Under a Georgia Moon: Georgia Moon Romance Book 1 (26 page)

The food in Chase’s mouth turned to lead. He grabbed his Coke and washed it down. Eavesdropping was never a good idea, but as he listened to Hayden talk, everything became crystal clear.

When he had heard enough, he scooted out of his seat to confront the woman who was intent on dragging him down with her.

Chase stood in front of her and watched the color drain from her face, leaving her skin as white as the dress she wore. They stared at each other for a few seconds before she ended her call.

He saw her swallow as he sat down across from her. “You’re…pregnant?”

Fear flashed in her eyes before she dropped her gaze to stare at her phone. “I guess you heard everything.”

Yeah. He’d heard every word about how she planned to lure him into her bed so she could make him the father of her baby. She was desperate, and needed it to happen quickly in order for it to be plausible.

His gut twisted with anger, his hands clenched tightly into fists as he took in a slow breath. “Call your father. Right now.”

Hayden lifted her eyes and shook her head. A bitter smile twisted her lips. “No.”

“Then I will.” Angrily, Chase grabbed his phone, hoping it had enough juice to make one more call.

Her blue eyes hardened with cool disdain. “And who do you think he’ll believe?”

“Hayden, I am not taking the blame for this.” Chase’s fingers clamped down on his phone in frustration. She was right, though. Even if he did call her dad, he probably wouldn’t believe him. But he wasn’t giving up that easily. “You know, once the baby is born there are tests that will prove my innocence.”

 “True. But in the mean time, I wonder what your new little girlfriend will think?”

The subtle threat made his chest constrict. He had no idea Hayden would stoop this low. “Why are you doing this?”

“Hmm, guess I just don’t like the other possible candidates.”

“Sorry.” He ground his teeth together. “But I’m not in the running.” He held out his phone. “Either you call your father or I will.”

She blew out a big breath. “I’m not ready to announce…um, my news just yet, so what exactly are we callin’ my daddy about?”

Okay. His sisters were angels. He would never complain about them again.

“How about the truth?”

“Tell you what.” She leaned in close. “I’ll make sure my daddy knows we aren’t an item anymore if you keep my problem to yourself.” She smiled. “As a bonus, I’ll even forget about the Nashville job."

Yeah, like he was going to broadcast her predicament. The sooner he could distance himself, the better. “I promise. I won’t tell a soul.”

“Good.” She traced her finger across the rim of her water glass. “I’d hate to think what Adrianna or whatever her name is would think if rumors started flying.”

Hayden wanted him to react. He wasn’t going to give her anything. “Right.”

She eyed him for a few seconds before pressing a number on her phone and lifted it to her ear. “Daddy, I need to ask you a favor.” A lock of her dark hair fell across her shoulder as she leaned back into the booth. “Promise me you won’t fire Chase just because I’ve decided to end our relationship.”

Some of the tension melted away. It was decent of her to at least allow him to keep his job. For now.

Her mouth pressed into a pout. “No. It was all me.” Her gaze flickered to Chase. “Let’s just say I think I can do better.” After a few seconds of silence, Hayden laughed and said, “Thanks. I love you too.”

She ended the call, the cold calculating look back in her eyes. “Happy?”

Ecstatic
. He scooted out from the booth. “Thank you.”

“Anytime.”

He stared at her for a moment and actually felt sorry for her. “I hope everything works out with…your situation.” He didn’t ask how this would affect her acting job.

She smirked and took a drink of her water. “Don’t pretend like you care.”

Chase didn’t respond. Talking with her was a no-win situation. No matter what he said, she’d find a way to turn it on him. He gave her a brief nod of the head, then turned and left the restaurant.

Immediately, Chase went to his room and packed for his return trip home. At least some good things had come out of being forced to come on this trip. He now knew why Hayden had been after him so persistently, and since she wouldn’t want her predicament broadcast, he believed she’d keep her end of the bargain and not say anything to her dad about his potential new job.

With this stress no longer pressing down on him, he could pursue his music career, and figure out a way to have Addie too.

Chapter Twenty

“They
want to interview me?” Addie sat down at the table. “Why?”

