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Chapter 5
“Where in Tarnation is that wife of yours?” Sophie’s screech broke into Chase’s dream and he promptly opened his eyes and sat up. “I mean, I thought I sensed some tension ‘tweens the two of you last night, but heck if I expected to find you all alone in your bed mornin’ after your weddin’.”
Sophie moved into the room carrying a tray of breakfast food. It was enough food for two and obviously the woman had thought that she’d be feeding both he and Tori this morning.
“Well, Sophie, I hate to break it to you,” Chase said lazily as he slid out of bed, “but my wife hates me.”
Sophie laughed as Chase came over to the small seating area where the food sat upon a low coffee table. He slumped down on a love seat, grabbed a croissant off the tray and bit into it.
“Hate you? What in the heck does that mean? And since when have you not been able to smooth things over with a lady, Chase, or get her into your bed for that matter?”
Sophie placed her hands on her slim hips and scowled down at him. Her hair was tied back in its regular bun and she wore jeans and a white button-up shirt. There were no servants with uniforms in this house who kept their mouths shut and Chase suspected Tori’s family was feeling a bit out of place about now with only Sophie to meet their needs.
“Since I married Tori Ambrose,” Chase grumbled. “Girl’s got a mind of her own.”
Sophie laughed and ruffled Chase’s tousled hair even more. In a lot of ways, she still saw him as that ornery boy who used to steal all her freshly baked cookies years ago.
“Well, good for her. I never did like none of them stuffy ladies you brought home. Stuffy like Tori’s sister. God all mighty if that Monica and her mother aren’t going to drive me insane with their high-falutin’ ways! I thought for sure their youngest would have that same attitude and I was worryin’ all yesterday about you marryin’ Tori. But I see that gal’s nothin’ like her kin. Well, maybe she’s got a bit of her father in her. He seems like a nice fella. But the rest of them…”
“Will be gone by lunch,” Chase told her, certain he had understood their plans correctly. It was obvious that Mary and Monica didn’t want to spend any more time than was necessary on this ranch. And though he thought the amenities were downright luxurious, the Ambroses obviously did not.
Sophie nodded.
As she turned to leave, Chase questioned her, “Hey, how’d you figure all that out about Tori from the little time you’ve interacted with her?”
“I got a sense about these things, Chase,” Sophie declared. “Besides, I’ve seen her running around this place in them holey jeans of hers. A gal who’ll wear somethin’ that old and worn has got to be down to earth. Now, if only you could convince her you’re not such a bad guy.”
Chase shrugged. “We’ll see.”
“Chase, if it was going to be we’ll see, then why in the hell did you get married?”
It was that statement, that one question from Sophie that nagged at Chase all day. Had he already given up on this marriage just because of a few arguments with Tori, a few set-backs? It wasn’t like him to give up on anything. Even something that may seem like a lost cause. But that night in the barn, the things she had said to him unsettled him. She was willing to hand him back over to other women, willing to forgo any intimacy because she was still angry.
Would she stay angry for days? Weeks? Years?
Chase shook his head. He couldn’t have that kind of marriage forever. He would give Tori her rein for now. He would allow her to pout and sulk and insult…but only for so long. Eventually, she would have to come around. Eventually…
And if she didn’t? What then?
Chase shook his head and stalked into the bathroom to shower and dress for the day. He didn’t even want to think about that possibility. He didn’t want to go back to playing the field and finding nothing but unfit prospects. He had found one he liked. He had found one with some spark and he was bound and determined to make things work with Tori.
No matter what it took.
**
For the first week after saying “I do” Chase allowed Tori to avoid him. Of course, most of the time she was sulking in her bedroom. The other time she spent riding her horse in the evenings. He’d watch her out his office window as she trotted the horse bareback around in the ring seeming content to venture no further away. It was good she was sticking close to the house, for his ranch was immense and she could easily lose her way. Besides, he liked knowing where she was and what she was doing. He may be allowing her to avoid him, but he was still keeping tabs on her.
His plan was that she would eventually grow bored and seek out his company. It hadn’t worked yet, but it had only been a week.
