Page 33 of To the Chase

“It isn’t necessarily a problem, but I’m somewhat set in my ways. As much as I’d like to take you to bed tonight, I won’t—not until I can give you the proper time and attention you deserve.”

My heart flipped and stuttered against my ribs. “We have all night.”

“But that’s all, Bea. It’s not enough.” He huffed, not disguising his displeasure. “I’d like to know you.”

“I’d like that too,” I agreed.

“Let’s do that then. In the time it takes for me to make the move to Denver, let’s get to know each other.”

I sucked in a breath. “You’re moving to Denver?”

“I am.”

“When did you decide that?”

His eyes didn’t waver. “Tonight.”

I felt it—all the meaning behind that one word. It couldn’t possibly be true, though. Surely, he hadn’t made a decision because of me. That would be—no, it couldn’t be because of me. If I let myself even think that for a second, the pressure would flatten me.

“Not for me,” I whispered.

“You’re certainly an incentive.” Tore barely blinked as he looked at me. “I’m somewhat unbendable, and I don’t make moves easily. Sam has had to shove me forward as our company has grown, and when it comes down to it, he’s always been right. He’s been pushing me toward the edge for a long while now, but I’m not unwilling to say meeting you was the tipping point.”

“I don’t know how to respond to that.”

He shook his head. “You don’t have to say anything. You’re not required to reciprocate my feelings. I hope you’ll allow me to get to know you, though.”

The pressure in my chest made it hard to speak, so I just nodded.

Tore guided me to the loveseat in the small living area and tucked me against him. My mind whirled while he ordered us coffee and dessert, telling me he needed caffeine to keep this night going.

I kicked off my heels, and he brought my feet to his lap, holding them in his warm, wide hands. Massaging my soles, he asked me how I could stand to wear such tall shoes, and I told him about my mother’s collection of stilettos and explained Barbie feet were in my DNA.

I let him hold my feet, touch them, examine them closely. He even kissed the tops of both and rubbed his thumb over the cherry-red polish. He might’ve done more, and I would have allowed it, if not for the knock on the door.

Room service had arrived with a cart full of desserts and a steaming pot of coffee. We ate and drank, listening to my playlist over the room’s speakers. Between bites, we kissed each other in random places. He landed most often on my left dimple, and I couldn’t stay away from the divot in his chin.

“College at sixteen?” I raised a brow. “What was that like?”

“Freedom and hell.” He grimaced. “I was stifled in high school. I couldn’t get out of there soon enough. But college… Well, I looked about fourteen when I started. Scrawny, shy, uptight, a mess. I hadn’t met Sam yet, so needless to say, I had no social life my first two years.”

“What changed?”

The tips of his ears reddened, and I waited with bated breath for him to explain that reaction.

“There was a girl in one of my business classes. She…uh, started a rumor about me that piqued a lot of people’s interest.”

I gripped his arm, already delighted by this story. “Tell me, Tore. I have to know.”

“These…assholes in our class were trying to bully the girl—Elena—by accusing her of dating me. Most people would have been embarrassed and denied it. She’d rolled with it, telling them not only had we dated but I’d dumped her, and she was chasing after me because I” —Tore turned crimson—“have a horse cock.”

I blinked. Then gasped. “No.”

He winced. “And she couldn’t get enough of it.”

The last words came out in a rush. When they landed, Iscreeched, launching upright.

“Oh my god. I love her.”