Page 58 of Make Me Trust Again (Bluebonnet Creek #3)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

ROSE

“Here you go.” I smile brightly at Mr. Kim, handing him his coffee.

“Thank you, my dear.” He leans closer over the counter and whispers conspiratorially. “Don’t you go tell Becky, but since you got here, the coffee tastes way sweeter!”

The older man’s kind words have me laughing out loud. “I don’t know about that, Mr. Kim.”

He winks at me. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Y’all have a very nice day.”

I watch the older man as he slowly makes his way toward the door. After the early morning rush, when everybody was going to work and school, things are finally starting to slow down.

Sighing, I pull out the brochure I found at one of the tables the other day as I was cleaning up after a group of teens. It’s for the community college that isn’t too far from Bluebonnet. I was planning to toss it, but for whatever reason, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I nibble at the inside of my cheek as I read over the information, my stomach rolling with nerves.

There’re a few classes that piqued my interest, but I don’t know what to do about it.

I never thought much about college after quitting my freshman year to focus on Kyle.

It’s not like I have time for it. And yes, classes seem interesting, sure, but then what?

What’s the point in going if I’m not planning to commit to it and get a degree?

Do I even have time? My life’s busy as is.

Between working, Kyle’s school, activities, and doctors’ appointments, I have my hands full.

And then there’s Chase, who keeps me up long into the night.

Not that I would change it for anything in the world.

Being with him’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

He may be distant from everybody else, but when we’re together, he’s all in.

And he’s so good to Kyle. Seeing the two of them together the other day did something to me.

Chase’s so patient and kind with my son, everything a father should be, and my little boy’s drinking it up like a man starved.

Seeing them together only makes me realize how much he has missed in his short life, and that familiar anger at my ex is back.

Because that was supposed to be John for the last seven years, he was supposed to love and teach our son, be there for all the moments, big and small, but he never bothered.

The bell chimes, breaking me out of my thoughts.

My head snaps up, and all the dark thoughts leave my mind when a pair of hazel eyes meets mine.

I let out a shaky breath, the warmth pooling in my belly as the man, who was just on my mind, enters the café.

The corner of his mouth lifts a little, and seeing that tiny smile makes my heart skip a beat.

My teeth graze over my lower lip as he just watches me for a moment, his long steps eating the distance between us.

“Hey.”

“Hi.” I let my lip pop, my voice coming out raspy. “What are you doing here?”

His gaze falls to my mouth, those hazel eyes turning a shade darker as he slowly moves closer to the counter, his voice dropping lower. “I’m on my way to school, but I wanted to see you.”

“Oh.” I blink, my heart doing this weird little flip inside my chest as I try to process his words, the silent meaning behind them.

Color fills my cheeks.

I wanted to see you.

Chase Williams, the most reclusive, antisocial man I know, willingly came to the café so he could see me?

My stomach tightens, and all the emotions I’ve been fighting for the last few weeks come back to the surface with one simple sentence.

How can a few words make you feel so much?

When was the last time somebody said that to me besides my son?

Never. I was never put first. Never needed or wanted by a man, not like this.

And it feels good. It feels so freaking good.

Those hazel eyes turn molten as he slowly moves closer to the counter.

Like a hunter zeroing in on his prey. He takes me in, and that familiar tingling sensation simmers under my skin from his gaze alone.

One look from him. That’s all it takes. One look from Chase Williams, and I’m a breathless, blazing mess.

God, how I want to feel his mouth on me. Feel those full lips press against mine as he kisses me expertly. Feel the burn of his stubble against my skin as he peppers kisses over my body until I’m completely lost in him.

As if he can read my thoughts, a low, almost warning rumble comes out of Chase’s throat. He leans closer, and for a split second, I think he’ll kiss me, but we’re interrupted.

“Hey, Rose…” We pull back just in time to see Rebecca come to a sudden stop.

Her gaze shifts between the two of us, eyes narrowing slightly.

Did she see… something? I bite the inside of my cheek, holding my breath, until she finally props her hands on her hips and focuses those sharp eyes on Chase.

“Well, I’ll be damned. Are the pigs flying? ”

“What?”

“Don’t you give me that look, Chase Williams.” Rebecca points her finger at him. “You’re here, and I didn’t have to call you first and beg you to get your ass out of the house or trick you into doing so, so you can’t blame me for thinking that hell has frozen over.”

He shakes his head. “You’re crazy. It’s not like I don’t go out.”

“Not before being dragged by the ear! So what gives?”

“He’s doing me a favor,” I interject quickly, both sets of eyes turning to me. “Kyle asked him if he could come for his career day at school, and Chase agreed.”

“I took the dogs.” Chase points at the door. “They’re actually waiting for me in the car, so I better get going. Can I just grab Kyle’s booster seat? I figured I’ll drive him home later.”

“Oh.” I blink, surprised by the offer. “Are you sure? I can?—”

“I’m already there.” He shrugs. “Besides, didn’t you say you’ll be staying late?”

“Yes, there is a book club later. I was supposed to bring Kyle to my parents after school so they could keep an eye on him.”

“He can stay with me if you want.”

I blink at his offer, unsure of what to say. John would never have said he would stay with Kyle. Shown no interest in doing so. But then again, Chase has shown me time and again just how different he is.

“Are you sure? You’re already doing so much…”

“It’s one afternoon.”

Maybe to him, but to me? To Kyle? It’s so much more.

I turn to Rebecca, who hasn’t stopped staring at us this whole time, watching between us as if she’s following a tennis match. “Do you mind staying here while I give him Kyle’s booster?”

