Emancipating Andie (30 page)

“What did he say to you?” Andie asked as Chase pulled out the chair for her.

“He said I better take good care of you, that he knows a good woman when he sees one.”

She looked down, a tiny smile on her lips as her cheeks flushed slightly.

“They’re probably just going to bring food out to us,” he said as he sat across from her, “but if you want something specific, I can get you the menu.”

“Whatever you have, I’ll have,” she said before she looked around, taking in her surroundings. “This place is incredible. So…I don’t know the word…authentic? Organic? That doesn’t sound right,” she said, looking back at him, and he smiled.

“I’m glad you like it. Wait until you taste the enchiladas. You’ll never want to go to another Mexican restaurant again,” he said, thanking the waitress as she brought over a pitcher of margaritas and some guacamole.

Chase poured Andie a drink before he poured one for himself, raising his glass. “To our first date.”

“To the best date I’ve ever been on,” she said, tapping her glass to his.

“Way to jinx it. It hasn’t even started yet.”

“Doesn’t matter,” she said softly. “I’m with you.”

Chase tilted his head. “Are you trying to get in my pants on the first date?”

Andie laughed just as a loud whooping and catcalling suddenly erupted, and Chase turned his head to see one of the couples on the dance floor spinning and twisting and twirling so fast that he was surprised they remained on their feet.

“Wow,” Andie said, taking a sip of her margarita. “They’re amazing.”

“Ever take dance lessons?”

“Not like that,” she laughed. “I took some ballet classes when I was young, but it was never really my thing.”

Chase smirked slightly, laughing when he saw Andie bristle.

“Why is that funny?” she asked.

“I’m not laughing at you,” he said over the top of his glass before taking a sip. “I just thought it was sort of amusing that we have that in common.”

Andie froze. “We have what in common?”

Chase laughed again, taking another sip of his drink as he brought his eyes back to the dance floor, trying not to smile but failing when he heard Andie’s drawn-out, “
No way
! You took ballet?”

“Hey, I’ll have you know we
all
had to. My soccer coach in high school made us. He said it helped with flexibility and agility.”

Andie raised her eyebrows thoughtfully. “Huh,” she said. “So, did you wear tights?”

“No,” he answered, reaching to take a chip, “but that was only because I didn’t want to make the other guys feel bad.”

Andie pressed her lips together before she burst out laughing.

A few minutes later, the waitress brought over Chase’s favorite,
enchiladas posotinas
, and when Andie closed her eyes and groaned over the first bite, he fell even more in love with her.

The conversation flowed easily as they devoured the enchiladas and drained the pitcher of margaritas; they talked about Andie’s time in college, about Chase’s mother, about Andie’s best friend Tracey, about Chase’s summers with his grandfather. They talked about the most embarrassing things that had ever happened to them and the best things. They talked about everything and nothing, and they laughed the entire time.

Andie had been right. It was, by far, the best date he’d ever been on.

Manuel came out and cleared their plates, telling them he was preparing a special dessert for them, and as they sat and waited, one of the men from the dance floor approached the table and asked Chase if he could dance with Andie.

“Oh God,” she laughed, the beautiful flush that drove Chase crazy lighting her cheeks. “I can’t dance that way.”

“I show you,” the man said. “Is easy.”

Chase smiled. “Go ahead,” he said, nodding toward the dance floor.

“Oh God,” Andie mumbled again, her face turning crimson as the man took her hand and walked her out into the open space.

Chase turned in his seat, his eyes on her as the man walked her through a few of the basic steps. She followed him, hesitant at first, and despite her admitted lack of expertise, she carried herself with such an elegance and a grace that it looked like she had been dancing for years. Chase could see her smile, see the confidence growing behind it as she picked up the steps, and every now and then, she’d throw her head back and laugh at something the man said.

She had not the slightest idea how charismatic she was. Everyone in the room seemed to be watching her, and Chase couldn’t figure out what he’d ever done in his life to deserve her.

When the man saw Manuel bring their dessert to the table, he kissed both Andie’s hands and sent her off the dance floor, nodding his thank you to Chase, and Chase held up his hand and smiled in return.

“You were great,” he said as she sat across from him, fanning herself.

“I don’t know about that, but at least I stayed on my feet.”

They finished their dessert and said good-bye to everyone in the restaurant, and it was blatantly clear to Chase that everyone was as smitten with Andie as he was.

“That was so much fun,” Andie beamed as they walked back out onto the street.

“I knew you’d like it. Oh, and Andie?” he said, opening the car door for her.

“Yeah?”

“I know what
El Hueco
means. It means The Hole.”

“
The Hole
?” Andie echoed, her brows raised.

“Yeah. I figured I probably shouldn’t tell you that before we went in.”

“Good call,” she said through her laughter, and he leaned in and kissed her softly on the mouth before he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side.

“I had so much fun tonight,” she said as he slid into the car. “Thank you.”

“It’s not quite over yet. There’s one more place I want to take you.”

Chase drove through the darkened streets with Andie’s head resting on his shoulder, and this time, as he turned up side roads and off onto a dirt trail, she didn’t question where they were going.

He parked at the end of the trail and took her hand as she exited the car, walking them through the underbrush and up a small hill.

“This might be a little hard to get up,” Chase said, gesturing toward the rock incline that led up to the bridge above.

“I got it,” Andie said. “But stay behind me, just in case.”

Chase watched her roll up the sleeves of her sweater as she dug the toe of her heeled boot into the side of the wall, using her hands to help scale her way up. It was unbelievable how much something as silly as watching her climb turned him on.

