Must Love Alligators Read online

  He reached for her arm, but Bailey pulled away before he could touch her.

  That was enough for Chase. He stepped around Bailey’s stool, pushing in between them. “Okay, that’s enough. She said it’s not your business.”

  Justin gave him an annoyed look. “I need another minute.”

  “No.” Chase stepped into the other man, backing him up, away from Bailey. “You don’t.”

  “Look, man—”

  Chase put his hands on Justin’s chest and pushed. “No. You. Don’t.”

  Justin glared at him and shoved Chase back. “Relax. Just back up.”

  “Um, no.” Chase realized sometimes his asshole side could be of use. He spent a lot of time with other assholes—his brothers, his friends back in Virginia—and he could recognize when one was thinking he was the biggest dick, or had the biggest dick, in the room.

  “Listen, Chase, I don’t know what—”

  Chase pushed him back again. “You don’t need to know anything except the way to the door.”

  Justin looked over at Bailey. “You gonna say something here?”

  Chase watched Justin but waited for Bailey’s answer.

  “No, I don’t think I am,” she said. She sounded amused.

  “Door’s to your left,” Chase said, tipping his head toward the exit.

  Justin looked like he wanted to say something more, but instead he smoothed the front of his shirt, gave Chase another good scowl, then said to Bailey, “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

  Chase frowned. “Dude, fucking take a hint. No. Not tonight. Not tomorrow. Leave her the hell alone.”

  Justin shook his head. “It’s not quite that straightforward.”

  Okay, enough was enough. Chase pulled his arm back, his fist balled.

  But before he could swing, he felt small hands wrap around his biceps. “Chase. No. It’s okay.”

  Honestly, her words might not have been enough, but Bailey Wilcox’s tiny, covered-by-baggy-clothes body was now pressed against his back and Chase suddenly couldn’t remember how to punch someone. Not that he’d done a lot of punching. But he’d done a lot more pressing up against women and his brain automatically switched into that mode.

  Clearly, he was still part caveman.

  He dropped his arm. “Get the hell out of here,” he said shortly to Justin.

  Justin gave him a smirk and then did, actually, move off. But he didn’t leave. He found a stool halfway down the bar and ordered a beer.

  What a prick.

  “Son of a—”

  “Come here.” Bailey still had her hands on his arm and she started tugging him in the direction of the hallway that led to the bathrooms and a back exit.

  Chase followed. Because he wanted to smell her neck again.

  Yep, super creepy. He was going to keep that totally to himself.

  2

  Bailey stopped at the end of the hallway where there was a small alcove full of brooms and mops.

  She dropped her hold on him and crossed her arms. “What was that?”

  “I could tell you didn’t want to talk to him and I was helping you get out of an awkward situation.” Chase shrugged. “You were obviously busy and he obviously couldn’t take a hint. Or an outright refusal.”

  She tipped her head. “That was…nice. I guess.”

  He grinned. “It was. No guessing.”

  “Are you flirting with me?”

  Was he? He supposed he was. She was definitely not his type. But there was a little hint of challenge here. Could he make her smile? Could he make her flirt back? Could he figure out just what that scent on her skin was?

  He moved in a little closer. “If I was flirting, what would you do?” he asked.

  He was stereotyping her. Just because she didn’t dress up to go out to the local bar, wore glasses, and brought a highlighter along while she drank beer, didn’t mean she wasn’t a sex kitten under it all. It didn’t mean she wasn’t doing all of this on purpose to keep guys from hitting on her…

  Oh.

  Yeah, that was very possible.

  Chase leaned back.

  “I would ask why,” she said.

  “Because…” He trailed off. Which was maybe not the wisest way of answering that question. But why did people flirt? To convey attraction. To further a conversation into something else. As a prelude to more.

  “I wanted to see if I could get you to smile.”

  The arched eyebrows and the slight lean back told him instantly that was the wrong thing to say.

