“For once, would you not be so stubborn?” Chase asked.

“Stubborn? Perhaps that’s because you always want things your way,” Laura answered.

Chase pulled on his earlobe, a sure sign that he was getting irritated. Good, she thought, because his cologne was driving her crazy. The familiar scent made Laura remember how it had been between the two of them. And now she couldn’t stop thinking about how it had been to kiss him.

Maybe that’s why she turned her head. She later told herself she had turned to let him know just whom he was dealing with eye to eye.

“We’re not buddies, Chase. Don’t think that this is a beginning for us. There’s no happy-ever-after, no riding off into the sunset and no romantic reunion here,” Laura said.

She’d wanted to say more. She’d had more to say about her hurt and disappointment, but then she made the mistake of looking at his lips….

Books by Michelle Monkou

Kimani Romance

Sweet Surrender

Kimani Press Arabesque

Open Your Heart

Finders Keepers

Give Love

Making Promises

Island Rendezvous

MICHELLE MONKOU

became a world traveler at three when she left her birthplace of London, England, and moved to Guyana, South America. She then moved to the United States as a young teen. An avid reader, her diverse cultural experiences set the tone for her vivid imagination. It wasn’t long before the stories in her head became stories on paper.

In the middle of writing romances, she added a master’s in international business to her bachelor in English. Michelle was nominated for the 2003 Emma Award for Favorite New Author. She continues to write romances with complex characters and intricate plots. Visit her Web site for further information and to sign up for her newsletter and contest at www.michellemonkou.com. Write to her at P.O. Box 2904, Laurel, Maryland 20709, or e-mail her at michellemonkou@comcast.net.

Here and Now

Michelle Monkou

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the Masterson family, four close-knit siblings that made it through life’s ups and downs without their parents. Each family member has a story to tell. We met the eldest brother, Pierce Masterson, in my first Kimani Romance title, Sweet Surrender. But it wouldn’t be fair to have love visit only one sibling.

In this title, Here and Now, the Masterson family saga continues with a perfectly matched couple—Laura Masterson and Chase Dillard. Who better to appreciate the sexy physique of a sprinter than the beautiful physical therapist that was his first love.

And when you’ve turned the last page of Laura and Chase’s story, you’ll be happy to know that you haven’t seen the last of Laura; she’ll perform a lifesaving technique in the next episode of the Masterson family series. So stay tuned for the youngest sibling Omar’s story. Omar is a stone-cold player who meets his match in a rising hip-hop star and budding actress, Stacy Watts. Theirs will be a young love full of romance, with a touch of spice.

Please check out my Web site—www.michellemonkou.com—for contests, registering on my mail list and posting on my blog, Dream Like a Star. If you prefer snail mail, write to P.O. Box 2904, Laurel, MD 20709, or e-mail me at michellemonkou@comcast.net.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 1

Chase Westfield pulled out his personal data assistant and reviewed the list of reminders. Technically he didn’t need the mental nudge. Every year, since high school, he remembered one particular birthday. First love, like a meteor, had the power to crash into the system with enough impact to throw every feeling, thought or memory off kilter. One woman had such a forceful effect on his system.

He sighed heavily, fingering the thin red ribbon tied around the small gift box. The box fit neatly on his palm. But its meaning was larger than anything in his office. His birthday gift served dual purposes, one more important than the other, that included being considered a peace offering.

“Mr. Westfield, the staff meeting is about to begin,” his secretary prompted.

“Thanks, Sandy.”

She didn’t move until he looked up from the gift box and set it aside. Chase still had to get used to the various meetings that consumed his entire day. Every appointment appeared to come with a special announcement tag or a bold heading marked as important or urgent. All these command performances grated on his nerves. He was a man used to listening to his own internal directives.

Now, a typical day was spent in meetings with the department, the track team and assistant coaches. If he could manage, he escaped to the track field armed with a stop watch. While his peers headed for home around five o’clock, he ended his day with more coaching and the occasional one-on-one mentoring sessions.

With no background in coaching, he had to rely on his college coach’s tricks and tips to nudge the best from his team. By year-end, heck by month-end, these young men had to understand that talent alone didn’t breed success. Razor sharp focus, coupled with one hundred and ten percent commitment, had to become their mantra.

After all, he should know. The emotional high from winning a medal didn’t do anything for those days when consistently crossing the finish line in second or third place threatened rankings in the sport.

He opened his desk drawer to return the small box. His hand paused over the gift. Finding a way to present this token, especially on her first day of work, might prove to be difficult. Well, presenting it was one thing, having it accepted could be near impossible since he’d broken almost every promise that he’d made. He frowned, now wrapped up in his worry.

Shaking off the doubts that tested his conscience, he headed for the conference room. His tardiness already earned him a reputation that made him the butt of many jokes. He’d better hurry. Meanwhile, the clock in the hallway gave him three minutes before the meeting started. As he approached the coffee machine, the steaming pot begged for his attention.

“What the heck,” he muttered, heading toward the scent of freshly brewed, addictive coffee.

Training as a sprinter didn’t afford him the luxury to deviate from a strict diet. To his credit, he carried a super lean physique with a metabolism likened to the Japanese bullet train. Now as head coach, retired from his first profession at the age of twenty-six with a blown Achilles tendon on one heel and a torn ACL in the other knee, he enjoyed breaking the rules that were once his personal code.

Some people who suffered self-medicated with booze. He chose to drown his sorrows in vast quantities of coffee.

He sipped the dark liquid, savoring the robust flavor. Now his day could begin. With a ready smile, he pushed open the conference room door. A quick survey showed most, if not all, of the staff in attendance. The clock on the conference room wall now declared him five minutes late. Darn!

“Ah, Chase has joined us. Okay, let’s begin.”

Chase peered at Roger Freeman, his boss, trying to read if sarcasm was in play. Freeman’s wide grin set his mind at ease. However, muffled laugher and teasing about his tardiness from the rear of the room followed him to his seat.

Freeman held up his hand until there was some semblance of calm. “As you know, we had a little shake-up in staff personnel three weeks ago. Out of the slight chaos we managed to land our very own Olympic medalist, Chase Westfield.” Freeman paused, allowing his staff’s roar of approval to play out. “Before we begin the staff meeting, I’d also like to introduce our latest addition. I’m pleased with our recruitment efforts in adding another qualified physical therapist to our staff. We can count our lucky stars that the board of regents didn’t recommend any cost cutting measures for our departments.” Freeman stepped out of the room.

A dull murmur filled the room. Much to Chase’s embarrassment Freeman had mentioned his arrival to the department as if it were something new. Of course, he knew what an asset he was to any university, even if in name only. At least his colleagues played along with their excited boss at each meeting.

However, at each meeting, mentioning Freeman didn’t eclipse their unease when cutbacks and the board of regents were also part of the discussion. Topics like this placed Chase at a disadvantage. Chase’s income had spiked like a rocket as he won numerous championships, broke records and raked in various endorsement deals. Today, he commiserated with a few of his fellow coworkers out of a need to belong, to fit in with his new world.

He’d turned into an everyday kind of man now.

Freeman stepped back into the room. He was always the character, with his disheveled, shocking white hair and twinkling, vivid blue eyes, now grinning with boyish exuberance. He turned toward them. “She’s here.”

His pose reminded Chase of a game show host opening the magical Door No. 1 with a great deal of theatrics. He’d heard that his boss belonged to an amateur actors group.