The second week, Tori seemed to grow restless. Sophie complained that the girl was following her around, begging for chores to do. Sophie, who hated to relinquish control of the household said she had finally relented and sent her off to dust. That, however, hadn’t seemed to be enough for Tori, for not two days later, his ranch foreman, Jake Underhill, was whining that Tori was bothering him for work.
“I wasn’t sure what to say to her, boss,” Jake explained. “I mean, she’s the missus of this house, should she be doing hard labor?”
Chase had chuckled and said to Jake, “Give her all the work she wants, Jake. Have her muck out the stalls. Heck, I don’t care. If she wants to stay busy, let her.”
Chase, meanwhile, had occupied himself with work and with watching Tori from afar. He always had plenty of work since he worked mostly from home, and his computer, fax and phone were always busy. Once in a while Sophie would field his calls for him when things got out of hand around the home office, and lately, his business seemed to be taking on a mind of its own and raging out of control.
Of course, he had kept an official office in Dallas for his enterprises, and it employed a few people; accountants, lawyers, HR people to handle payroll, benefits and such, but it wasn’t often Chase liked to make personal visits to the office. His father had always taught him that a cattleman’s duty was to the land the animals first, the office second. And Chase had tried to emulate that. Besides, he enjoyed being on his ranch, on the land. In fact, it had been weeks since he’d even made it out of his home office to observe the workings of his own land. It was about time he did.
Pushing everything aside, Chase grabbed a straw Stetson off the hat rack in his office and strode out the front door. Sophie called after him, inquiring where he was off to and he told her.
“You may want to take that gal with you,” Sophie told him. “The two of you’s haven’t barely spoken since your weddin’ day. Ain’t right, Chase.”
Chase waived to her and decided if he saw Tori on his way, he’d casually invite her. If he didn’t….well, she could keep doing whatever it was she was doing.
His plan was to not appear desperate for her company, though he was anxious to get to know her more. His plan was to wait her out.
And he was getting real good at waiting for her.
He saddled his horse in the barn, a tall, lean bay named Titan, and was just about to venture out when Tori appeared around the corner with a rake and wheel barrel. She was dressed in old jeans and tennis shoes and a tight-fitting white top that stretched nicely across those small firm breasts of hers. He wanted to curse at the sight and when he did under his breath, Tori heard him and looked up.
“Oh, hi,” she said with a faint smile. She would say “hi” to him, but that seemed to be all she would say to him these days. Even over meals she barely spoke—if she would actually sit down and eat with him, that was! Mostly she ate before or after him and for the time being, he was letting it go without argument.
“Hi,” he returned and nodded toward the wheel barrel. “Jake putting you to work?”
“Yes. I asked him if I could. I’ve been…bored.”
He wanted to blurt out that if she were bored it was her own fault. He could easily keep her occupied, but he remained mute and mounted Titan.
“Where are you going?” Tori asked, and it appeared as if she were actually interested.
“Out.” He started the horse forward, thought he had tortured the girl enough and reined Titan in. “Want to come along?”
Immediately that radiant smile that had been dormant from Tori’s mouth for weeks sprang to life and she said, “Would I ever! Let me get Dream saddled. I won’t be but a moment.”
And she wasn’t but a moment. The girl had her horse saddled and mounted in five minutes and rode up next to Chase’s side, followed him through a gate in a nearby pasture and loped Dream next to he and Titan. Again she sat her mount like an English rider and he frowned at her.
“What’s wrong?” Tori questioned.
“Hasn’t anyone around here taught you to ride yet?” he inquired.
“I do know how to ride. I’m afraid I picked this up at an East Coast girl’s boarding school. That’s how we rode. English saddles, jumps…the whole nine yards. It’s not so bad.”
“Boarding school?” he questioned, curious because she certainly didn’t seem the type.
Tori nodded. “It lasted a total of one year. I
eventually found a way to get kicked out. Then mom and dad brought me closer
to home and I attended a private school in
“And that’s what you got,” Chase drawled.
“Well, you like to get your way and I like to get mine. I always find a way too, Chase.”
Was that a threat she had just made? He stared down at her with inquiring eyes and she simply smiled, leaving him guessing. Then expertly, she changed the subject.
