Chase had been looking forward to this dinner since Harrison had suggested it. Even though he knew it wasn't a real double date, to him it kind of felt like one.

Yeah, he and Leigh were just trying to help Harrison & Jayden get to know each other, but they still got to spend time together too. Chase preferred to spend time alone with Leigh, but he enjoyed any time that he got to spend with her.

Now he was also going to have to deal with Jackson all night, and pretend like he didn't mind him inviting himself over. Technically Leigh invited him, but he made sure to say all the right things to make her do it.

Leigh is such a nice and caring person that she never saw him manipulate her into asking him to join them. Hearing a knock at the door Chase opened it to find Harrison with his hands full.

"Hey man, what are you doing here so early?" Chase asks.

"Well, I thought I would get here a little early to help you start up the grill and drink a few of these Harrison says, handing him a six-pack. Plus I'm a little nervous so I thought if we hung out for a while before the girls got here I would relax."

"Sounds good, Chase says laughing. So you really like this girl huh?"

"Yeah man, she's great. I mean obviously, she's beautiful. She's funny too, and we have a lot in common. I just don't want to screw this up. I'm tired of the one-night stands. I want to find someone that I could settle down with."

"And you think that is Jayden?" Chase asks curiously.

"I don't know yet, but I want to give it a chance and see where it goes," Harrison says.

"I hear ya man. Not my kinda thing, but I get what you are saying," Chase says.

"Yeah, I know you are never going to settle down. Always going to be playing the field right," Harrison says sarcastically. "I think if a certain lady across the hall was available you might have a change of heart."

"Whatever, that is never going to happen no matter how much I want her," Chase says sadly. "Speaking of Leigh we have to talk about tonight before they get here."

"Why what's wrong? Do you think Jayden has changed her mind about spending time with me?" he asks worriedly.

"No that's not it," Chase says smiling at his love-struck friend. "We are going to be having another person here for dinner with us."

"What? Who?" Harrison asks.

"Come on man let's head out to the grill, and I will tell you all about it. Bring the beer because I'm definitely going to need those tonight," Chase says going out onto the balcony.

"So let me get this straight they dated in high school behind her brother's back, he cheated on her, and has continued to try to get her back for years? Now he is coming here to be your boss, and will continue to try to get Leigh back while he is here I'm sure," Harrison says.

"Yep, he spent all day with her today looking for an apartment. Now he gets to have dinner with her tonight," Chase says.

"Well at least he will be here, and not alone with her," Harrison says.

"Yeah, but he was flirting with her right in front of me yesterday. I don't think he cares if we are here," Chase says.

"Well, we will just have to keep him busy while he is here then. If you see that he is trying to be alone with Leigh interrupt them. Ask him questions about himself to keep him talking, and not focusing on her. Hell, we can even have him over for a game night, and do some male bonding with the guy," Harrison says laughing.

"What the hell man! I don't want to spend any more time with the guy then I have to," Chase says annoyed.

"Yeah but if he is hanging out with us, then he won't have time to ask Leigh out on any dates," Harrison explains.

"Oh yeah good idea," Chase says.

"Plus it couldn't hurt to get on the bosses good side either," Harrison says laughing.

"I don't give a damn who he is. I'm not going to kiss his ass to suck up for work," Chase says pissed off.

"I know, but you can try to be nice to the guy instead of looking like you want to kill him every time he looks at Leigh."

"This dinner is going to suck. I can't believe I let you talk me into this shit," Chase says.

"No, it won't. It will give you time to get to know him on your turf before he starts to order you around at work tomorrow," Harrison says.

"On my turf? What are we twelve? Fine whatever hand me another beer," Chase says rolling his eyes.

The girls show up right on time at 6:00. Chase's eyes go directly to Leigh as soon as he opens the door. He can't help but smile at her as he says, "Come on in ladies."

Trying to cover how happy he is to see her he grabs the chocolate cake and heads into the kitchen.

"Hey you have to eat your dinner before you can have cake mister," Leigh says laughing.

"Yes ma'am," Chase says as he licks some frosting off of his finger.

"I knew I should have waited until after dinner to bring the cake over," she says shaking her head at him.

"Ok, ok I promise I will be good," he says.

"I brought a veggie & cheese tray," Jayden says. "I figured we could snack on these while you grill the steaks."

"Great idea," Harrison says coming in from the balcony. "The steaks will be done soon, but I am starving now."

"Well come and get it," Jayden says playfully.

Harrison heads straight for Jayden and grabs a carrot. "Good to see you again," he says staring at her.

"You too. Thanks for having us over tonight," she says grinning up at him.

"Would y'all like to join us out on the balcony by the grill?" he asks.

"Sure," Jayden says immediately.

"I'm going to get started on the salad," Chase says.

"I will help you," Leigh says.

"Cool thanks. So Harrison you good with keeping an eye on the steaks?" he asks.

"Yeah man I got it," Harrison says following Jayden out onto the balcony staring at her ass.

"So where is Jackson? Did he decide not to come over tonight?" Chase asks hoping she says yes.

"No I just told him to come over around 6:15, so we could give them a few minutes alone before we added another person here," she says.

"Good idea seems like they are getting along great again," he says.

"Yeah I think after tonight they won't need us anymore," she says.

"Probably true, but I do like the four of us hanging out together," Chase says.

"I like it too. It's great to have a group of friends to hang out with again," she says.

"Well we will have to do it again sometime, but minus one person if you don't mind," he says.

"Be nice," Leigh says.

"What.... I am always nice. Especially to a gorgeous girl who brings me chocolate cake," he says sticking his finger in the frosting for another taste.

"Chase don't you dare," Leigh says grabbing his hand.

"Or what? What are you going to do about it, Miss Jensen?" Chase says taunting her.

"This," she says wrapping her lips around Chase's finger-licking the icing off.

Chase just stands there stunned, and instantly hard. Licking his lips, he starts to think of all of the places that he would love to lick chocolate icing off of Leigh.

Leigh doesn't move and seems to be thinking the same thing too as she stares into Chase's hooded eyes.

Just as he is about to lean in and kiss her, they hear a knock at the door breaking their moment.

Chase reluctantly goes to answer the door to let Jackson in. With his back to Leigh, he takes a second to adjust himself before he opens the door.

"Hey, man thanks for having me over tonight. I wasn't sure what to bring, so I asked Leigh what your favorite beer was. I figured can't go wrong with beer right?" Jackson says handing Chase the beer.

Chase is still thinking about what just happed with Leigh and doesn't even realize that he hasn't replied to any of the crap that Jackson is rambling on about.

"Sure no problem, glad you could join us. Thanks for the beer," Chase finally says motioning for Jackson to come in.

"I brought some wine for the ladies. I hope this is still your favorite," he says handing the bottle to Leigh as she walks up to them.

"Yes, it is, thanks, Jackson. Jayden loves it too. Harrison and Jayden are out on the balcony grilling the steaks. We will introduce you to them when they come in," she says.

"Trying to give them a little alone time," Jackson says understanding.

"Exactly. We were just about to start getting the salad ready. Why don't you two have a seat and a beer? I will take care of it," Leigh says.

"No Leigh I've got it. I told you I was going to cook for you," Chase says.

"It's not a big deal Chase. Sit here in the kitchen with me and we can all chat while I chop," she says.

Chase had really enjoyed fixing the salad with Leigh at her apartment last week and wanted to do it again tonight. Now he had to sit here with Jackson and make small talk.

Thanks so much for reading my book! Please vote, and post comments to let me know what you think!
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