Chase eased to the edge of his seat, craning his neck to see around the head of another eager observer. As an afterthought, he set down his empty coffee cup on a nearby window sill. He didn’t trust his hands with the task of holding on to anything. Anticipation zipped through his body as if on roller blades, shooting to the tips of his fingers and toes. Jitters from the stomach-knotting tension grew without regard to his fervent wish to remain calm. His nervousness took him back to his competitive days, waiting in the starter box for the race to begin.

And then, Laura Masterson entered the room.

A few of the men sitting nearby paused in their conversations.

Chase gulped.

The girl he knew on the cusp of womanhood had rounded the turn. Nothing less than a confident, sexy young woman stood at the front of the room.

He’d have loved to offer up a whistle of appreciation. But she didn’t deserve anything so common. All he could settle for was his heart beating on hyper-speed on the verge of a panic attack.

“Welcome. Welcome. Come on in. They don’t bite,” Freeman offered with a deep, underlying chuckle. He indicated an empty chair close to him. “Everyone, please introduce yourself to Laura Masterson, our new physical therapist.” Freeman’s chest puffed with pride like an old lion looking over his dominion.

One by one, the staff welcomed Laura. She acknowledged with a soft, personal smile for each person. What they said to her held no importance for him. Right now, memory had to catch up with the current, real version of his former love.

Only the woman in the front of the room mattered, sporting a tightly secured ponytail, a stylish navy blue pantsuit on her slender frame and sensible shoes.

Chase eased back in his chair, pushing it back toward the wall. He wasn’t hiding, but simply wanted to lengthen the time that he could study her without her knowledge. He’d broken her heart once. He didn’t expect her initial reaction to be along the lines of a happy family reunion.

As his colleagues stated their names, Chase scrutinized Laura’s face noting that she wore more makeup now. The soft colors accenting her eyes enhanced their roundness. Years ago, he used to trail the length of her nose playing connect the dots with the tiny freckles sprinkled against the natural beige tone along the bridge. The small rounded tip of her nose had a cute uplift that got her teased as a teen for being a snobby nose. And who would have figured that when provoked, her dainty small mouth could curse like a sailor?

Right now, that small mouth with full lips shimmered with a coppery glaze. She smiled at each introduction. He noticed that her lips trembled ever so slightly. Occasionally, she ran a shaky hand over her hair, adding credence to his summation. Wow, she was nervous.

With only two colleagues separating her from him, Chase hoped that she wouldn’t be too blown away by his sudden appearance. He took a deep breath. His hands grew clammy. Heck, he couldn’t deny that he also was nervous.

Then Laura shifted her ready smile from the assistant coach to him. Her eyes widened and the smile drooped as her mouth shut in a decisive snap. With an imperceptible shake of the head, she again turned on the smile, reviving it to its original brilliance. Gone, however, was the warm, curiosity in her face. He knew a fake smile when he saw one and he could sense a deep-seated grudge with his eyes closed.

“Miss Masterson, I’m Chase Westfield.”

“He’s the senior assistant director of athletics and head coach for the men’s track team,” Freeman added, still beaming from his chair.

“Very nice to meet you. I know that you’ll like it here. Welcome.” His voice had lost its smooth quality and turned into a froggy version.

Just as well. If he had any more time to talk, he may have slipped and turned it personal. He could’ve commented on how the longer hair suited her with the thick ponytail lying over one shoulder. Or follow that compliment by mentioning how well the navy blue suit fitted her slender body. And the curves had become curvier. But that would get him punched in the eye.

As a sophomore in high school, he’d patted her behind as part of a bet. The act had earned him a solid punch to his right eye and ridicule from his friends. Like that day, he didn’t walk away from a challenge. Did he really expect that Laura would run carefree into his arms with sincere well wishes?

No, not when he’d broken her heart.

“Laura, Chase temporarily oversees your department. The reporting structure is in a state of flux.” Freeman’s voice boomed over the conversation buzz.

Laura sucked in her breath. She’d often wondered if constantly thinking about someone could make them appear. Being level-headed proved to be difficult in this case. She felt as if she’d done an aerobics tape on fast forward. All she could see was the instant that she moved from the assistant coach, whatever-his-name was, to Chase. That image looped repeatedly. Then his lips moved. She tried to concentrate on what he said. But, her thoughts bounced around like a ping-pong ball with one possibility, then another and even a third idea of why she was standing in front of Chase. When his lips stopped moving, she knew it was her cue to speak and hopefully sound sensible.

“Thank you,” she responded. Of course, “kiss my butt” would’ve been more appropriate. She’d save that for later.

“Laura, you can take a seat. Then, we’ll get started.” The boss pointed her toward a vacant chair.

Grateful that it wasn’t near Chase, she hurried over to the opposite side of the room. Although on the other side of the room, the distance didn’t help matters when she had such a clear view of his profile. The 90’s haircut had been replaced by a layered cut along the sides and back. She remembered how soft his hair felt when she’d ran her fingers along the wavy grain of his hair.

And that thick head of hair always belonged to a handsome face. Chase’s smooth skin earned her envy with its clear, unblemished, even tone. Why were long lashes, a milk chocolate complexion and chiseled features wasted on someone like him? She wanted to work the paper from her pad into a ball and throw it at his profile. If she thought that Mr. Freeman wouldn’t be appalled and fire her on the spot, she’d let one rip.

When he stood at the end of the meeting, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. And why didn’t he look the least bit surprised or uncomfortable at seeing her? Right now, he chatted with his colleagues, slapping their backs in friendly fashion, gesticulating with grand hand motions. He was all business. His coolness irritated her.

In a quick moment, he looked up, caught her eye and then looked away. Good, she hadn’t blinked or averted her gaze. Although his eyes didn’t rest on her for any lengthy period, it was enough that their eyes connected. She kept up her scrutiny. Seconds later, she was rewarded when she noticed him tugging at his collar. The dashing smile had faded. Maybe the act had come to an end.

“Laura and Chase, stop in my office for a few minutes,” Freeman invited.

“After you.” Chase stepped over to the side, exaggerating the distance provided to her.

Laura walked past, careful to maintain the distance between them.

“Have a seat.” Freeman indicated the chairs in front of his desk.

Laura sat and glanced over at the chair next to her to see if Chase intended to step away from the door to join them. She looked up at Freeman to see if he’d tolerate Chase not exactly following directions.

“I’ll stand, thank you,” Chase offered, folding his arms and leaning against the door frame.

“Suit yourself.” Freeman turned his attention to Laura. “When you’d interviewed a month ago, Coach Nichols was still employed.”

Laura nodded and leaned forward. Chase had not been mentioned when she underwent the extensive interview process.

“Coach Nichols suffered a family crisis that required his immediate attention even though the school year had begun. We got wind that Chase was being heavily recruited after he retired. How lucky were we? Still can’t believe that he’s here.” Freeman’s open admiration matched its owner’s effusive nature.

If Laura didn’t have an ounce of admiration for Chase, Freeman could brainwash her in minutes with his enthusiasm.

“Let’s not overwhelm Miss Masterson. I’ll be chatting with her after your meeting. Hopefully, she’ll want to work with me, the poor substitute to the renowned Coach Nichols,” Chase remarked in a droll voice.

Freeman chuckled, his wide girth vibrating with his amusement. He pushed back his chair and stood. Laura looked into his eyes which reminded her of Newman’s intense blue ones. She really enjoyed being in Freeman’s company. His easygoing attitude set her at ease. She wished that he had more to say or that she could create a reason to delay heading off with the man standing behind her.

