Page 49 of The One Timer

She nods in understanding. “You share that same deep loss of your parents at a young age. I knew you’d find that connection with her. I could tell it would be there. Like two puzzle pieces.”

“You have no idea.” I smirk, and Gran widens her eyes and laughs then swats me.

“Don’t go talking like that to your grandmother, Chase. You’re not too old to reprimand. Mind you, respect my girl.”

“Deeply.” And repeatedly, but I wisely keep this thought to myself. I don’t add that she has nothing to worry about because Em will have nothing to do with me.

She holds my eyes for a beat, showing that wise old lady look. “There’s always tomorrow, my boy.”

Fuck, if she isn’t a mind reader.

“I know I’m in trouble when you start quoting Scarlet O’Hara.”

Gran laughs, her amusement so thorough that she takes a sip of water to calm down.

I join her in a swig of WW Reserve, wincing slightly at the fact that the shot glass of whisky I’m pouring down my throat costs as much as a day’s pay for Emery—maybe more.

And then I wonder when—and more importantly why—I started measuring the monetary value of things against Emery’s modest means.

Chapter Seventeen

EMERY

The next day, despite of my best laid plans, I can’t avoid seeing Chase because he returns from practice before I have a chance to escape home for the day. If this were during the semester, I could say I have to study or I have class, but I have no such excuse today.

My conscience won’t let me lie to shirk my duties. And what the hell? I like my job—I love working with Mrs. W, and she deserves my best.

Chase’s presence is making this too complicated. Thank God he’s only staying temporarily. I only need to make it through a week, resisting the temptation of him being within touching distance like a mirage.

I cringe when I think what Mrs. W would do if she knew about the cat-and-mouse game I’m playing with her grandson. She pays me far too generously to take this job for granted despite Chase insisting that she wouldn’t mind if we had a very non-business relationship, the kind that includes intimacy beyond what I thought was possible with a relative stranger.

Standing on the kitchen threshold, I watch him as he holds the refrigerator’s French doors open wide, inspecting the contents like they’re buried treasure.

“Why is it that you’re always eating when I see you here?”

He turns and grins. I head for the pot on the stove and pour Gran some tea while he slams the refrigerator doors and heads straight for me. I feel his energy like a gale-force wind, all exciting and heady with sexy intent. And my traitor body wants to welcome him with open arms.

“You’re still here. I thought I missed you.” He gives me a hug as if we’re old friends, and it’s perfectly normal, but that’s an impossibility between us. The warm feel of his arms around me takes only an instant to sizzle into a full-fledged roaring fire.

“Where’s Gran?”

“In the library.” I separate from him and pour some honey into the tea.

He places a proprietary hand on the small of my back—as if it has a right to be there—and guides me out of the kitchen through the main entry to the library. It’s hard to be resentful of his hand because it feels so warm and protective, enough so I don’t try to dislodge it, though I could easily do so.

The room is too warm to be labeled a library, especially with the fireplace lit and the Christmas tree in one corner. Gran sits on the couch with a book, and I give her the tea with honey she didn’t ask for but I knew she would want.

“Thank you, dear. How did you know I wanted tea?” She squeezes my hand and then bestows the most loving smile on Chase I’ve seen in a long while. It reminds me of my mother, and an unexpected lump of emotion threatens to overwhelm me.

“You’re home,” she says to him, moving her hand from mine to his as he sits beside her.

“I’ll need to take your blood pressure before I leave, but I’ll give you a minute.” I turn to leave, but she stops me.

“Stay a minute, Em,” Chase says. It’s the kind of request that’s so sincere and so welcome that I can’t say no.

“Okay.” But I get the blood pressure cuff from the cabinet where I keep it and bring it over, fastening it. Listening to her pulse, I take her blood pressure.

“What did you do all day, Gran? Besides, read books?”