Page 19 of Committed to You

“Never been married, no kids, no serious girlfriend, no lesbian lover, and not into dick unless it’s my own.”

“Glad you cleared that up.”

“Just keeping it real.”

We stare at each other for several minutes.

“Dinner,” Jamison calls out.

I motion for her to go first. “After you.”

As she passes me, I grab her elbow, and she freezes. Leaning into her ear, I murmur, “No offense, but I’m happy you aren’t taken.”

5

Vivian

I open my eyes,sneezing, then stare at the gray wall.

Where am I?

Yesterday’s events fly through my mind, and I remember I’m at Chase’s house.

Chase.My heart beats harder, as I think of him.

I saw a picture of him and watched him entertain the crowd in nothing but a Speedo during a charity auction event months ago over Facetime. He piqued my interest then, but I never expected to feel the volt of energy that surged through all my bones when I laid eyes on him in person.

And we were in a hospital while our friends were seriously injured, and we didn’t know what their outcome would be.

All day, as he focused his cocky, lip-licking smile, or raised eyebrows at me, endorphins rushed through my body.

Noah and Xander had a bit of cockiness to them, but Chase took it to another level.

I usually wasn’t attracted to cocky.

I stayed far away from cocky.

Every warning bell in my head told me to forget about my pulsing body parts as I stood or sat next to Chase. He was undoubtedly a player. He had to be.

But throughout the day, he was kind and sweet, looking after me even though he had just met me. And his cocky wasn’t arrogant. It was confident and flirty but not egotistical in a bad way.

When we got to his house, I had fallen asleep in his lap. “Hey, sweetheart,” he quietly said while stroking my face.

I groggily opened my eyes and realized I was in a car. Quinn was asleep on Jamison’s lap, and I lay on Chase’s chest. I sat up, and he smiled.

“We’re here.”

I got out of the car. We went inside and past security. In the elevator to his penthouse, I said, “Thanks again for having us.”

“I should thank you. I’m sure it’ll be more fun than just Jamison and me.” He winked, and flutters erupted in my stomach for the millionth time that day.

Quinn and Jamison made dinner while Chase and I talked. Then, after dinner, he showed me to my room. After he set my bag down, he pointed across the hall. “I’m in there.”

“Okay.”

He grinned and licked his lips again. “Feel free to come in if you need anything.”

Heat scorched my face. “Okay. Thanks.”

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