“Let me get going to my next meeting,” Freeman said. “I’ve got a busy morning ahead of me. Laura, again, we are so pleased that you’re on board. Chase, take care of this young lady, she’s valuable to our department and your team.” Laura headed for the door where Chase still leaned, looking like he didn’t have a care.

He grinned at her.

She didn’t return the gesture.

He had the audacity to wink at her. They walked down the hall with him leading the way. Freeman walked with her, also heading to his next appointment. They approached a cross section of hallways. To her dismay, Freeman waved and headed down another hall. She stopped, debating whether to follow Freeman, in which case, she’d have to think of a reasonable excuse to be tagging behind him.

“Laura, aren’t you coming? My office is this way.”

Again he grinned. With a long sigh at Freeman’s retreating figure, she reminded herself that she was a big girl. She could handle her ex-boyfriend popping unexpectedly into her life. Offering a tight smile, she followed him. But he slowed his steps, until they were shoulder to shoulder.

“How’s the family? Is everyone still in Hampton Mews?” Chase asked.

“Fine. For now, everyone is in Maryland.” Good gracious, now he wanted to have small talk.

“Your brother? Pierce?”

“Married.” Now where did that smugness in her tone come from? They’d only discussed marriage once. It had been in the final words before they went their separate ways. Four years later, she had done a good job pushing her feelings six feet under and sealing them with a thick layer of indifference. The effort took hard work, discipline and focus. The three reasons he’d used for calling it quits.

Chase pushed open a set of double doors with a bright EXIT sign overhead. She stepped through, then stopped short. Laura looked up at him for an explanation.

“Figured we could delay the trip to my office for a few minutes,” Chase explained.

She nodded, still not sure why they were outside the building. Outdoors, she could regroup. Laura raised her face, enjoying the sting of the brisk coolness even in Georgia. Autumn with its crisp temperatures, golden leaves and themes of harvest appealed to her sense of family. Her mother had said that it was a time for gathering those close to you. As the long winter came, you use the longer time indoors to bond. But with four children and no father, maybe that story was to keep them from fighting and arguing.

“Never could understand why you loved the cold weather so much.” Chase looked at her, bearing a wide smile. Without lingering, he continued leading the way from the building across the road to the enclosed stadium.

Traffic on campus during the midmorning hours didn’t differ too much from morning rush hour. Mostly compact cars zipped past, screeching to a halt at the four-way stop signs that dotted the campus roads, then racing off with tires squealing. Students on bikes made up the other major group, while clusters of young men and women hurried along the sidewalks and footpaths.

Campus life energized Laura with its similarity to a small city. There was lots to do and see. As a student, she’d thought of pursuing a teaching career, maybe even becoming a professor. These dreams she’d shared with Chase. Out in the real world, she hadn’t had time to think about what she really wanted to do. Maybe seeing her big brother, Pierce, settle down with his family made her realize that she was letting time slip away.

Chase recited facts about the University of Atlanta, dates of key political figures who had been students and the institution’s rankings in various athletic divisions.

In other words, her feet rested on hallowed grounds. In her small way, she hoped to participate in making an athlete’s dream come through. She’d tried to do the same with Chase in much different circumstances and with negative results.

Many evenings, after Chase had practiced, they’d talked about their future while sitting in the bleachers. Those were the days when they were giddy with their love for each other, turning up their noses to life’s realities. Back then, nothing seemed to be an obstacle. At least where Chase was concerned. She’d listened to his aspirations, bursting with confidence to be the world’s best sprinter. Then she hadn’t been in his life for his only Olympic experience. She could only imagine how his dreams and expectations skyrocketed.

From the sidelines, she witnessed his popularity soar. Even though they had gone their separate ways, she couldn’t eliminate him completely. Endorsements paved the rapid path to his superstardom. He popped up in various advertisements featuring sports drinks, underwear, designer suits and even a mobile phone where he was calling his sweetheart to propose on camera. That ad she could do without seeing.

“What brings you here?” Chase asked.

“I might ask the same of you,” Laura replied.

“Last I knew, you’d thought about following in your brother’s footsteps to be a doctor.”

Laura shrugged. It was one of many career options that fizzled. Sounded good until she took a look at the curriculum.

“Not to say that I’m not glad for the career switch. Gives us a chance to visit some unfinished business.”

Laura shrugged again. His tentative offer taunted her, trying to lead her down a path that she didn’t want to go. Guess he wasn’t going to act as if they didn’t have a past. Good for him. Didn’t change much with her, though.

“After I tore a tendon in the world games and couldn’t heal enough to make the last Olympic trials, I had to make a decision. The window was sliding shut on me,” he stated with a matter-of-factness.

A slight change in his voice alerted her. She detected bitterness, maybe even remorse. His pain must hit him deeply for him to display those emotions with her.

“Don’t count yourself out of the race,” she advised, fighting the natural urge to put her arm around him.

“Always the optimist, right? May not have appreciated it, but it’s nice to hear. I didn’t count myself out. My body quit on me.” He sucked in his breath and exhaled with a heavy sigh. “A decision had to be made. I quit.”

“You retired.”

Chase shrugged off her correction. A class jogged around the field, his gaze followed their progress.

“Are you in a lot of pain?” Silly question, but she didn’t want him to open the subject and now close the shutters around it.

“Somewhat. Guess I’m turning into my grandfather who could tell when rain was coming because his knees ached. Actually, I was dead on with my prediction last Wednesday when we had that thunderstorm.” He grinned, adding a teasing wink.

They had emerged on to the track field.

“Wow!” Laura exclaimed.

The stadium had groups of various athletes probably divided into their class sessions. For Laura, many hours waiting for Chase were spent seeing the good and bad with the male athletic egos, aggressive coaches and the many girlfriends. Unfortunately, many of those relationships didn’t survive. Multi-tasking wasn’t a priority.

Chase had focused on what was important. She’d helped him, until he no longer wanted her help. She had to accept the sacrifice to walk away.

A coed class noisily jogged past them. Some of the sweat suits had the lacrosse team logo printed down the leg. Two stragglers brought up the rear, earning them a very vocal reprimand from the coach. Yep, she had witnessed those heated discussions with Chase and his coach. She wondered if he’d felt pressure to retire, rather than lose his ranking.

A flock of birds in arrow shaped formation noisily flew past them. Laura looked up at the sky, shielding her eyes in the process. She followed them until they disappeared from view.

“What?” she asked, flustered to catch him staring at her.

“Nothing.” He shoved his hands in his pocket and kicked at the gravel. “Getting used to seeing you.”

Laura led the way to the bleachers. Chase sat beside her. Her pulse jogged a few beats faster. Thankfully, he left several inches of space between them. Otherwise she’d have to slide away from him for sanity’s sake. Regardless of what her mind logically concluded, her heart had a tendency to be weak. There was no need to test that with any casual contact of body parts. She touted her emotional strength, but she wasn’t that strong.

“Don’t want you to feel uncomfortable around me,” Chase spoke, his gaze fastened straight ahead.

“Shouldn’t be a problem. You’ve got your job and I’ve got mine.”

“Mind sticking around after hours so the team can meet you?” Chase asked.

Laura pretended to mull over the request. Let’s see. She had to go to the grocery store, head home and whip up her one-person meal, then catch the latest reality show. Boring. “Sure.”

“Great. Let’s head back. I’ll take you over to your area.” He looked at his watch. “Folks should be heading out to lunch in a few minutes. Maybe we can catch a few of them. It’ll be a good bonding time for you.”

They walked back to the building, down the long corridors where students milled. The various halls and offices had a honeycomb effect. She envisioned several instances where she’d be wandering the halls looking for the correct office.