“Do you ever leave this place? I mean, we’ve been stuck here for two weeks and haven’t so much as driven to a grocery store,” Tori complained.
“I leave, when necessary. It hasn’t been necessary yet. Besides, if you want to leave, we could always schedule that honeymoon.” It was a taunt and Tori took it as such.
“That’s all right. I’ll continue to entertain myself mucking out horse stalls and dusting your palace.”
“Our palace,” he corrected and she quickly turned her eyes up to him with shock. “Well, we are married.”
“Yes. And now that you mention things we share, you never did make me sign a prenup. Aren’t you interested in protecting all your assets from me like mine are protected from you?” Tori asked.
“Nope,” he declared. “I know what you’re after, Tori, and it surely isn’t my money.”
“That’s right, it’s my money I’m after and my money only,” she said.
They pulled up as a group of cowhands came into view in the distance. They were gathered around something, looking earnestly down at the ground, and Chase was curious as to what it was. He was more curious, however, as to why Tori wanted her money so badly.
“I don’t get you, Tori,” Chase said as he turned his horse around so he could face her. “You certainly aren’t into fancy toys and spending heaps of money on yourself, so why do you want your millions so badly? Do you simply want to give it all away?”
“No, I want to create something. Something good. I don’t know, build a shelter for kids or abused women. Start a scholarship foundation that’ll send underprivileged kids to school. Or…”
“Or a thousand other somethings, right?” Chase countered. “Darlin’, your daddy was right, you do have a big heart, but you don’t know what to do with it.”
Tori’s eyes changed shade and she opened her mouth to issue a fiery speech when Chase reached out and covered her mouth with his fingers.
“But there’s nothing wrong with that,” he added. “And I’ll make a deal with you. As soon as you figure out exactly what it is you want to do. The thing you’re really determined to try and fix in this world and you have a viable plan as to how to go about it, you let me know and I’ll give you that money. And, I’ll even help you implement your plan.”
Tori eyed him warily. Dare she trust what he said? Dare she believe him?
“Really?” she asked.
“Really,” he repeated. “I’m good to my word, sweetheart. You’ll see.”
“Okay,” Tori finally agreed, feeling for once she could start planning her future instead of fighting for what was hers. “I’ll really consider it and see what I can do.”
“You do that,” he said and turned his horse back around. “Come on, let’s see what those hands are up to.”
They loped closer and just when they were about to close in on the group, a loud shotgun blast erupted and Titan let out a squeal while Dream jumped ten feet sideways, nearly unseating Tori.
Chase calmed Titan just as one of his hands rushed toward him, grabbing the horse’s reins. Chase, however, wasn’t concerned about his own horse, for Tori was still having trouble with Dream and her face was ashen.
Jumping down from Titan, Chase reached for Dream’s reins and gently calmed the horse. She was a good horse, but it was obvious she’d never heard a shotgun blast before. No wonder the horse was shaking as badly as Tori. Once the horse was standing still, Chase reached up and pulled Tori from the saddle. She clung to him, her arms tight around his neck and her head buried in his chest. Her body shivered from the shock of the unexpected blast and he knew the incident had his own heart racing. But despite the possible dangers the noise had created, Chase couldn’t help but feel some elation in the fact that Tori was clinging to him with such need. And she was clinging to him willingly!
“What was that?” Tori asked him and Chase looked at one of the hands to explain.
“Yes, for Christ’s sake, what in the hell was that?” Chase demanded.
“Sorry, Mr. McNamara,” a young man spoke up. “But…well, she was bleeding to death and in a lot of pain. There was nothing we could do.”
“She?” Tori immediately asked and pulled away from Chase. She ran through the small crowd of men and halted. A hand flew to her mouth and she gasped.
“Chase, they killed her!” Tori cried out.
A heifer lay dead on the ground and there was a large amount of blood at both her tail and her head. Tori looked like she was going to be sick and Chase pulled her back away from the sight.
“We had to boss,” the young cowhand defended again when he looked at Tori with concern. “But…well, we saved the calf.”
At those words, Tori seemed to perk up. “Calf?” she asked.