Aunt Janie grinned and took a seat next to her. “Because of the letter you discovered! At my United Daughters of the Confederacy meeting yesterday, I shared the letter and picture with the group. The women were so excited, and Vera called her granddaughter who is a reporter for the
Telegraph
newspaper. Susannah is interested and wants to write a story for the paper.”

Addie wasn’t sure she wanted to be interviewed by a reporter. If it was scheduled at the same time Chase was getting home, there was no way she was doing it. “When is the interview?”

Janie glanced at her watch. “At ten.”

Darn
. She didn’t have an excuse to say no. Chase was picking her up around noon. Addie pushed back from the table. “I better go finish getting ready.”

An hour later, Susannah left with a promise to let them know when the story would run. If they had room it would come out in Sunday’s paper, otherwise it would be in Wednesday’s edition.

The reporter had done her homework and discovered that Lydia and Marianne had married brothers. What had probably seemed like a dream come true for the close sisters, turned into an ugly nightmare once the Civil War started.

When the war ended, Lydia returned to the house, caring for her wounded husband until he died a few years later. Her sister, Marianne, died from an unknown illness, never setting foot in the house again. Lydia’s posterity claimed she never found her sister’s hidden valuables.

Janie was excited with all this information. “This means the treasure could still be buried. Wouldn’t it be fun to find it?”

Addie nodded her head. “Sure, but I thought every inch of the property has already been searched?”

Her aunt walked over to the little computer desk in her kitchen. “That was years ago. And I don’t think anyone ever used a metal detector. I wonder if I could rent one?” She jiggled the mouse and opened a browser to start her search.

The image of her aunt using a metal detector brought a smile to Addie’s lips. “I guess they can’t be that hard to operate.”

Grinning, Janie raised both her eyebrows. “I’m gonna do it. This is so exciting!”

Addie laughed. “Go, Aunt Janie.” She glanced at the clock. “Oh, wow. Chase is going to be here soon. I need to change my clothes.” She started to run upstairs, but paused by the doorway. “By the way, what do I wear to a bar?”

Janie chuckled. “Sugar, don’t think of it as a bar. Dress like you’re going to a nice place for dinner.”

Addie grinned, knowing just the thing to wear. After touching up her makeup, she pulled on a pair of dark-wash skinny jeans and a moss-colored, fitted peasant top. She slipped her feet into black, peep-toe heels, and accessorized with a pair of silver hoop earrings and several bronze and silver bangle bracelets.

She spritzed on perfume, excited to see Chase perform again. Since the guys had missed Friday night’s rehearsal, they were meeting this afternoon to go over their music before setting up at Gracie’s Haven, giving Addie a chance for a little preview of the band’s show tonight.

Grabbing her purse, she went downstairs. Chase stood in the foyer talking with her aunt. He looked incredibly hot in a white V-neck tee, worn jeans and his boots.

He glanced up and she felt a jitter in her belly as she watched the slow curve of his mouth lift into a sexy smile. “Wow,” he said. “You look prettier than I remembered.”

“Thanks. So do you.”

He quirked a brow. “I look pretty?”

Aunt Janie giggled like a school-girl, watching the interchange with pure delight.

Addie gave him a coy look with half-lowered lashes. “You know what I mean.” Although, she still did think of him as a “pretty boy.”

Grinning, he reached for her hand and pulled her close. He smelled unbelievably good as he drew her in for a hug. “Are you ready to go?” he asked, setting her back from him.

“Yes.” She turned to say goodbye to her aunt. “Don’t lock me out, I’ll be home late.”

Chase took her hand. “I promise to have her home before two.”

Janie smiled. “I’ll take a nap and skip my sleeping pill so I can wait up for you.” She shooed them with her hands. “Y’all better get going. And have fun.”

They said goodbye and walked to his truck. Instead of opening the passenger door, he led her around to the driver’s side. “I want you to sit in the middle.” He opened the door and helped her climb up.

She scooted across his seat and settled in the middle. Bench seats were a total plus when dating someone you really liked—and she really liked Chase.

He slid in next to her. The scent of his tangy cologne and the touch of his shoulder against hers made all her nerve endings tingle. A tiny sigh escaped her mouth as he looked over and gave her a crooked smile.