Chase stopped in front of an open door. “Since we’re now at my office, I want to give you something.”

They walked in large area room where the receptionist desk stood as the gateway to various offices on either side. The block of offices and rooms housed the department of the entire coaching staff. One wall held the various bulletin boards all covered with colored papers announcing the meets, university information and other official news.

Laura stopped near the receptionist desk. She could see into Chase’s office, which wasn’t more than a closet.

“I’ll get it,” he said before entering his office.

Chase wanted to re-think the birthday gift. His imagination had failed him, making him believe that giving a gift to an ex-girlfriend who happened to be working for him was normal. As he approached Laura and saw the suspicion cloud her face, he felt ridiculous. All he could do was act as if this was no big deal.

“I know that I’m a day late, but I think it still counts. Happy Birthday.” He handed the box to her. Although shock registered, he noted the smile that tugged at her mouth.

“I don’t know what to say.” She shook her head. Her eyes lifted from the box to his face. “Why?” She shook her head again before accepting the box. “Thank you.”

Chase didn’t mind her bewilderment. He anticipated that his thoughtfulness would be unexpected. What he hoped against was her rejection of the gift. Not that it would deter him. He’d simply have to move to Plan B, whatever that happened to be.

“Should I open it now?” She held the box on her outstretched palm.

“Sure. It won’t blow up.” He attempted to lighten the moment. Thank goodness Sandy had left for lunch. He didn’t want to make a fool of himself in front of his secretary.

He watched her pull off the ribbon around the box. Then she took a deep breath and removed the lid.

“Lots of shredded stuff,” she remarked.

“Kinda grabbed it out of the shredded paper in the back.”

She handed the wad of paper to him. “Well, I guess you’d better get the secrets back before you’re prosecuted for espionage.”

Their fingers grazed each other. Yet he wanted to repeat the motion again. He wanted to feel her long fingers, warm and soft, sliding over his hand.

“Chase! You shouldn’t have.”

He looked at her face closely to see if, despite her words, she did like it. Her flat statement telling him that he shouldn’t have, matched her unwavering gaze, as in he really shouldn’t have. Of all the responses, this was not in the top list.

A delicate gold charm bracelet with three charms dangled from her fingers where it lightly rested. Gold tiny loops formed the bracelet. He’d initially seen the piece at a Costa Rican jewelry shop while on vacation six months ago. When he’d stopped to admire it Laura came to mind because of her slight obsession with charms.

“I do think it’s absolutely beautiful.” Laura sighed. “But…this is a bit much. First, seeing you. Working for you so unexpectedly. Now this.” She bit her lip, frowning deeply at the jewelry. She laid the bracelet on her palm and turned each charm flat against her palm.

“I remembered how much you liked unicorns.” He saw the small nod when he mentioned the first charm. “And you wanted to go to Trinidad for their Carnival.” Her finger traced the distinctive shape of the small Caribbean island. “Do you recognize the third?”

She stared down at the last charm. Her finger hovered above the tiny shape. Voices approached from down the hall. Classes had been dismissed and the halls filled with students and teachers. He didn’t have much time left.

The third charm was a treasure chest. He looked at her face willing her to say something, anything. Could their childhood adventures with pirates, kidnapping and all out war resonate with her as it did with him? Or maybe it was the kiss that she demanded from him as ransom for his GI Joe action figure during one summer afternoon. She had shoved her girlish tendencies aside when she and Chase had played. When they were young, she had always declared herself to be the pirate.

“I recognize it.”

“Don’t give it back. It would mean a lot to me if you’d keep it.” He placed his hand under her open palm and gently closed her fingers over the bracelet.

“I know that you’ve put a lot of thought into this. I also think that you knew I would be here. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have given it to me. I’m not sure where you are in your life or what problems may be plaguing you. But you can’t expect me to fill in the hole,” she remarked, her voice hardening.

“I’m not trying to buy your affection. Friends wouldn’t do that to each other.”

“Take it back.” Her voice shook slightly, but her eyes were clear of any tears. She pulled her hand from his and dropped the bracelet in his shirt pocket. “When I took a job here, it was because this was my goal after I got my physical therapist certificate. I’m here to work. I want nothing more from this. You’re now my boss, and I want nothing but an employee-boss relationship. Anything more or anything less and I’ll have to find another job.”

After Laura had long disappeared down the hall and around the corner, Chase only had her lingering, gentle scent and the memory of touching her hand to keep him company.

Chapter 2

Laura didn’t go out of her way to avoid contact with Chase. She didn’t have to. She had full days of completing therapeutic massages and daily reports for each athlete. Three weeks after her start, she continued to feel that her decision to pursue physical therapy was the right move—even if she was working for Chase. Any free time or breaks were spent with her coworkers, getting to know them.

Occasionally, she did catch a glimpse of Chase as he coached the track team on her way home. The main street narrowly snaked through the campus, linking several side roads into a network of roads. Laura had no problem driving at the posted low speed limit because it allowed her to see him at work unnoticed. She figured watching him was safer.

From all the signs, Chase seemed to be honoring her wishes and leaving her alone. She still wanted to know how he knew that she’d be working there. What man walked around with a birthday gift for an ex-girlfriend waiting for the appropriate moment?

One thing was clear, he’d thought about her. She’d never admit it to him, but he’d touched her very deeply with such a thoughtful gift. His act had rattled her defenses. She couldn’t deny the warm tingle that had seeped in between the cracks in her armor.

Determined to keep Chase from invading her thoughts any further, she accepted her coworker’s invitation to go to happy hour at a local bar and then head to a club in downtown Atlanta. She couldn’t remember the last time that she’d gone dancing.

She wanted to freshen up instead of going right after work. She raced home, mainly taking side roads to avoid most of the traffic. A half hour later, she’d showered and dressed. Satisfied with her makeup she fluffed her hair out after wearing her usual pony-tail. However, she wasn’t satisfied with her clothes. She looked bland.

She selected gold coiled drop earrings. They dangled boldly from her ear lobes. The bronze-gold color mixture stood out against the silk black shirt with tiny gold threads.

“What the heck am I doing?” she questioned the mirror. A yawn overcame her, to which she noisily succumbed. She peered into the mirror. “What a poor excuse for a party girl.”

She hadn’t dated much since breaking up with Chase. Who could blame her? Rejection stung. Not only had Chase’s family told her that she wasn’t up to par, Chase grew increasingly critical of her. It all coincided with his meteoric rise on campus, then at the state championship.

She slipped on a sensible pair of black flats. The wide shaped front made her feet look like square blocks. She frowned debating on what to do next.

A car horn honked. A few seconds later, her cell phone rang.

“Hey, Kasey.” Laura walked over to the living room and pulled back the curtains, spying her friend’s red Jeep below. “I’ll be right down.”

“Hurry up,” Kasey yelled her response. She hit the annoying horn to punctuate the order.

Laura grinned. Kasey was the most outgoing and happy person that she’d met on the job. Her stories of her crazy weekends left Laura feeling a bit envious. All she could talk about of her weekends were the cable movies she watched.

She looked down at her feet once more. With an irritated grunt, she kicked off her shoes. “Darn it, life is too short.” She pulled out a three inch heeled pair of mules. Turning from one side to the other in front of the mirror, she gave a somewhat satisfied grunt. She glided her hands down the sides of her hips frowning at the inches that seemed to expand on a daily basis. Maybe the black jeans in a darkened room would help mute the imperfections.

Another honk sounded. She flicked off the light switch and hurried out of her apartment.

