She was scared.
“I’ll be there the whole time,” he promised, walking up beside her. “But you realize we may end up no closer to finding Samson than we are right now?” He wanted her to be prepared for the worst.
She nodded. “I hope Earl’s heard from him. If not, maybe he’ll just be more willing to talk about where Samson might be.” She drew a deep breath and exhaled hard. “I’ll be ready in a minute.” She picked up a scarf from the dresser and tied it around her neck.
“I brought you something.” He showed her the shirt he’d taken from his closet.
“What’s that?”
“My shirt.” He held it open for her to slip on like a jacket. “In case our biker buddies are there.”
She raised an eyebrow in surprise.
He shrugged. “It’s safer not to take chances. This way we make the statement that you’re mine before we walk in the door.” He folded his arms across his chest, determined to get his way. And even more determined not to let her wide-eyed stare and full glossy pout get to him.
Fat chance, he thought as she willingly slipped one arm into a sleeve, then the other, wrapping the shirt around her, much the same way he’d like to wrap her in his arms and keep her safe. Accepting that he could protect her physically but not from the emotional upheaval that was sure to follow her search for Samson wasn’t easy. And he hated the helpless way it made him feel. Hated the implications of his feelings even more.
She pivoted toward him and he instinctively grabbed the lapels, pulled her close, and sealed his mouth against hers. She parted her lips and his tongue slipped inside, finding her warm and welcoming. He hadn’t realized how much he needed this. Since he’d been sitting with Sloane, watching her with his family, and seeing her enjoy his small-town life, his craving for her had grown. He was falling for this woman and it wasn’t in his plans.
She stepped backward, breaking the kiss, a satisfied smile on her face. “I do like how you take possession.”
“Does that mean you’ll wear the shirt?”
She lowered her arms and the sleeves fell below her fingertips. “It’s too big,” she said, her eyes flashing playful sparks.
“Make do.” He wasn’t playing games, not with her safety. And not, he admitted to himself, with the chance another man might be interested enough to come between them.
She raised her arm, saluting him with a shirt-covered hand. “Yes, sir.” Laughing, she turned back to the mirror. She picked up a tube of lip gloss and proceeded to fix her makeup.
Shaking his head, he returned to the living room to wait, trying to reconcile Sloane Carlisle, the senator’s “daughter,” with the woman who so obviously enjoyed the game.
Not the game of chasing after Samson, but the role of playing Chase Chandler’s woman.
And damned if Chase didn’t like it too.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Crazy Eights hadn’t changed in the few days since Sloane’s last visit—the smell of smoke still permeated the air and the drinks flowed fast around her. However, there was a difference, and it wasn’t subtle. As she walked into the back poolroom, she had the support of Chase and his family behind her this time.
She couldn’t lie to herself. Their presence meant a lot. No matter how much she loved her family and they loved her, she’d always felt the differences between them, enough for her to sense she was the odd woman out without knowing why. With Chase, Rick, and Kendall, she not only felt the unconditional support, just as she’d had growing up, but she was comfortable. She fit in.
She glanced around the smoky room. The bikers congregated around a back table, Dice making eye contact long enough to acknowledge their presence. He’d obviously seen Chase behind her and since ownership had been established that first night, he chose to leave her alone. Considering how Kendall had huddled up alongside Rick, Sloane decided her new friend was safe as well. The bikers weren’t an issue tonight.
Realization dawned and she leaned close to Chase. “There was no reason for me to wear your shirt.”
“Yes, there was.”
She looked at him curiously.
“I wanted you to,” he said simply.
For a man of few words, he’d just revealed plenty. Swallowing hard, she continued her perusal of the room.
Earl and his friend looked as if they’d never left their table and she decided not to put off talking to them. Sloane pushed ahead of Chase and strode up to the old man. “Hi, Earl.
How are you tonight?”
“Hiya, pretty lady.” He shot her his toothless grin. “You here for another whooping at my hands?” He grabbed his pool cue and perched it on the floor.
“I might be persuaded to play a game later. Right now I was hoping to buy you a drink.”
“You hear that? Free alcohol,” Earl called to his friend at the table. “I see an empty seat over there.” He gestured to a booth that would hold about four. “Come on, Ernie.
Whiskey’s on the lady.”
Sloane opened, then closed her mouth shut. If she wanted answers from Earl, she wasn’t about to argue if he wanted to drink with his friend.
“Who’s the pretty feline with you?” Earl asked Sloane, gesturing to Kendall with a tip of his head.
“Feline’s a cat, numbnuts.” Ernie coughed, a hacking sound that worried Sloane.
“This is Kendall,” Sloane said by way of introduction, gesturing between Earl and her friend.
“She’s my wife,” Rick practically growled.
Sloane thanked her lucky stars he hadn’t pulled his gun or revealed the weapon as a macho display of territorialism that seemed so common in this place. But Rick was a professional.
“Well, you ladies join us and we’ll give our pool table to your men. How’s that sound?”
Earl asked.
Kendall glanced up. A muscle ticked in Chase’s jaw and Rick’s hand slipped to his wife’s waist.
Oh damn. Sloane needed this conversation, something she knew Chase understood. “That sounds great,” she said before either one could object. “Kendall?” Sloane shot a pleading glance her friend’s way.
But from the excited gleam in Kendall’s eye, Sloane didn’t have to worry. Kendall was more than up for the adventure despite her glowering husband. “It’s good by me too.”
She confirmed Sloane’s hunch.
“We’ll be over here.” Chase pointed to the railing by the pool table. “Right over here.” He aimed his dark glare and warning tone at Earl.