Page 17 of Check & Chase (Breakaway #1)

Emma

Chapter Nine

“ K nock, knock, Physical Therapist Barbie. I come bearing sustenance.”

Maya’s voice precedes her into my office at the Bears facility, followed by the heavenly aroma of fresh coffee. She sets a tall cup on my desk, then plops down in the chair across from me, kicking her feet up on the corner of my workspace.

“You’re a saint,” I tell her, reaching eagerly for the caffeine. “And get your dirty nurse shoes off my files.”

“Ungrateful,” she says, but removes her feet with a dramatic sigh. “So, are we going to talk about it?”

I take a sip before answering. “Talk about what?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that half the hospital where I work is buzzing about you and Chase Mitchell getting cozy at the Bears gala last night?”

I groan, slumping back in my chair. News travels at light speed in Pinewood, especially when it involves the Bears. “We weren’t ‘getting cozy.’ He was helping me avoid Tyler.”

“Mmhmm. By wrapping his arm around you and glaring at Tyler like he wanted to murder him with his crutch?”

“How do you even know about that? ”

Maya grins, dark eyes sparkling with mischief. “One of the nurses. Her husband works security at the hotel. Said the sexual tension between you two was thick enough to cut with a scalpel.”

“There was no sexual tension,” I protest, though my face heats at the memory of Chase’s tuxedo jacket around my shoulders, the warmth of his body when I leaned against him.

“Which would be more believable if you hadn’t come home with hearts in your eyes.”

“I did not have hearts in my eyes!”

“Please. You’ve been humming all morning.” Maya leans forward, suddenly serious. “Look, I’m not judging. Chase is hot, you’re hot, there’s history. I’m just surprised you’re letting yourself go there given the whole professional ethics thing.”

“I’m not ‘going there.’ Last night was a one-time thing to get Tyler off my back.”

“Right,” she drawls slowly. “And that smile has nothing to do with a certain blue-eyed hockey player.”

A knock at my door saves me from further interrogation. I look up, expecting Mr. Peterson or one of the other staff members.

Instead, there’s Chase, leaning on his crutches, looking unfairly attractive. My traitor heart does a little flip at the sight of him.

“Am I interrupting?” he asks, glancing between Maya and me.

Maya’s face splits into a wide grin as she stands. “Not at all. I was just leaving.” She turns to me with an exaggerated wink that makes me want to throttle her. “Call me later, Em.”

She saunters past Chase, pausing to offer her hand. “I’m Maya, by the way. Best friend, roommate, and keeper of all Emma’s embarrassing secrets.”

“Chase,” he replies, shaking her hand with an amused smile. “Hockey player, current PT project, and very interested in those embarrassing secrets.”

“Play your cards right, Mitchell, and maybe I’ll share some.” Maya shoots me one last meaningful look before disappearing down the hall .

“Your friend seems nice,” Chase comments, maneuvering into the room and settling into the chair Maya just vacated.

“She’s a menace,” I correct. “And you’re early for your session. We’re not scheduled until two.”

“I know.” He adjusts his position, stretching his injured leg out in front of him. “I wanted to talk to you. About last night.”

“Speaking of that, I wanted to thank you,” I begin, surprising both of us. “For the rescue from Tyler. Again .”

His expression softens. “Anytime, Blondie. Though at this rate, I might need to start charging a damsel-in-distress fee.”

“I am not a damsel in distress.”

“Obviously. That’s why you were backed against the bar looking like you wanted the floor to swallow you whole.”

I open my mouth to argue, then close it again. He’s not entirely wrong. “Fine. I appreciate the assist. But I can’t keep relying on you to run interference every time Tyler decides to be an asshole.”

“Why not?” He leans forward, his blue eyes intent on mine. “Seems like a good arrangement to me.”

“Because it’s not your problem. And because people are already talking.”

“Let them talk.”

“Easy for you to say. Maya heard about last night from someone at work, whose husband works security at the hotel. If it’s already made it to the hospital grapevine, you can bet the entire Bears organization is gossiping too.”

He shrugs, unbothered. “So what? We let them gossip. Could be useful, actually.”

“Useful?” I repeat, confused. “How is team gossip about us ‘useful’?”

“Think about it.” He leans forward, excitement lighting his features. “What’s the one thing guaranteed to make Tyler back off?”

I frown, not following. “I don’t know. Common decency? Basic respect?”

“The belief that you’ve moved on. With me. ”

The implication hits me, and I stare at him. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’m completely serious.” Chase’s expression is earnest, no trace of his usual teasing. “Look, Tyler’s clearly still trying to mess with you. The flowers, the comments at the gala. He thinks he still has a claim on you.”