“Yeah, right over there.” The cowboy pointed to another hand who was busy rubbing down the brown little calf with a rag. It was small, wet and wobbly on his legs; obviously it had just been born.
“Oh, my goodness,” Tori said and jogged over to the calf. She patted it on the nose and the animal took an immediate liking to her and thrust its nose into her hand and licked.
“Chase?” she called to him. “How will it live without its mother?”
“Usually we try to see if one of the other heifers in the herd will adopt it,” he said. “And sometimes…well, they just don’t make it.”
Tori paled again and he knew what was coming next. “Couldn’t we bring her back to the horse barns by the house and raise her ourselves?”
“Tori…” Chase started to argue, felt the eyes of all his ranch hands on his back and cursed. If he told her the brutal truth that it was simply the survival of the fittest she’d either rant or cry. And if he gave in, his men would think he was whipped.
Well, hell, she was his wife! He could give her this. Right?
“Sure, darlin’, we could try that,” he relented and she squealed with glee, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. The affection amidst his ranch hands’ chuckles didn’t last long, however, for Tori immediately returned her attention to the calf. She began inquiring of the man holding the calf how best to care for it and where to put it in the horse barn and the man assured her he’d show her—with a bit too much enthusiasm, Chase thought! Tori was pleased and when the cowboy carried the calf to a nearby truck, Tori insisted upon riding with it.
“Chase, you won’t mind bringing Dream back, will you?” she questioned and since she was already in the back of the pick-up, there wasn’t much Chase could do but shrug.
The truck pulled away and a few of the hands smiled after the truck and waved. Chase frowned at them.
“All right, boys, you can stop ogling my wife,” he snapped. A few blushed. “And next time, don’t shoot any cows around her or I’ll be raising every calf in my horse barns for the next ten years.”
The boys frowned, shuffled their feet, and then walked away. Chase mounted Titan, gathered up Dream’s reins and rode after the truck. So much for Tori being bored, he mused. Now she had her own baby cow to raise and she’d more than likely not notice a thing about him until the calf was grown and off to college.
**
“Is that good enough for her, Seth?” Tori was asking as she wiped
at her brow. The barn was hot and the physical labor of readying the empty
stall for the newborn calf was arduous. Sweat was dripping from her face and
soaking through parts of her shirt and jeans. The
“It’ll work nicely,” the young cowhand told her and carried the tiny cow into the stall.
Seth Majors had been the hand assisting Tori with the calf since the pasture and he was a nice, confident man. He seemed to know quite a bit about cows and when Tori asked him about his experience, he revealed that he’d worked on ranches most of his life.
“And I take it you’re pretty new to ranch life, huh?” he asked her back and Tori nodded.
“I’m from
“Then why did you go and marry yourself a rancher?” Seth asked with humor and Tori shrugged.
“I suppose because he asked,” she said simply and then realized he’d more or less demanded. But that wasn’t a proper topic to be discussing with Chase’s hired help so she turned her attention back to the calf. “How will we feed her?”
“We got some cow’s milk we keep on hand for just these purposes, taken from other feeding mothers. I already sent word to the foreman to track some down for us. Then we’ll have to bottle feed her just like a real baby,” he explained.
“That’s a lot of work,” Tori said and swiped at her brow again. “And it’s damned hot in here.”
The man moved out of the stall, leaving the calf lying comfortable in the straw and motioned for Tori to follow. Outside, near the side of the barn, was a faucet and hose and Seth turned it on.
“Here, cool off. It’s the best we can do right now,” he told her and Tori grinned.
“Heck, I don’t care where the water comes from right now,” and she immediately dipped her head under the stream of water and dosed her hair. Then she splashed it on her face and took a long sip. “Thanks.”
Seth smiled appreciatively at her and Tori realized that for a twenty year old boy, he was a cutie. No doubt he had all the local gals swooning. He was lean and fit with a head of straw colored hair under his cowboy hat. And his smile was dazzling with dimples on either cheek. Not to mention he’d been a complete sweetheart to her and in handling the calf.
“So why are you spending your time down here with orphaned animals instead of lounging in the boss’s pool?” he then inquired and Tori was about to answer him when she saw Chase and the horses approach.
