Chapter 1
Reagan Grant was a total mess. She couldn’t decide which was worse; the fact that she had run away from the one man who could turn her on with nothing more than a look, or that she had disappeared from her best friend’s wedding reception. Not exactly appropriate maid of honor behavior. Either way, she was exhausted, embarrassed, emotional, and worst of all… aroused.
She leaned against the wall of the elevator in her apartment building wearily. What started as a day full of fun and celebration, had turned into a whirlwind of emotional chaos.
Her best friend had married the man of her dreams, earlier today. The ceremony was beautiful, the reception intimate and full of love. Reagan was thrilled for Callie and Jake and couldn’t be happier with how the day had gone. Then, he had kissed her. He, of course, was Chase McCormick. Sexy, broody Chase. The tattooed musician who haunted Reagan’s dreams, was the inspiration for all of her fantasies, and the man Reagan knew had the power to destroy her more than any other man had before. He was everything she dreamed of in a man; he was tall, muscular, mysterious. But Reagan figured there was no way a sexy man like him—who could probably get any woman he wanted—would ever be interested in a curvy, size fourteen woman who loved brownies as much as most women loved shoes.
Still, for just a moment she closed her eyes and let the memory of Chase’s words wash over her.“…Well guess what, Red, I’m attracted to you too. Have been for a while, and that sexy-as-fuck dress you’re wearing has been driving me crazy all night. I can’t stay away from you any longer, and the longer you are in my arms the more of an idiot I feel for keeping my distance all this time.”
When he’d finished that proclamation, he had done the unthinkable. He’d actually leaned down and captured her lips in the best kiss of her life. She could still feel the tingle between her legs from his tongue sweeping into her mouth, and the firm touch of his lips. Of course, Reagan had been so filled with panic from the intensity of their brief kiss and terrified that she would be lost to his seductive spell completely, she had pulled away and ran from his embrace. No way could she risk the mortification she was certain would come if he got his hands on her body. She had quickly gone to find Callie and Jake, lied about having a headache, and disappeared. Thank goodness the reception was almost over by that time, or Callie would never have let her go without a better explanation. Even still, Reagan knew she would have to explain her abrupt departure to Callie and their friend Anna sooner rather than later. Especially since, according to Ryan—Anna’s fiancé and Jake’s business partner—everyone in their group of friends knew Chase and Reagan were attracted to each other.
Now Reagan was finally home and could process the night’s events in peace. The elevator let her off on the fourth floor of her building, and she walked slowly, heels in her hand, toward her door. She decided a hot bath, and one of the leftover brownies from the brownie wedding cake she had constructed for Callie was in order. The two friends had always joked that they did their best thinking under the influence of chocolate.
That plan was thwarted when her neighbor Marvin, who lived across the hall, opened his door, and stepped out. Given the box of recycling in his arms, it was clearly a simple coincidence. Still, it was a coincidence Reagan was not looking forward to. Marvin was nice enough, but he was always asking her on a date, never getting the hint that she wasn’t interested. Reagan wondered how many times she would have to turn him down with a flimsy excuse before he got the message. Sure, it was flattering that he was so interested, but he was so not her type. And tonight, of all nights, she was not in the mood for his awkward attempts at flirting. Not with images of Chase and their kiss flooding her consciousness.
“Oh, um, Reagan, um, hi. You look um, lovely,” Marvin stammered out his words, as usual.
“Thanks, Marvin. It was Callie’s wedding today,” she gestured to her dress, “so, you know, I had to dress up. Anyways, I’m really tired so I’m going to go inside.”
“Oh yeah, of course. Right. Well I ah… Tomorrow, if you weren’t busy, I was thinking we could maybe do something?” Marvin pushed his wire-framed glasses up his nose with his free hand and looked at her earnestly.
“Marvin, that’s sweet but I—”
Reagan was interrupted by the ding of the elevator arriving on their floor. She glanced over to see who it was and felt her heart skip a beat, that traitorous organ. Chase was somehow there, striding down the hallway toward her and Marvin.How does he know where I live?she wondered distractedly, before the real question hit her.What the hell is he doing here?
“Chase? How did you know where I live—no wait. Why are you here?” she asked incredulously. Marvin and his awkward offer of a date faded into the background as she watched the sexy, tattooed man come toward her.
When he got to where she and Marvin stood outside their respective doors, Chase looked between the two of them curiously. A frown flitted across his face when he looked at Marvin. Reagan blinked, coming back to reality with a jolt. Chase was here, at her apartment. And poor Marvin was still standing there, with a confused look on his face.
“We need to talk, Reagan.” Chase’s voice was low and slid across her skin like silk.
“No, we don’t. There’s nothing to talk about,” she replied quickly.
“Bullshit, Red. I’m not going to let you push me away.”
Reagan bristled at the domineering tone to his words. “Back off, Chase, I’m not one of your groupies. I have no idea why you’re here or what you want, but I’m tired and I want to go into my apartment and go to bed.” She turned to Marvin and in a softer tone said, “Marvin, sorry for all of this. I need to go. Have a good night.” She watched as Marvin nodded silently then went back into his apartment. He was so meek and submissive Reagan knew she could never stand to be in a relationship with him.Chase is definitely not submissive…the dangerous thought flew across her mind before she could stop it. Flustered by the rush of arousal she always felt around Chase, Reagan turned back to the man who was leaning against her door frame casually, as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
“I mean it, Chase. I’m going to bed. I don’t know how you found me, or what you want, but I’m done with this madness. That kiss should never have happened, and it won’t happen again.”
Chase dropped his arm to where Reagan’s hand had reached out to unlock her door. His large hand covered hers, infusing it with his heat. She shivered and pulled her hand away.
“Don’t go, Red, please. Just talk to me. That kiss was… Damnit, it was amazing. I’ve wanted to do that for a while, and I think you have too.”
Reagan was shocked at the earnest tone she heard in Chase’s words. For a man who didn’t disclose much, even to their friends, he certainly was open with his feelings about her.
“Chase, there’s nothing to say. That kiss was a mistake; you don’t want me, and I don’t want to be just another notch on a sexy singer’s bedpost.”
Chase’s eyes turned black, whether from lust or anger Reagan was not entirely certain. When he spoke, his voice was deceptively soft. Even so, the commanding tone of his words was not lost on her.
“Listen, Reagan, something as explosive as our kiss can’t possibly be a mistake. And you could never be ‘just another notch’. As for me not wanting you, you could not be more wrong. I can tell you’re not ready to talk about this, so I’ll go, but, Red… We will talk about this.”
All Reagan could do was stare dumbly at him as he turned on his heel and stalked back down the hallway. The elevator doors opened, and he entered them without a backward glance. It was only once the doors closed that Reagan moved, let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, unlocked her door, and went inside. Then, on autopilot, she dropped her shoes, locked the door, and stumbled over to her oversized sectional couch. She sank down onto the soft grey cushions.
“What the hell was that all about?” she said aloud to the empty apartment.
After a few more moments lost in shock at what Chase had said, she stood up.
“Okay, enough. I’m not going to get caught up in all of his sexy drama. Nope. No way,” Reagan muttered to herself as she walked to her bedroom and unzipped her dress. Stepping out of it, she stood in her panties and strapless bra. With her hands on her voluptuous hips, she looked in the mirror at her curvy body and rolled her eyes. “There is no freaking way that man wants all this, unless it’s for sex and nothing else.”Sex with Chase…she shivered involuntarily at the thought, before pushing it from her mind. “Never going to happen.”
