Dark Universe (The Universe Series) Read online

  “Come on, cowboy, follow me.” I head towards my parking spot, and when I see Vincent walking toward my truck with me I stop and turn around.

  “Hand me the keys. I’ll drive or we can take my truck.” He offers, and I laugh out loud earning another confused look from Vincent.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to laugh at your very gallant offer, but we’re not driving together. I don’t even know you. There is no way in hell I’m getting into a vehicle alone with you.” There’s a flicker of surprise and approval in his gaze, but he says nothing. “It’s that or nothing.”

  He nods and walks over to his truck. “Lead the way, Miss Chase.”

  “It’s Lo.” I shout out the door before closing it, and start the engine.

  Out on the highway, I see a man on the side of the road with his head under the hood of a red Mustang’s smoking engine. In my rearview, Vincent’s truck pulls over to the side behind him. Hmm, gorgeous and a gentleman. I keep on towards the diner and tell the hostess to get me a table for two. I order a tea, knowing it could be little while before he can get here. However, before the waitress even returns with my drink, Vincent walks in the door.

  “That was fast.”

  “Pompous asshat refused my help. He said he could do just fine on his own.”

  “Huh, well his loss.”

  The waitress walks up with my tea, and doesn’t try to hide her blatant once over of my companion. Little hussy. “Is there anything I can get you?” She breathes, and the way she stresses “anything” is so obvious it’s comical.

  “Just a coffee, Ma’am,” Vincent drawls.

  The waitress smacks her gum and licks her lips earning an eye roll from me. “I would like something to eat.” I interject and she barely acknowledges my words pressing her pen to her notepad in preparation. “I’ll take the country omelet, a bowl of fruit, a half order of biscuits and gravy and a croissant with extra butter.” I’ve always hated girls that order a salad every time they go on a date. That shit is for rabbits. I take a sip of my tea and see my dining partner is staring at me incredulously. “What?” I ask, daring him to comment.

  He just smirks and makes a noncommittal gesture. A girl’s got to eat. “Okay, Miss Chase, here is what I am proposing…”

  “Let’s get one thing straight, handsome,” I interject, “I know my mom put you up to this. She has this notion if she shoves enough eligible bachelors my way, I’ll magically fall in love, get married and pop out some grandkids. I usually would have just nipped this in the bud at the front door, but you’re not the typical yuppie she usually finds, so I was…intrigued. Yea intrigued. It also helps that you’re hot.” Vincent smirks slightly, his eyes still squinting, as if at any moment some horns are going to poke through the skin on my forehead. “Don’t get a big head or anything, because assuming you own a mirror, you already know this. I think we can come up with an arrangement that will suit both of us. You don’t look like the marriage and babies type any more than I do, so I’m assuming you’re either looking for eye candy, or to get lucky.”

  “I don’t think…” Vincent’s face has transformed from slightly confused to completely baffled. Shocking people isn’t new for me, but he looks so lost it almost has me rethinking this whole idea. I should have spoken slower. It seems his looks make up for a lack in the brain department. Just great.

  I cut him off again, because I wasn’t finished talking and really, interrupting is just rude. “Here’s what I’m proposing. If we need someone to go out with, some arm candy, or just a date to keep the drunks at bay, we use each other. This will also keep my mother off my back so it kills two birds with one stone for me. You get to have an on call date whenever you need one without having to worry about buying flowers or insane expectations of diamonds. As far as the getting lucky part goes, I don’t sleep around. I’m not a virgin by any means, but my panties stay on until the time of my choosing. And trust me, I’m choosy. If you’re a total tool, you can count on going home alone every night.”

  His eyes have widened to saucers and his jaw is hanging by threads. I smile wide and lean back in my chair, confident in his answer.

  “So, what do you think Vincent, do we have a deal?”

