Page 99 of The Heartbreaker (Chandler Brothers 3)
He brushed a strand of hair off her forehead. “Don’t be sorry. In the end, you brought us back to each other.”
She shook her head. “Then why do I feel so selfish?”
“You’re not selfish. You’re honest and real. And obviously we both had more things to work out than we were aware of at the time.” He shrugged. “That just makes us honest and real.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Besides, you were right. I did feel guilty I wasn’t there when you were shot. But more because I could have lost you than because I wanted to be in control of things. I want you in my life, Sloane. Now and forever. I’ll never look back and wonder what if.”
“How can you be sure?” She bit down on her bottom lip, hating the fact that she had to ask.
Chase turned his head to the side. “Sweetheart, I wrote the article of a lifetime and it left me cold and empty inside because I didn’t have you.”
Sloane released the breath she hadn’t been aware of holding. More than anything, those were the words she needed to hear. That she added to his life and didn’t take away from it. “I read the article and it was masterful, Chase. You did such a professional job, yet protected my family in a way no other reporter would have.”
A smile twitched at his lips. “I couldn’t exactly trash the family I want to marry into, now could I?”
Ignoring the pain in her shoulder, Sloane came to her knees and threw herself into his arms, pushing him back down against the couch. She stared into his deep blue eyes and knew there was no place she’d rather be for the rest of her life than with this man whose love and caring ran so deep. “Say you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.” He laughed, shifting his position to accommodate her. He managed to maneuver her beneath him, so he straddled her hips. “I am one hundred percent sure I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Married with children?” she asked, certain she knew the answer. “Because when you talked about holding Lilly, all I could think about was you holding our baby in your arms.”
“Honey, there’s nothing I want more.”
Sloane exhaled hard, finally able to breathe. “I love you too, Chase.” She wrapped her good arm around his neck and pulled him toward her. “Now kiss me.”
“With pleasure,” he said, and sealed his lips against hers, this time knowing nothing would come between them. Not fear, not mistrust, and not the past.
He slipped his tongue inside her mouth, making love to her at the same time his lower body rode in insistent circles, pressing his groin hard against hers.
“Want to try making that baby now?” Sloane asked, breaking the kiss and breathing hard.
“Right here?” He reached down and unsnapped the button on her jeans. “Right now?”
“Yes. Oh yes.” Her hips jerked upward as she tried to help him, hindered by the use of only one hand.
Chase took over, undressing her, pausing to arouse and stimulate each and every inch of her luscious skin. He lowered the zipper and helped her wriggle off her pants and lace undies all at the same time. He started fondling her with his hands and followed with laps of his tongue and nips of his teeth. So that by the time he came down on top of her, bare skin against bare skin, her damp, wet body was more than ready for his heated flesh.
And he entered her, here and now, in a perfect attempt to create their future.
Epilogue
Raina wrapped her hands tighter around Eric’s waist and let him lead her around the patio. She was dancing at her own wedding. They’d decided to have a small, intimate family affair at Raina’s house.
By Yorkshire Falls’ standards, that meant a revolving door of more than one hundred people at any given time, pets included, passing through and giving good wishes. But what mattered most to Raina was family. Hers and Eric’s, gathered here together for the first time.
Roman stood by Charlotte, who held their baby in her arms. Oh, Lilly had captured Raina’s heart and she would break the hearts of many men in her lifetime. Raina chuckled at that thought, as only a grandmother could.
And then there was Rick and Kendall. Their family had begun with Hannah, Kendall’s sister, who was now charming the teenage boys and keeping them on their toes. Raina laughed. She and Hannah had developed the most wonderful relationship, as if they’d been grandmother and granddaughter all along. And Raina had a hunch Hannah would soon be joined by another child in the house. Considering the full waist of Kendall’s dress, Raina would guess that a little one wasn’t more than seven or so months away. But she knew better than to ask.
