For some reason the words let the games begin made Chloe slightly uneasy - especially when those words came from the mouth of Jason Masters. Then again, Chloe was feeling strangely adventurous and was almost hoping that she would somehow be led into trouble by Jason. Not since Brady had left town had Chloe felt so alive.

Strutting across the room, Jason smoothly released Chloe's hand so he could wrap his arm around her trim waist. He was finally going to outdo his stepbrother Bradley, and it was definitely going to be fun - even if he had to get along with Chloe Lane for a few hours to get the job done.

And, the very moment Bradley caught sight of the couple approaching him, Jason could feel his own level of amusement rise significantly. It was quite obvious that Bradley was more than a little intrigued by Jason and the woman at his side.

Reaching his stepbrother, Jason offered him an arrogant grin as he continued to keep his arm wrapped around Chloe's waist. With conceded cheer, Jason greeted, "Bradley, it's been a while."

Returning the smile while gazing intensely at Chloe, Bradley said, "That it has."

Bradley's stare somehow made Chloe feel like little more than a piece of meat, and she was quickly beginning to reconsider just how good of an idea it had been to agree to help Jason. However, whether she wanted to admit it or not, having Jason's muscular arm around her waist made her feel more than sufficiently protected.

"So, Jase," began Bradley. "I take it this is your precious Chloe?"

Surprise was clearly eked on Jason's face as he answered, "Uh, yeah, this is Chloe." And, as Bradley used his most debonair manner to kiss Chloe's hand, Jason could only wonder how exactly it was that Bradley knew Chloe's name before she was even introduced.

Lifting his lips from Chloe's hand, Bradley said, "It's nice to meet you, Chloe - even if you are here with Jason." And, though Bradley smiled and gave a soft chuckle after finishing the sentence, it was quite clear that he had not truly been joking.

Unable to think of a logical reply, Chloe merely gave a weak smile and stayed close to Jason. Though she had just met Bradley, she could already see why Jason and Devon disliked him so very much.

Seeing that neither Jason nor Chloe was going to start a conversation, Bradley crudely asked, "Hey, Jase, what happened to that last girl of yours . . . Jan?"

Due to the close proximity of their bodies, Chloe could actually feel Jason's body stiffen as Bradley asked the question. In some small way, Chloe was beginning to understand Jason's behavior. Between a conceded older brother and hellish stepbrother, Jason seemed to almost be destined to come in last.

However, it was a masculine voice from behind Jason and Chloe that offered an answer. His arm casually draped around Gwen, Devon said, "Actually, Jason got rid of the infamous frizzy-haired control freak. And, as you can obviously see, he's moved on . . . with his real love."

Knowing that he had Bradley's full attention, Devon continued, "Oh, Bradley, you remember Gwen don't you?"

Bradley sent his stepbrother a withering glare. Only Devon Masters would be obnoxious enough to introduce a guy to his own ex-girlfriend. And, only Gwen McDaniel would be foolish enough to fall for a guy like Devon.

Patting his brother on the back, Devon said, "Well, I guess Gwen and I are going to go talk to Kaitlyn for a little while." Nodding toward Chloe, Devon added, "You're coming over to the house tonight aren't you?"

Even as she wondered how in the world she had gotten into such a mess, Chloe stammered, "Um, yeah, I guess."

"Good, I'll see you when I get home, and maybe I can actually keep you and Jason apart long enough to have a whole conversation with one of you."

Swatting Devon, Gwen stated, "Ah, but they are just so cute together."

"Aren't they?" Devon questioned with a smirk as he led the blonde away.

As Devon disappeared around the corner, Bradley tossed him one last dirty glare before returning his attention to Jason and Chloe. He couldn't quite put his finger on in it, but something seemed amiss with the couple.

"So, Chloe, how exactly is it that you ended up with Jason?"

"Well, we actually go to school together. And, what can I say, the moment I met Jason, I immediately had some very strong feelings for him."

Pulling Chloe just a little tighter, Jason smiled and said, "Trust me, sweetheart, the feelings were mutual."

