Page 54 of Under the Lights
Kelly swallowed a mouthful of lemonade. “There’s a big difference between having a fling and getting divorced because your husband cheated on you.”
“Broken hearts hurt no matter why they broke.”
“Chase isn’t going to break my heart, Mom. It’s really not like that.”
“Okay.” Her mom slid a stack of coupons into a plastic sleeve labeledbaking products. “Since everybody knows he bought condoms at the drugstore, at least I don’t have to ask you if you’re using protection.”
Kelly laughed, even though she was totally sure she didn’t want to talk condoms with her mother over coupons. “It’s all under control, I promise. But do you think I should find him a different place to stay? Are you guys okay with him being here? Or is Dad, I guess I should say.”
“We’re fine. As long as you’re okay and Chase is being respectful, your dad will stay out of it. You’re his daughter, but Chase is important to him, too.”
“I know.” Kelly could kind of see where Chase had been coming from now. It was a little awkward, sleeping with the guy who was staying with her parents. It had to be even worse on Chase’s end.
They visited awhile, making small talk and going through the coupons. Kelly had tried to show her mother how to find some online, but it hadn’t worked out. Her mom liked gathering the coupon sections from the Sunday papers and clipping them while they watched television. Kelly thought it was as much something to do as it was about saving money, and using the computer and printer took the fun out of it for her.
“I have to stop at the store and grab some things for dinner, so I should go,” Kelly said after an hour of reading tiny expiration dates started making her eyes hurt. “Tell Dad I said hi and that I’m sorry I missed him.”
“I will. And I’ll tell Chase you said hi, too. I don’t think he’s joining us for dinner tonight, though. Said something about grabbing a quick bite with a friend.”
“Subtle, Mom.” She kissed her mother’s cheek and rinsed her lemonade glass. “Yes, I’m making Chase dinner, but just tacos. No meat or mashed potatoes.”
“Is that how we separate flings from marriage material? Meat and mashed potatoes are for potential husbands?”
“And casseroles. Chase is definitely not marriage material, so no casseroles for him.”
Her mom smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “He’s leaving soon, so casseroles would be a waste of time.”
As if she could forget. “Just tossing some ground beef and seasonings into a shell.”
Kelly walked to the market for the makings of soft tacos, her mind now stuck on the fact that Chase would be leaving soon. The big game was tomorrow night, and then Eagles Fest would close out on Saturday with the parade. He’d never said when he actually planned to leave, and she’d never asked.
If he left Stewart Mills on Sunday morning, he’d be back in New Jersey and ready to start getting his life back on track for Monday morning.
Two and a half days, she thought, with a good chunk of that time already committed to the fund-raising activities. She backtracked through the store, putting back the groceries she’d already gathered, and then she went to the freezer section. After a moment’s deliberation over toppings, she grabbed a couple of frozen pepperoni pizzas.
The less time they spent on supper, the more time they could spend in bed. And she liked being in bed with Chase a lot, so there was no time for tacos.
—
Chase waited for Kelly to let him in, determined to keep a tight leash on his raging libido. His balls ached even more than the rest of his body—so much that sitting on a kitchen chair was going to be brutal—but she was making him dinner, so he was going to show the proper appreciation and eat every bite before trying to get into her pants.
Then she opened the door and that fruity cop smell hit him, and he wanted to sweep everything off the table and take her right then and there.
But as the door closed behind him, he realized there were no food smells mingling with the aroma of fruit. No candles or place settings on the table. No food prep happening on the counter. If she hadn’t even started cooking yet, that leash on his libido was going to start chafing in a big way.
“I haven’t started dinner yet,” she said, “but it only takes twenty minutes. I can start it now if you’re hungry.”
Chase hesitated, not sure how to ask what the alternative was. He didn’t want to sit and watch the news with her first, if that’s what she was asking. Then she tucked her finger under the neck of his T-shirt and tugged him closer for a kiss.
Any hunger for food was forgotten in the sharp resurgence of his hunger for her, and he put his hands on her waist to pull her up against his body. He’d missed her, and the kiss at O’Rourke’s had only made it worse.
“I’d carry you to your bedroom,” he said against her mouth, “but we practiced this morning, and I barely made it up your stairs. I’d probably drop you.”
She laughed. “I had some fireman’s carry training at the academy and could probably carryyou, but it’s not really sexy, so it might be better if we just walk.”
When she took his hand and led him toward the bedroom, Chase wondered how he’d been lucky enough to get lucky with this woman. “If you hadn’t invited me over, I’d probably still be lying on the field at the high school, waiting for somebody to help me up.”
“Is that your way of telling me I’m going to have to do all the work?”
