When had she agreed to this? Kate wondered as she opened the door to her apartment, letting herself in followed closely by Chase. He had been waiting to escort her home when she left the Abbington building that evening. He didn’t flinch on her announcement she rode the train to and from work, though he did seem less than pleased at the three blocks she had to walk from her stop. She found his concern sweet, but not once could she recall asking him to come home with her!
Dinner. She’d feed him dinner and then put him out.
Tulip’s bay of joyous greeting pulled Kate’s thoughts from the attractive male to her faithful companion. Her basset hound was all that remained of her former life.
Chase knelt on the entry rug. “So I finally get to meet the wonderful Miss Tulip.” He extended his hand, palm up, to the dog. He knew he was in when the white and rust-colored hound wriggled to her back, displaying her white belly for a tummy rub.
“Attention slut,” Kate muttered as she grabbed the dog’s leash from the small table just inside the door. She kept her keys but left her purse. “Time for your after-work constitutional,” she announced to Tulip as she clipped the leash to her collar. “Tulip is priority one when I get home,” she told Chase.
Dropping his bag next to the table, he nodded. “I would think so. She’s been crossing her legs all day.”
Kate raised her eyebrows at the casual way he decided on staying by dumping his belongings. She really should object still she couldn’t seem to care. “I leave ‘oops’ papers in the kitchen, but she has never used them.”
Backing out of the apartment the trio headed down the stairs, Tulip leading the way. Once outside they crossed the street to a green space where the grateful dog relieved herself.
“If she was a person, she would’ve just sighed,” Chase remarked at the expression on the basset’s sad-looking face.
“Doggie sigh.”
“So what’s for dinner?” he asked.
Kate shrugged. “Whatever green or red box I grab from the freezer and nuke.” She had never learned to cook. Frozen dinners were a godsend.
“Aww... Baby, too tired to cook?”
“I don’t cook.”
“Never?”
“I believe I may have a frying pan somewhere, but I can’t be sure...”
“Whoa!” He laughed. “Okay, I saw this little grocery about a block back. Tonight I’ll cook dinner.”
“Chase—”
“You bought lunch. I can do dinner. I’m very domesticated really. Do you like steak?”
Did he say steak? Was she drooling? Kate’s mouth watered at the prospect of a freshly prepared meal. She rarely afforded restaurants so ‘real’ food was nearly unheard of for her. “Yes, but—”
“No buts.” Once again that quick kiss thing of his. “You and Tulip finish her business. I’ll go to the store then meet you back at your place.”
“Chase—” It was useless. He was already jogging away. “The man is not good at listening,” she told the dog grumpily.
The apartment could be considered cozy for one person. For two it was more than cozy—it was crowded. Chase wasn’t really a big man; still he took up a fair amount of space in her tiny kitchen. A curious Kate hovered at his elbow as he baked potatoes, broiled steak, and tossed a salad. After bumping into her for the twentieth time, he was forced to shooed her out.
“Don’t you have something else to do?” he asked.
“Umm... Not really...”
“How about a bath or something?”
“Shower.”
“Great. Go take a shower and relax. I have it under control here.” When she looked as if she might protest he added. “I promise I won’t rifle through your things.”
“I didn’t—”
He raised one dark eloquent eyebrow. “Didn’t you?” Then he smiled encouragingly. “I know you don’t believe it but I am one of the good guys.”
The strange thing was she did believe it. She just couldn’t understand why she felt that way. Maybe it was his eyes—so clear, so direct. There simply wasn’t anything shifty about him. Kate had learned to rely on her instincts—and her instincts said Chase could be trusted. That didn’t jive with the glib charmer she had met online.
After her continued silence, Chase said, “If you don’t trust me, lock the door.”
Kate was torn as she gazed at herself in the bathroom mirror. She was actually looking forward to spending an evening with someone other than Tulip. She wasn’t a loner by nature though circumstances had forced her to become one. It didn’t seem prudent to make any close, lasting ties when her world was temporary. Chase had been the only person who had dared to invite himself in to her solitary life. Here he was in her world, in her apartment, cooking her dinner—a plus under most circumstances. Downside—she couldn’t be herself. At home alone, she usually gave in to the need to be Lili for a while. Off came the glasses. Down came the hair. The frumpy clothes were replaced by soft, sensual attire. No doubt an appearance change that would meet with Chase’s male approval.
“Kate! Whenever you’re ready!” Chase called from the other side of the door.
Hastily, Kate pulled on baggy sweats, tied her damp hair back, and pushed the unneeded glasses on her face. Tonight she would have to be plain Jane once more.
Chase had set the small table with candles he had found in one of the cabinets. It was all he could do for romantic ambience. Mismatched dinner plates, Loony Toons glasses, and cheap flatware certainly didn’t add any! He had dimmed the lights and was lighting the candles as he heard Kate come into the room.
“Oh, Chase...” she murmured softly in pleasured surprise.
Taking her hand, he led her to the table. “Tonight, sweet Kate, we can pretend to be anywhere you want—and you can be anyone you want to be.”
Except she couldn’t be who she really was—not yet anyway. Not until it was safe.
“This is lovely, Chase. Why would I want to be anywhere else?” she asked as she sat down in the chair her led for her.
Because this was hardly what she deserved, he thought darkly. And it certainly isn’t who she is. “If this makes you happy, I’m happy.”
The evening was a pleasant change for Kate. The meal passed in comfortable, innocuous conversation and companionable silences. The food was delicious, no matter that it was rather simple fair. Chase had even remembered a special treat for Tulip who was well on her way to adoring the man. Kate was properly appreciative and Chase was amazingly modest. Afterwards they sat on her lumpy sofa and watched an old movie on television while Tulip snoozed in the ratty old easy chair. Used to being alone and turning in early from boredom, Kate began to nod off.
“Honey, why don’t you go to bed?” Chase as her head drooped to his shoulder.
“I don’t want to yet,” she replied like a petulant child fighting off the Sandman. She liked having company.
“You’re done in.”
“But—“
“I’ll take Tulip out for her final walk and you get ready for bed.” He rose to turn off the television.
“But—“
“Contrary female,” he murmured good-naturedly, grinning down at her. “You’re sleepy and you have work tomorrow.” He went to where Tulip’s leash was left. “C’mon, Miss Tulip, let’s take a stroll.”
The basset hound eagerly hopped down from the chair and hurried over to Chase, her tail wagging furiously.
“Traitor,” Kate mumbled as her dog departed gladly with the man.
When Tulip entered the bedroom, Kate tightened her old bathrobe around herself and prepared to let Chase out.
The living room was dark.
She found Chase already asleep on the sofa. Bathed in moonlight, she saw the even raise and fall of his chest, indicating deep slumber. He looked so innocent and sweet in sleep, like a tired little boy who lost the fight to stay awake. She didn’t have the heart to wake him and kick him out—Besides he had prepared her dinner and filled her usually lonely evening with pleasant companionship.
“Okay… Just for tonight,” she whispered as she headed back to her room.
She never saw the smile on Chase’s lips…