  “Smile? Why do you care if I smile?” she asked. “I was perfectly fine sitting at the bar, going over those papers, being left alone. Just because I wasn’t smiling didn’t mean that I wasn’t completely content. Just because the erosion of the Louisiana coast and the plight of the freshwater animals and plants that live inside the barrier islands doesn’t make me happy, doesn’t mean that studying it and ways to combat the problem isn’t exactly where I wanted to be and what I wanted to be doing tonight.”

  Chase stared at her.

  Yeah.

  She had a point. He needed to mind his own damned business.

  Also, she was definitely a nerdy scientist. Not his type. Not someone he had anything in common with.

  And he’d never wanted to kiss a woman more than he wanted to kiss Bailey Wilcox.

  “Why would you be studying all of that in a bar?”

  Stupid question. But it was better than, “Can I please smell your neck again?” which was the other thing that had occurred to him to ask.

  She blinked, then frowned. “Because I was hungry and don’t cook. And they’re the only ones that have Ghost in the Machine IPA.”

  Okay, they had two things in common. He didn’t cook either and Ghost in the Machine was his favorite beer. It was the best Louisiana beer he’d tried since coming here and topped all of his previous favorites, even from up north. But it sold out quickly and was hard to find.

  “Good answer,” he told her.

  “So glad you approve.”

  Yep, if he wanted a woman who thought he was amazing and couldn’t wait to spend more time with him, he should have stuck with the blonde. Bailey Wilcox was not impressed. Still, he found himself grinning.

  “Okay, you don’t have to smile,” he said. “But you have to admit that I helped you out with Justin.”

  He thought maybe, just maybe, there was a hint of a smile at one corner of her mouth.

  “Justin is… a huge problem.” She frowned. “But not in the way you think.”

  Chase frowned. “Is he an ex? I’m happy to stick close for the rest of the night to be sure he doesn’t bother you.”

  She tipped her head. “Can you just not shut that off or do you really think that will work?”

  “Shut what off?”

  “The supposed charm.”

  “Supposed?” He arched an eyebrow.

  And damn if her lips didn’t curl up just the tiniest bit. “You just can’t shut it off,” she said, as if she’d figured it out for sure.

  Yeah, maybe she was right. He was flirting with her, but he wasn’t sure why, either. It seemed like his default mode. “So, about that sticking close thing…”

  Bailey shook her head. “Not necessary. He won’t be a problem until tomorrow.”

  “I can stay over.” Chase couldn’t help the grin he added.

  Now she shook her head in clear disbelief over his audacity. “Unless you’re going to come to work with me and pass yourself off as an expert on the American alligator, I don’t think you’re going to be much good to me.”

  “I’ve seen some alligators.” Mitch had told him he had to come back down and go hunting sometime. “Eaten a few too.”

  Bailey’s eyes widened. “I’m working to help preserve their habitat along the coast.”

  Oh. She was an alligator lover. “It’s not my favorite meat,” he said. “I do prefer chicken.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  He ran a hand through his hair. He ha
dn’t had this much trouble flirting in a very long time. “And Justin is some kind of alligator specialist?” Shit. He didn’t want Justin to have the nerdy scientist thing in common with Bailey.

  Which was completely ridiculous. Bailey Wilcox should not be this interesting to him and he definitely shouldn’t care who else she was interesting to. As long as the guy wasn’t a bar dickhead who didn’t understand the word no.

  “Justin is my competition.”

  Chase dropped his hand. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m working on securing a grant from a foundation that is focused on preserving the plant and animal habitats along the Louisiana coast. My proposal includes tagging alligators and watching their patterns over the next year or so.” She studied him for a moment, as if gauging his interest. “I’m working to prove that the erosion of the coastline is affecting the alligator population. As the coastline changes, more and more saltwater is coming up into freshwater areas, including the bayou. Alligators can live in saltwater for short periods, but long term, the increased salinity will push them out. They are an important predator and a key part of the ecosystem. Their absence will further change the coast which will have impacts on the people who live and work there. I’m hoping to use my data to convince partners to invest in protecting the coast and to raise public awareness of the issues.”

