Page 34 of The Heartbreaker (Chandler Brothers 3)
Once again, he slid his tongue over her tender flesh—once, twice—then lingered, long enough to let Dice think he was marking her in the most visible, primal way. He raised his head and pulled a dazed Sloane to her feet. Then he shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, the collar and her hair covering her neck. Let Dice think what he wanted.
“We’re out of here.” He squeezed her hand tighter and started past the biker, noticing his friends were awaiting the man’s okay before letting them through.
A nod from Dice and the group parted, revealing a path toward the rest of the bar and the exit beyond. Chase’s relief lasted for two seconds, long enough for him to lead Sloane past the crowd. Then she paused. She jerked on his hand, causing him to stop in his tracks.
She looked back to Dice, his buddies, and to the old men who’d resumed their game of pool as if nothing had happened to disrupt them.
“Hey, Earl,” Sloane called out.
Chase tensed, gripping her hand in a deathlock, knowing what was coming and powerless to stop her.
“See you Friday.” She waved with her free hand. “And if you see Samson, tell him to be here.”
Chase had had enough. He stormed for the front door, pulling Sloane behind him. Once safely in the vestibule, he grabbed her by the forearms. “You are insane,” he said, shaking her and letting out his frustration. “No way in hell am I letting you come back here Friday night. Not after what I had to go through to save your pretty behind this time.”
She glanced at him, those wide eyes too big and innocent for his liking. “Thank you for the compliment.” She patted her behind, and though she tried, she couldn’t hold back a grin.
“That wasn’t what I meant.”
She laughed this time, a light, airy sound that lifted his angry spirits.
“I know. And thank you for saving me. Truly.” She reached up and touched his cheek. “No one’s ever gone to such extremes for me or my—”
“Pretty ass?” He wasn’t about to let her off the hook completely.
“Not my choice of words, but they’ll do.” She pulled the jacket tighter around her.
“I’m sorry I had to make such a ridiculous scene,” he told her.
“I’m not.” She grinned as a blush stained her cheeks.
He shook his head, amazed and awed. Who was this woman named Sloane Carlisle, daughter of a prominent politician, who looked like fine china but had more backbone than any man he’d ever met, and who, from all appearances, liked what they’d just been through?
So had he, but he was a guy and he knew he’d had the situation under control. Sort of. She’d known no such thing.
“You didn’t have to come looking for me, but you did. And don’t tell me it was because you promised my stepmother you would,” she said.
He groaned. She had him cornered. No one had put a gun to his head or forced him to go searching out Sloane. He’d done that on his own. Because he was worried about her.
All these emotions pushing to the surface had him edgy and off balance. And he knew just one way around it—get back to doing his job, the one thing that grounded him and kept him sane. “Let’s go home.”
She nodded. “I can’t argue with you there.”
“As soon as we get there, you can tell me exactly why it’s so important that you find Samson.”
Panic flared in her eyes. “But—”
“No argument. I didn’t nearly get my ass kicked by a bunch of bikers only to be kept in the dark now.”
She lowered her head a notch. “It’s personal, Chase. Deeply personal.”
The plea in her voice tore at him, but along with that need to give her anything she wanted, there came a stronger resolve to get answers. “Do you want to come back here Friday night?” he asked.
She nodded. “You know I do.”
“Then unless you want me to borrow Rick’s handcuffs and keep you shackled at home, you’re going to have to explain.” Chase pushed the door open as he spoke. “Otherwise, there’s no way in hell I’m putting my ass or yours in danger again.”
* * *
Sloane braced herself for another fight as she replied, “I planned to stay in a hotel.”
“No.”
“You’re not responsible for me, despite what Madeline made you promise.”
He held her hand tighter. “There’s no hotel in Yorkshire Falls and you aren’t coming into Harrington again unless you’re with me. Subject closed.”
She shrugged, knowing how to pick her battles. “Okay.” Instead of arguing, Sloane figured giving in now would benefit her later. “Thanks.”
He grunted in reply.
Sloane clenched her jaw as they walked to Chase’s truck. Another argument ensued about her driving home. Once again, she ultimately agreed with him and he’d promised they’d pick her car up in the morning. Given his current mood and the fact that she was the cause, not to mention that he had saved her behind, she figured she owed him the little things.
