low cut and too short to reach the top of her yoga pants. He said nothing as they meandered slowly across campus. After a few moments, Dani nervously peeked to find him staring at her. “What?” It came out more sharply than she had intended.
“I apologize, Lovely. I was just admiring your hair. It’s very unique.” The half-smile he gave her was genuine, not sarcastic as she’d grown to expect, and it melted her a little more. He should have to register that smile and be licensed to carry it like a weapon.
“I guess unique is one word for it. I was born this way and it’s been the source of many a tear soaked pillowcase in my life,” she admitted. “Have you forgotten my name already? Lovely isn’t it, you know?” She teased to change the subject.
“Of course I know your name. Your nickname is what I don’t care for, Danielle. You are far too lovely to be called by a boy’s name. Therefore, I chose to call you Lovely. Does it offend you?”
“It might offend my mother but I guess I don’t mind.” Arriving at her destination Dani pointed at the building and smiled. “This is it.”
He suddenly looked disgruntled, “You know you hurt my feelings the other night? Rejection isn’t something I’m used to dealing with, Lovely.”
“That’s funny because you didn’t look hurt to me. You actually looked quite cozy.” The memory of the sleazy blonde made her tone sharp again.
“I can assure you, I was quite wounded. You should come out with me on Wednesday and make it up to me. ” He took her hand and placed a kiss in the center of her palm. It was surprisingly sensual and caused her to pull back and think about Lucas.
“To be honest with you, Chase, I have a boyfriend at home and I don’t think an evening with you would be healthy for that relationship,” she confessed, but everything inside her was screaming to accept his invitation.
He put a hand over his heart and whispered as he handed back the bag, “She wounds me again.” In a clearer voice he said, “Perhaps you will save me a dance the next time you visit the club?”
Not wanting to make any promises she answered, “Perhaps.”
He nodded and walked away swiftly, disappearing into the crowd.
FOUR~
Chase was on the way home after meeting with his father. He knew he should be thinking about the upcoming gala his father had enlisted him to help organize and his other various house responsibilities but he was distracted. The gala was a big deal for the Council . It was an annual event that the three ruling houses rotated hosting and it was their turn. Pulling up to the building that housed his penthouse condo, Chase could only think about Danielle’s rejection of him. She had told him she had a boyfriend at home. The thought of that was causing a burning knot at his core. If she’s a Vaughn he should be able to get some intel on her quickly. Where exactly was home for her? He would be able to size up his competition if he just did some digging. He was running the list of potential suspects through his mind. It would have to be someone with good breeding and physical attributes for them to be worthy of her attention. He couldn’t come up with anyone who wasn’t already dating or bonded to another. He exited the Mercedes, tossed the keys to the valet and dug out his cell to call Vince. Vince answered on the second ring.
“Good evening, Chase. Should Vince have your re gular table ready for you?” Vince said in greeting .
“No. I have more pressing matters I need your assistance with, Vince.” Chase was in no mood to go out tonight. “I need you to contact your people and see what information we can get on Danielle Vaughn. I need you to use the utmost discretion. I don’t want her to know I’m checking up on her. The last Vaughn I tangled with caused me nothing but trouble. I don’t want my reputation to precede me. Do you
“I apologize, Lovely. I was just admiring your hair. It’s very unique.” The half-smile he gave her was genuine, not sarcastic as she’d grown to expect, and it melted her a little more. He should have to register that smile and be licensed to carry it like a weapon.
“I guess unique is one word for it. I was born this way and it’s been the source of many a tear soaked pillowcase in my life,” she admitted. “Have you forgotten my name already? Lovely isn’t it, you know?” She teased to change the subject.
“Of course I know your name. Your nickname is what I don’t care for, Danielle. You are far too lovely to be called by a boy’s name. Therefore, I chose to call you Lovely. Does it offend you?”
“It might offend my mother but I guess I don’t mind.” Arriving at her destination Dani pointed at the building and smiled. “This is it.”
He suddenly looked disgruntled, “You know you hurt my feelings the other night? Rejection isn’t something I’m used to dealing with, Lovely.”
“That’s funny because you didn’t look hurt to me. You actually looked quite cozy.” The memory of the sleazy blonde made her tone sharp again.
“I can assure you, I was quite wounded. You should come out with me on Wednesday and make it up to me. ” He took her hand and placed a kiss in the center of her palm. It was surprisingly sensual and caused her to pull back and think about Lucas.
“To be honest with you, Chase, I have a boyfriend at home and I don’t think an evening with you would be healthy for that relationship,” she confessed, but everything inside her was screaming to accept his invitation.
He put a hand over his heart and whispered as he handed back the bag, “She wounds me again.” In a clearer voice he said, “Perhaps you will save me a dance the next time you visit the club?”
Not wanting to make any promises she answered, “Perhaps.”
He nodded and walked away swiftly, disappearing into the crowd.
FOUR~
Chase was on the way home after meeting with his father. He knew he should be thinking about the upcoming gala his father had enlisted him to help organize and his other various house responsibilities but he was distracted. The gala was a big deal for the Council . It was an annual event that the three ruling houses rotated hosting and it was their turn. Pulling up to the building that housed his penthouse condo, Chase could only think about Danielle’s rejection of him. She had told him she had a boyfriend at home. The thought of that was causing a burning knot at his core. If she’s a Vaughn he should be able to get some intel on her quickly. Where exactly was home for her? He would be able to size up his competition if he just did some digging. He was running the list of potential suspects through his mind. It would have to be someone with good breeding and physical attributes for them to be worthy of her attention. He couldn’t come up with anyone who wasn’t already dating or bonded to another. He exited the Mercedes, tossed the keys to the valet and dug out his cell to call Vince. Vince answered on the second ring.
“Good evening, Chase. Should Vince have your re gular table ready for you?” Vince said in greeting .
“No. I have more pressing matters I need your assistance with, Vince.” Chase was in no mood to go out tonight. “I need you to contact your people and see what information we can get on Danielle Vaughn. I need you to use the utmost discretion. I don’t want her to know I’m checking up on her. The last Vaughn I tangled with caused me nothing but trouble. I don’t want my reputation to precede me. Do you
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