  “What’s Justin got to do with it?” Chase asked.

  “Justin is also interested in that grant money and stole my plans for the program. Whichever of us gets the proposal together first will also be asked to speak at a local conference. It’s completely about ego and a promotion for him.”

  “And it’s all about alligators?” Did he know any other woman who was into alligators? He honestly couldn’t think of one.

  “Well, there are several species that are affected by the changes. I’m particularly fond of frogs and toads.”

  She was definitely not his usual type. “No kidding.”

  Bailey shrugged. “Nope.”

  Something about that niggled at the back of Chase’s mind. “Who’s in charge of the foundation you’re applying to?”

  “A guy named Bennett Baxter.”

  That was why it sounded familiar. “I know Bennett. He’s one of the co-owners of Boys of the Bayou.”

  Bailey nodded. “I know.”

  Of course she did.

  “I could set up an introduction.”

  “In exchange for what?”

  Chase blinked at her. “No exchange necessary.”

  “Because you love alligators and want to do whatever you can to help protect their habitats?”

  He wasn’t exactly sure why he was volunteering his help, actually. Clearly this woman was smart and determined, and he had next to nothing to really offer her. Why did he feel compelled to try anyway?

  “Uh. Sure.” Protecting wildlife didn’t seem like a bad idea. Not that Chase had given it a ton of thought. But there was something about the way Bailey talked about all of it that made him think he wouldn’t mind learning more. From her. Where he could see her eyes sparkling and hear the excitement in her voice.

  Wow. That was…unprecedented. Of course, he’d never dated a woman who was interested in alligators. That he could say for sure.

  She rolled her eyes again. Something that was also fairly unprecedented in the women he hung out with. Other than his sister. Juliet definitely rolled her eyes at him.

  Juliet would like Bailey. He wasn’t sure why that occurred to him just then, but he was sure of it.

  “Why would you really want to introduce me to Bennett Baxter?” Bailey asked.

  Chase thought maybe honesty would get him further with this woman than flirtation. “Because there’s something about you that makes me want to do something to impress you, and that’s about all I’ve got.”

  She looked surprised for a moment.

  “Oh! And money,” he said as the thought occurred. “I have money, too.”

  “Uh. What?”

  “I’m rich.” Okay that wasn’t something he generally blurted out. For one thing, most people he spent time with knew that. He was a Dawson from Virginia. His father was loaded. For another, even he knew that you weren’t supposed to talk about being rich. Juliet would have definitely rolled her eyes at that.

  “You’re…rich.”

  And suddenly his wish came true. Bailey Wilcox smiled. Big. And then laughed.

  Chase felt himself grinning. “I am. Seriously.”

  She shook her head. “Wow. I mean…who says stuff like that?”

  He shrugged. “It just kind of popped out. But I am. I’ve got money. I’ll give it to you to save your alligators.”

  She was clearly not sure what to make of that. She blew out a breath. “No, Chase, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “How can me giving you money for alligators not be a good idea?” he asked. “Of course, it’s my father’s money, technically, but maybe you could come home with me and give a presentation and win my dad over. Too.”

  She looked beyond surprised now. She looked a little like she thought Chase might be a weird stalker. Probably because that was the kind of thing a weird stalker might say. They’d just met and he was talking about taking her home with him to meet his parents? And indicating that he was suddenly interested in alligators because of her?

  But, stupidly, he was. He might just have some reading to do on the subject of the Louisiana coastline.

  Not to mention his interest in the idea of taking Bailey home with him where he could take her out and show her around D.C. and… What the hell was he doing?

  “I don’t think I’m going to take your money, Chase,” Bailey said.

  Right. Because he was acting like a weird stalker.

