Moosely Over You by Jacqueline Winters

Author:Jacqueline Winters
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick

Chapter Nine

Laurel

Laurel had pushed the idea to have Ava’s birthday cookout at Chase’s house, mostly because she thought it was a shame for such a lovely firepit area to remain empty night after night. They couldn’t light a fire, not until Sunset Ridge got some very badly needed rain, and maybe not even then, but it was a great gathering space. A vision of hers Chase had brought to life in her absence. It was hard for that not to touch her heart.

“I can’t believe you talked me into this.” Chase carried an empty plate in from the grill and rinsed it off in the sink.

“I didn’t. Your sister did.”

“And who convinced her?”

Their easy banter was growing more dangerous with each passing day, but Laurel’s guard had begun to collapse, and that could be blamed almost entirely on their explosive kiss. Memories of it drew her gaze even now to the second-floor staircase. “You never did tell me about your renovation project upstairs.”

“I haven’t really gotten a good start on it. Not with this case chewing up so much time and energy.”

“Talk to Henry yet?”

“Not yet. Planning to do that tomorrow. Only want to bother him once for questioning so I don’t get reprimanded for that too.”

Sensing discussing the case was only going to work Chase up, Laurel switched tactics. “What’s your plan with the upstairs?”

Chase searched a cupboard, his arm disappearing up to his elbow as he reached in for a bottle of seasoning. “Thought I’d make those two smallest bedrooms one larger guest suite.”

Laurel immediately warmed to the idea. “Like a place where your parents can stay when they visit.”

“Yeah, exactly.” Their gaze met, and Laurel found herself trapped by it so long her heart fluttered erratically. The same way it had when they first started dating.

She forced her attention to the macaroni salad, stirring it despite that it was already well-mixed. “How are your parents? They’re in Minnesota, right?”

She felt the heat of him as he hovered beside her, and gulped a swallow. With Chase this close, all she could think about was kissing him again. But another kiss would be selfish on her part. She hadn’t changed her mind about the papers. “You know how they are,” he said in a low voice that tickled her ear and sent shivers throughout her chest.

“Chase—”

“Knock, knock!” Ava’s lyrical greeting rang through the house, causing Zeus to bark in excitement as he rushed to the door. Ava didn’t wait to be let in this time.

Chase stared at Laurel a beat longer, dropping his gaze to her lips, no doubt on purpose. He was making this so hard. Which was why Laurel vowed to tell him the one painful truth she’d kept under lock and key after the party ended. Tonight.

“You weren’t supposed to bring anything,” Laurel scolded at the sight of Ava carrying a stack of bowls.

“I’m the birthday girl,” Ava insisted, setting three covered containers of various colors on the counter beside Laurel’s macaroni salad. A fourth she stuck in the fridge.

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