Cecily stared at the wooden sign the front of Chase’s bar. The name Villarreal’s was inscribed in Spanish style, entwined with grape leaves and what looked to be a crest of some kind. She hadn’t seen or spoke to Chase in a week, instead giving him time to think about her offer.

“What the hell was I thinking?” she muttered, ducking out of the warm drizzle into an alcove across the street. She watched him stalker-like through the smoky glass, laughing with two women at the bar. “Yeah, right. Like you could compete with that.”

He said something to Moe the bartender, and then lifted a hand, reaching for his cellphone. Cecily watched him scroll through his contacts and within ten seconds her cell rang in her pocket.

Coincidence? Not a chance.

She fumbled for her phone, and sure enough, caller ID showed Chase’s name. “Crap.” She chewed her lip before meeting his eyes through the tavern’s front window. “Hello, Chase,” she said, putting the phone to her ear.

“Are you going to stand in the rain like a dummy or are you going to come inside? I’ve waited a week to see you.” His deep, musical voice didn’t sound happy.

“I know but—”

He exhaled. “You and your buts. Look, all I know is you’d better get your luscious butt inside. We need to talk.”

Chase was right. Other than text messages, they really hadn’t said much in the past seven days. She stayed with him after blurting her offer, but things got awkward fast and she ended up calling Malcolm to drive her to the airport to catch a shuttle flight back to New York.

Cecily hiked the strap of her purse higher onto her shoulder and stepped into the light rain. Her hand rested on the side of her bag, the prenuptial agreement in the envelope inside nearly searing her palm. She knew she’d have to show it to Chase eventually, and that moment had come.

The agreement was for a year. And she still hadn’t told him about the baby bit. Maybe she’d get pregnant accidentally. She chewed on her lip again. There were plenty of babies born from their parents’ oops, right? On the bright side, at least she didn’t have to worry about practicing for that oops. In that department, Chase was at the top of his game and hotter than hell.

A slick wetness gathered between her legs at the thought of his body rock hard and his eyes full of need. Even via text he was sexy as sin. A secret smile tugged at how their messages always seemed to devolve into X-rated sexting.

She pushed his dirty, teasing words from her mind, and focused on what needed to be done tonight. They could practice for their honeymoon once the paperwork was out of the way.

Looking both ways, she darted across the street and then through the bar’s door into the dark tavern. Chase’s eyes met hers as she shrugged out of her jackets and ran a hand through her damp hair.

“You look beautiful wet,” he walked around the end of the bar and stood with a smirk on his face. He moved to take her jacket and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Then again, I like you best when you’re wet.”

A blush bloomed from Cecily’s toes to her ears and everywhere in between, making her nipples ache through her damp blouse. The hard peaks pushed into the thin fabric and she crossed her arms, but not before he noticed and chuckled.

“Glad to see you missed me as well,” he said, leaning in again. “There are parts of me stiffening at the sight of you, too.”

She cleared her throat, tamping down on the urge to dig her hands through his thick, sandy hair and crush her mouth to his.

“Uhm, where do you want to do this?” she asked.

His grin turned wicked and he licked his lips. “Anywhere you like, baby. I don’t need to be asked twice to do you.”

Cecily angled her head, confused, and then her eyes widened. “I meant…I mean…” she fumbled.

He laughed, sliding his arm around her shoulder. “I know what you meant, Cecy, but you left yourself wide open and I couldn’t resist. Besides, wide open is how I like you best. In fact, I haven’t been able to think of anything else since the last time you wrapped those slick thighs around my hips.”

She ignored the tingle in her belly and the head butt from her inner cat that he was as preoccupied with her as she was with him. There was time later for that. Business first.

“Chase, there are things we need to discuss,” she replied, fidgeting with the strap of her purse.

He nodded. “I know.” His voice was soft and smooth, but serious this time. “Let’s go upstairs. Unless you’d rather do this in my office.”

An image invaded her thoughts—her on Chase’s desk as he pushed her skirt high and her knees apart, sliding his fingers over her inner thighs—she sucked in a quick breath against the thought. For now, at least.

“We can talk in your kitchen,” she answered, avoiding his eyes.

A kitchen table works as good as a desk.

She cleared her throat. “At least we won’t be disturbed.”

The better to make you scream, my dear.

She ripped her eyes from his. “Uhm, I need the ladies’ room.” Without waiting for him to reply, she pushed past him and walked at a fast clip toward the restrooms.

Cecily pushed the swinging door open and stalked toward the sink, putting her bag on the white porcelain. She turned on the tap and stuck her hands under the water, rinsing her face. “Get it together, Montgomery. You can have him any way you want once he signs the papers.”

“What papers?”

Her head jerked up to the mirror. Chase stood in the ladies’ room doorway, a frown on his face.

“Oh God, Chase. I didn’t…I mean…” Her shoulders slumped, and she exhaled. “What you heard, it wasn’t what you think.”

He walked up behind her and slid his hands around her waist, kissing the side of her cheek. “Whatever papers you want me to sign can wait. I’m flying out to Vegas first thing in the morning.”

Her eyes met his in their mirrored reflection. “Vegas? Why? Are you planning to marry someone else?” A soft chuckle followed her nonchalant joke, despite the tight knot in her belly at the thought of Chase with anyone else.

He grinned. “Jealous?”

Turning in his arms, she looked up to meet his eyes. “Maybe.”

He bent to brush his lips across hers. “Good. But the answer is no. My father owned a house outside Vegas proper. I’m selling the property and need to fly out for the closing.”

Relief and disappointment warred. “Oh.” She tilted her head. “So why didn’t you tell me that when I called to say I was coming to meet you?”

He ran a hand over her hip to cup her ass. “Because then I wouldn’t be able to ask you in person to come with me.”

Cecily blinked, and Chase laughed at the surprise on her face. “I think this would be a good thing for us. I have business, but in between we can spend time together. The walkthrough for the buyers is the day after tomorrow and the closing the day after that. That earns us four, maybe five days together. Plenty of time to talk and get to know each other more than 140 characters at a time.”

She looked at the expression on his face. He wanted this. Wanted her with him. “Can you take me to the mall?”

His brows pulled together. “Sure. Why?”

She shrugged. “I didn’t pack for Vegas.”

With a grin, he lifted her, putting her butt on the white porcelain sink. He slipped between her knees and pulled her ass close until his jeans had an indecent moment. “You won't need much. I intend to keep you too occupied to worry about clothes.”

She smiled up at him, watching his sexy mouth curve. “Really. Occupied how?”

His mouth slanted over hers. “Bare-assed and mine.”

Her cat purred an excited hell yeah!

Guess human males were all about Mine, too.