  Vincent’s face smoothes out slowly as understanding dawns and he grins like he was just told the greatest secret of all time. “I think there has been some sort of mix up.” I cock my head to the side and wait for him to explain. “My name is not Vincent.” Oh shit. “And I have never met your parents.” Double shit! “In fact, I was here to speak to them about a business proposition. You answered the door and started talking about proposals, I assumed it was in regards to the email I sent your father and they had delegated you to speak about it.” Merciful Lord, kill me now. “So…like I said…mix up.” He takes a drink of his coffee, I assume to stop from falling on the floor laughing like a hyena, and I can do nothing except sit there and stare at him.

  After a few seconds, my mortification turns to anger and indignation. “Why didn’t you tell me your name wasn’t Vincent?”

  “You never…”

  “No, No! You just let me go on and on and never tried to stop me? Do you enjoy making fools out of people? What the hell is your name anyway?” I snarl at him.

  “The name is Drake Thomas, and you never called me Vincent until the end there. You kept calling me Cowboy or Handsome. And I didn’t let you do anything. You kept interrupting me. Christ, woman, you don’t even breathe when you talk.”

  “I did too call you Vincent!”

  “Did not.”

  “Did too!”

  Drake laughs and I melt. Having someone make you melt when you’re supposed to be angry with them is a major inconvenience. “Whatever, it doesn’t even matter at this point.” I motion for the check and chug my tea glaring over the rim at Drake. His eyes are really dark and combined with his other smoky features and that damn smirk of his, he looks downright sinful. I can’t even really see where his pupils end and the color begins. His black hair curls in damp rings over his ears and shirt collar, and my fingers are just itching to reach over…Christ on a cracker, Lo! The waitress arrives with my check and I slap some money on the table and get up to walk away.

  “What about your food?” Drake drawls behind me, sounding completely unaffected.

  “Help yourself.” I go to shout out over my shoulder only to realize he is walking out behind me.

  “So, about that business proposition…” He begins, following my angry stomping out to the parking lot.

  “My dad will get back to you.” I really just want this embarrassing altercation to end already.

  “Sounds great. About the other one, your… very charming proposition…” I turn to glare at him and he snaps his mouth shut and chuckles.

  I unlock my truck and slip inside as something occurs to me, “Hey Drake!” I shout at him. He turns and inclines his head. “Since it’s scientifically impossible not to, I do too breathe when I talk!” I go to slam my door, excited I got the last word in. Before I get it closed all the way I hear his deep voice.

  “Do not.” Jackass!

  I’m halfway home when my cell phone rings. “Your Mother is calling. She will keep calling. You might as well…” I snatch it up and answer it with a clipped, “Yea, Mom.”

  “Lola dear, it looks like you’re off the hook.” She sighs, clearly disappointed with something. “Vincent’s car broke down on the way to the house and he had to get it towed to a shop.” I sit on the other end speechless for a few seconds and then burst into laughter. “Lola, really.” She chastises. “This is hardly funny, think about poor Vincent. His mother says he really loves that car.”

  “I bet he does. That Mustang probably took a nice chunk out of his trust fund.” I mutter.

  “How on earth do you know he drives a Mustang?” She asks.

  “Lucky guess.” If I have it my way, I’ll take the real reason with me to the grave. Lord help me if Nina ever found out about this incident. She’d read all kinds of craz
iness into it. “Listen, Mom, I really have to go, um, wash my hair. I’ll talk to you later, love you bye!” I hang up on her protests before she can reschedule another meeting. I’ve had all I can handle for a while. I just pray I don’t run into Drake again.

  CHAPTER 2

  “When I hear somebody talk about a horse or cow being stupid, I figure it’s a sure sign that the animal has outfoxed them.”

  ~Tom Dorrance

  “You’re such a pretty boy aren’t you, Taz.” I pet his inky black hair and he whinnies at me lovingly. “I love you too. Yes I do. You are the only man for me, you big hunk you.”

