Forgotten Night (Forgotten Book 1)

Chapter 4

Chase shifted uncomfortably. Hearing that moan had undone all of the calming he talked himself into while he was in the kitchen. He could have invited her into the kitchen with him, but he needed some space and time to process.

     Mostly, he needed to get rid of the perpetual hard on he developed from the moment she got out of that rust bucket. His new composure was shot now. He wondered what her plan was for the night. He could definitely give her some ideas.

What in the heck was wrong with him? Some random woman comes out of the woodwork and tells him he is going to be a dad, and he can't think of anything but getting her into his bed. He had to focus on something besides the way her mouth closed around her glass or the way she moaned every time she took a bite of the flaky biscuit.

     Needing to cool off, he picked up the pitcher of tea and poured himself a glass. He wasn't sure how he was going to swallow past the lump that was currently lodged in his throat. He took a drink and tried looking anywhere but at her.

"These biscuits are really good. I haven't had biscuits and sausage in forever. What brand are they?"

"What brand?" Confused, he looked back at her. "Oh, they aren't a brand. They are homemade. I made them this morning for my brother, Chad. I figured it was the least I could do since he was taking over for me today, so I could get a day off."

"You made these? A man that can cook?"

"Yep, my mama didn't raise someone who needed to depend on a woman for a warm meal."

She nodded in appreciation. She swallowed another bite of warm biscuit as he watched her. "Taking over what?"

"What? Oh the herd. We have calves fixin' to drop. They have to be fed and checked. A big oak tree fell on a fence on the northwest grazing pasture. We had some high winds, day before yesterday. He's cutting the limbs up, so we can fix the fence tomorrow. I was going to go out with him, but he insisted I needed a break. He took our part-time ranch hand, Levi. I've been running nonstop for the last few months. My trip to Denver was about the only break from the ranch I've had in the past year. Even if the quick trip was about the ranch."

Her face lit up with a smile Chase hadn't seen since she arrived. He didn't think she could be any more beautiful, but she had done it with one upturn of those plump, pale pink lips. Get a hold of yourself, man. He took a drink of tea in hopes of distracting himself.

"Yes, your semen. I remember."

He choked and sputtered on the tea. Tiffany clapped him on the back and then began rubbing her hand in slow clockwise circles. As he got his coughing under control, he looked up and met her sparkling eyes. She quickly pulled her hand back. He could still feel the warmth of where she had touched him. It felt like electric currents had run through the circles she had made on his back. Suddenly, he was glad he had almost drowned in his tea. He wanted her to touch him again.

She sheepishly looked away and took a sip of her orange juice. "Sorry. I should have at least waited for you to finish that drink."

With a chuckle, he replied, "Not your fault. You just surprised me."

She had already polished off two biscuits and straightened with a no nonsense look, so he guessed it was time to talk.

***

"I guess formal introductions are in order since I am unlucky enough to have forgotten everything important from that night in Denver. I'm Chase Crawford." He held out his hand.

"Tiffany Austin." As soon as she touched his hand, she regretted it.

     His strong callused fingers squeezed hers. Her hand seemed to have a direct link to her nipples and below her waist. He apparently had no intention of letting go of her hand. She could see that their touch was affecting him.

     His eyes were deep pools of desire. She felt like he could see through her clothes. She really wished she had taken the time to change from work before she left Denver. She slowly pulled her hand back. He shook his head and shifted away from her. She should never have come here.

She stood abruptly. "This was a mistake. Don't worry about anything. I'll figure out another way. Forget we ever met."

He looked up at her with an expression of shock. "How on earth do you think I would ever accomplish that? What kind of man do you think I am?"

"I don't know, the kind of man that hooks up with random strangers!"

A look of anger flashed across his face. He stood towering over her. Wow, this man was really tall. He had to be at least six foot four.

"I was blind drunk that night. Something I never do. It was completely out of character for me. I haven't even been on a date, let alone slept with a woman, in three damn years."

She was dumbfounded. Three years? A man this hot? Women probably threw themselves at him all the time. She sure did a good job of it. Even though she didn't know him, she believed he was telling the truth. He had seemed to be an honest man from the moment they began talking that night in Denver. "Apparently we were both a little out of character that night. I apologize for my assumption."

"Just forget it. You said, 'figure out another way'. Another way to what?"

"Pay for the abortion."

She only thought she saw anger before. He had a look of rage that she should have backed away from, but for some unknown reason, she knew he wouldn't hurt her and took an involuntary step toward him. He turned his back and began stalking around the living room like a caged tiger.

He grounded out through his clenched teeth, "So you came not to tell me I was going to be a father, but to ask me to pay for the murder of my child?"

"Excuse me? You don't even remember me. Why in the hell would you want to have a child with me?"

He stopped pacing to face her. "It doesn't matter who you are. You are talking about killing my unborn child!"

That hurt. Of course it didn't matter who she was. She was just a piece of ass that could be replaced. Just like her mother had been for her father. Tiffany could feel her anger raging for escape.

    "Your child? Are you going to be the one to carry it for nine months? Are you going to be the one out of a job with no way to pay the rent? Are you going to be the one to take care of the kid after it's born? The answer is no. None of that will be you. Oh sure, you might send a few bucks here and there for the first couple months. Maybe even come and visit for the first birthday. It won't be your problem. It will be mine!"

She stormed out of the house, letting the screen door slam behind her. Rusty jumped up from his nap under the shade tree in the front yard and ran toward her. She reached down to absently scratch behind his ears and then shooed him toward the house. With a little more calm, she opened the door to her car. Once inside, she turned the key. The car sputtered and died.

"Shit!" She tried again with the same result. "Shit! Shit, double shit!" Defeated, she laid her head on the steering wheel and let out the sobs she had been holding back.

There was a soft knock on her window. "Go away," she groaned through her tears.

"Open the door."

"No."

"Fine." He grabbed the door and wrenched it open. In complete contrast to his current state, he ran his hand soothingly over her silky hair. "Come back inside. Let's talk about this. I promise to listen to your side."