his shoulder, he said, “Goodbye.”
“Screw you! Both of you!” Allison spat and stomped toward the car.