“No problem.”

“Thanks.” I slip under the counter and pull out my car keys. “I’ll be back quickly.”

“Later, Becs.”

Sliding out from behind the counter, I join Chase, whose hand finds its way to the small of my back as we make our way to my car that’s parked by the café. I unlock it, pull the back door open, and start unhooking the booster. “If it’s too much, just?—”

Before I can finish, a hand slides around my waist and turns me around, my body bumping into Chase’s firm muscles. His hands rest against the top of my car as he leans down and kisses me. I moan softly, my fingers gripping his arms as his tongue slides into my mouth, teasing me expertly.

“Fuck, I wanted to do that ever since I saw you,” he murmurs against my lips as he pulls back, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “And it’s not too much. I like spending time with Kyle. It’ll be fine. You have fun.”

“Thank you. He’ll be so excited to hear that. I’ll let his teacher know you’ll be taking him home.” I place my hand on his chest, biting the inside of my cheek. “I could cook you dinner as a thank you.” I graze my teeth over my lower lip. “Or find a different way to repay you.”

Chase curses under his breath, his fingers digging into my hips as he pushes me against the car and kisses me, hard and fast, leaving me breathless. “Don’t give me ideas when I have to go and talk to a group of second graders, sweetheart.”

“You can choose dinner.”

“Over you? Hell, no.” Another quick kiss. “Okay, now I really have to go. I don’t want to arrive late.” He brushes his lips against the top of my head. “I’ll see you at home.”

Home.

That one little word sounds so different coming from his mouth. Like something more than a mere place you live. Like we are home.

“I’ll see you at home.”

Chase grabs the booster seat, and together we go back to the café.

His truck is parked right in front of it, with both Teddy and Shadow sitting by the window so they can look outside.

Chase’s eyes meet mine, and he lifts his hand in a wave before pulling the door open.

I wave back before slipping back inside, my heart still beating wildly inside my chest.

“What the hell was that?” Rebecca hisses softly. “You’ve got some explaining to do, missy!”

“Give her a minute; can’t you see she’s all flushed?” Mrs. Tyson’s words make my cheeks heat even more.

“If I were kissed like that, I would be flushed, too, Millie,” Mrs. Miller harrumphs, shooting me a knowing smirk. “I think my panties melted with all the heat the two of them have been emitting.”

Shit. They saw us?

My gaze shifts to Rebecca, whose jaw is on the floor. She points her finger at me. “I knew it. There is no way he’d come around just because. That man hates people.”

“Oh, he might hate people, but I’m pretty sure he likes our Rosie-girl just fine.” Mrs. Tyson wiggles her brows. “More than likes, really.”

Mrs. Miller nods decisively. “You know, in books they’d say that he devoured her.”

“Oh, God.” I bury my face in my hands. Can the ground open now and swallow me whole? “Can we please stop now? Before I die of mortification?”

An old, wrinkled hand pats me on the shoulder. “There, there. Nothing to be ashamed of. If I had a hunk like that, I’d also be kissing him out in the open.”

“I don’t think that’s what she meant, Tillie.”

“Well, that’s what you should be thinking about! I bet if he kisses her like that, he’s even better in bed. The quiet types usually are.”

Yup, I’ll just die now.

Rebecca makes a gagging noise. “Can we not talk about my brother’s sex life? There are some things a girl really doesn’t need to know.”

The two older women exchange a look. “The youngsters these days.”

Thankfully, Rebecca slides their coffees over to them, and after paying, and another pat on my shoulder, the two of them leave the café.

Sighing, I rejoin Rebecca behind the counter. I glance at her, trying to read her reaction, but her back is turned to me as she places the dirty glasses into the dishwasher. “Are you angry with me?”

Rebecca pulls her brows together. “Angry? Why would I be angry?”

“He’s your brother, and you’re my boss, and considering everything that’s happened…”

“Oh, please.” Rebecca waves me off. “Chase has been different lately. I’ve seen it, even on the Fourth of July, when we were at the lake.

“When he came back, I…” She shakes her head, her smile falling.

“He wasn’t the same. And let’s be real, none of us are the people we were in high school, but this was different.

Chase came back from war a broken man. And as time progressed, I didn’t think I’d ever get my brother back.

I can see glimpses of him now, though. Glimpses of the boy he was, and the man I knew he could be.

You two are good for him, Rose.” She gives me a knowing look. “And maybe he’s good for you, too.”

“He’s a good man.”

“He is.” Rebecca nods. “There is nothing he wouldn’t do for the people he loves.”

People he loves.

A knot forms in my throat, making it hard to breathe as her words echo in my mind.

People he loves.

Rebecca places her hand on my shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Then again, I think you two are the same in that regard.”

With one last look, she lets her hand drop and goes back to the kitchen, but her words don’t leave my mind for a long time.

Does he love me?

God knows I’m in love with him.

Every broken and scarred part of him.

I don’t know how or when it happened. Was it that first time when he stopped to help me fix my tire? Or maybe it was when he offered me a place to live. Or when I saw how kind he was to Kyle. Or when he took care of me when I was sick.

It’s probably all of those things together.

Somewhere along the way, over the last few months, I’ve fallen in love with Chase.

Slowly and steadily, he’s helped me pick up the pieces of the woman I was and build this new, stronger version of myself.

A woman who has started to learn how to love herself and fight for the things she wants in life.

Was it the same for him? Or was it just wishful thinking on my part? Do I dare to ask? And what would happen if I do, and he’s not feeling the same?