He was frowning out from under the brim of his cowboy hat and he threw Seth a dangerous glare. The boy turned off the hose and retreated into the barn. Chase dismounted.
He ground his teeth as he stepped down from Titan and took in his wife. The woman was downright impossible, that was for certain. She had no idea just how sexy she looked standing under that stream of water and now that the front of her white shirt was soaked, she was leaving very little to the imagination. He was positive Seth Majors had noticed for few pretty gals got past that boy’s keen eye. Chase knew the reputation of his cowhand and damned if he’d have his wife be fodder for the young man’s ogling.
“Something wrong?” Tori questioned him and it was obvious she had no clue just what she was baring.
“Yes. Go change, Tori,” Chase demanded bluntly and when Tori frowned at him and stuck out that stubborn chin of hers, he knew she was ready to fight.
“There is nothing wrong with what I am wearing, Chase. What is your problem?”
“My problem is that my wife’s very tight shirt is now wet and very see-through. And I’d rather not have every hand on this ranch know what she’s hiding under her clothes.”
Tori’s already beat-red face from the sun reddened further and she looked down at her chest with wide-eyes.
“Oh, I didn’t realize,” she mumbled. “But, it’ll dry quickly enough.”
Stepping right in front of her and making a show of eyeing her breasts through the wet cotton, Chase said lowly, “Go change or I’ll drag you inside and rip that shirt off of you myself. And if I do that, I certainly can’t be held responsible for anything further that may happen between us. Understand?”
To emphasize his point, Chase wrapped his free hand around Tori’s waist and brought her abruptly against him. His body was hard, every last inch of him, and Tori gasped and felt heat invade her face further. There was no denying she was attracted to her new husband. She had been from the moment she’d met him. But sometimes that insistent will of his just got in the way and made her feel more like a misbehaving child than an equal partner.
Angry by her body’s reaction to him, Tori pushed away and snapped, “Fine, I’ll change.”
She started to walk off when Chase added, “And don’t plan on returning here tonight. You’ve seen too much sun already.”
She halted, plated her fists on her hips and was about to issue a protest when he explained, “I’ll have the men look after the calf. She’ll still be around in the morning and then you can coddle her all you like. Tonight, you’re taking a break.”
Tori issued a low growl and turned quickly on her heel. She marched directly to the house and Chase would have laughed, but he had more important matters to attend to. He led the horses into the barn and found Seth Majors tending to the calf. The boy looked up at him with practiced innocence and Chase ground his teeth again.
“The calf’s looking mighty fine, boss,” Seth said to him and Chase, at the moment, didn’t care about the calf’s health. He had other matters on his mind.
“See to it she’s tended to through the night,” he ordered, just to ensure that his words to Tori rang true in the morning. If anything happened to that animal overnight, it would be hell to pay. “And while you’re at it, Majors, don’t even think about getting cozy with my wife. Understand?”
“Understood, sir. I’d never…”
“Yes, you would. Now, put the horses up. I’ve got business to take care of,” Chase mumbled and dropped the horses’ reins into the boy’s hand and marched himself up to the house.
He actually was going to skip the ranch business for the night and find Tori. He’d issued some pretty hard orders and he was positive that any rapport they had started to build during their ride this afternoon was surely gone now. But he had a plan that may just draw her into the same room with him, at least for a short while.
He entered the house and strode directly to the kitchen. He could smell Sophie’s cooking and his stomach growled. The woman had her head in the oven and was checking on her latest concoction as Chase pulled a bottle of beer from the refrigerator.
“Homemade pizza tonight,” Sophie announced and Chase almost groaned with hunger. Sophie could make anything well and her pizza was surely marvelous.
“When will it be ready?”
“By the time you’re showered and relaxed,” she said. “You smell like a horse.”
“Been out on the range for a little while.” He took another sip of his beer, then instructed, “Do me a favor, when dinner’s done, bring it to the TV room. And don’t let my wife talk you into fixing her something else tonight. If she wants to eat, she can eat with me.”
“Finally trying to win her attentions?” Sophie inquired.