Of course, neither Jason nor Chloe felt that it was necessary for Bradley to know that they had instantly hated each other.

"So, Chloe, you're Jan's replacement, correct?"

Her mouth agape, Chloe could hardly believe the pure lack of manners that Bradley possessed. It seemed that each time he spoke, he was merely worsening his own image and attempting to humiliate Jason.

Answering before Chloe could even attempt to give a response, Jason strongly stated, "Chloe is no one's replacement. She's the most individualistic person I've ever known and is anything but a replacement for Jan."

Holding his hands up in mock surrender, Bradley responded, "Gee, Jase, you don't have to get so defensive. It wasn't as if I meant the question in a bad way. I was just curious if you began to date Chloe right after you broke up with Jan or if there were a slew of girls in between the two."

As Jason began to close his free hand into a frustrated fist, a calm voice from behind him asked, "Jason, would you mind helping me for just a minute? We need just one more strong young man to help move the tables outside."

For a moment, Jason considered asking his stepmother why she didn't request her own son's help, but he decided that he would shock the woman by not fighting with her for a change.

Bradley gave his stepbrother a smug smile and said, "Yeah, Jase, you go on. Don't worry, I'll keep Chloe company while you're gone."

Seeing her supposed boyfriend's hesitation, Chloe added with a forced smile, "It's okay, Jason. I'll be right here waiting for you."

Eyeing Bradley wearily, Jason said, "Fine. But, I'll be right back."

A smirk appeared on Bradley's face as he watched Jason stride away. Turning all his attention to Chloe, he asked, "So, just between the two of us, why are you really with Jason?"

"Excuse me?"

"Come on, Chloe. Devon has already been bragging about you to me. He seems to think that the world revolves around you and Jason. Now, I'm just wondering why a smart girl like yourself is with a loser like my stepbrother."

As both disbelief and anger displayed themselves in her expressive blue eyes, Chloe responded, "You can't be serious. You don't really think that Jason's a loser, do you?"

"Of course, I do. And, I was hoping that you would be wise enough to see it, too. Because, maybe then you and I could get to know each other a little better."

"Is that how it worked with Jan?"

Bradley's refusal to give an answer was all the proof Chloe needed. There was no doubt in her mind that Bradley had quite often put the moves on Jan. And, Chloe was willing to bet that Jan Spears had played anything but hard to get.

Attempting to bypass the question, Bradley said, "Take a minute to really think about Jason. You'll see that he really is a loser with nothing to offer you."

"You are such a jerk! Jason is not a loser. And, anyone in their right mind would be able to see that."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, really! Not only is Jason great looking, but he's also got a heart of gold. And, let's not forget that he's brave. Not too long ago, he saved me from an attack in a dark parking lot. Doesn't sound like the behavior of a loser, now does it? So, whether you can see it or not, Jason Masters is not some fool that you should humiliate. He's an intelligent, witty guy who is much more fun to be around than you!"

Bradley was taken aback by Chloe's outburst and admiration for Jason. And, he wasn't the only one.

Chloe's entire body froze when she heard a familiar voice from behind her say, "Turns out that they didn't need my help after all."

As Chloe turned to face him, Jason couldn't help but wonder who looked more guilty - Bradley or Chloe.

Giving her best attempt at a casual attitude, Chloe asked, "So, Jason, how long have you been listening . . . dear?"

"Long enough, sugar pie."

Brushing past Jason, Bradley stated, "I'll give the girl one thing - she's loyal to you."

Once Bradley had walked away, Jason gave Chloe his most egotistical smirk and said, "So, you think I'm fun to be around . . . and good-looking?"

"I'm pretending to be your girlfriend, and that was something that a girlfriend would say," answered Chloe before adding, "I'm going to go grab something to drink."

"Something a girlfriend would say, huh?" Jason asked aloud as he stood alone. Watching Chloe pour herself some punch across the room, Jason could only wonder how Chloe really felt about him . . . and how he was beginning to feel about her.

When Jason and Chloe arrived back at the Masters home, Devon was already waiting for them. With his body firmly planted on the couch and his feet propped up on the coffee table, Devon kept his eyes glued on the television as Jason and Chloe entered the room.

