© 2013 Sandra Corton

Chapter 10

She awoke in the morning feeling more optimistic than she had for a very long time. It helped that Chase had his arms around her and her face was pressed into the side of his neck inhaling his subtle smell with each breath.

Waking to him still being there was more wonderful than she cared to admit. He let out a grumbling noise as she wriggled the tiniest bit as she woke up.

"Don’t even think of getting up Buttercup." He growled out the words and she couldn't help but smile.

"I think we have to. Didn't your mum give us a list of things to do?" She asked on a yawn as she stretched against him.

"Oh God do that again." He muttered his voice low and husky.

"Do what?" She looked at him surprised when he sent her a heated glance.

Last night after he had told her about his brother he hadn't once made a move on her. He had simply held her for which she had been grateful. She had thought that she would have to fight him off after his behaviour from earlier in the day. She was relieved and a tad disappointed when all he did was leave a small kiss on her cheek before cuddling her close.

"Rub against me like that again. It's a nice way to wake up in the morning." He sent her a wink as he reached out a hand to run lightly over her hair. "Now I know why you ran off in Hawaii, you were afraid I would see your bed hair." He teased.

She let out a squeak knowing how bad she normally looked in the mornings with her haystack of hair. She went to get out of bed to do something about it but he pulled her back against him.

"Don't go just yet." He said against the side of her throat, his breath warm and sending a shiver through her.

"But we have things to do." Brianna protested a little breathlessly.

"Yes and they will wait." He insisted as his hands slipped down the back neck of his shirt she had on. His lips lingered at the corner of her ear where he smiled against her skin at her panting breath. 

"Good golly you're persuasive." She said as she leaned into his warm caress.

"Hey arse get the hell up and say hello to your twin." A voice that sounded eerily like Chase's shouted from the door before it was yanked open. Brianna let out a small scream and ducked under the covers while Chase just sighed.

"Morning William." Chase said dryly.

"How did you get a woman in here past Mum? Shit its unbelievable the luck you have with women." Will said with a shake of his head.

"Will get out of here now before I feel tempted to kill you." Chase said as he chucked a pillow towards his brother.

"Oh for fucks sake I'm sure she knows all about your reputation Chase." Will answered rather shortly. Brianna sent Chase a look wondering what his brother meant from under the covers but he just sighed.

"Stop swearing my girl doesn't like it." Chase hissed through his teeth feeling his anger swelling at his insensitive brother.

"Are you joking? Hell I never thought I'd see the day." Will muttered as he tried to catch a glimpse of Brianna who only hid herself further under the covers.

"She knows the truth Will and you know it's more your reputation than mine nowadays." Chase said trying hard to keep his calm.

"Wait go back, you told her the whole truth? Have you lost your fucking mind?" Will shouted making Brianna want to disappear from the room.

"William shut your mouth right now. You can be the most insensitive....jerk." Chase shouted back.

"Really boys, you haven't seen each other for how long and you're already shouting." Teresa scolded from the bottom of the stairs.

"Do you even know he's got a woman in here?" Will asked slyly.

"Oh that's it jerk face." Chase was out of the bed and across the room wrestling his brother to the ground while Brianna stayed huddled on the bed with no idea what to do.

"Yes William I know about Brianna staying here with Chase. Now get back down here and leave the pair of them alone." Teresa said sternly.

Will sent a disbelieving look to his brother as he did what he was told. Chase just sent his brother a smug smile and waved him on his way. Brianna dared to peep her head out of the bedding when the noise disappeared.

Chase stood in the doorway glaring down the stairs at his brother leaving. The stress of all the shouting had her panicking a little. She couldn't stand it when swearing and shouting came together in an explosion like that. It brought back bad memories from her foster parents always getting into fights.

"Now where were we before my idiot brother turned up?" Chase asked with a glimmer in his eye as he shut the door and made his way back over to her.

"Um we really should go and get the stuff your Mum wanted." Brianna said as she slipped out of the bed.

She was in the locked bathroom before he knew it. He put his hand against the door and let out a groan. Stupid Will! She was beginning to let him in and his brother had to go and ruin that. He could happily strangle his brother right now. She came back out but stayed quiet and seemed to be avoiding him.

"I'm sorry about my idiot brother." Chase said into the silence.