“Nope, just forcing her to see what a great guy I am,” he teased and then left the kitchen behind and went to his bedroom to shower.
**
Tori had taken a long, cool shower and she finally felt the heat of the day begin to leave her skin. Her face was reddened from a slight burn and her limbs ached from being overworked. Lately, in order to avoid Chase and keep herself occupied, she’d taken on any and every chore possible. It was catching up to her now and after that scare in the pasture, she was ready to take a break.
As she exited her room dressed in a white tank-top and light blue cotton shorts, she smelled freshly baked something. Then she saw Sophie heading down the stairs and Tori called to her.
“Sophie, what’s that you made for dinner?” she asked.
The woman halted on the staircase and answered, “Pepperoni and mushroom pizza. And if you want any, it’s in the TV room with Chase.”
Tori visibly pouted. “Don’t you have any extra…without the pepperoni?”
“Nope and you can pick off the pepperoni. And the kitchen is closed so if you want to eat, go find your husband.” The woman gave her a wink and a smile before she descended the rest of the stairs and Tori groaned and pushed away from the railing. She was too tired to make a trip to the kitchen and was positive Sophie would shoo her out anyhow. The woman was very territorial, but kind-hearted, and so with little choice, Tori made her way down the hall to the room with the overstuffed sectionals, worn-in recliner and entertainment system.
The food was in there, all right, and so was Chase. He was wearing baggy cargo shorts and a white T-shirt and Tori realized as she stared at his solid, muscled legs, that it was the first time she’d seen her newly acquired husband in anything but pants. She hadn’t even seen him yet with his shirt off and for a moment, she was curious. Just how sculpted was that hard body of his? And how would his taut skin feel beneath her hands?
She shook the thoughts from her head and made herself known to him by asking, “Were you planning on sharing or scarfing down that entire pizza by yourself?”
He chuckled easily and she noticed how his persona had changed since the scene outside the barn. He appeared mellower.
“I suppose I could share with my wife,” he returned then added, “for a price.”
Tori halted in the doorway. “What price? You have all my money, dear.” The “dear” was sarcastic and Chase took it as such.
“Nothing monetary. I just want your company for the evening. We have some things to plan.”
“Plan? Like what?”
“Just events and such coming up. Nothing critical, but…we’ve barely spoken these past two weeks and I think we should finally spend some quality time together.”
Tori moved toward the pizza and grabbed up a piece. She bit into it before she even removed the pepperoni she was so adverse to or even before finding a plate.
“Fine,” she mumbled around her food, “I’ll spend quality time with you as long as it doesn’t involve taking off our clothes or discussing honeymoons.”
“Fair enough,” Chase said and lounged back on one side of the large beige sectional. He sipped at his beer and Tori whimpered.
“You have beer too?” she asked.
“Ice cold,” he replied.
She had that look of pure need upon her face and Chase smiled and used his finger to indicate if she wanted some, she’d have to move closer.
Tori didn’t hesitate to walk closer and when she was standing right in front of him, he handed her his bottle.
“Oh, thank you,” she mumbled around another bite of pizza and then planted herself next to him on the couch.
“Heck, woman, if I had known all it would take was some pizza and beer to get you in the same room as me, I would have tried this a lot sooner,” Chase drawled with sarcasm.
Tori lifted a shoulder and continued to devour her food and beer. “If I had known you were the pizza and beer kind of guy, we could have made a date to do this a lot sooner.”
Chase frowned at her comment. “What do you mean? Do I act pretentious?”
“Not really, you’re just always locked away in your office.”
“I have a business to run.”
Tori nodded, finished off her pizza and reached for more.
“Of course you do, but it’s not like I have any friends out here. Who else am I supposed to talk with?”
“You have professed on a number of occasions to hate me,” Chase pointed out. “So why should I try to corner you into a conversation?”
“Touché,” Tori replied.
When she fell silent, Chase revealed, “We’ll be going to
“
“I have some business to attend to and there’s a fancy charity dinner for the new children’s hospital wing at the county hospital. Thought you might like to attend.”
“Would I? We could stay with my parents and…”
Tori’s words trailed off as she saw Chase shaking his head.