“You coming?” she said over her shoulder once she reached the top, and he laughed, shaking his head before he climbed up after her.

“Wow,” she breathed as he came up behind her, taking in the view that was as familiar to him as his own apartment. “Chase…this is…”

“I know,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder.

The bridge itself was old and forgotten, the road closed off years ago, but from the top of it, you could see for miles. On one side, the lights of the city below twinkled and glittered in different colors like scattered jewels, and on the other, the peaceful, tranquil stretch of wilderness, broken only by a lazy stream meandering throughout.

“Can you tell me how you found this place? Or is that not a first-date story either?” she murmured contentedly.

He chuckled softly. “When I was younger, whenever I felt like getting away from all the bullshit, I used to just drive. Half the time I didn’t even know where I was going. One time I ended up here.”

“It’s beautiful. Like it should be a painting. Or a picture.”

Chase smiled, closing his eyes. “This was the first photograph I ever sold.”

He felt her turn her head toward him. “Really?”

“Mm-hm,” he hummed. “I photographed a whole series of this place, transitioning from day to night. And one day I got the balls to go to a gallery show. It sold within the first half hour. That was the first time I felt like I was good at this, you know? I always loved it, but that was the first time I felt like I was good.”

She slid her hands over his where they rested on her stomach.

“I come up here whenever I need a little inspiration.”

“Were you in need of a little inspiration tonight?” Andie asked, and Chase shook his head.

“Not when I’m with you. Not ever with you.”

Andie smiled, leaning back into him as she closed her eyes.

“One day I’m gonna take you up here.”

Andie turned her head slightly to look at him. “Aren’t we already up here?”

Chase shook his head. “One day I’m gonna
take
you up here,” he said, running his hands down over her hips as he pulled her body back against his.

Andie groaned softly as her eyes fluttered closed. “Then do it,” she whispered, turning in his arms and wrapping hers around his neck. “Take me.”

Chase nearly broke under that look in her eyes, but he shook his head. “Not now. I would never do that on our first date.”

“Chase,” she whispered. “It’s not really—”

He cut her off with a shake of his head. “No sex tonight, Andie. Just us. Just this,” he said, gesturing between them with his hand. “
This
is just as important to me.”

She looked up at him, her eyes still filled with lust. “That’s some self-control you got there, McGuire.”

He smiled slowly. “It’s not as infallible as you think,” he said, gently kissing her lips. “That being said, I’m gonna take you home.”

Andie stuck her bottom lip out, pouting adorably, and he laughed softly before he leaned in and took it between his lips. “We’ll come back,” he whispered against her mouth. “I promise.”

Chase helped her down the side of the bridge, and they walked back to the car, their hands clasped in comfortable silence. And when they got back to her apartment, he walked her to her door, thanked her for a wonderful evening, and kissed her good night.

“Mmm,” she hummed against his lips. “Your kisses still give me butterflies.”

He smiled, brushing the hair away from her face.

“You’re really not coming in? Just for a few minutes?” she asked, and he laughed softly.

“I’m a man who knows his limits, Andie,” he said, kissing her hand before he turned and walked toward the stairs.

“Chase?” she called just as he reached the top, and he turned his head over his shoulder just in time to see her grin.

“Now it’s my turn to do this right. Clear your schedule for tomorrow night. I’m making you dinner.”

.

C
HAPTER
S
EVENTEEN

C
hase stood in his living room, giving his apartment the once over. He had straightened up as much as possible, especially in the kitchen. Andie assured him that his lack of kitchen supplies and cookware would not be a problem; she’d be bringing over everything she needed, so he at least wanted to provide her with a neat space to work in.

He was just about to wipe down the stove one more time when he heard a knock on his door, and he smiled, turning to open it.

“Hey,” he said, his smile dropping as soon as the door was fully open.

Shit.

He righted his expression a beat too late, smiling again. “Colin. Good to see you, man.”

He knew Andie hadn’t mentioned anything about their relationship to Colin. They had only spoken twice since their break up, and both were very formal conversations, mostly just about returning each other’s belongings. Regardless, he wasn’t exactly sure how he was supposed to play this.

“You busy?” Colin asked.

Shit shit shit.

“Uh,” Chase said awkwardly, running his hand through his hair and thinking of how he could possibly get Colin out of there before Andie showed up. He was fully aware that eventually Colin would find out they were together, but he didn’t need to know just how soon after their break up it happened. “No, I’m not busy. What’s up? How are you?”

“I’ve been better.”

Stupid fucking question
, Chase thought.

“Yeah, I heard. Tyler told me,” he said.

Colin stood there, his expression unreadable. He didn’t look sad, or pissed, or confused, or hurt. He just…stood there.

There had never been a more awkward silence.

Fuck it
, he thought. He had to say something. Invite him in. Anything. He could text Andie, tell her to stall.

“You want a beer or something?” Chase said, taking a step back into the apartment.

“No. I can’t stay. I was just in the neighborhood.”

Another silence, made more awkward by the fact that Chase didn’t believe him for a second.

“I went to Andie’s to get some of my stuff today,” Colin said, and Chase shifted, rubbing the back of his neck. He had no idea what he was supposed to say to that. He was totally unprepared for this, and he should have known better.

“I figured it would be better if I went when she wasn’t home,” Colin added.

Chase exhaled slowly. “I’m sorry, man.”

Colin laughed then, a dry, humorless laugh as he tilted his head to the side. “Why do people always tell you they’re sorry when something bad happens to you? I mean, it’s not like
you
did anything, right? So what are you sorry for?”