“Something funny?” she asks.
“It’s nothing,” I reply. “Just thinking of something.”
Ruth looks at me like I may be just a little bit crazy, then goes back to the cake samples. I hear the door chimes again and tense up. Bradley’s back already? But then I see the look on the clerk’s face and know that whoever came in, it’s definitely not my fiancé.
I turn and my heart tries to spring from my chest. My whole body instantly betrays me and comes alive. It’s not Bradley walking into the shop, it’s him.
He looks as grubby and dirty as ever – maybe even more so than last night – and he’s scolding me with his lustful eyes, as though I belong to him and he’s pissed that I’ve run off.
“Do you know him?” the clerk whispers. My mom shakes her head.
“No, but he is absolutely filthy!”
“I do,” I say softly back. “That’s the mechanic.”
“Isn’t he gorgeous?” the clerk asks, her voice hushed as he walks slowly toward us. “But what’s he doing here? I’ve never even seen him with a girl before—”
“Good morning, ladies,” he says as he reaches us. He may have addressed us all, but his blazing eyes are locked on me. “When’s the wedding? I’d like to clear my calendar.”
I can feel the bite in his words. Is he actually…jealous? I look past him, afraid that Bradley might come back any second, but he’s firmly engrossed in a conversation, pacing around by the street on his cell phone.
“Here for a cake, Chase?” the clerk asks.
Chase, I think. So that’s his name.
“Shut up, Cindy,” he growls, causing her to jump. “I’ve got Nicky’s car over at the shop and I need her to come take a look at something.”
“I’m terribly sorry,” Ruth says in her best pretend-nice voice. “But we’re right in the middle of something. Can it wait until later?”
“It can’t,” Chase replies firmly. “Don’t worry, my shop’s only a five-minute walk. I’ll have her back in a jiff.”
Without waiting for an answer, Chase reaches out and takes me by the hand. Instead of leading me to the front door, he heads straight for the back hall, pulls me past the bathroom and out the back into the employee lot.
“Chase, wait!” I protest, the rough skin of his calluses scraping against my hands. “What are you doing?”
But he doesn’t wait. He spins around and pulls me to him with a strength that takes my breath away. His strong lips find mine and I instantly give myself over to him. My mouth hangs open and accepts his tongue as his strong hands start to explore my body. I’m wearing pants today, but suddenly wish I was wearing a skirt, as my zipper sticks as he tries to tug it down.
I can smell the shop on him – feel the dirt on his hands and the sweat in his t-shirt. Heat pours from his body and I’m instantly wet for him as he finally pulls hard and undoes my pants.
I stagger back as he pushes me up against the back wall of the shop, kissing me all over with a furious passion. The world’s spinning again. It’s like I don’t even know where I am when I’m in his arms. I reach up and feel the taut, broad muscles of his strong back, flexing as he slides a hand down my pants and presses two fingers against my damp panties, causing me to moan.
“Trying to make me jealous?” he purrs as I spread my legs as the pleasure washes over me. “Did you think I wouldn’t hear about the rich, city girl looking for wedding cakes?”
“I—”
“This is a small town, princess. You can’t hide from me.”
He pulls my panties aside and I gasp, holding my breath, as his hungry fingers spread my wet slit.
“I thought you were just making shit up about your fiancé,” he coos. “Just to make me jealous. But you’re even dirtier than I thought – cheating on him like that.”
His accusation fills me with anger, and I jerk back as he tries to slide his fingers inside me.
“What did you just say?” I snap, two seconds away from slapping him in the face. “I am not a cheater.”
Chase laughs. “I saw the poor bastard out front! You gonna tell me he’s a cuck or something and gets off on his girl being with other men?”
I’m absolutely furious now and, zipping up my pants, get right up in his face.