“No, we stay at a hotel and visit your parents, sweetheart. I’m not staying under their roof,” he told her firmly.
“Why not?”
“Because, if you go there for a night, I may never get you to leave. Besides, I’m sure they’ll be at the dinner party too and you’ll have plenty of time to visit.”
“How long would we stay?”
“A night or two. Depending on what you want to do.”
Tori smiled and her hand landed on his bare arm. Chase was positive she had no idea she was touching him.
“Could we maybe catch a movie? Oh, and there’s this hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant I just love,” she said enthusiastically.
Chase knew then that his plan to ignore her was paying off. Tori had been so secluded and so lonely she was now willing to make plans with him. That was precisely what he wanted. He wasn’t going to chase her, she could chase him a bit.
Chase hesitated a moment, pretending to contemplate his schedule and then said, “Well…I suppose I could rearrange a few meetings if that’s what you really want to do.”
“That’s what I want to do,” Tori said and squeezed his arm.
“All right, we’ll leave a day early and do what you want to do. But in exchange for that, you get all fancied up for that dinner.”
“Not a problem. For a children’s charity event, I’ll suffer through socializing with the snobby elite.”
“I had a feeling you would.”
Tori pretended to pout. “You think you can predict me already, don’t you?”
“I’m learning, darlin’,” he said with a smile, then grabbed his beer back from her at the same time he picked up the TV remote. “Game for a movie?”
Tori patted her full stomach and yawned. “I’m game for anything that doesn’t involve me leaving this couch.”
Chase threw her a sideways glance and raised an inquisitive eyebrow. Tori glared at him.
“But not that,” she retorted.
Chase laughed and leaned back in the sofa as the DVD he’d selected started to play. Tonight was turning out just perfect. It was just as he’d always pictured life with his wife would one day be. Now, if only they could do this more often instead of quarrelling, they may just have a shot at happily ever after.
**
Tori wasn’t sure how it happened. During the course of the two-hour movie somehow she managed to end up lying next to Chase on the couch. He had shifted a few times to get comfortable and then she had moved. She’d been groggy and fell asleep during the show once or twice. She was positive she’d shifted more then and now she was lying next to Chase, her arms encircling his waist, head resting on his chest and legs tangled with his.
“What time is it?” Tori asked as she regained consciousness again.
“
“It feels a lot later,” she mumbled.
“You’re worn out,” he replied as his hand stroked her hair. “Go back to sleep.”
Tori involuntarily rubbed her cheek against the soft cotton of Chase’s shirt. It smelled clean and felt warm and soft, but underneath, she could feel the solid muscles of his chest.
“But what if you need to get up?” she questioned, her eyes closed.
“I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon,” he said back and she heard a quietness, a softness in his voice that had never been there.
Tori chanced to open one eye and saw that the spring sun had set. The room was dim aside from the light from the TV. The TV sound was now muted and Tori was thankful for it meant she could hear the sound of Chase’s heart all that much clearer.
And then she wondered why she was so curious about how he felt and how his heart beat. She had, after all, professed several times that she wanted nothing to do with him. And then tonight, because he had offered a motherless calf room and board in his warm horse barn, she was drawn to him. She was a sucker, she acknowledged, a complete sucker and she’d better watch herself or she’d end up in his bed faster than she realized.
But tonight, she was too tired and too sore to move or fight or analyze her actions any further so she simply remained where she was, snuggled closer and yawned again.
“Chase?” she questioned and Tori realized her question came on the edge of consciousness.
“Hmmm?”
“Thanks for letting me save that calf.”
“No problem,” he returned.
“And about my shirt today…you were right, it was way too see-through. I have to remember I’m the only female on this spread aside from Sophie.”
Chase chuckled and his laugh vibrated through her.
“And certainly the most beautiful this side of
She smiled, not sure if he could see the gesture, and then felt his lips land on her head.
“Now, go back to sleep,” he ordered gently and then his hand stroked down her back and Tori almost told him she didn’t want to sleep, almost told him she wanted to feel those hands doing more, but sleep claimed her first and nothing more than an audible sigh escaped her lips.
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Reluctant Bride – Chapter 6