Chance on Love (17 page)

He smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it, Gammy.” He glanced at Love who sat across from him at the table. She smothered a smile before taking a sip of her champagne. She was loving every second of this.

The party, held in the large reception room of the mansion, was in full swing. Guests mingled and laughed, and a jazz band played in the background.

Gammy reached over to pat Love’s hand. “Ross told me all about you two, dear.”

He groaned.

His grandmother nodded. “I not only approve, I’m delighted.”

Love looked at him. “Uh....”

“Thank you, Gammy.” He made a point of looking around the room. “Oh, look. There’s Luke.”

Her eyes widened. “Lucas? Where?” She stood up from the table. “You, I can count on, sweetie, but that brother of yours...”

Chance pointed. “Over there by the fountain, next to Jennifer.”

Gammy bent down and pulled his face in for a quick peck on the cheek. “Don’t you run off now, okay, Boo Bear? Save me a dance first.”

Chance smiled. “You got it.”

She walked off calling, “Lucas Valentine, you get your tail over here.”

Love mouthed, “Boo Bear?” while looking at Chance with raised eyebrows.

He discreetly flipped her off.

Smiling, she shook her head. “Your grandmother’s sweet.”

Chance turned to watch as she disappeared into the crowd. “Yeah, she is. She and my grandfather are total opposites.” He turned to look at Love again. “I’m sorry, by the way.”

She frowned. “For what?”

“For what he said about you being the best assistant in the world—”

“You’ve said the same smart-ass thing, Valentine.”

“—and for whatever he may have said to you before that.”

Her gaze held him fast for a few moments before she broke the contact. Shrugging, she looked around. “I never should’ve lied about us dating, especially to Clay.”

“True. This
is
your fault.”

“Shut up,” she said before picking up her glass again.

Chance smiled. She looked...

Well, to say she looked beautiful was really an understatement. She was perfect. Smart mouth and all. When he’d walked into the sitting room to hear her saying nice things about him, his damn heart had skipped a beat or two. Until he realized she had been saying those nice things to his
grandfather
, who happened to be someone on whose good side she desperately wanted to be.

He’d had to remind himself that this woman had some kind of nefarious plan where he was concerned. It would be stupid as hell to forget that.

He’d told himself that buying the necklace had been strictly a strategic move. It would show him as the dashing, suave bachelor and help her fall in love with him even quicker. Then he’d realized another way the necklace could prove useful—it amounted to over a year’s salary for Love.

Why the complicated revenge plan when he could hurt her in a far more simple way by doing what his grandfather wanted? Firing her was the smartest option. She wouldn’t have a chance to do whatever the hell it was she planned to do and he wouldn’t have to wait for the satisfaction of getting her back for even
thinking
of going up against him.

Really, he had to hand it to Ross Lucas. The man had given him the perfect solution without even knowing it.

But even as Chance entertained thoughts of ripping away the one thing she loved—her career—he had a damn bleeding heart. Would she be okay while she searched for another job? How would she get by? Did she have family who could help her if necessary?

If she were smart, and she was, she would sell the necklace in a heartbeat and be set for at least a year. If not more. Oklahoma may not offer the most cosmopolitan of living experiences, but the cost of living sure beat Beverly Hills by a mile.

The only problem was, he had to find the strength to look in those eyes and break her heart. Even though he told himself that it was what he wanted, his stupid emotions were getting in the way.

To top a messy situation off, his cock pretty much
stayed
hard whenever she was anywhere in the vicinity of his thoughts, which was constantly. He could easily throw her on the table and fuck her senseless right there in front of shocked partygoers.

Yeah, he couldn’t get away from this pain in the ass fast enough.

Love narrowed her eyes. “What are you thinking about over there?”

“All the different things I could do to you,” he said quietly.

She licked her lips before biting the lower one.

He bit back a groan. God, he’d love to taste those lips again.

She cleared her throat. “So,” she said, changing the subject, “your brother’s name is Lucas?”

“We’re named after our grandfathers.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Oh?”

Chance took a sip of champagne. “Lucas, after...well, you know. And my dad’s father’s name is Chance.”