His eyes still focused on the program he was watching, Devon nonchalantly greeted, "Hello, lovebirds."

Dropping onto the couch beside his brother, Jason snatched the remote control from his hand and changed the channel. "Hello, conniving brother."

"Me? Conniving?" dead panned Devon as he took the remote back from Jason and returned to watching television.

"Hey, Dev, wanna explain how it was that Bradley knew Chloe's name before he was even introduced to her?"

Looking at his baby brother with eyes full of false innocence, Devon questioned, "Why, Jason are you implying something?"

"Give it up, Devon. I know that you were talking to Bradley about Chloe. Save us all some time and just spill your guts."

As though he were taking notice of Chloe for the first time since she had entered the room with Jason, Devon began to scoot away from his brother and said, "Chloe, hey, come have a seat over here with us, and I'll explain everything."

Her eyes invariably focused on the empty place on the couch between Devon and Jason, Chloe shook her head just slightly and answered, "I think that I should probably just go on home. I don't want my mother worrying about me."

Jason threw Chloe a skeptical gaze and said, "You don't have to be home until eleven o'clock, Chloe. I was there, remember?"

"Fine, I'll stay for a little while," huffed Chloe as she sat down between the two handsome brothers and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Now, bro, go on with your explanation."

"All right, I have to confess something first. Gwen wasn't just some babe I picked up at the Java Cafe."

Releasing a mock gasp, Jason sarcastically responded, "She wasn't? Oh, I never would have guessed."

"Gwen is actually Bradley ex-girlfriend. And, that's why I was so desperate to have her dating me. It was the best way I knew to show up Bradley. Who would have guessed that I'd really start liking Gwen?"

"Now, spill the rest of it," Jason commanded as he leaned forward and looked past Chloe and at his brother.

"Well, right after I caught the two of you on the floor that time, I ran into Bradley. Anyway, he was being his usual self and bragging about his flavor of the week or whatever. So, I just started saying stuff off the top of my head to make you look good, Jase."

"And, part of that was telling Bradley about my supposed girlfriend Chloe?"

"Something like that," confessed Devon.

Rising to her feet, Chloe announced, "Now that everything is settled, and I've evened the score, I'm going to head home."

Catching just a glimpse of disappointment in Jason's green eyes, Devon decided to do his best to make his younger brother happy. Gently grabbing Chloe's wrist, Devon asked, "Hey, why don't you stay and watch a movie? After all, you don't have to be home for another two hours, right?"

Surprising even himself, Jason quietly said, "You might as well stay and watch a movie with us. Then, I'll just drive you home."

Devon released Chloe's wrist and dashed to the cabinet where all the video cassettes were held. Hurriedly rummaging through the tapes, he was able to find exactly what he was looking for. Holding up his find, Devon stated, "Chloe, you don't wanna miss The Big Easy, now do ya? Of course, not."

After sliding the video tape into the VCR and pressing the play button, Devon crossed the room and flipped off the lights. Returning to the couch, he said, "So, Chloe, you remember what The Big Easy is about don't you?"

"Actually, I've never even seen it."

"Oh, it's a great movie. I think you're really gonna like it. It's about a slightly unruly kind of guy and a sorta strict chick who doesn't really like him. So, you have these two adversaries who end up having the hots for each other. What a good story, huh?" Looking at his wrist where no watch was located, Devon said, "Gee, look at the time. I'm pretty tired, so I think I'm gonna head up to bed. Night."

As Devon hurriedly made his departure, Jason looked at Chloe and joked, "He's a real subtle kinda guy, huh?"

"Yeah - about as subtle as a concrete block to the head."

Giving a deep laugh, Jason's unconsciously stretched his arm across the back of the couch - behind Chloe. He paid no thought to the action until Chloe happened to look to her left and see his hand so close to her shoulder.

Realizing what had captured Chloe's attention, Jason quickly pulled his arm back and jumped up from the couch. Clearing his throat, he asked, "How about I turn the lights back on?"

"Good idea . . . definitely a good idea."