The Final Chase (Final Love Book 2) Read online

  The salon was something I had worked hard for. Lots of hours spent working for an overly-made-up middle-aged woman, gaining as many clients as I could. I worked so hard for so long, and now I owned one of the hottest salons in Sarasota. I had every type of client, from the super-rich to strippers. I loved them all.

  Just last year though, I started to take a back seat out on the floor and started managing my business. I had six hair stylists, four nail technicians, two skin care ladies, and three massage therapists. Yeah, my salon was kick-ass. I should have named it that, Kick-Ass Salon, but knew some old ladies would get their panties in a twist over that. So I deemed it Prism Salon. The inside was decorated with many bright colors. Each station was a combination of pastels to bright blues, pinks, corals, greens, and more. You would think it would be a disaster. But it wasn’t. I had someone come in and do it. I can proudly say it looks absolutely fabulous!

  I pulled into my parking area, which looked pretty full. As soon as I opened the door, I saw everything was in control. Everyone was being tended to, which was magnificent.

  “No worries, all. Your fearless leader has arrived!” I alerted them of my entrance. Most of them rolled their eyes. Obviously I was not an intimidating boss.

  “Can I get you anything, Ms. Jennings?” My newest receptionist jumped into action.

  “Yes. Can you get me a bull whip, a full leather cat suit, and a hockey mask? I obviously need to toughen up my rep so my employees take me seriously,” I asked, trying to hold back my laughter when her face paled.

  “Uh.” I liked making her sweat a little. Hell, I loved to get reactions out of people. It was either a curse or a gift, the great debate of my life.

  “I’m just pulling your dick, babe. I’m fine.” I air-kissed her cheek and walked back towards my office. I had to look over the new advertising designs. Something was lacking last time, and I couldn’t put my finger on it. But this time, I was going to make those designs my bitch.

  Chapter Three

  An hour later, I had an epiphany. Realizations like this one don’t come around too often. It’s the type of epiphany that changes your life.

  I, Cammy Jennings, wanted a family.

  While looking over the files of papers designed to draw women and men to Prism so they could be turned into beautiful butterflies, I decided I wanted to throw those files away and sponsor a little kids’athletic team. It would look so awesome to have a Prism Salon’s softball team jersey. Or a basketball team. And I would have to go to games and support the local team that had my name on their backs.

  It was then that I realized I wanted that life. I wanted to be the kick-ass soccer mom that was always on point with her hair. I would rock the shit out of bringing juice boxes and snacks after practices. I wanted a husband to pester, who would love me anyway. I was still undecided on a family dog; it was something I would maybe do for the kid but only because I loved him.

  I wanted what Arson and Rayne had. The way he stared at her, as if she was the very air he breathed. They were so in love; it was beautiful to be around.

  The thoughts that were running through my mind were making me sad. I had no boyfriend. The last one I had, I dumped, because he just didn’t light my fire like I wanted. I was thirty, which wasn’t old, but it seemed like my crazy clock was ticking, telling me my ovaries were going to shrivel up and turn to dust at any minute.

  I needed to get my mind off my lack of future plans, so I left my office and decided to get my hands in the water and do a few walk-in pedicures. I enjoyed every part of it, from scraping the dead skin off the bottom of someone’s foot, to chatting them up about whatever, then painting a pretty color on their nails. It kept my mind distracted.

  The next time I looked at the clock, it was closing in on six. We were about to clean up and close down for the night. Tomorrow being Sunday, we were closed, so everyone could spend time with their families or just be on their own. The thought made me depressed all over again. I was heading home to nothing but my pretty apartment.

  “Hey, Cammy, want to go to Jackie D’s tonight? We could get hammered and do some karaoke,” asked Mary, one of my hairstylists. My frown turned upside down really quick. That was one way not to be alone tonight! I was so down with that plan.

  “Heck, yeah!”

  In the salon, I encouraged us to be more like a family. I’ve found that I keep employees better that way. They knew I still meant business, but I treated them well and they respected that. There were a few of the girls I could call friends. Mary was one of them. She knew how to have a good time.