  I’m down at the stalls giving my favorite horse a good brushing after doing some reining. I’ve always felt at ease with horses. They don’t expect anything from you except to be fed and taken out for a run every now and then. They are simple beings and since I also fit into that category, we tend to stick together. Tasmanian Deville was their present to me when I turned 16. Most kids get a car when they turned 16, I got a horse. Even though I got a car too, the horse was the big present. He was just a yearling when I got him, and I have trained and loved him since then.

  My love for horses runs in the family, lucky for me. The riding club has been in my family for several generations, and I always knew I was meant to work here. I’ve never been the type of person that could work an office job where every day of work was just another day closer to the next weekend. As far as I’m concerned, no amount of money or prestigious positions could compete with the freedom and fresh air I get every single day.

  Though it was always assumed I would eventually work there, it was never guaranteed I would become partner. In fact, for a while it was always Nathan who was in line for that, until…everything happened. Even though it would seem I was the obvious choice when Nathan was no longer an option, I had to prove myself. We may be a privileged bunch, but Chase’s have never had anything handed to us. I went to college for horse training and got my bachelor’s the same year my parents made me partner.

  I grab the fly spray from the bucket over by the barn door and Taz comes up behind me and nuzzles my back with his nose. “Hey there big fella, I was coming right back.” I reach up and put my hand on his mane to guide him back to the hitching post. I haven’t tied him to this post in three years. There just isn’t any reason to anymore. “You would never run away from me would you, baby. You love me, don't you?” I’m cooing and hugging Taz when I hear someone clear their throat behind me.

  I spin around keeping a hand on Taz as I do so. I would never be ashamed of my affection for this horse. I may be a tad embarrassed though, especially considering the sucker punch to the gut that is the sight of my father standing side by side with none other than Drake The Man I Made An Ass Out Of Myself In Front Of Thomas. “What the hell are you doing here?” I spout out in total Nina Ryan fashion. Dammit! I never do that foot in mouth syndrome shit. Apparently, I’m all mouth and no brain where this guy is concerned.

  Drake doesn’t seem the least bit put off by my rudeness and just smiles at me. “Well, it would seem I’m watching you baby talk your horse.”

  “Lola Scarlet, mind your manners young lady.” My father chastises. “How do you guys know each other?” He asks glancing curiously… and did I see that correctly… a little bit fearfully between me and Drake.

  “Miss Chase and I had a misunderstanding a few days ago when I showed up unexpectedly. She thought I was here to take her on a date set up by your wife I believe.” He says, politely outing me. Jackass!

  My father looks mildly relieved and then regains his cool friendly demeanor. “That explains her hostility. I would not have liked to have been in your shoes under the circumstances. Lola can be quite blunt in speaking her opinions, but nothing compares to the set downs she gives during her mother’s match making attempts.”

  “Oh, she wasn’t too harsh on me. Really, I think you’d have been surprised at her graciousness.” Drake insists, hinting at my proposition.

  My father’s eyebrows rise up into his hair. “Really? Well, then you were lucky to catch her on a good day.”

  “As interesting as this recap is, you still haven’t answered my question.” I say to Drake, desperate to end the conversation.

  “Actually I did, but since that was obviously not the answer you wanted, I’m here to talk about a business proposition for your father regarding my mare, Ruger.”

  “What about her?” I question suddenly intrigued. I am a business woman after all and my business is horses.

  “Ruger is by far the best Cutting horse in the state, but my current circumstances don’t allow for her to compete in any of the events. I wanted to speak with your father about helping fund her admissions and such for competing, and in turn, I would give your family a portion of the winnings. I’m also a decent trainer and was interested in applying for a position here, if there is one available of course.”

  “Can I see her?” I ask for two reasons. One, if I am going to put in my vote to take a chance on this horse, I want to see her first. Two, you can tell a lot about a man from his horse. And although I may never admit it, there is a lot I would like to know about Drake Thomas.