“Looking good. You know how to clean up.” Kasey grinned at her. Her loud perfume matched her loud voice and her equally loud personality.

But it was all good. Laura returned her grin and settled in the car.

“First stop is The Inner Circle,” Kasey announced.

“Sounds very exclusive.” Laura worried that maybe she’d underdressed. Looking at her friend and comparing outfits, Laura imagined that she’d be the Pollyanna-type next to Kasey’s exposed assets.

“Tonight the club’s only open to the staff, that’s about it. Most of the staff hangs out there before we go our separate ways. But there’s also a few other companies in the area that come to see who is our fresh meat. Can’t complain, though. We do the same with their people.” Kasey leaned over and squeezed her hand. “Can’t wait to show you off.”

“Look, I’m only hanging out. Mainly because you insisted,” Laura protested. “I’m not looking for a man.”

“These days, no one looks for a man.” Kasey impatiently honked at the car in front that didn’t pull off a second after the light turned green. “This is the age where we sample the goods, but don’t stay for the feast.”

“Well, I’m not hungry.”

Kasey laughed. Laura couldn’t help smiling. She suspected that her friendship with Kasey would be full of adventures. She hoped that she had the stamina to keep up with her.

They pulled into the parking lot, which looked fairly full. Most of the nearby parking spots were gone with only handicapped spaces available. Kasey parked between two mini-vans. Then she reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a blue hanging handicapped sign. She hooked it on the rear view mirror gave Laura a wide smile and exited.

“Kasey, you’re not handicapped!”

“I know. It’s my mother’s. When I go out at night I use it. Figure it’s safer to park near the entrances to the clubs.” Kasey strutted off in her tight-fitting scooped-neck T-shirt and jeans that looked two sizes too small.

“Kasey, you can’t park here!”

Kasey didn’t turn around and was at the entrance.

Laura ran after her. “Give me the keys, then. I’ll park it.”

Kasey tossed the keys to her and disappeared through the doors.

“What a wench,” Laura muttered.

She got into the car and drove around to the side where there were several open spaces. She didn’t care if Kasey was irritated by her citizen-of-the-year performance a few seconds ago. If she didn’t move the car, she’d think about some person with physical challenges struggling to get into the bar while she and her friend, whooped it up inside.

Unfortunately, she knew all too well what it was like to be considered less than normal.

“Laura?”

Laura recognized the smooth tone that used to call her endearments like pretty lady, sexy brown eyes and her personal favorite, sweet buns. Her cheeks warmed. Thank goodness for the cool evening.

“Glad to see you’ve discovered our favorite watering hole.” Chase caught up to her near the doorway.

“Kasey invited me,” Laura explained. She touched her hair, hoping that there were no stray strands poking up in the air.

They entered the darkened interior. Laura waited a few seconds for her eyes to adjust. She didn’t need to bother.

“Laura! Chase! Over here.” Kasey stood on a chair, holding a bottle of beer. She waved at them as if they were a hundred feet away.

“Hey, guys,” Chase responded. His voice had changed into a low boom that made her jump. “Look who I found wandering outside.”

Laura glared at Chase, not appreciating being the object of his joke.

“Introductions, please.” A young man hit his empty glass repeatedly on the counter. “I’m liking what I’m seeing.”

“Hold your horses, Brandon,” Chase responded. “Everybody, this is Laura Masterson.”

The responding greetings came back to her like an echo. Then they went around the table sharing their names. Some she recognized, but some didn’t work with at the university. The young man who’d smiled like a kid in a candy shop perked up like a spaniel when it was his turn.

“Brandon Littlejohn, computer whiz extraordinaire. I work with the brokerage firm about ten minutes away.” His voice carried a thick layer of boastfulness.

At first, he seemed cute and harmless. But with one drink thrown back and another one quickly ordered, Laura wondered if she was going to be stuck with his unwanted attention.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got your back,” Chase whispered in her ear. His breath tickled her ear. “And what a lovely back it is.”

At twenty-six years old, she blushed. So he would still take it there. Whatever it was. She couldn’t define what he did to her, how his words could make her emotions swirl like the beginning of a wind storm. On the other hand, his words could also cause a freeze. That, she didn’t care for.

“Whoa, sweetie, I didn’t mean to anger you.”

Laura pulled her hair back around her ear. She accepted her drink from the waitress, taking a deep sip of cola as if it had the properties to dull her senses. She wanted more than dulling of the senses, she wanted total numbness.

“Keep it up and I’ll switch chairs,” Laura threatened. The only seat available happened to be next to Brandon. On one side was the geek who thought he was Casanova. On the other side, a remarkable physical specimen who once had been her Casanova.

“I won’t tease you anymore.” He smiled and touched his hand to his heart.

“Apology accepted.”

“How’s work?”

She nodded, glad for the switch in subjects.

“Getting the hang of things?” he asked.

“Going pretty good. Can’t complain.”

“How’s the kid with the stress fracture?”

“Hey, you two, no shop talk,” Kasey shouted from across the table. Her edict was followed by several kernels of popped corn being tossed at Laura and Chase.

They ducked trying to miss Kasey’s accurate aim. They only succeeded in bumping heads.

“Ouch. Good gosh, you’ve got a hard noggin.” Laura rubbed her forehead wincing at the sore spot.

“Let me have a look.” He promptly grabbed her face in his hands. “Whoa. Are you going to look a sight tomorrow,” he whistled.

Laura jerked her head away from Chase’s hand. Her body responded, recognizing the trigger that caused a physical reaction that had nothing to do with extreme temperatures. A warm flush blossomed from her cheeks, where his hands only a few seconds ago pressed against her face, and now ran through her body.

“You know, you don’t have to be afraid of me.” Chase looked perplexed.

“I know. I’m not.”

“Could have fooled me.” Chase drained his glass and set it down with a firm tap.

“Look, Chase, I don’t understand why we’re suddenly in each other’s space. You’ve moved on and so have I.” At least she was trying to move on and not think about him. Now that she worked in the same building and for him, her emotional separation threatened to evaporate.

“Hey, you two,” Kasey shouted across the table. “Looking awfully serious.” She and few others shared a laugh at their expense.

“Laura is an old friend from my hometown in Maryland,” Chase explained.

Laura saw the sudden gleam in Kasey’s eyes as she glanced at him and then at her. To her horror, Kasey picked up her drink and practically ran over to them.

“Laura, some friend you are.” Kasey playfully punched Laura in the arm. “How could you keep this from me? To the famous Chase Westfield and Laura Masterson.” She grinned, her face looked as if she would burst before she had the first opportunity to tell the news.

“It was a long time ago.” Laura didn’t bother to look at Chase, not caring what his version would be.

“Looks like there may be some spark left.” Kasey signaled the waiter over and ordered another round. “Get this one a chardonnay, instead of a cola.”

Laura shook her head. “Cola, please.” She had a feeling that she’d be driving Kasey home. Now that her friend was getting comfortable, they probably weren’t going to the club. This change in plans suited her. As a matter of fact, she’d rather leave now to head home.

None of them spoke. Music blared. People poured in. The bar had gotten lively. And then the karaoke singing began. Laura seized the noisy distraction to grab her soda and head for an empty seat near the stage.

Soon she was laughing as a young man attempted to sing an Earth, Wind and Fire song. His attempt at the falsetto had her doubled over with tears rolling down her cheeks. Only after he’d left did she notice Kasey sitting next to her. She didn’t want to look for Chase, but did wonder where he’d disappeared to.