  I closed up the shop about half an hour after everyone left and went home to change. I cleaned up and dressed in black, wide-legged dress pants and a strapless shirt that hugged my waist. I looked in the mirror. Oh yeah, I was looking like my doppelganger, Amy Adams. Petite, red hair, blue eyes, and elfish features staring back at me. I shot a text to Rayne to see if she just wanted to come and hang out, but she said Arson came home early. She would be one busy lady for the next day or so. Lucky bitch.

  Time to get out of my lonely apartment.

  Jackie D’s was a fun bar with lots of drinks flowing, people dancing like no one was watching, and drunkies doing terrible karaoke covers to hit songs. It was fabulous. I loved to let loose. Mary and I threw back a few shots and were getting our freak on out on the dance floor. While twirling with my arms in the air, my eyes caught sight of something familiar. I stopped and looked towards that something, only to feel my nether regions start to tingle. Jake was sitting at a nearby table, nursing a beer with wallaby man. His eyes were on me. Watching me intently. I wish I could say I was plastered, and that was why I decided to walk over to him, but I couldn’t. I honestly don’t know what drove me over.

  “What’s up, animal bitches?” I waved. Blond man was grinning and Jake was still looking at me, his expression unreadable.

  “Hey, Cammy, how’s the finger?” Blondie asked. I looked at him and smiled, while showing him my middle finger. Just that finger.

  “It’s doing okay, thanks for being concerned. Well, have a good night.” I was starting to regret my decision to walk over there. I twirled and walked away quite gracefully, but instead of heading back to the dance floor where Mary was getting low with some guy, I beelined for the bathroom. After doing my business successfully, I exited the bathroom and ran into a hard body.

  “Ow! What the hell?” I stumbled back, but big arms wrapped around me, steadying me.

  “You have a way with words, Just Cammy.” I looked up and met beautiful blue eyes, which also had a dark blue ring around the outside.

  “I have to be good at something,” I shrugged, then bit my lip, feeling unsure as to why his arms weren’t letting go of me. I was quite stable. Or at least I thought I was.

  “I feel like we should explore this,” he announced. I stared at him like he sprouted two more heads. Speaking of heads, I was feeling something pressed against my tummy. Something hard and delicious.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I tried, going for plausible denial.

  “I’m an animal, remember? I like the chase and I will catch my prey.” He walked us back so I was against the wall with his arms caging me in. Why was this so hot? He was a stranger! Well, sort of.

  “I’m not prey. And I don’t like to be chased,” I countered, even though I’m pretty sure it was a lie.

  “Of course you do. Ask me how I know.” His head leaned in, close enough that I felt his breath caress my lips. Oh Lord.

  “Tell me, oh wise one.” My voice was breathy and hoarse.

  “You’re an alpha, a leader. You need a man who will pursue you for your affections, and who will prove he is the better man overall. A man who will take care of your every need. Hard. Slow. Soft. Fast. A man who gives you the world, while giving you stability. You need an equal. An alpha,” he purred and I think I just orgasmed. God, now I know what Rayne felt like when Arson was all “I’m your fucks and flowers.” I wanted to jump up
on this man’s cock and go to town.

  “That’s where you’re wrong, kitten. We are completely different. We wouldn’t even know what to do with each other, let alone try for stability. It would never work. But lovely words.” It was better for me in the long run. He was hot and wild. He was an animal.

  “So the chase begins. Remember my words, sweetheart. The longer you run, the sweeter it will be when I catch you. And I will catch you.” Orgasm number two? Maybe? For a moment, we just stared at each other. A sort of challenge, if you will. I was determined to fight this. He was determined to chase. This was going to be interesting, one way or the other. Either we would collide and fuck like animals, or it would end in nothing. I was pretty damn strong-willed. He pulled back, releasing me from his arms.