  “That’s a great idea, Lola.” My father says eyeing me in a knowing way. My father has always been able to see way too much. I think he gets it from spending so much time with the horses. Animals don’t talk, so you have to develop some intuition in order to deal with them. My father has it in spades. “I have some work to do today and don’t have enough time to make the trip down, so if you could go and take a look at her, I’ll trust your opinion on the matter. My daughter is a partner in this club so she can make the executive decisions regarding the matter.” He looks back at me after addressing Drake with that last sentence and says, “Let me know the details when you return.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Chase.” Drake reaches out and clasps my father’s hand in a firm handshake, earning an appreciative nod. My father hates wimpy handshakes.

  “Call me Bud.” Drake nods and my father pecks a quick kiss on my forehead before turning and walking back toward the house.

  “Your father seems like a good man.” Drake says absently.

  I look over at him and watch his expression turn from quietly observing, to slightly sad. “Yea I’m pretty lucky. Both of my parents are pretty great. They may drive me nuts, but I love them.”

  “And they love you. You are lucky.” He murmurs. I look questioningly at him, but he ignores my expression and nods at Taz. “That’s a beautiful horse. What’s his name?”

  I smile and walk back over to where Taz is waiting patiently behind me. “Taz, short for Tasmanian Deville. I answer and lead Taz back into the barn to lock him in his stall.

  “Seems pretty tame for a name like that.” Drake comments and I giggle.

  “He may be tame now, but when I first got him he was hellfire. I have the scars to prove it.”

  “The wild ones are the best if they’re trained right.” Hmm, point one for Drake.

  “I agree. Come on, let’s go see this horse of yours.”

  We walk silently to his truck and when I climb into the passenger seat, he smirks at me and removes his ball cap to brush his hair back from his forehead before replacing it. Yum. “So, you’ve decided I’m trustworthy enough to ride together this time?” He asks in reference to the other day.

  “No. I’m just pretty sure I could take you down if I had to.” He laughs at me and I wait for him to say something to show off his obvious strength. If there is one thing I know, its men, and men don’t waste any opportunity to show the guns. I glance over to see what kind of heat Drake is packing and my fingers curl into my palm. The sleeves of his ever present black t shirt stop right in the middle of his large biceps and are stretched to the max over their width.

  “Yea, I have no doubt you could do some serious damage to me, Lola Scarlet Chase.” He mutters so softly I almost don’t hear it. I stare at the side of his face, but he doesn’t acknowledge my attention. H
e just continues to drive focusing solely on the road. I may have to do some rethinking where this one is concerned. I’m starting to get the feeling he’s not quite like the guys I’m used to. “So I have to ask about the name by the way. Scarlet?” He says finally, still not looking at me.

  “Yea, my mom has a thing for ‘Gone with the Wind’.” I roll my eyes at the question I get whenever someone learns my middle name.

  “I met your mother today, you look like her,” he says.

  “I’ll take that as a complement. Caroline Chase has always been the beauty of her time.” My mother is beautiful in a more delicate way than I am, but the resemblance is definitely there. She’s thin and small and has delicate features. I, on the other hand, would never be called petite with my curves and long legs. The biggest similarity is our large bluish green eyes. On my mother’s small face, they make her look innocent and sweet. In my face, they look mischievous and catlike.

  Drake nods his agreement. “She reminds me so much of my mom.” .

  “What’s her name?” I ask.

  “Delilah.”

  “Are you close?”

  “Yea, we were, but it’s harder now. I left home a while ago. She still lives in Sheridan.”

  “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

  “A step sister, Lauren.” He says with a small smile on his face and his voice teems with adoration.

  “Sounds like you really love her. The doting big brother perhaps?” I say smiling back at him.

  “Yea, she’s a little spitfire.”

  “Does she live here in town?”

  “She did, but it didn’t work out and she had to move back home.” I can tell he’s trying to remain nonchalant. I don’t question further, although the curiosity is killing me.

  “Is your dad in Sheridan too?”