Instantly Enchanted

Chapter 5

Eighteen months later

There she is. She is working today.

There she is. She working today.Chase made his way through the bookstore, the patterned carpet muffling the sound of his boots as he made a beeline straight toward his target. From the back she didn"t look like much; petite, slender and fragile, her wavy brown hair hanging loose nearly to her waist.

“Excuse me,” he said.

She turned. “Yes?” Then she recognized him and scowled. “Oh, it"s you again. What do you want?”

Despite her less than welcoming reply, the girl whose name tag read Baylee never failed to make Chase"s heart pound and heat rush to his groin. Striving for objectivity, he assessed exactly what about her features seemed so appealing. Is it her tiny stature and waif-like appearance? Is it her full pink lips and dainty, slightly pointy nose? Is it the pale, faintly blushing pink of her skin? All possible. But what really captured him was her eyes: huge brown pools that seemed to hold a depth unthinkable in one so young. And she was young—pushing the limit of too young for him—but if the sorrow in her eyes spoke true, in her life experience must nearly match his.

BayleeIs it her tiny stature and waif-like appearance? Is it her full pink lips and dainty, slightly pointy nose? Is it the pale, faintly blushing pink of her skin? All possible.“I was wondering if the book I ordered came in yet,” he said, leaning his hip against the counter in what he hoped was a casual gesture.

Right, man. You weren"t good at casual BEFORE your life fell apart.

Right, man. You weren"t good at casual BEFORE your life fell apart.Chase angrily squashed down the arguing voice. I don"t want to think about that. So I"m divorced. So what? Lots of people are and it"s been more than a year. I should be getting over it by now. I am, if my interest in this pretty salesclerk is any indication. But how do I start over after so many years thinking life was going to be a certain way?

I don"t want to think about that. So I"m divorced. So what? Lots of people are and it"s been more than a year. I should be getting over it by now. I am, if my interest in this pretty salesclerk is any indication. But how do I start over after so many years thinking life was going to be a certain way?No, starting over is wrong. I"m a different man than I was before I found out my childhood sweetheart and best friend was sleeping with another man behind my back.

No, starting over is wrong. I"m a different man than I was before I found out my childhood sweetheart and best friend was sleeping with another man behind my back.Bayle punched the keyboard on her computer, her attention focused on the screen. Chase continued ruminating.

No more of that, man. It"s over. Candace is gone, long married to her private investigator partner and the mother of his child. And if you don"t want to end up alone with no family of your own, stop obsessing and get out there.

No more of that, man. It"s over. Candace is gone, long married to her private investigator partner and the mother of his child. And if you don"t want to end up alone with no family of your own, stop obsessing and get out there.“Of course, your book hasn"t come in,” Baylee said, turning to give him an uninviting glare. “You ordered it the day before yesterday. I promised to call you when it arrives, and I will. Now if you don"t mind, I have work to do.”

“Don"t be unfriendly, ma"am,” he urged. “I won"t hurt you. I"d like to talk.”

“Talk?” She raised one eyebrow and furrowed the other. “I have no time to talk. I"m working.”

“How about when you get off? I could take you out for a drink, or some dinner…”

Something flashed in her eyes. If he didn"t know better, he"d say it looked like desperation. Or maybe despair. Whatever it was, it was intense. “I. Don"t. Have. Time. For. Men.” Baylee enunciated clearly. “Now that we understand each other, will you please wander off or do I have to call the manager?”

“I"m going, I"m going. Jeez, don"t be so touchy,” he griped.

Her gaze softened a fraction. “I know, sir, but I wasn"t kidding. I don"t have time for anyone. Seriously. You"re wasting your effort.”

“Thanks for being honest, Baylee,” he said ruefully. “Here"s my card. If you ever find time and you want to take me up on drinks… or dinner… or talk, call me.”

She gave him a sad smile and returned to stocking the bookshelf, her back to him.

Stung by her dismissal, Chase quickly left the store.

As soon as she could no longer feel his eyes on her back, Baylee turned away from the bookshelf and regarded the object in her hand. The little card, printed on black paper with a pattern of white music notes, read The Music Room Club and Bar. Chase Milligan, General Manager.’

Baylee"s eyes widened. So, my persistent suitor runs one of the hottest up-and-coming clubs in the Dallas night scene, does he? She recalled hearing from her best friend’s husband, who worked there, that it offered fun, drinks, and music in a friendly, classy environment.

So, my persistent suitor runs one of the hottest up-and-coming clubs in the Dallas night scene, does he?According to Stella, Shane’s place of business boasted three different rooms: one for local jazz bands, one for karaoke, and one for country and western artists.

As manager of such a place, Chase must earn a decent salary. He"s also influential, deciding which acts will be allowed on the coveted stages.

As manager of such a place, Chase must earn a decent salary. He"s also influential, deciding which acts will be allowed on the coveted stages.Baylee gulped. If Shelby ever found out she had shot down a man like Chase Milligan, her ass would be grass.

As if it"s not already. If Chase knew one thing about your life, he"d run for the hills. Quit daydreaming and get back to work.

As if it"s not already. If Chase knew one thing about your life, he"d run for the hills. Quit daydreaming and get back to work.It didn"t occur to her that when she had thought about him, it had been his first name running through her mind, along with the image of his auburn-haired, green-eyed gaze.

Chase stretched out on his living room sofa. The clock on the DVD player showed three in the morning, but he didn"t feel sleepy. Tired, yes. Exhausted, actually. But not ready to sleep. Normal given that he"d gotten off work only an hour and a half ago. Working the club during prime time delivered a rush he couldn"t deny, but it did take a lot out of him.

Looks like you"re not as young as you used to be, eh, Chase? He grinned to himself.

Looks like you"re not as young as you used to be, eh, Chase?He clicked off the television. It had been showing infomercials for the last half hour or more, since long before he stopped paying attention. He turned, flopping onto his back and propping both feet up on the arm of the sofa, the dirty off-white of his socks permanently stained from their contact with the inside of his chocolate-colored tooled-leather Ropers. The offending boots lay in a forlorn heap just inside the entry door of his townhouse. His Stetson rested on the entryway table, covering a picture of his mother and stepfather and the vintage Ford ashtray where he kept his keys.

In this position, his belt buckle cut into his belly, and he unbuckled the silver oval, sliding his belt from the loops on his black Wranglers and dropping it to the floor. It landed with a loud clunk and Chase winced, hoping it hadn"t scratched the pine.

He still felt uncomfortable. His Wranglers, though well broken in, weren"t meant for lying down in. He thought about his bed, which waited for him just up the stairs. All he had to do was get up there. That was all. But the night was fast catching up with him. Suddenly, instead of wired, he could barely keep his eyes open. No way, Chase. Move your ass. Don"t fall asleep on the couch.

No way, Chase. Move your ass. Don"t fall asleep on the couch.He hauled himself to his feet, suddenly feeling every one of his thirty-two years… doubled. Groaning, he hobbled, heels and arches aching, up the stairs and through his bedroom to the bathroom where he quickly brushed his teeth. He had just enough energy left to strip down to his gray boxer briefs before stretching out on his bed and crashing like a doused candle.