All she did was pull her jeans and a shirt from within her suitcase. She disappeared back into the bathroom without saying a word. He cursed under his breath while forcing himself to be patient and wait for her to come back out.

"What did he mean about your reputation?" Brianna asked when she got up the courage to open the door and face him. He closed his eyes and wondered how to explain things to her.

"When I first became famous I went out with a lot of up and coming actresses. I didn't really cover my tracks well and a lot of those girls told some much exaggerated stories to the press. Even now Chase Montgomery has a reputation as quite a ladies man. Will carries on that tradition pretty damn boldly with all the women he's been with." Chase explained.

He watched her face show a myriad of emotions as he kept silent. She seemed so unsure of herself, vulnerable even. He could see a twinge of anger and hurt which turned into a surprising determined expression.

"Please tell me what you're thinking?" He asked unable to wait any longer.

"Maybe I shouldn't have believed in you as much as I did last night." She told him feeling her heart being crushed under his words.

"I told you the truth. I haven't been that guy for years and years Buttercup, I promise." He said earnestly while she just looked at him and sighed.

"I think we need to get that stuff for your Mum now." She repeated her earlier words before turning and walking out the door.

Chase drove rather angrily into town. How could such a great start to the day turn into this?  Brianna hadn't said much to him in the past hour or so since she had run out of his room. She sat in the passenger seat with a rather resigned look on her face.  He sent a glare to the man who was sitting in the back. Will had insisted on joining them even when Chase protested.

"So Brianna is it? What do you do with your life?" Will asked as he leaned forward in his seat.

"Seriously Will back off." Chase growled at him.

"Hey I'm just finding out about this woman that you’re told our life secrets too." Will replied abruptly.

"I trust Brianna; she's not going to tell anyone." Chase said with determination.

"What like with that Sierra girl? Or what about Hope or Isa? Seriously man you always trust the wrong women." Will said with a shake of his head.

"You're such a shit head Will! That was all a long time ago." He said the last half to Brianna who just stared out the window.

"Don't swear." She said in a whisper.

"Sorry Buttercup. He's just truly piss-annoying me right now." Chase told her as he reached for her hand.

She pulled away from him, almost curling up against the side of the door. His fury at his brother went up another notch. He'd been so close to gaining her trust and now his brother had blown that completely away. The silence in the car became excruciatingly uncomfortable. Will just sat back smugly which only heightened Chase's need to knock some sense into his brother.

He parked outside the supermarket that was also the town's clothing store. He cursed his brother for the umpteenth time that morning when he disappeared from sight. He would happily leave him in town if he wasn't back in time. At least this would give him a chance to talk to Brianna without constant reminders of his not so stellar past.

"Buttercup?" He called out to her.

She dragged a trolley from out amongst the group all tangled together. She ignored him and reached for the list in the back pocket of her jeans. Her eyes widened as she realised what the comprehensive list contained. This would be enough groceries for her to survive more than a month, yet they were only buying it for one lunch meal here.

"We had better get a second trolley. I know what Mum's lists are like." He said with a grin.

"And which one would you be, Chase or William?" An older lady asked with a grin as they went to enter the shop.

"Hi Mrs Flotsam, I'm Chase."

"Good to see you back home." She reached up to pinch his cheek before pushing her trolley out of the shops.

"Seems you’re famous no matter where you go." Brianna muttered as she walked in the glass doors. The smell of fresh produce, clean floors and baked bread surrounded them. Chase began throwing stuff into his basket without consulting the list.

"That's not written down." She said quietly as he picked out a few huge packets of chips.

"Still necessary." He told her with a grin.

She shrugged and picked up the groceries they actually needed. They made their way through the store and sure enough by the end both trolleys were full. Brianna stared with amazement at all the groceries as Chase made his way to the register and began unpacking.

"Hmmm looks like the Montgomery boys are home." A sultry voice from next to the cash register said.

A woman about the same age as Brianna stared blatantly at Chase. She was pretty with short curly brown hair and vivid dark green eyes. Brianna realised the woman was actually glaring at Chase while he was looking rather sheepish.

"Hey Emma." Chase answered rather cautiously.

"So which one are you? You know if you are Will then you are in the deepest amount of shit." The woman's voice hitched with anger and Brianna watched the exchange with interest.

"This is Chase." Brianna replied decisively as she helped place groceries on the conveyor belt. Chase smiled at her in relief but she just looked away from him.