She nodded. Then, she wrinkled her forehead. “Why’d Lucas get the last name and you got the first?”

He thought about it. “Huh, I don’t know. I guess I couldn’t be named Valentine Valentine and my parents liked the name Lucas better than Ross?”

Love snorted. “Valentine Valentine. That would have been a good one, Boo Bear.”

Chance chuckled and shook his head. “I really don’t like you sometimes.”

She lowered her lashes briefly before giving him a flirty smile. “Feeling’s mutual.”

****

Stephanie hated to admit that she was having a pretty good time with Chance’s relatives. They were close and affectionate, which was something she was definitely not used to with her own. She watched them, mesmerized, as if they were exhibits at a museum.
So this is what a real family looks like...

After the party wound down, she stood with Chance, watching as the guests trickled out of the reception room. His parents made their way over to them. His father, Grant, was an incredibly attractive, well-built man. However, Chance favored his mother, Ellen, strongly—from his nose, to the shape of his face, to the color of his eyes.

Chance’s brother was the one who took most after their father. Physically, anyway. Other than noticing his extreme gorgeousness (and how could she not), she didn’t know enough about either man to make any personality judgments.

Chance groaned as his parents approached. “Here we go again.”

Stephanie was sort of getting used to people thinking she was destined to be Mrs. Chance Valentine. And that scared the shit out of her more than anything. She hadn’t lied when she’d told Mr. Lucas she didn’t plan on ever getting married.

There was no way it could end in anything other than disaster. Kind of like everything else in her life.

Ellen extended her hand. “I’m so glad you got to join us for my mother’s birthday, dear.”

Stephanie returned her smile and gave Ellen’s hand a light squeeze before letting go. To think, she’d spoken to Chance’s mother over the phone and had just figured she was his cougar. Now that she knew the woman, Stephanie couldn’t help but be embarrassed at her former assumption. “Thank you for having me.”

Grant Valentine wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “The pleasure was ours. It’s nice to finally meet someone Chance is seeing.”

She was once again at a loss. There was no good way to explain a lie gone haywire.

“Well, of course Stephanie’s special, honey,” Ellen said, beaming. She gave Stephanie a knowing look. “My father told us about you two. It’s wonderful.”

Chance blew out an irritated breath. “Mother, please.”

“That’s all I was going to say,” she said innocently.

Ross Lucas walked over to join the gathering. “This old dog’s about to call it a night. I’ll see you all in the morning.” He looked at Chance and Grant. “The meeting’s at ten.”

Chance rolled his neck to work out the kinks. To say the day had been long and trying would be an understatement. “Ten. Got it.”

Another fascinating tidbit Stephanie had learned was that Chance’s father was the Chief Operating Officer of the company. He’d worked for Ross Lucas in one capacity or another before he was even out of high school. Naturally, Grant Valentine and Ellen Lucas had taken a shine to each other and the rest was history.

It was actually kind of sweet, in Stephanie’s opinion, which was strange because she wasn’t one to think sappy thoughts.

“All right, honey,” Grant said to Ellen. “We should be going.”

Frowning, Ellen looked at Chance and Stephanie. “Where are you kids staying? You’re more than welcome at our house.”

“Thanks, Mom, but I’m—we’re going home—uh, to my house.”

Ross chuckled and walked off shaking his head.

Chance rolled his eyes. “It’s not anything like
that
,” he said to his parents. “It’s just...well, why should she stay somewhere else when I’m the one who brought her here in the first place?”

“No need to explain, honey. We’re all adults. And to be honest,” Ellen continued in a near whisper, “with the way you look at each other, I think we all know you’ve already passed that point in your relationship.”

Grant laughed just as Stephanie’s face seemed to burst into flame.

Dropping his head into his hand, Chance groaned. “Take me now, Jesus.”

“It’s okay, you two,” Ellen said. “It’s just a matter of time before you’ll be married.” She practically squealed with delight.

Grant smiled down at his wife. “Are you ready for grandkids, sweetie?”

“Yes,” she laughed, tossing her head back.