“I can see why you jumped on that.” Kasey slurped her drink. Laura knew it had to be at least the fourth or even fifth drink.

“Jumped on what?” Laura shot back, as if she didn’t know.

“I’d heard he wasn’t bad to look at, but up close, he’s good gosh almighty—darned beautiful.” Kasey laughed at her own comments.

Laura shrugged, knowing that her friend would be like a dog with a juicy bone.

Another wannabe-singer walked on to the stage and decided on a Mariah Carey song. During her butchering of a perfectly fine song, the crowd who had gotten into the swing showed no mercy. By the time the poor woman had ended, the crowd had split between full laughter and boos. Laura could never boo anyone, so she opted for the side-splitting laughter. She’d feel guilty later.

“Speak of the devil.” Kasey nudged her.

“What?” Laura looked over at Kasey, then followed her gaze. Chase stood on the stage.

What the heck was he doing up there? Chase may have been a spokesman for various products and used to cameras and fans, but voluntarily having the spotlight was so not him.

“Didn’t know he could sing. My, but this is a night filled with discoveries.” Kasey slurped her drink.

“For me, too,” Laura muttered under her breath. She settled back in the chair. There would be no laughing and certainly no booing. Chase had a voice that could’ve landed him a record contract if that was his passion. She glanced around for the waiter, deciding that she might need something stronger, after all.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Chase began. “I’d like throw a little old-school out at you.”

A roar went up from the crowd. Great. He won them over with no problem. When did he become such a ham? Back in the day, he only sang in church and once at his mother’s birthday.

“But first, I need my partner in crime with me. We never actually sang this, but we did roller skate to it when we were kids.”

Laura stared. Then set her glass down to flee. She couldn’t believe that Chase had the nerve to spread this insanity to her. Well, she wasn’t playing.

“Folks, I think my other half is leaving. Don’t you want to hear that classic hit, Reunited, by Peaches and Herb? Come on folks, let Laura know that you care.”

Laura heard her name being thrown back at her like an annoying echo. Someone reached for her elbow, yanking her back so that she lost her footing.

“Get your hands off me.” Laura glared at the man who had too much to drink. She pushed away from him, as he hooted and hollered with his friends. She turned to look at Chase who still called her up to the stage to join him.

Anger propelled her forward. She’d had enough. With or without Kasey, she was leaving. But before she left, she planned to tell Chase and his alter ego just what she thought of his school boy antics.

Laura strode up to Chase, stopping a few inches from his face. Her finger started poking at his chest before she could think straight to get out the words.

He smiled with all his teeth and charm displayed, while she sputtered incoherently. Why did he have to look so good? Never mind that, she knew enough to stop talking when he shoved the microphone in front of her.

The music started. Then the words scrolled on the monitor. Chase put his arms around her waist. He held firm. With a bold wink, he pulled her into his arms, swaying to the music. Laura looked out at the crowd, deciding not to make a scene. Plus the song was so addictive that her brain already followed the lyrics, reminding her of their times in the roller skating rink.

As a teenager, she couldn’t wait for couples only. He’d come to take her hand while she was surrounded by her girlfriends. They would descend into a giggling mess, while she left them for Chase. They’d skate hand-in-hand, weaving their way among the others, each wrapped up in their own world.

She may not have been allowed to go on dates, but the skating rink was as good as alone time. Her siblings had to attend and so did his sister. But everyone was on the prowl to hook up with someone, so no one bothered her and Chase. Besides, everyone took it for granted that they were together.

She sang the words, knowing that she wasn’t anywhere close to the quality of Chase’s melodious voice. Although she sensed him looking down at her, she refused to look into his eyes. He already had enough power over to her to make her act like a fool for four minutes. She didn’t need her legs to feel like rubber when she gazed into his honey brown eyes.

The song did manage to summarize some of her feelings and the current state of affairs with this sudden reunion. Boy, did it feel good to lean against his body, firm and very muscular. His hand sliding up and down her back made her want to purr. She was relaxed enough to sway in time with him. Her leg slipped between his as they waltzed the last verse.

Her brother, Pierce, had taught her to dance the box step. But Chase had taken it to another level full of sensuality and forbidden passion. When he spun her and ended the move with a dip, she succumbed and slowly moved her gaze from his full lips in its constant grin, up to his nose with its slender bridge, up to his eyes that pierced her with their intensity.

The song died and yet she remained in his arms. Good sense prevailed as she broke the eye contact. Or, maybe it was Kasey’s sudden appearance as she popped her head between theirs.

“That was awesome, guys. Ever thought about taking that stuff on the road?” Kasey straightened up and emitted a loud hiccup. “You all shouldn’t break up. Ya’ll look too good together.”

Laura stepped away from Chase. Any high that she could’ve blamed on the caffeine from the cola was gone. There’d be no getting together. His family had made sure of that and he had aided and abetted everyone’s handiwork.

Maturity had given her an upper hand. She didn’t plan to be in the position where a man’s rejection could devastate her to that degree. Life may not have any guarantees, but it didn’t mean that she had to go blindly into wrong situations.

“Kasey, I’m ready to go.” Based on her friend’s drunken weave back to the chair, Laura figured that Kasey needed to leave also.

“What’s the rush?” Kasey asked, her voice slurred.

“You’re right, you should get her home. Do you need any help?”

Laura jumped, not realizing that he’d approached.

“I’m fine.” Kasey stomped her foot. The effort threw her off balance and she fell heavily into a nearby chair.

Laura didn’t want to make a scene. She hoped that her friend would follow her quietly to the car. Despite the fact that she really wanted to get out of there and put some distance between Chase and herself, she couldn’t in good conscience leave Kasey. She’d never forgive herself, if something happened.

“I don’t need your help.” Kasey showed her annoyance by shoving a chair aside before Laura clamped a tight, firm grip around her friend’s waist and propelled her out of the building.

Immediately the cool night air hit them with a shocking blast. It had the desired effect, letting some rational thought make headway this disastrous night. She snapped the seat belt around Kasey.

A tap on the glass startled her. Her nerves were on edge.

Chase motioned for her to lower the window. She started the car first just to let him know that there would be no long conversations. Then she pushed the black button on the door panel until the window slid down mid-point.

“I can follow so you can leave her car at her place. Then I can give you a ride home.”

“Nope.” She hadn’t thought about the car logistics, unless she took Kasey to her place.

“Laura, I know that I’m fine enough to drive.” Kasey must have seen the ready argument on Laura’s face. “But let’s go home. I’ve got to head to Savannah tomorrow morning—early.”

“And you were out partying tonight?” Gosh, she sounded like her mother.

“Well, I roll like that.” Kasey yawned and leaned her head back on the head rest.

“If you ask me, I don’t think she’s going to be fit to go anywhere until probably noon tomorrow,” Chase offered.

Laura nodded, keeping her eyes forward. To turn her head would mean that he was in kissable distance. Thanks to Kasey’s SUV, she was sitting high enough that she or he only had to lean forward and succumb to a good night smooch.

Not a chance.

“For once, would you not be so stubborn?” Chase placed his forearms on the door.

“Stubborn? Because I won’t let you take me home?”

He pulled on his ear lobe, a familiar habit when he got irritated. Good. His cologne was driving her crazy. The very clear memory of swaying to an old-school song had more than her mind buzzing. And darn it, she couldn’t stop thinking about kissing him.

Maybe that’s why she turned her head. Of course, she later told herself that she had to let him know whom he was dealing with, eye-to-eye.

