Page 3 of Chase
The amusement has vanished, and all I can feel is the intensity in his gaze. It surrounds me.
My phone starts to vibrate again. Breaking the trance, I pull it out of my pocket this time glancing down to see two unread messages.
I swipe in my passcode. The last message I received shows at the top.
Dad:Yasmin, I’m sorry can you take Millie to school please? I’m still at work.
I start to shake; I can’t stop it. It’s an automatic response.
I asked him to do one thing. I wanted him to be there for her today.
I’m usually good at controlling my emotions especially when I’m around other people, but I’m tired and a little rattled by what the hell just happened when I looked into the stranger’s eyes.
I feel like I could spend hours getting lost in them.
Distracted by my phone and my mini freak out, I don’t notice him approach at first. But then I can smell him. His smell instantly calms me, the scent of leather and citrus. It’s sweet and manly all at the same time. I’ve always had a thing with smells. I have a super sensitive nose.
It takes all my strength not to lean into him to get a better sniff. What the hell is happening to me??? He gently touches my shoulder. I shudder, The feeling is electric.
“Are you okay?” He sounds concerned. I look into his eyes and I don’t even try to hide the hurt and anger. It takes all my strength to not get lost in him again.
I let my guard down and let him in.
I don’t ever let anyone in.
I definitely don’t let strangers in.
There’s something about him. It feels like I know him. He’s tall, muscular, and strong. I don’t miss that there is also something in his gaze. It’s like I can tell he doesn’t let people in either. I shake my head slightly.
“No, but I have to be.”
He jerks forward a little and I look down to see Daisy nudging the back of his knee. She’s pushing him closer.
Huh.
Looks like I’m not the only one that likes him. I don’t even know his name. But right there as I look back at him, I realise that I want to. I want to know everything about him.
Holy shit. What the hell is going on?
I’ve never wanted to get to know anyone like this before. I’ve had boyfriends in the past. Okay, well, one boyfriend before Dad decided he temporarily wanted to be a father and teamed up with my friend Smalls to scare him off. No one ever wants to date a policeman’s daughter.
“Wanna talk about it?” He says searching my face, like he knows at any minute I might run away.
Usually I would. I would have retreated and not looked back. I find myself unable to move. Here I am standing in a stranger’s driveway, looking like a hot mess express. He probably thinks I’m crazy.
The jury’s still out. I might be.
“It’s okay, I should probably go. You don’t need to hear about my problems. I don’t even know your name, and you never answered my question.”
He doesn’t even hesitate. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to know.”
I study him, trying to find a reason to walk away, but he seems to genuinely want to know. I start to respond but he cuts me off.
“I’m Chase, and to answer your question, the judge told me I’m not allowed to do that anymore.”
My mouth drops open. He tries to hide his smile, and then something inside me snaps. I start laughing.
It’s been weeks since I laughed, months since it has felt this natural. Chase just stares at me until I stop and catch my breath. I look back into his eyes.