“You really do look gorgeous.”

“Thanks.” She lifted her face to his as he leaned down to kiss her. They were only a breath away when his phone blared out
Start a Band
.

Chase groaned as he withdrew his phone. “I swear Jackson must have some kind of radar.”

He gave her a quick kiss and answered the phone. “Sure, no problem. We’ll just swing by a store on the way.”

Ending the call, he started the truck and backed out of the driveway. “Drew had to bring his three girls for the practice. I guess he forgot to bring diapers and he doesn’t want to bother his wife.” Chase pulled out into the street and then reached for her hand. “You don’t mind if we stop at the store, do you?”

“Of course not.” She leaned her shoulder into his, loving the way it felt to be with him again. Like the last piece of a missing puzzle being put in place, completing the picture.

On the way to the store, he asked her more about the mystery letter she’d discovered, and the interview with the
Telegraph
reporter. She made him laugh when she told him Aunt Janie planned to rent a metal detector to look for the buried treasure.

“If anyone can find lost treasure, it’s your aunt,” he said, pulling into the Kroger parking lot.

“So,” Addie said, climbing out of the truck. “Do we know what size of diapers Drew’s daughter needs?”

Chase took her hand and looked at her sidelong. “They have different sizes?”

“Yes,” she said with a laugh. “If I remember right, several different sizes. How old are his girls?”

The automatic door slid open and they entered the grocery store. “I’m not sure. Something like seven, five and two.”

Addie saw a sign for the baby aisle and she headed in that direction, pulling Chase with her. “It has to be for the two-year-old.”

“Whoa. You weren’t kidding,” Chase said as the stood in front of the shelves containing a vast assortment of diapers.

Addie’s maternal side unlocked as she stood next to him in the baby aisle. Everything looked so cute and fun to buy. Even the little jars of baby food. She picked up a package of number three diapers. “Is she a small child?” she questioned, noting they sized by weight not by age.

He lifted a shoulder in a clueless shrug. “She’s little, like most kids.”

Her lips twisted into a smile. “Maybe you should call and find out so we get the right ones.”

After conferring with Drew, they selected the appropriate size and then Addie picked up a container of diaper wipes. This part of having a child wasn’t as appealing as the little jars of baby food or the entire section filled with lotion and soap. She wondered if Chase was the kind of guy who would change a dirty diaper.

As the checker scanned the items, Addie couldn’t help thinking the clerk probably assumed she and Chase were buying diapers for their own child. Secretly, she liked the idea.

Chase paid for the diapers, giving Addie time to study his handsome profile. A sweet emotion filled her chest and swelled with each breath. She knew she had to acknowledge her feelings. She was falling in love with him. Really in love.

It was time to stop her think-about-it-tomorrow attitude. She had to figure out a way to either live without her family or talk Chase into leaving Georgia.

* * *

Drew stood out on the porch, holding his crying daughter as Chase pulled into Jackson’s driveway. He looked relieved to see them. “Y’all are lifesavers.” He took the bag from Addie. “I’ll be back in a second.”

Chase could smell the telltale signs that Lauren definitely needed a diaper change as he and Addie followed him inside the house. He admired Drew’s stamina. Would he be that kind of dad? A flash of panic hit him for a few seconds when he thought about Hayden and her plan to make him the father of her baby.

He turned to find Addie watching him, a flicker of a smile played across her lips. All thoughts of Hayden left him as he pulled her into his arms and gazed into her brown eyes.

“Guess he really did need the diapers.”

“Guess so.” Addie wound her arms around his neck, her bracelets jangling with the movement. “Are you gonna be the kind of guy who’ll change a diaper?”

“Is that a trick question?”

Her dimple appeared. “No.”

“Why do you wanna know?”

She played with his hair around the back of his neck, making it hard for him to concentrate.

“Just curious.”

Curious as in if we had kids would she be the only one changing diapers?

“Uh-huh. So that’s a question you ask all the time?”

“Well, sure,” she said playfully. “Are you telling me nobody has ever asked you that before?”

Not exactly. But he was certain Hayden would not be the kind of mother to
ever
change a dirty diaper.