  “I understand. But I really would like to make a donation or something. Maybe—”

  “I can’t take your money.”

  But instead of backing away and looking for the nearest exit, she stepped forward.

  Before Chase could react or analyze that, Bailey took the front of his shirt in her hands and pulled him forward while going up on her tiptoes.

  If he’d realized what was happening, he might not have lost his balance and taken an unexpected step forward. But he would have never in a million years expected Bailey Wilcox to spontaneously kiss him. So, his chin hit the top of her head, snapping his teeth together, and he stepped on her foot, while also reaching out to keep from knocking her over and ending up with one hand on her left breast and the other grappling for the wall behind her. Bailey instinctively pulled back, her head thumping against the wall behind her. She tried to steady herself by grabbing the first thing in reach, which was his side, and the skin bared by his shirt pulling up as he stumbled. Her nails raked over his skin, the sharp sting making him suck in a breath.

  Finally the clumsy cascade stopped and they both froze. Three ticks passed on the clock. Then they looked at each other.

  And Chase became aware of several things at once. Bailey had tried to kiss him, this was possibly the most awkward kiss of his life, and his hand was still on her breast.

  He gave her a small smile. “Maybe we should try that again.”

  He leaned in, but she turned her head just as he was about to make contact. His lips skimmed over the corner of her mouth and he almost face planted into the wall as she ducked under his arm and slipped away.

  “Uh, no.”

  Chase turned. “No? You started it.”

  “Yeah. And I was going to say something like it would be a bad idea to take money from you because that would make the kiss I wanted really gross. But I changed my mind.”

  “The kiss would be gross?”

  “If I kissed you and took money from you. That’s kind of icky, right?”

  “There is nothing icky about us kissing, Bailey.” He paused. “I mean, I assume. Since we haven’t actually done it yet, I guess I’m not sure.”

  Her eyes got a little wider at that and she planted a hand on her hip. “Y
ou think it would be icky? Even without the money thing?”

  Even his attempts at levity weren’t going as planned here. “I wouldn’t put it quite that way. I haven’t described anything as icky since I was about five.”

  When her eyes got even wider, he held up a hand. “Of course it wouldn’t be icky. Or gross. It would be…”

  He should not have trailed off. That became clear almost immediately. Trailing off indicated that he was trying to find a nice word. And that wasn’t true. He was trying to figure out what he expected a kiss with Bailey to be like. He really wasn’t sure. At all. The things he thought of when he thought of Bailey were not as simple as hot. He suddenly realized that hot was such a weak word. What did it even mean? It was superficial and over-used and somehow not appropriate for a smart, impassioned, hard-to-impress scientist who came to bars because she simply liked the beer.

  “I can not believe that you can stand there, staring at me like a dope, saying nothing and yet being incredibly insulting,” she said. “Wow.”

  “I’m not trying to insult you,” Chase protested. “I was trying to imagine kissing you and all I can think about is you sitting at the bar with a highlighter and the fact that you tromp around in hip waders trying to protect alligators.”

  He should probably stop talking now.

  “You should probably stop talking now,” she told him. “That whole kiss idea was stupid and I’m thrilled that you think of my highlighters and hip waders when you think of me. Goodnight, Mr. Dawson.”

  Without thinking, Chase reached out and snagged the back belt loop of her pants, stopping her. “Hey, just a second.”

  She whipped around, opening her mouth to no doubt tell him to go to hell. But before she could say more than, “Wha—” Chase leaned in to cover her mouth with his.

  At least, that had been the intention. She was still talking and he ended up somehow kissing her teeth. Kind of. It wasn’t really a kiss so much as it was his mouth landing on—or sort of inside—hers, then their foreheads colliding, her jerking back, and him stepping on her foot again.

  He lifted his head and met her eyes. Geezus.

  He let go of her belt loop and she took a step back. Two of them.

  “I’m usually pretty good at this,” he said.