  “Enjoy your run, sweetheart,” he smirked. I arched a brow and walked back out towards the dance floor. Mary was still dancing with her hunk of burning love. I pondered if I should grab another drink or dance some more when a bolt of genius hit me. I looked at the table where the boys had been, to see Jake was back at the table. Watching me, of course. That smirk still on his face. Oh, buddy, you have no idea what you signed up for. I strutted over to the karaoke area and told the DJ my song selection. The latest performer was almost done belting out her Kesha song, so I was up next. I felt like doing some fist pumps in the air for what was about to happen.

  Chapter Four

  As soon as she was done, she handed me the microphone and I hopped up on stage.

  “Heyyyyyyy! You guys ready to crank the heat up in this joint?” I was a crowd pleaser, what could I say? People cheered and looked towards me. My eyes found Jake’s. Oh yeah, bud, it’s on.

  “This song goes out to my animal man. All you, kitten.” I winked at him. Giggling, I turned my back towards the crowd.

  Dramatic flair? Check.

  When the beat to the song began, my hips started swaying. When it kicked up a little, I turned and started moving around more, getting those pelvic thrusts started. Oh yeah, I was going full throttle. People had stopped dancing to watch me.

  Seconds later, I was rapping out the lyrics to Bad Touch by Bloodhound Gang. Yeah, I went there. The other blessing was I actually knew the lyrics, so it was effortless for me to dance and sing the song. My hand crept down my stomach and grabbed my invisible nuts at that moment in the song, while I kept my eyes on Jake the whole time. His face was a mixture of amusement and determination.

  Soon, I had the crowd singing that they wanted to do it like the animals on the discovery channel.

  Pelvic thrust like nobody’s business? Check.

  Oh yeah, I was on that stage, giving it my best performance. And I will say I was killing it. Towards the end of the song, I started jumping up and down like the rapper I was, with my hand in the air moving to the beat.

  As soon as the song ended, I took a bow, blew Jake a kiss, and took my exit. Which I wish was graceful, but my dance act had apparently shaken those shots in my system like a soda can. Yep. I puked, and tripped down the three stairs. I was a violent puker.

  I felt hands wrap around me and hoist me up. We moved very quickly to the bathroom. As soon as I saw the toilet I let it all out. I felt my hair being pulled away from my face but I couldn’t care. I was dying. My insides were trying to come out of my mouth and nose. Yeah, I was that puker.

  “That was a sight I will never forget, sweetheart.” Jake’s voice was just behind me. I should have cared that Jake was holding my hair, but I couldn’t muster the need to care at the moment.

  “Holy shit, Cams! Do you need anything?” Mary’s voice was next. I groaned my answer before the next round of liquid came out my nose. Gross.

  I laid my head on the seat and closed my eyes. I heard Jake and Mary talking, but didn’t care to listen. I was concentrating on breathing in and out. My body went limp, and just before I passed out, Jake’s voice filled my head.

  “I got you, sweetheart. Always.” Somehow, I knew he would, which was frightening.

  I couldn’t feel my legs. Did I break them and lose feeling as I fell down the short set of stairs?

  I reluctantly opened my eyes to the early morning sunlight entering the room. Terrible decision. I felt like a vampire seeing the sun. I wanted to hide underneath the covers and nurse this ugly feeling in my body. I wasn’t hungover. No, every scrap of alcohol that was in my body had evacuated the premises. But my muscles, and all the joining parts felt like I put myself through the wringer. It was going to be a sweatpants and T-shirt kind of day. Did I have those often? No. Only the day after Thanksgiving with the family, and days like this.

  I tried to move my legs again, but still nothing. My eyes started to focus and my brain started to move its gears.

  I was not in my bed at my apartment. The ceiling did not have the mosquito net hanging from it like mine did. I looked to both sides and saw I was in a bedroom, one that was really bare. Off-white walls, one dresser, a closet, and a dog bed. Oh, no. Did I go home with someone last night and couldn’t remember? I moved my hands to my chest. I sighed in relief. Still wearing my top from last night. I kept going with my clothing assessment. No pants, but my panties were still on. I couldn’t have done anything too bad.

  I once again tried to move my legs and felt something stir around them. My breathing stopped. Something was on my legs. I looked down but couldn’t see anything over the gray comforter I was under. Even though I was nervous as hell to see what was on me, I had to know. Very slowly, I used my arms to push myself up.