"That's good, the day I see Will again ugh!" Emma thumped one hand into the other and Brianna could only wonder what Will had done to earn this woman's wrath. 

"Yeah I know. I would apologise for him but then I'd be apologising to every woman in town." Chase said. Brianna saw the woman's dark green eyes look rather sad for a moment before her expression became fierce.

"Not your fault Chase. I think I just chose the wrong brother." Emma muttered.

Emma frowned as she scanned more groceries. Chase coughed uncomfortably and said nothing more.  Brianna watched as the total got more and more ridiculous. This was insane, who spent this much on groceries? She looked away as Chase paid; it was starting to make her feel a bit edgy.

"Did you really have to buy the store out?" Will's voice made both Chase and Brianna flinch.

"William Conner Montgomery!" Emma's voice was as full of hurt as it was anger.

"Fuck!" Will began backing out of the door then.

"Don't you dare try and run out that door! You and I have unfinished business." Emma told him sternly but Will was already gone. "Bastard." She cursed as Chase stacked the filled bags back into the trolley.

"Look Emma I'm sorry about him." Chase said but the other woman laughed bitterly.

"Good to see he hasn't changed any. If it all gets too hard, run away." She replied sadly. "Give him this and tell him he needs to come see me." Chase took the offered envelope feeling a bit puzzled but not about to argue.

They left soon after to find Will leaning casually against the car with a very familiar face. Amber the woman from the airport stood chatting quite happily to him. When she called him Chase Brianna sent a look to the real Chase. He now looked like the one that wanted to run. What was it with these two men and the women of this town? 

"Emma said to give you this." Chase thrust the envelope at his brother as Amber looked between the two men.

"You really are such a bastard Will! I hate it when you pretend to be Chase." Amber said as she thumped the other man in the chest and looked wistfully to Chase.

"Hey you can still come to the barbecue." Will said with a sly grin but Amber turned to Chase for approval.

"Do you mind?" She asked him as she bit her lip.

"You've been invited and it’s not like me to go back on that kind of thing." He answered and Amber grinned.

"I guess I'm coming then. I'll get my car and meet you there." Amber sounded immensely happy as she walked away with her chestnut hair flying behind her in the breeze.  

Brianna was reminded of the many awkward moments in high school right then. Chase glared furiously at Will who in turn glared back as he fiddled with the envelope in his hands. She twitched the plastic bags handles that were encasing the groceries around her fingers wishing she was anywhere but here.

"What was that about?" Chase asked viciously.

"I could ask you be same thing." The other man flashed the envelope at him.

"Um could you just open the boot Chase so I can put the groceries away." Brianna said quickly hoping to distract them from each other.

"Of course Buttercup."

The men's argument kept escalating as they all put the groceries in the car. Brianna just kept feeling more and more uncomfortable. She wanted to be at home where she could be sitting on her couch reading. She didn't need this kind of drama in her life.

"Stop it!" She used her firmest voice once they were ready to leave. Both men quit talking and looked at her. "Could you act anymore like ten year olds?"

"I could definitely." Will chipped in until Chase jabbed him in the ribs.

"You have no idea how lucky you are to have each other, to have the family you have. You should both learn to appreciate it." She told them her voice stern but still rather sad.

"You're right Buttercup. C'mon lets head home and I'll introduce you to Janet and Joel." Chase held out a hand to her but she just walked over to the other side of the car.

He gritted his teeth while sending another glare to his brother. Then he recalled what she had just said. His gorgeous girl that had never had a family. For her this must be overwhelming. He should have gone slower with this. He shouldn't have tried to shove all his family dramas onto her in one go.

"I'm sorry Bree." He told her as he got into the car and stroked a finger down her arm.

"Don't." She whispered.

"What apologise?" He asked in confusion.

She didn't answer as Will got into the car. The drive back became just as uneasy as the drive into town was. Anger simmered between the two men leaving Brianna feeling awkward, and ill at ease. Nobody said anything but thoughts ran rampant.

Brianna was wondering when there flight home was she knew it couldn't come soon enough. Chase was alternately cursing his brother before thoughts of losing Brianna's trust today threatened. What was he going to do to get her to trust him again? Will meanwhile had opened the envelope and peeked inside. With his face pale and his hands shaking he quickly shoved the offending envelope into his pocket. It looked like his screw ups might have finally caught up with him.

