Chapter Twenty Two
I walk out in my fluffy bath robe, after a long bath. Kade is using his laptop, and he looks up as I walk in.
“Where’s James?” He has been noticeably absent recently.
“He’s busy.” He says vaguely.
“Busy doing what?” I ask nosily.
“Stuff,” Kade says tonelessly.
“What kind of stuff?” Come on, throw me a bone here.
“Stuff that doesn’t involve nosey little princesses,” he says, smirking.
“What stuff does involve nosey little princesses?” I wonder out loud.
“Keeping busy in the bedroom and the kitchen,” he says chuckling.
“Just for that, you’re not getting any!” I huff. Chauvinistic bastard.
“I wasn’t getting any from you anyway, Layla,” he says, through a fit of laughter.
“I meant food! Cooking! You’re a jerk, Kade!” I hiss.
These men! Ironically, I was heading to the kitchen to bake some chocolate chip cookies before my little interlude with Kade. It was time for some comfort food to assist me in feeling sorry for myself. I’ve made three batches by the time Chase gets home. Kade is sitting at the kitchen table, like a little school boy, waiting to taste anything he can get his hands on. I keep slapping his hand away, telling him he wasn’t getting any after the comments he made. Chase takes in the scene and attempts a small smile.
“Get rid of the she devil?” Kade asks, grabbing one of the macadamia nut cookies when I wasn’t paying attention
“Yeah, I cancelled the shows. And as of next week, it’s not my problem anymore. I don’t wanna step foot in that club again.” He stares at me while he says it.
“What do you mean? Kade asks.
“I’ve sold Heat. I don’t want anything to do with it anymore.” His eyes are still on mine, searching, filled with hope.
Chase walks over to me and pulls me into his arms.
“After that night, when you pulled that shit on stage, when I didn’t come home, I went to my apartment to calm down. The next morning I went looking for a buyer.” He whispers to me. “Fuck, when I saw you up there, I’ve never been so angry in my life, Layla. Seeing those men, look at you like that, like you were easy, a piece of fucking meat, just there for them. Fuck. I wanted to kill each and every one of them just because they saw your beautiful body. You are mine, Layla, no man gets to even look at what is mine. To think those men are at home probably touching themselves with the image of you, makes me want to hunt them down.”
“What do you mean Layla was on stage at Heat?” Kade asks his tone nothing short of menacing.
I cringe. “It’s kind of a long story,” I evade.
Kade looks at Chase. “What the fuck bro?”
Chase looks at Kade, and they must have a conversation with their eyes, because Kade simply nods.
I wrap my arms around Chase and sigh, breathing in his masculine scent. “I’m glad you don’t have to go there anymore Chase.” I say into his shirt. I was freaking thrilled. I try to pull away, but he holds onto me tightly, almost desperately. I hear Kade leave the room.
He lifts my face up to look into my eyes. “Anything to make you happy, Layla. Anything.” He kisses me tenderly, and I let him. A small grin graces his lips before he pulls back.
“Sleep with me tonight?” he asks hopefully.
“No, Chase.” I sigh. I look at him and hold out a cookie. “For now, how about a cookie?”
He chuckles, hiding his disappointment. “I’m not going to turn down one of your cookies, that’s for sure.”
He takes a huge bites and moans. “They are so fucking good, Layla.” He grabs a handful. Kade walks back in and grabs a handful himself. They nod at each other in agreement of goodness.
“Where’s James?” I ask Chase.
“Out.” Is his reply. I mean seriously. Where the hell is James?
Chase jumps in the shower and I decide to give James a call. I pick up my phone and dial his number. It rings a couple of times before he answers.
“What?” James barks out in a tone I’ve never heard from him before. I’m shocked into silence. I hear him curse and hang up. What the hell was going on? After sitting for a few moments in silence I get up and head to my room. Later that night, when I go and say goodnight to Chase, he lingers as long as he can, I know he doesn’t want to leave me. But I still have a few things to think about before I jump, head first, into a relationship with him again.
*****
A couple of days later, Nikki and I are going out for a few drinks. I walk out of my room; all dolled up, and start getting drilled by the brothers.
“Where are you going?” Chase asks, standing up.
“Out,” Is my vague reply.
“Out where?” This is growled by Kade.
“To a bar,” I reply reluctantly.
“What bar?” James asks. I haven’t spoken to him since that night I called him, I don’t think he even knew it was me calling, because he has been acting totally normal around me.
“Whatever bar you guys don’t frequent,” I say cheekily.
They all glance at each other simultaneously.
“I could go for a few drinks,” Chase says in a cheery voice.
Ah, hell. Here we go.
“Yep, I’ll go get ready,” Kade says, standing up.
“Give us five minutes, Layla.”
“Fine, but I call shotgun!” I yell back.
I groan. They end up taking thirty minutes.
I was meeting Nikki at the bar, since it’s about halfway between both our houses. I jump in Chase’s Aston Martin, and Nikki is already there waiting for us when we arrive. She is already scowling, but scowls even harsher when she sees the guys.
“What happened to a girl’s night out?” She says accusingly.
“You try get rid of them!” I retort sarcastically.
We all take a seat, and Chase sits opposite me. Not too close, but close enough. We order our first round of drinks, and soon we are all a little tipsy. The bar is a karaoke bar, and we sing along with all the songs playing. I head to the bathroom, checking my reflection on the way out. I looked playful and young in a floral mini dress and wedges; my face was free from makeup, besides some powder and mascara. I’m walking back to our table when I hear the start to the song ‘Wait for you’ by Elliot Yamin. I love that song. I glance over and am shocked when I see it’s Chase that’s about to sing. He is standing there all alone, wearing jeans that fit him like a glove, and a white shirt rolled up to his elbows. The shirt is open at the front, exposing the top of his impressive chest. My heart flutters as I watch him clasp the microphone and raise it to his beautiful mouth. “This is for Layla,” he says huskily, his eyes on mine, before the first verse starts. I gasp. From the very first line, he leaves me breathless. When he reaches the chorus, I find myself getting so emotional, I am holding back tears.
Baby I will wait for you
If you think I'm fine it just ain't true.
I really need you in my life
No matter what I have to do I'll wait for you
His eyes are on mine the entire time.
We are connected.
He is amazing.
We all cheer when he is done, as he walks over and kisses me once on the lips. “You’re not getting rid of me, Layla, I will wait for you for fucking ever,” he whispers into my ear. I say nothing, my mouth open in a surprised gasp.
I am still speechless as we sit down and resume our drinking.
I can feel everyone’s eyes on me.
But none of them burn like Chase’s do.
I am so aware of him, his every moment, and every breath.
He consumes me.
Like a magnet, I’m drawn to him. I can’t help myself. He is my drug. My passion.
And I’m scared as hell.
******
I’m at lunch with Derek the next day, we meet in the same spot as last time, after my morning class finishes.
“Am I signing my death warrant by being here today?” he asks.
“No, it’s not like we are doing anything wrong. How’s life?” I inquire.
“The usual. School, work, play.” His lip curls up when he says ‘play.’ Typical.
“You do know Chase can kick my ass right?” I stare at his muscles, pondering, and he bursts out laughing. “Normally I can handle my own, but Chase is a badass fighter.”
“What?”
“Yeah, didn’t you know? He’s a legend on campus.” So I have been told.
“So he’s known for his womanizing and fighting skills?” I ask.
Derek nods. “That pretty much sums it up. But he’s a crazy fighter; I heard this one story when...”
“Derek seriously!”
“What! The guys still love to talk about it.” He chuckles.
“Why are we friends again?” I groan.
“Because you were desperate?” he teases.
I throw a fry at him.