The Wrangler Takes a Wife (Silver Creek Ranch #7)

Chapter 6

Chapter Six

C hase

“Hey, Brat,” Roddick greeted Amara as she opened the door. “Is that Chase’s truck out front?”

“Um, yup.” Amara stuttered.

Chase wiped his face and headed towards the door. Sounded like she needed some help. By the time he reached it, her brother was standing in the foyer.

“Hey Roddick.” Chase greeted him.

“Chase? What are you doing here?”

“Amara and I were working out a surprise.” Well, it wasn’t a lie.

“Oh, all right.” Roddick looked between them, but his gaze lingered on Amara. When she nodded in confirmation, her brother shrugged. “I heard you were going to visit Jo.”

Amara sighed and rolled her eyes.

Unbothered, Roddick continued, “I’m here for my biscuits.”

“You know, just because I make Jo some, doesn’t mean you get some too.”

“That’s exactly what it means. Where are my biscuits?”

Amara walked over to the counter and grabbed a container. “Here.” She thrust it into her brother’s waiting hands.

“What kind did you—” Roddick stopped mid-sentence. It probably was because of the look Amara was giving him. “Fine. I’ll get out of your hair.”

Roddick took a step to the door, then stopped. “This surprise?” He let his question linger in the air.

“Everyone will know soon enough, nosey pants,” Amara answered.

“Alright. I’m going to go put this away before I head over to the Sagebrush Hills. See you later.” Roddick looked at each of them, then nodded. Chase returned the nod.

“Later,” Amara called. “Don’t slam the door.” Her instruction fell on deaf ears. “He does that shit on purpose.” She clapped her hands together.

Her attention was drawn to her watch. “Crap! We should head out soon, or we’ll be late.” She pivoted on her heels and sauntered over to her kitchen.

Is she really going to ignore what happened before her brother interrupted us? He walked over to the counter, stopping right in front of where she was packing the bag. She paused mid-action but wouldn’t look up at him.

Chase wasn’t into playing games. He had been as patient as he was willing to be. At least he resisted the urge to reach out and touch her. Although, that was for an entirely different reason. “Let’s talk about what happened before Roddick arrived.”

Amara looked up at him, as she worried her bottom lip. He hadn’t seen her look uncomfortable before.

“We are going to be late.” She placed the container in the bag, then zipped it up. When he continued to stare at her, she picked up the bag and walked around the counter. “I’m not trying to avoid what happened.” He arched an eyebrow at her. “I’m not. Look. I hate being late. We can discuss the um… kiss on the way to Jo’s if you want.”

“Deal,” Chase answered, taking the bag from her.

They made it all the way to the door when she stopped mid-step. “I can’t do this.”

What the hell was she talking about? Did she want to call off their deal? Hell no, he couldn’t allow it.

She pivoted, then made a beeline to her sink. “I promise it won’t take long. I can’t leave this plate in the sink.”

Of course, something like the plate would bother her. Get under her skin. He smiled, but it faded when he realised how deeply he had felt about the thought of her changing her mind about their deal. The realisation of how much he wanted their arrangement shocked him. Fortune favoured the brave. So even though the signs were there that he should walk away before he got in too deep. He wouldn’t.

Chase helped Amara into his truck, then placed the bag in the back seat of the cab. When he rounded the hood and joined her, she was sitting in the same position, with her purse on her lap, staring ahead. He reached over and grabbed her seat belt. Despite her swatting at his hand, Chase buckled her in.

“What the hell, Wrangler? I can buckle my own seatbelt.”

“Well, you looked like a deer caught in the headlights. So, I did you a solid.” Grabbing his own seatbelt, he buckled it. He placed the truck in gear and pulled off towards Willowridge.

“You’re an ass.” Amara snorted. It wasn’t cute or delicate. No, it was loud, and had it been anyone else, it might have been annoying. From her? It made him smile.

“Speaking of asses. You ready to talk about what happened earlier?”

Chase expected her to say something snarky. Instead, she laughed. He liked the sound.

“Nice, easy segue. I’ll start. You’re a good kisser.”

Hearing her say it made him smile with pride. “I know that Sweet Darling.” She snorted again, but he couldn’t examine her expression because he had his eyes on the road. “So, why did you get so weirded out earlier?”

“Because my brother interrupted us. Roddick rings the bell, but he eventually gets impatient and will just come in. The thought of him catching us like in the act… they are protective, even though I can take care of myself.”

“I get it.” Chase really did. Her brothers adored her. “Here is the thing. I want us on the same page.”

“I’m listening.” Out of his peripheral, he saw her fidgeting in her seat.

“For the duration of our agreement, we both need to be exclusive. It means?—”

“I know what exclusivity means, Wrangler. It wasn’t something you had to clarify. I already figured you wouldn’t want your wife stepping out, and it becoming common knowledge.”

Amara was damn right on that score. Her admission got him to thinking. She seemed surprised when he suggested they kiss. “Then how were you planning to have your needs met?” he asked her.

“I know how to take care of myself.” The woman was so full of sass. He shouldn’t find it so attractive.

Chase was sure her answer was meant to make him feel uncomfortable. It had a different effect. X-rated thoughts about Amara taking care of herself invaded his mind. He imagined her in the shower, her hands exploring her wet curves, her pleasure intensifying as the water ran down her skin. He could feel himself getting aroused, and he knew he had to get a grip before it was too late. Instead of the embarrassment Amara had intended, her comment produced a flood of lust. The only gentleman-like thing to do was offer assistance. “Now you don’t have to rely on self-care. You have me, and I’m more than happy to help.”

“Really? You’re so generous,” Amara drawled. “I’m ready to change the topic.”

“I don’t mind changing the topic, however acknowledging our chemistry will go a long way to making our arrangement more enjoyable.”