“We’re not buddies, Chase. I need this favor from you to take me home. But don’t think what happened in there is the beginning of a new chapter for us. We are still at the end of the happy trail. No happily ever after, no riding off into the sunset and certainly no reunion of the cast members here.” She had more to say about hurt and disappointment, but for the life of her, she couldn’t remember what it was. But she shouldn’t have looked into his eyes.

Then, she made the mistake of looking at that mouth. The perfect mouth that Pierce had taken pleasure in punching when he caught them kissing behind the large oak tree in Chase’s backyard. At fourteen years old, the kiss was a mere peck, but she swore that she’d floated up past the trees, over the neighborhood to settle among the clouds.

In college, and after college, their relationship had moved beyond chaste, stolen moments. Chase could make her melt into an incoherent puddle when she was locked in his arms for a steamy kiss after a rousing night of passionate lovemaking.

“Have dinner with me.”

“Did you hear anything I just said?” Laura couldn’t believe his tenacity.

“Yes. And if you have dinner with me, I’ll clear up all the questions.”

She could demand that he cleared them up now. Who was he to give her conditions after all he’d made her go through?

“It’s cold and I’m freezing my buns out here,” he complained.

His buns weren’t bad either. Sprinter buns.

“Fine.” She pursed her lips, detecting an amused twitch to his mouth. “Don’t think you’ve landed some big coup. I’m on to you, Chase Westfield.”

“Good, then you’ll know that I’ve wanted to do this since I saw you.” He leaned in and covered her mouth with his. He didn’t touch her, didn’t pin her face between his hands, did nothing to force her to be kissed. Yet, like a magnet, she couldn’t pull away drawn by an intangible force that ignited when they were together.

His attention was gentle, loving, coaxing for which she obliged his attentive tongue. Her entire body tingled, aroused out of a deep slumber, yearning for fulfillment.

He pulled away first. Laura opened her eyes, unable to speak. Only her chest rose and fell with an uneven breath.

“Let’s get you home, shall we?” Chase jingled his keys and turned to head to his car.

“That son of a—” Laura called out.

“Girl, shut your mouth. He lit you up like a Christmas tree,” Kasey uttered and promptly fell asleep with a small snore escaping.

Chapter 3

By the time Laura drove to Kasey’s apartment, there was no way she would be able to drag her drunken, sleepy form out of the SUV, down the path to the building and then up the stairs to the top floor. She shook her friend’s shoulder in a futile last attempt.

Chase tapped at Kasey’s window, motioning for her to unlock the door. Laura complied, not having much choice. She’d need his muscle to heft her coworker’s tall frame.

Together they made slow progress. Sometimes Kasey did revive long enough to actually walk before teetering over. They escorted her to the bedroom and gently laid her down. Chase excused himself so Laura could tend to Kasey’s clothing. When she was done undressing her, she pulled the floral printed comforter over her body. Then she turned out the light and left the bedroom door partially open.

“Chase, I really don’t feel comfortable leaving her in this condition.” Laura turned to look at the door. “What if she gets sick and can’t get up?”

“I’m inclined to agree with you.”

“You go ahead, I can call a cab in the morning,” she said.

“Or I can stay here with you.”

Laura shook her head. Chase may think he was in control, playing games with her by seducing her, but she still had the good sense to say no.

To show him that she did have strength, she walked past him and opened the apartment door. “I’ve got this under control.”

He looked as if he was about to object, then reconsidered. “Okay.” He looked at her, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. As he walked past her, he paused without turning around.

“Yes?” She wished that her voice didn’t sound so needy.

“I can expect you for dinner tomorrow, right?”

“Yes,” she answered.

“Good.” He pulled the door closed behind him.

Laura stood there staring at the door, wondering how her life could have taken such a sudden shift. Not that she had ever stopped thinking about Chase, but she certainly didn’t entertain any ideas that they would be talking, much less having dinner.

Well, so much for the late night at the club. Guess she was in for the night. Seems like no matter what she did, she was always in for the night. This time she didn’t mind so much. She flopped on the couch, reached for the remote and slid into a comfortable position.

“Who’s the latest dish waiting to be served?”

Chase looked up from stirring the Alfredo sauce. “Deon, you need to be out of here in five minutes.”

“Only came to return your toolkit. Not planning to cramp your style.” His friend inhaled, patting his stomach for emphasis. “A brother could do with a little bite before facing the cold.”

“You’re not staying.” Chased moved the pot off the stove. He’d hate to burn the sauce after every other part of the four-course meal met with his level of perfection. “Besides, I’m sure Chantal, Sarita, Bonnie or whoever the latest is wants you in the sex cave next door.”

“They are all has-beens, like I’ve been preaching to you, man. You’ve got to change the girls as often as you change your shoes.” His old teammate Deon was known for donating his running shoes after each meet.

“Well, now that I’m an old man, injuries and all, got to make do with whatever I can.” Chase walked over to Deon, grabbed him by the elbow and escorted him toward the door.

“Usually I get to meet them,” Deon complained.

“Only the ones that you insist on introducing to me. And frankly, they are never my type.”

“You don’t have a type. I’ve brought tall, short, fat, skinny, dark skinned and even light-bright. Nothing. I was thinking that I’d have to get a girlie magazine for you to see if you got it going on.”

Chase laughed at Deon’s silliness. He’d seen the women at the clubs with whom Deon strutted, and knew his friend belonged in the dog pound. None of his so-called women made it in his company in daylight hours because they weren’t the sort you’d take home to mother.

The few times that he’d given into Deon’s blind dating tactics, he’d regretted the waste of his time. Aggressive women didn’t necessarily turn him off, but he did want the feelings to be mutual. He wanted to at least feel some kind of snap, crackle or pop when he was in their presence. Instead, he found himself thinking of mundane tasks like taking out the recyclables for the next day’s pick-up.

Deon finally gave up and left.

With Deon out of the way, Chase returned to cooking. He still had time to set the table and add the finishing touches to the room. He couldn’t control the mood in the workplace, but his house was a different story. Having Laura over for dinner hadn’t been planned. The invite had popped into his head when he stood mere inches from her that night at the bar. Now that his initial fear of a scene at their first meeting was over, he could relax.

From her fine features and slender neck to the dark sweep of her hair, he wanted to be near her. In a sweeping bit of nostalgia, he wanted to feel her lips against his. Her earlier response couldn’t have been a figment of his imagination.

As he lit the thick vanilla scented candles, he thought about the flame in his heart that would never go out for Laura. Not many people got a chance to have a do-over in life. He could only hope that Laura would give him that chance.

Half an hour later, with a soft smell of the sweet spice filling the air, Chase surveyed the dining table with its setting for two. Then he turned his attention to the living room where the candles of various heights dotted the room. On the center piece table was a bowl of assorted roses with stems cut short, making the arrangement look thick and colorful. He’d ordered the vibrant array of colors off the Internet to cut the monotonous brown shade of his couch and furniture. It paid to watch a few of the popular interior designing shows.

His phone rang. His spirit dropped, thinking that it had to be Laura canceling. His disappointment waited in limbo as he picked up the receiver. “Yes?”

“Chase, it’s Laura. Sorry, I’m running late. I left the directions at home and thought that I could rely on memory.” She laughed. “Wrong move.”

Chase shoved the disappointment back down with a big sense of relief. She was on her way. “No problem.” He provided the directions, impressed that she’d made it into his neighborhood, two streets away.

He went outside to greet her, knowing that she was probably a bundle of nerves after driving around the area. As an afterthought, he ran back into the house, hoping that he didn’t miss her arrival. Hastily, he pulled a yellow rose out of the bowl and headed back outside.

