She had a point. He needed to mind his own damned business.
Also, she was definitely a nerdy scientist. Not his type. Not someone he had anything in common with.
And he’d never wanted to kiss a woman more than he wanted to kiss Bailey Wilcox in that moment.
“Why would you be studying all of that in a bar?”
Stupid question. But it was better than, “Can I please smell your neck again?” which was the other thing that had occurred to him to ask.
She blinked, then frowned. “Because I was hungry and don’t cook. And this bar is the only one around here that has Ghost in the Machine IPA.”
Okay, they had two things in common. He didn’t cook either and Ghost in the Machine was his favorite beer. It was the best Louisiana beer he’d tried since coming here and topped all of his previous favorites, even from up north. But it sold out quickly and was hard to find.
“Good answer,” he told her.
“So glad you approve.”
Yep, if he wanted a woman who thought he was amazing and couldn’t wait to spend more time with him, he should have stuck with the blonde. Bailey Wilcox was not impressed. Still, he found himself grinning.
“Okay, you don’t have to smile,” he said. “But you have to admit that I helped you out with Justin.”
He thought maybe, just maybe, there was a hint of a smile at one corner of her mouth.
“Justin is… a huge problem.” She frowned. “But not in the way you think.”
Chase frowned. “Is he an ex? I’m happy to stick close for the rest of the night to be sure he doesn’t bother you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Can you just not shut that off or do you really think that will work?”
“Shut what off?”
“The supposed charm.”
“Supposed?” He arched an eyebrow.
And damn if her lips didn’t curl up just the tiniest bit. “You just can’t shut it off,” she said, as if she’d figured it out for sure.
Yeah, maybe she was right. He was flirting with her, but he wasn’t sure why, either. It seemed like his default mode. “So, about that sticking close thing…”
Bailey shook her head. “Not necessary. He won’t be a problem until tomorrow.”
“I can stay over.” Chase couldn’t help the grin he added.
Now she shook her head in clear disbelief over his audacity. “Unless you’re going to come to work with me and pass yourself off as an expert on the American alligator, I don’t think you’re going to be much good to me.”
“I’ve seen some alligators.” Mitch had told him he had to come back down and go hunting sometime. “Eaten a few too.”
Bailey’s eyes widened. “I’m working to help preserve their habitat along the coast.”
Oh. She was an alligator lover. “It’s not my favorite meat,” he said. “I do prefer chicken.”
She rolled her eyes.
He ran a hand through his hair. He hadn’t had this much trouble flirting in a very long time. “And Justin is some kind of alligator specialist?” Shit. He didn’t want Justin to have the nerdy scientist thing in common with Bailey.
Which was completely ridiculous. Bailey Wilcox should not be this interesting to him and he definitely shouldn’t care who else she was interesting to. As long as the guy wasn’t a bar dickhead who didn’t understand the word no.
“Justin is my competition.”
Chase dropped his hand. “What do you mean?”
“I’m working on securing a grant from a foundation that is focused on preserving the plant and animal habitats along the Louisiana coast. My proposal includes tagging alligators and watching their patterns over the next year or so.” She studied him for a moment, as if gauging his interest. “I’m working to prove that the erosion of the coastline is affecting the alligator population. As the coastline changes, more and more saltwater is coming up into freshwater areas, including the bayou. Alligators can live in saltwater for short periods, but long term the increased salinity will push them out. They are an important predator and a key part of the ecosystem. Their absence will further change the coast which will have impacts on the people who live and work there. I’m hoping to use my data to convince partners to invest in protecting the coast and to raise public awareness of the issues.”
“What’s Justin got to do with it?” Chase asked.
“Justin is also interested in that grant money and stole my plans for the program. Whichever of us gets the proposal together first will also be asked to speak at a local conference. It’s completely about ego and a promotion for him.”
“And it’s all about alligators?” Did he know any other woman who was into alligators? He honestly couldn’t think of one.
“Well, there are several species that are affected by the changes. I’m also fond of frogs and toads.”
She was definitely not his usual type. “No kidding.”
Bailey shrugged. “Nope.”
Something about that niggled at the back of Chase’s mind. “Who’s in charge of the foundation you’re applying to.”
“Bennett Baxter.”
That was why it sounded familiar. “I know Bennett. He’s one of the co-owners of Boys of the Bayou.”
Bailey nodded. “I know.”
Of course she did.
“I could set up an introduction.”
“In exchange for what?”
Chase blinked at her. “No exchange necessary.”
“Because you love alligators and want to do whatever you can to help protect their habitats?”
He wasn’t exactly sure why he was volunteering his help, actually. Clearly this woman was smart and determined, and he had next to nothing to really offer her. Why did he feel compelled to try anyway?
“Uh. Sure.” Protecting wildlife didn’t seem like a bad idea. Not that Chase had given it a ton of thought. But there was something about the way Bailey talked about all of it that made him think he wouldn’t mind learning more. From her. Where he could see her eyes sparkling and hear the excitement in her voice.
Wow. That was…unprecedented. Of course, he’d never dated a woman who was interested in alligators or frogs. Or soil erosion, probably.
She rolled her eyes again. Something that was also fairly unprecedented in the women he hung out with. Other than his sister. Juliet definitely rolled her eyes at him.
Juliet would like Bailey. He wasn’t sure why that occurred to him just then, but he was sure of it.
“Why would you really want to introduce me to Bennett Baxter?” Bailey asked.
Chase thought maybe honesty would get him further with this woman than flirtation. “Because there’s something about you that makes me want to do something to impress you, and that’s about all I’ve got.”
She looked surprised for a moment.
“Oh! And money,” he said as the thought occurred. “I have money, too.”
“Uh. What?”
“I’m rich.” Okay that wasn’t something he generally blurted out. For one thing, most people he spent time with knew that. He was a Dawson from Virginia. His father was loaded. For another, even he knew that you weren’t supposed to talk about being rich. Juliet would have definitely rolled her eyes at that.