“He doesn’t,” I say firmly.

“I know that. You know that. But Tyler’s ego won’t let him accept it.” He gestures between us. “But if you were dating someone else, someone he already sees as a rival, he’d have to back off.”

“You’re suggesting we pretend to date.” The words feel ridiculous coming out of my mouth. “That’s insane.”

“Is it? It seemed to work pretty well last night.”

I shake my head, trying to process the absurdity of his proposal. “Chase, I’m your physical therapist. There are ethical boundaries. Professional standards.”

“We keep the professional stuff professional,” he counters. “PT sessions are still just PT sessions. But outside of that? We let people think we’re together. Go on a few public dates. Make sure Tyler sees. He’ll get the message and leave you alone.”

“And what do you get out of this arrangement?” I ask suspiciously.

Chase’s expression shifts slightly, something I can’t quite read flickering in his eyes. “Carina.”

“What about her?”

“She’s been trying to get back together since she and Tyler hit a rough patch. Sending texts, showing up at my place uninvited.” He runs a hand through his hair. “If she thinks I’m with you, maybe she’ll finally get the hint.”

“So we’d be fake dating to make both our exes disinterested?”

“Exactly.”

I lean back in my chair, considering his proposal. It’s ridiculous, something out of a bad romantic comedy. The kind of scheme that inevitably backfires in spectacular fashion.

And yet…

Tyler’s texts have been relentless since the gala. Three this morning alone, each more presumptuous than the last. The final one suggested dinner to “talk about us,” as if there’s still an “us” to discuss.

“It would only be temporary,” Chase explains, reading my hesitation. “Just until they both move on to other targets. Then we have an amicable breakup and go back to being strictly professional.”

“This is crazy,” I mutter, more to myself than to him.

“That’s not a no.”

“It’s not a yes either.” I chew my bottom lip, weighing the pros and cons. “I need to think about it.”

“Fair enough.” Chase adjusts his position, wincing slightly as he shifts his knee. “But think fast. Halloween party at Donovan’s on Friday. Tyler and Carina will both be there.”

“I’m not invited to Donovan’s party.”

He grins. “You could be. As my plus one.”

Before I can respond, my phone buzzes on the desk. I glance down to see Tyler’s name on the screen, accompanied by a text that makes me grimace.

Tyler: Can we have lunch together? We need to talk about last night.

Chase raises an eyebrow. “Tyler?”

I nod, showing him the screen.

“Perfect timing.” He stands, balancing on his crutches. “Think about my offer, Blondie. Could solve both our problems.”

He leaves with a wink, passing Tyler in the doorway. The two exchange looks that could freeze hell before Tyler turns his attention to me.

“Emma,” he greets, leaning against the door frame. “Got my text? Thought we could grab lunch.”

“I’m busy.” I don’t look up from the patient chart I’ve suddenly become very interested in. “And I have nothing to say about last night.”

“You seemed pretty cozy with Mitchell.” His voice hardens slightly. “Didn’t take you long to move on.”

I close the chart, finally meeting his gaze. “We broke up five years ago, Tyler. I moved on a long time ago. ”

“To Mitchell? Seriously?” He steps into my office uninvited, lowering his voice. “You know about him and his last PT, right? The guy has a pattern.”

“I know more than you think,” I reply, thinking of Chase’s confession. “And my personal life isn’t your concern.”

“It is when you’re making a mistake that could cost you your career.” He leans closer. “I’m looking out for you, Em. That’s all.”

“I don’t need you to look out for me.” I stand, putting the desk between us. “I need you to respect my boundaries and stop sending flowers to my office.”

He has the grace to look slightly abashed. “The flowers were an apology.”

“For what? Cheating on me? Or for harassing me?”

“I’m not harassing you,” he protests. “I’m trying to reconnect with someone who was important to me.”

“Well, I’m not interested in reconnecting.” I gesture toward the door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have patients to see.”

Tyler opens his mouth as if to argue, then thinks better of it. “This conversation isn’t over, Emma.”

“Yes, it is.”

He leaves with obvious reluctance, and I sink back into my chair once he’s gone, exhaling slowly. The encounter leaves me drained and irritated, reinforcing the appeal of Chase’s ridiculous proposal.

What would it be like to have Chase Mitchell publicly in my corner? To see Tyler’s face when he realizes I’ve moved on with someone he considers a rival?

The petty part of me finds the idea deeply satisfying.

The rational, professional part knows it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

I pull out my phone and text Maya.

Me: Need advice about something ridiculous. Wine night when we get home?

Maya: Ooh sounds serious. I’ll get the good stuff.