Under the startling sunlight, he felt like a schoolboy waiting for someone to give him attention while he stood there with the flower. He stared down at the flower as if it would provide an answer.

A quick horn tap sounded and he looked up to see Laura waving from the nearby street corner. Maybe the romantic gesture would be too much. He tossed the flower in the hedge. Then he walked toward the mailbox as if that was his primary reason for being outdoors. She pulled up next to the curb offering him a quick wave.

“Hey, see that wasn’t too bad,” he offered.

“Yep, your directions were perfect.” She approached him and offered him a bottle of wine.

He should have kept the rose. He wondered if he could reach down to retrieve it from the hedge where it landed. Instead he took the wine and pretended to read the label. “Wonderful.” He had no clue about drinks. Maybe wine tasting would be the next hobby as he adjusted to his retirement phase.

He ushered her in, glad to see that she was suitably impressed with his new home. She handed her coat to him, which he took to the closet.

“Amazing.” Laura’s voice reflected her awe.

“It’s what I like to call home.” Why on earth did he sound like a good TV dad? “How’s Kasey?”

“She’ll survive. Right now she’s making all kinds of resolutions to stop drinking.” They laughed.

“Come on in. I have appetizers for us to enjoy.” Chase motioned toward the living room, before heading into the kitchen. He could see her from the kitchen as he added the finishing touches to the chicken tenderloins cooked on skewers served with cucumber dip or peanut sauce.

“You went all out. Hope you’re not disappointed.”

“You wouldn’t disappoint me,” he teased.

She shrugged, a shadow flitted across her face.

“Have a seat.” He set the serving dish on the table. Laura hadn’t moved. He turned to see why she resisted his simple request. She was perusing the photographs and various tokens of his mastery in sports.

Not wanting to disturb her, he continued setting out the small plates and napkins. Wondering if she was in the mood for quiet or chatting, he turned on the stereo with his remote and let the CD of R&B classics play. A line up of Roberta Flack, Temptations, Stevie Wonder and Barry White couldn’t hurt a candlelit dinner.

“I’m really confused,” Laura spoke over her shoulder. She had looked at the framed photographs, medals, championship cups and now turned her attention on him. “You could have anything you want.” She threw her arms out expansively. “Why are you here? I know Atlanta is the new Mecca for upwardly mobile African Americans, but why are you here? Why a college coach? I imagine that you could be a personal coach for the next up and coming athlete. Now you’re bogged down with politics and the administration. This is my world, not yours.”

Chase bit into the chicken on the wood skewers. He needed a minute to think. He slid the plate to Laura, glad to see that she finally thought about eating.

“My body’s broken up, Laura. Maybe I’ll go back to reclaim my place in the world after a year of healing. On my contracts, I still have endorsements and a few lecture circuits to hit for the coming year. I didn’t plan to retire so early, but it’s what had to happen.”

Neither spoke.

“Do you mind if I freshen up?” Laura looked around abruptly.

“Go right ahead. Off to your right. That’ll give me some time to transfer the food from the kitchen to the dining room.”

“I’ll help.”

“Thanks, but you’re not allowed to lift a finger, except to eat,” he explained.

Laura acknowledged his request and aimed for the bathroom. She closed the door, glad to get away for a few seconds. Several times she’d wanted to cancel. By not resisting Chase and that mind-blowing kiss, he could have the wrong idea that she was willing to play on dangerous ground. Then, she followed up with accepting his dinner invitation!

Laura made a face in the mirror. She smoothed her eyebrows, inspecting the rest of her face. Only her eyes and lips were made up. After a late night with light sleep, she needed the smoky eyeliner to enhance her eyes and make them look larger and more awake. With the same thought in mind, she had selected a reddish hued lipstick as a bright spot of color for liveliness.

Dishes clinked outside the room. Guess it was time to exit and face the result of her decision. She ran her fingers through her hair, tossing back the front piece so that it lay feathered on one side of her face. Enough with her fidgeting, she opened the door.

“Do you have a preference?” Chase stood behind one of the chairs, waiting for her decision.

Laura shook her head. She took the other chair, but Chase slid over to assist her. When he lightly touched her shoulder, she froze hoping that he would return to the other chair so she could breathe normally.

“Everything smells wonderful.” Laura did admire the line up of dishes. She couldn’t believe that his culinary skills had become so developed.

“There’s a garden salad, soup and Alfredo pasta with grilled chicken breast.”

“I’m embarrassed at how much you’ve done on my behalf.”

“Don’t be. Yes, I did spend a bit of time preparing, but this is my olive branch to you to keep the past in the past. Can we move forward?”

Laura took a gulp of wine, choking in the process. Over the rim of her wine glass she studied him.

“Look, Chase, I think we’d better keep this on neutral ground.”

“If that’ll make you feel better.”

“It would.” She ate her salad, enjoying the sweet, zesty vinaigrette poured lightly over the greens. “Someone made you very domesticated.” No sooner had the statement escaped than she blushed at the direct hit her question made. She felt like a hypocrite calling for neutrality when she zeroed in on what occupied her thoughts—Chase with another woman.

“There were some times when I wasn’t training and I wasn’t playing at being a sports model. Usually, I was in a hotel room bored to death, flipping through channels. Regardless of the country, there was always a food channel. In France, I had the honor of working with a master chef in one of the major hotels. She was so appalled at my limited knowledge that she gave me a crash course in food and its preparation.”

“Is that all she taught you?”

“She taught me lots of things.” A soft smile touched his face.

“Sounds like she’s earned a special place in your heart.” Laura gritted her teeth.

“I do miss her.”

“Another woman with a broken heart?”

“Jealous?” He grinned.

“No, just wondering if there are enough to form a support group.”

“One sec.” He pushed back the table. His amused expression irritated her. She watched him go to the bookcase and pull a photo album off the shelf. He flipped the thick pages until he came to the desired page. Marking the page with his finger, he came toward her. Curiosity prickled her. Maybe the album would explain the reason for his triumphant look.

“What?” She looked down at the page where his finger pointed.

“My darling chef.”

“This doesn’t mean anything. You might have been her boy toy.” The little old woman had a grandmotherly smile and hair full of white curls.

“You’re a sick puppy.”

“Are these people her family?” Laura couldn’t help being intrigued.

“Yes. Three generations, almost four. Her granddaughter was pregnant at the time.” He took a deep breath, his voice a tad wistful. “She’s since died. Her son and his company were my main sponsor in France and we hit it off. I got adopted by the family. Or maybe I let myself be surrounded by them.”

“I’m sorry to hear of her passing. I would’ve loved to pass on my gratitude that you’ve graduated from grilled cheese sandwiches melted by your iron to a wonderful tasty meal.” She wiped the corner of her mouth with the napkin, grinning at him. “And how’s your family?” she asked.

“I’m sure you don’t want to hear about my mother and father on an empty stomach.” He opened a soup tureen. “This isn’t the main dish.”

“Chase, I can’t eat all of this food.”

“See, that’s one of the things I learned in France. You shouldn’t eat your food in a huge rush. It should be savored, the company enjoyed, conversation shared.”

Laura followed his advice. The vegetable soup was simple and delicious. Chase kept the conversation lighthearted. By the time she had moved to the meal, her taste buds were on sensory overload. The Alfredo sauce tasted like heaven and she acknowledged with each forkful of pasta that the hips would get a little rounder and her arms may flap in the wind. It didn’t stop her from chewing the large mouthful of food. She closed her eyes, enjoying the rich flavor.

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