Page 9 of Chasing Me

Quinn giggled.“Can I come with you to make sure?”

“Funny.You’re done seeing any other male naked but me.”

She batted her eyelashes.“You’re enough naked man for me.”

“Good.I’ll prove it to you again later.”

That familiar electricity snapped between us.Her eyes darkened, and I knew she wanted me right then as bad as I wanted her.I wondered if this connection would ever fade between us.It was more intense than anything I’d ever imagined, and I wanted to burn in it.I sucked in a breath and tried to concentrate on my pizza.

“Have you heard from Mac yet?”I asked.One of Quinn’s best friends was a famous country star and went on tour with her boyfriend.I knew both Quinn and her other friend Cassie missed her bad, but were really proud of her.

“Not for a few days.I try not to bother her when she’s on the road, but I had her pinky promise to check in with me weekly.She gets crazy involved with her music.Cassie and I want to be sure she’s okay—we worry.”

“Austin’s with her.”

“I adore Austin, but he’s aboy.I only trust him so far.”

“Reverse chauvinism?”

“Absolutely.”

“Guess it’s warranted.”She stuck her tongue out and finished her pizza.

“Ready for the next part of this amazing date?”

She raised a brow.“There’s more?Damn, I would’ve slept with you on the pizza alone.”

“I always knew you were easy.”She threw the napkin at me, and I laughed.“Let’s go.”

We bundled back up and headed toward Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue.The festive lights and crowds, even at the late hour on a blustery day, were one thing I loved so much about the city.Also the amazing epicenter of art.I admitted my snobbery.I’d been to Italy and Paris, viewed amazing works of paintings and sculptures, but there was something vivid and alive in Chicago that was purely American.The Bean rose before us, which was really The Cloud Gate, an elliptical sculpture soaring into the air and reflecting back the city’s gorgeous skyline.Within the gated arch of the sculpture, the chambers offered a variety of mirrored surfaces that exploded with images reflected back at the viewer.

I’d kind of fallen in love with the damn thing, seeking it out on many days to study and daydream and sit to ponder.Quinn loved it, too, but I hadn’t taken her on this date to see The Bean again.Gripping her gloved hand, I led her to the skating rink without pause.

“We’re skating!”She stopped short, staring at the rink where crowds lined up, festive music played on the speakers, and hot cocoa flowed freely.“You hate skating!”

“Not really.It’s time to break my virginity, and your dad said you loved to skate.”

Her face turned into those stubborn lines I knew well.“James, we don’t need to go skating.Let’s walk around the park, get a drink at the bar.You don’t have to do this.”

I leaned down and pressed a hard kiss on her cold lips.“Don’t argue.I’m about to skate my ass off, so be prepared for greatness.”

“You can skate, then?”

Hell, no.I sucked at skating and most winter sports.Skiing was different.I’d gone with my dickhead friends for years to a luxurious cabin in Vermont, all of us trying to top each other with extreme jumps.There was just something wimpy about doing circles around a rink.Still, I hated to wipe the hopeful look off her face, so I didn’t answer, just pulled her into the warm interior and got our skates.

We headed into the rink, and I realized pretty quick I’d made a big mistake.

I had figured I’d bully my way through, make the ice my bitch, and it would all work out.Instead, I became the servant as my legs got tangled up and I hit the ground hard on my bony ass.

Fucking A, that hurt.

“Oh, my God, are you okay?”Quinn knelt down, trying to help me up and making the whole thing worse.

“I’m fine, babe.Just need to warm up.Hey, why don’t you do a few laps by yourself, and by the time you get back, I’ll be ready to go.”

She looked a bit suspicious, but I leaned nonchalantly against the rail, which was my friend and protector, and she bought it.I watched as she pushed off on her skate and glided flawlessly around the circle, weaving in and out of crowds with a graceful beauty I’d never tire of watching.

Her long hair spilled around her shoulders, and her face relaxed.It was as if she went someplace else, her happy place, or something.Fascinating.I’d never really seen her get lost in a hobby she loved.I had to insist she do it more often.

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