Off Limits 18+

Chapter 10

Scarlet

The restaurant was beautiful. Glass windows from floor to ceiling with a gorgeous lake view. Thankfully I had dressed nice in a knee length dress. Leah wouldn't leave me alone about getting together for lunch and I ran out of excuses.

"Hi, I'm a little early. I'm meeting some friends. Last name is probably under Hayden," I tell the hostess.

She smiled and looked at the book in front of her before saying, "They aren't here yet but l can get you seated. Unless you'd like to wait at the bar for them to arrive."

A drink sounded fantastic right now.

"I'd love to be seated," I said with a smile.

I had to mentally prepare myself for brunch with Leah and her sister. I didn't want to be here. I hated that I was put in this position. Who was I kidding, I put myself in this position and I knew it.

Staring out at the lake, looking at the beautiful water, memories came flooding back. Spending weekends by the water with my brothers, Chase and my parents. Having a bad day and driving to the beach to forget everything and to hear the water. The water was my happy place.

3 years earlier

"I thought I'd find you here," Chase grinned and sat down beside me in the sand.

"Oh yeah? Am I that predictable?"

"You are anything but predictable. I just happen to know that you love the water, especially when you're in a shitty mood." He nudged me with his shoulder, showcasing that sexy smile.

I laughed. "True."

"You can tell me what's wrong. I'm all ears."

"What does all ears even mean? I'm all ears," I asked with my hands in air quotes, grinning.

"Fuck you." He threw his head back and laughed. "It means, I'm here to listen to all that shit you have bottled up in that beautiful head of yours."

Leaning my head against his shoulder I asked, "You think I have a beautiful head?"

I could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke. "It's a little big but yeah, very beautiful."

We both busted out laughing and I smacked his chest. We sat there in a comfortable silence for what seemed like forever. I could feel him breathing while I rested my head against him.

He wrapped his arm around my waist. "What"s up, Scar?"

"I hate that you and my brothers are leaving again in two days for college. I've missed you guys a lot this year."

"I miss you too," he said while kissed the top of my head. "Here, let's take a picture."

I smiled up at him. "Really?"

"Duh." He made a goofy face as he dug in his pocket for his phone.

"Smile," he said, holding his phone out.

I smiled.

"Make a silly face," he said.

I laughed and stuck my tongue out as he made a kissy face.

"Smile again."

I smiled and he put his lips to my cheek, catching me off guard. After he snapped the photo, I turned to him.

He rubbed his thumb against the cheek that he had just kissed and smiled. "Now when you miss me, just look at these."

His eyes went to my lips and I braced myself. Chase Davis was about to kiss me. I looked at his lips right back and started to lean forward.