“Sure. Now shush. Put on the radio or something.”

Chase put on the radio but grumbled when the only choice was country music. They had three stations. Two clearly correctly labelled themselves country stations, but even the third mostly only played country music.

“Explain to me how a cowboy doesn’t like country music?”

Chase chuckled. “Are you saying what I do for a living should dictate what music I listen to?”

“No, I think good taste should.”

The rest of the way into Willowridge. They had a rousing conversation about their music taste. Chase explained to her that actual music included guitars, drums, and amazing lyrics. Like classic rock.

“Is it because you’re old?” Amara giggled.

Chase didn’t consider himself old. Not when he took such good care of his body. He knew that he obviously had a few years on her. By his math, it was close to fifteen years… but they were adults. It never occurred to him it might be an issue for Amara, and she might think he was too old for her. Especially not with their chemistry. “What? You think I’m old?”

“No, I was just messing with you. You’re only eight years older than I am.”

“How old are you? And how old do you think I am?” As they neared Willowridge, Chase slowed down, interested in her response.

“I’m thirty-eight, and Rodney said you were the same age, so that would make you forty-six.”

“You don’t look your age.”

“Thank-you. It’s the genes.”

Chase parked in front of the Law Office of J. Welch. The moment the truck was put into park Amara, reached for the handle.

“Don’t touch it!” He growled at her.

Amara immediately pulled her hand away. However, in a display of having more sass than sense, she challenged him. “Does barking orders and growling normally work for you?”

As much as it bothered him, that she even attempted to open her own door. He was smart enough not to point out; it did, in fact, work, and she was no longer attempting to open her own door. “You keep your tush in your seat until I get the door for you.”

Chase opened the door and helped her down.

“And they say chivalry is dead.”

He smiled at her sarcasm and dramatic eye roll. Well, life with her wouldn’t be dull. He carried the bag she had packed for her cousin.

Salema, the receptionist, smiled up at them. “Jo is on a call. She will be out soon. Can I get you a drink?”

They both declined. Chase let Amara select a chair, then selected the one nearest to her. For his trouble, he was gifted a glare. They waited in silence. True to Salema’s word, not ten minutes later, Jo’s office door opened. Those genes Amara referred to were strong. Although the women were cousins, they could have passed for sisters. They shared the same complexion and body type, but Amara was three inches taller than her cousin. The other major difference was Jo possessed the deepest dimples. Even when she wasn’t smiling, they were visible.

Jo greeted and ushered them into her office. Amara took the bag from Chase and presented it to her cousin. “Thank you,” she squeaked. It took him by surprise. Until this point, the woman presented herself as professionally friendly, but no nonsense.

“I have your documents ready as requested, Mr. Harrison.”

“Mr. Harrison is my father. Please call me Chase,” he reminded her again.

“Yes, Chase. I will keep it in mind. Read and then sign. This is a boilerplate, lease agreement. Well, except for the lack of monetary compensation.”

Jo handed him the documents first. It spelled out the agreement he and Amara had decided on. Chase would give the Welches access to the land for two years. It was proof of his acting in good faith. When they married, he would then sign an agreement that turned the land over to Amara on their second anniversary.

Amara had been worried about the optics. To him, it wasn’t complicated. “I’ll be giving my wife a wedding gift. It is all anyone needs to know.”

While Amara read over the document, he observed how Jo looked at her. Jo regarded Amara as though she were trying to work out a puzzle. Amara signed the papers and handed it back to her cousin.

“There, you are both all set.” A look passed between the cousins. Well, more than one. They seemed to have an unspoken conversation. It ended with Amara shaking her head. “If you don’t mind me asking Chase, what made you decide to ‘lease’ the land?”

“Amara and I decided it was time for a truce. This was just a sign of good faith.” Chase said, pointing to the papers.

“Well, I hope you got something out of it, too.” Even though Jo was speaking to him, her eyes darted towards her cousin.

“I think it works for both of us,” Chase answered. Jo arched her brow at him.

“Well, as long as both of you are content with your agreement,” Jo smirked.

Amara cleared her throat, then thanked her cousin for the work. Amara was on her feet before Chase fully grasped she was ready to leave. Their goodbye was quick. Although his gait was longer than hers, he had to put in some effort to keep up with her. When he opened the door for her, she practically jumped into the passenger’s seat.

While rounding the hood, he kept his eyes on her the whole time. Once he was behind the wheel, he nudged her. “You were in a hurry to get out of there.” Chase buckled himself in.

Amara was quiet for a long time. “I don’t know if this will work.”

“We have an agreement which is already in play.”

Turning, she looked at him. “I know. You don’t understand. Jo can read me like a book. I’m telling you; she knows there is more to this.”

There was no way Chase was going to let Amara back out now. As far as he was concerned, they couldn’t abandon the plan. “Jo is correct. There is more to this than a truce. We will start dating, and she, along with everyone else, will witness us fall for each other.”

“You don’t have siblings. Do you?”

“Am I missing something? I thought you were cousins.”

“We are, but closer than sisters. Probably because we are biologically sisters,” Amara explained how their mothers were twins married to brothers.

“Anyway, she can read me better than anyone. She isn’t buying this.”

“Make her buy it.”

Amara put on her seatbelt in a huff. Her frustration rolled off of her in waves. He didn’t like her being distressed.

“I think I have the solution. Let me take you out on a proper date. We will get more comfortable around each other.”

“You really think it will be that easy to convince everyone?”

“Practice makes perfect, Sweet Darling.”

She muttered something under her breath.

“Are you telling me you aren’t up for a challenge? I find that hard to believe.”

“Fine, Wrangler. This date. When and where?”

“Now and I’ll drive us to dinner. I hear Chesterville has a Chinese restaurant. It’ll give me a chance to feed you for once.”