Read Making Chase for Free Online Page B

and Maggie leaned in. “They have boy stuff too?”
    “Oh yeah. Newborn to age six. All sorts of stuff.” Matt hefted her duffel when she readied to leave. “I’ll walk you out.”
    “Okay then.” Getting to her knees she accepted a hug from Nicholas.
    “I’ll see you later, Nicholas.” And said goodbye to everyone else.
    At her car, Matt tossed the duffel into the passenger seat. “Thanks for today.” He touched his hair and she shrugged.
    “No problem. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    He’d wanted to try and smooch up on her but she got into the car before he could make a move. All he could do was wave as she pulled away from the curb.
    Back inside, he moved to the couch. “Before anyone asks, yes, I’m into Tate. She seems utterly clueless though.”
    “Into? Yeah, that’s a mild word for a man who stared at her like he wanted to devour her.” Liv chuckled.
    “She’s not your usual type, Matt.” Maggie bounced Nicholas on her knee.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Stop being so damned defensive about her already,” Marc grumbled.
    “She’s not your usual type. She’s a very nice woman, no doubt. But,” he shrugged, “she’s not the perky cheerleader beauty queen you normally date.”
    “What was that thing about the money?” Kyle asked.
    Liv snorted. “You guys all grew up so sheltered. Tate Murphy is a hardscrabble girl. She came up the hard way. Struggled, worked for everything she has. She’s defensive because of what she comes from.”
    “And how do you know? You grew up pretty well.”
    “I did, yes. And I’m lucky. Tate’s sister-in-law Susan was tight with my sister. When they ran wild together anyway. Susan mellowed long before my sister did. Anyway, I know Susan pretty well and through her, www.samhainpublishing.com 37

    Lauren Dane
    I know a bit about the Murphys. It’s going to be hard for you to get her to let you in, Matt. She’s been hurt, a lot. And, I’m going to say it because it’s my place to say things everyone is thinking but no one says—the looks thing is going to be a problem.”
    “What looks thing?” Matt thundered.
    Liv waved it away. “I’ve known you a long time, Matthew. Don’t play games. You go out with women who are drop-dead beautiful. Even I was intimidated when we dated. She’s a beautiful person, that goes without saying, but she’s not like the others.”
    “Are you saying she’s ugly? Because that’s fucked up, Liv, in addition to being untrue.”
    Liv snorted and put her hand on Marc’s arm to keep him from speaking. “ I’m not saying she’s ugly. I know her. Not as well as I’d like to, she seems much more reserved around me than with other people. But enough to know I think she’s beautiful. But here’s what they’re going to say, Matt—she’s short and fat and from the wrong side of town. She’s after your money and your name. You’re tall, handsome and you come from money and an influential family.” Liv shrugged.
    “You have to be prepared for it, Matt. You have to protect her and yourself by accepting it up front and understanding how to deal with it. If you mean to make something with her, you’re going to have a lot of hurdles. Other people may pretend that’s not a problem but I’m not other people and I love you too much not to say what everyone is thinking.” Marc chuckled. “My fragile flower. So shy.”
    “I never thought of it that way. Well, I don’t care what people think. I only care what I know. All my life people have just assumed I’m shallow.
    Kyle, he’s the sensitive one, Shane is the gruff one, Marc’s the happy-go-lucky one and I’m the pretty one no one thinks much of. I’ve gone out with dozens of women. I’ve been able to have a decent conversation with maybe three and only one has ever had the same feeling about family I have. I’ve gotten to know Tate over the last few months, this isn’t sudden.
    She’s the one. She doesn’t judge me, she doesn’t look at me and think about how