Read Online Cowboy Take Me Away by Soraya Lane - Free Book Online Page A

as head over heels in love with me as she claimed to be.” He shrugged. “I thought Nate was full of bullshit, but I went along with it to prove a point and I told her that Granddad had barred us all from inheriting until much later in life, that we had to make our own way in the world and we’d get our third of everything when we turned forty.”
    â€œWhat happened then?”
    â€œLet’s just say that she was only twenty-five and she had no intention of waiting that long to see some serious cash. She was gone by the time I woke up the next morning.”
    â€œBitch.”
    Chase toyed with the stem of his wineglass. “My sentiments exactly.”
    They sat in silence for a little while, the country-rock music getting louder as the place became even more crowded. It was nice being out, enjoying adult company instead of being permanently in mommy mode when she wasn’t at work. She had some great work colleagues, but between Harrison and work, she hadn’t exactly had any time to make new friends.
    â€œSo here we are.”
    She laughed. “Here we are.”
    â€œYou ever think what might have happened if you hadn’t bolted on me that morning? Whether things might have turned out differently?”
    Hope’s body ignited just at the mention of their night together, like flames licking across her skin. “Chase…” She didn’t want to discuss it, especially not now.
    â€œNo, come on. We were friends, it was years ago, surely we can talk about it.”
    She wasn’t sure if he was just trying to get a rise out of her, or if he genuinely didn’t mind dredging up the past. “For starters, I didn’t bolt, I had a plane to catch and you knew it.”
    He leaned farther back into the seat, his body stretched out, knee locked against hers. There was no getting away from the man.
    â€œLet’s not pretend like that night didn’t mean anything, Hope.” His voice was so deep it was seductive, silky, and gruff. She’d resisted him for so long, for so many years, but now that she’d been on the receiving end of that voice, of his touch, she doubted she’d have the same kind of willpower ever again. Not when it came to Chase King, and the temptation was sitting right in front of her.
    â€œChase,” she cautioned, not sure what else to say.
    â€œIt was worth it,” he said, pushing a hand through his hair. One curly lock escaped immediately, springing back, and she wanted to touch it so bad it hurt.
    His confidence was overpowering, but she refused to let him seduce her if that’s what he was trying to do. What had happened between them had been a mistake, that was all. A pleasurable, amazing mistake, but a mistake nonetheless.
    â€œChase, I wasn’t one of your one-nighters then, and I’m not now,” she managed, holding her glass so tight she was afraid it would break. “That was just three years of pent-up sexual attraction exploding.”
    â€œI’ve never mistaken you for a one-nighter, Hope, that’s why I’ve always been waiting for a rematch.”
    She glared at him, needing a damn fan to cool herself from the heat surging through every inch of her. “You need another woman to try to slap you tonight?”
    Chase held up both hands like he was surrendering, only he snatched her hand into his and linked their fingers before she had a chance to realize what the hell he was doing.
    â€œHow about I keep hold of this hand just in case,” he asked, his grin way too infectious to let her stay angry with him.
    She noticed the waiter approaching and breathed a big sigh of relief.
    â€œHow about you give me my hand back and we eat dinner.”
    What she needed was to call her best friend back home. Lisa had been like a sister to her since they were in pre-K, and she was also one of the only people on the planet who knew the truth about Hope’s son’s father. She dug her