  I screamed.

  I screamed like a teenybopper being chased by Freddy Krueger.

  There was a cat laying on my legs, but not just any cat. This cat looked like a miniature cheetah! It had to have been at least thirty pounds! I tore my legs out from under it and leapt out of the bed. It did the same, but with more grace. As soon as it landed, it hissed at me, then it raced out of the room like it was never there. I was having a panic attack. I had no clue where I was. Why was I missing my pants? Who did I fool around with? And why was there a giant cat sleeping on my legs?

  That’s when a shirtless Jake came running into the room. I was stunned calm for a few seconds. I mean, who wouldn’t be, when a body like that was staring you in the face? He was all ripped muscles and tan skin. God, every part of his chest was amazing. I mean, he had little dips and bumps in all the right places. Hubba hubba.

  “What the hell is your problem, woman?” He was staring at me. Me? What was my problem? Oh hell no, he didn’t!

  “My problem! I’d like to ask, what the hell is your problem? I’m the one that is in your house with no pants on, and a freaking jungle cat trying to keep my legs hostage!” I walked right up to him and pointed my red-painted nail at him.

  “Explain yourself,” I demanded. Yeah, I was a bad ass. I looked at his face. It really was a shame we were on two opposing sides of this game. He was very handsome. Gorgeous, even. His blue eyes were staring at me, watching me. His stupid amazing lips pulled up into an irritating smile.

  “OK, I’ll enlighten you on the situation. First, the night started off with you wiggling that ass in front of me. I’d call you a cock tease, but you already know that. Then we had a little chat about the game of cat and mouse you want to play. Then you blessed the bar with your performance of Bad Touch, pelvic thrusts included. Last but not least, your exit off the stage included puking your guts out while tripping down the stairs.”

  Oh God… all of that did happen. It wasn’t just a bad dream.

  “Okay, why am I here? Did we…?” I left the last bit off, I couldn’t voice it.

  “You don’t remember? I’m crushed, sweetheart,” he teased. Of course we didn’t.

  “Oh yeah, now I remember, I couldn’t feel your teeny tiny weenie. Hence why I forgot. I was reorganizing my closet the whole time. I decided to go with sorting by color, just so you know.” Yeah I went there. What?

  “Some women find it cute,” he commented with sadness. Oh no, did he really have a tiny p
een? Poor man, probably got made fun of in the locker room.

  “If it makes you feel better, I’ve been banged so many times my meat curtains flap with the wind.” So not true. I cherished my vagina, so that would never happen. But maybe it would make him feel better.

  “I’ll remember that for the spank bank.” He winked. This conversation had taken a weird turn.

  “Okay, back to my question, why am I here?” I took a step back to give us some distance and was relieved when he didn’t follow me.

  “Mary let me have you. She couldn’t carry you around, so I asked if I could take you to my place, that we were friends. She fought valiantly, but only for a few seconds. She said you needed a guy like me, but she made sure to follow us here and watch me put you in bed. She was the one that removed your pants. Sexy panties, by the way. I have a thing for lace.” His eyes drifted down to said panties. I wanted to cover myself from his perusal but I didn’t. I thought I looked good in my purple lace cheekies.

  Mary was so fired. Not really, but I would at least give her bathroom cleaning duty or something.

  “The jungle cat?” I had to know, did one of his creatures escape?

  “Binksie? He’s an African Serval. Rescue. A woman thought it would be cool to have him as a pet but didn’t want to put in the time. She dumped him off in the middle of nowhere with his leash tied to a tree. I got the call from someone who saw it happen and went to get him. He’s fine now, he’s kind of adopted me so now he won’t leave the house.” Huh, that was an interesting story. I digested all of the information he had given me, but there was still one question that was burning in my head.

  “Why are you shirtless?”

  “Casey spit up on me so I needed to shower and change.” Casey?

  “You have a baby?” The thought was oddly surprising.

  “No, Casey is a baby tiger. She hasn’t been feeling too well.”