Stephanie decided to try to reason with them. “Uh, Chance and I won’t be having—”

Grant smiled. “Well, of course not. Not anytime soon. The two of you need some alone time first. Because, let me tell you, once the kids start coming, those times are few and far in between.”

Ellen bumped him with her shoulder. “Now, don’t scare her, Grant. We may not ever get those babies.”

He shot her a look of disbelief. “I’m just telling her the truth.”

“Well, did you have to tell her like
that?
”

“How the hell else would I tell her, Ell?”

She gave him a light punch in the stomach and he laughed.

Her attempt at explaining forgotten, Stephanie smiled as she watched the pair. Even when bickering, it was clear they were in love. She wasn’t cut out for something like that. And for the first time she could remember, the thought saddened her.

Chapter 21

And the hits kept coming.

Stephanie released a long, slow breath as she got her first glimpse of Chance’s place of residence. The palm trees lining the sidewalk passed in a blur as the driver pulled in front of the high-rise, Mediterranean style building to let them out.

After stopping by the twenty-four hour concierge desk to get the mail that had been collecting since he’d temporarily relocated, they finally made it up to his Beverly Hills condominium.

She didn’t know where to look first as she stepped into the huge living room. The floor-to-ceiling window that made up one wall definitely commanded attention. She couldn’t see much of it tonight, but the view was sure to be spectacular. A fireplace sat at one end of the room and a large, expensive looking sectional sofa took up space at the other.

The hardwood floor—a rich mahogany hue—gleamed. Chewy darted around her feet before taking off in a mad dash. In and out of rooms like a furry bullet, his tail wagging enthusiastically. Stephanie couldn’t help but smile. “Someone’s happy to be home.”

Laughing, Chance watched the dog. “Yeah, he’s missed it.”

“Is he the only one?”

“I guess not,” he said halfheartedly. “This place is okay.”

Stephanie widened her eyes. “
Okay?
Yeah, right. Do you really miss Oklahoma, Valentine?” she asked, unconvinced.

He regarded her for a few moments. “Not right now, no,” he said quietly.

She could tell something was on his mind, something was wrong, but she hesitated to ask him. First of all, how the hell could she know the man well enough to know she was right? Still, she felt it in her gut, without doubt. Secondly, why should she care if something was bothering him? That’s how things got messy.

Caring could lead to far worse.

They stared at one another until Stephanie broke eye contact by heading for the dining room. Opening a pair of French doors that led to a private balcony, she peeked outside at the city lights that shone in the distance. “Wow.”

Eventually, she moved to the state of the art kitchen. The cherry wood cabinetry, gray granite counters and sleek black appliances made the room gorgeous, warm, and rich—just like their owner.

She ran her hands over the island that stood in the middle of the kitchen. “Do you cook, Valentine?” She looked around the space. “Seems a waste to have all this and not use it.”

Chance leaned against the arched doorway and crossed his arms. “A bit.”

Stephanie nodded, unsure of what to say next.

“Is there something you’re in the mood for?” Chance kept his eyes on her.

Your cock in me now.
“Uh...” She cleared her throat. “I’m still full from earlier, thanks.” She stepped around the island and headed for the doorway. Chance didn’t move. “Guess I’ll go check out the rest of the place. How many more rooms to go?”

“There’s a study slash office, a couple of bathrooms and,” his gaze flickered over her face and landed on her lips, “a bedroom.”

Stephanie’s hand flew to her throat and she fidgeted with the necklace. “One...bedroom?”

“One. Would be two if I hadn’t turned one into a makeshift gym. But don’t worry, Love.” Chance smiled. “I can sleep on the couch.”

She filled with disappointment she dared not let him see. “This place had to have cost a pretty penny. It’s beautiful.” She wanted to find out what was behind his slight shift in mood. He was still charming and sexy—just...further away.

“Only two point five.”

She smiled and lifted an eyebrow. “Oh, is that all?” Chewy ran in with a doggy toy firmly clamped in his mouth. He dropped it at her feet and looked up with his tail wagging. “I don’t do the play thing anymore, buddy.” She pointed at Chance. “Talk to this guy.”

“He just wants you to throw it.”