Teresa watched them all get out of the car with raised eyebrows. Something had obviously happened while her children were away. She went straight to the boot of the car and began grabbing bags as did Brianna.

"Mum what times Janet getting here?" Chase asked as he lent a hand with the unpacking.

"I'm not sure probably an hour or so." Teresa said with a wave of her hand.

"Good. Will's been such a great man that he can organise everything. Brianna and I need to have a chat."

Chase didn't give her an opportunity to protest as he grabbed her hand and dragged her away from the house. She was thankful she was wearing sneakers as he walked across paddocks with her trailing along beside him. He made a swift right hand turn and pulled her deeper into the surrounding bush.

She could hear the creek babbling away long before she could see it. As quickly as he started walking he stopped. She stood on top of a small bluff that led down into a gully where the creek ran clear and strong.  He turned to her seeming stressed as he let out a breath and paced a little.

"Buttercup I know I shoved you into this situation and you weren't ready for it. I should have never thought of inviting Will. If you want to ditch and run right now we can." He said honestly. She frowned at him before sitting down in the green grass that surrounded them.

"Is this because you don't want to have to deal with that Amber woman?" Brianna asked with a raised brow.

"It's got nothing to do with Amber." He insisted as she let out a sigh.

"Okay." She said but he could detect the disbelief in her tone.

"It's to do with you. I totally screwed this up and I'm really afraid I can't fix it." He explained as he dropped down beside her.

"Are you sure you want to fix it?" She asked as her fingers plucked at the grass nervously. His mouth dropped open at her words.

"Brianna I told you the biggest secret of my life last night, that's how much faith I have in you. Of course I want to get your trust back." He insisted as he shoved a hand into his hair.

"We'll I guess I can brave this lunch then." She replied as he let out a breath of relief.

"I had such great plans for this morning you know." The teasing glint was back in his eyes.

"I'm sure you did." She returned dryly.

"Well I could always make up for it now. Here we are alone in the middle of this picturesque setting." He marched his fingers up her arm and she bit her lip.

"Not happening Chase." She said softly.

"How's this for a deal: one kiss and I promise not to argue with my brother too much more today." He sent her an irresistible, inviting grin that like always shone brightly in his eyes.

"Only one?" She bargained, unsure if she was asking for more or less.

"Maybe we will just have to wing it." He told her as he leaned in closer.

"I guess." She murmured as she tilted her head towards his.

Their lips met in a sweet unhurried kiss. He nipped lightly at her lip as he pulled her body closer to his. She melted against him as she boldly stroked her tongue against his. Lost in the mesmerising world of his kisses, she never heard the footfalls approaching them.

"Told you they would be here." Will's voice so like Chase's had her pulling away from him abruptly.

"Well it always was his favourite spot." A strange new female voice said.

Brianna jerked upright feeling acutely embarrassed. Twice in one day his siblings had now caught her in an uncompromising position. This had to be her worst day of meeting new people in her life.

"Shit!" Chase swore only to get a stern look from Brianna. "You two have never heard of subtlety have you?" Chase growled at his siblings who both grinned at him.

"Nope you should know that by now." Janet said with a laugh as she approached them. "Hi I'm Janet and I'm guessing you're Brianna."

This woman had similar colouring to her brothers and reflected her mother’s beauty. Her blonde hair cascaded around her face in a shaggy bob while her brown eyes questioned Brianna. Her belly protruded showing a fairly late pregnancy.

"How's my nephew or niece going?" Chase asked as he stood up to pull his sister in for a hug.

"Good Chase. He is going to be here before we know it." Janet said with a grin.

"He huh? Can't wait to meet him." He reached a hand back for Brianna who had already stood and felt awkward within the family greetings. "And yes this is Brianna. Buttercup this is my sister Janet." He introduced the pair so Brianna offered her hand which Janet shook enthusiastically.

"Let's go, Mums waiting for us." Will gestured to a open topped four wheel drive vehicle that looked particularly dangerous to Brianna. Everyone got on and Will drove surprisingly carefully back to the house.

Brianna wasn't sure how to feel about the upcoming lunch with these people. She still felt a bit upset about what had happened that morning. Chase squeezed his hand in hers and sent her a reassuring smile. She found her anxiety ease just a little at his presence here beside her. She had survived meeting all his family so far, it couldn't be that bad could it?