Page 27 of The Heartbreaker (Chandler Brothers 3)
“While Rick looks like you.” Sloane crossed her arms over her chest and nodded, sure of her conclusion. “Well, regardless of who they favor, your sons are handsome men, Mrs. Chandler.”
“Thank you. Would it be too presumptuous of me to say I agree?” Raina laughed.
“Of course not.” Eric placed an arm around her shoulders and she welcomed the warm, secure feeling he provided. “Raina wouldn’t be Raina if she wasn’t extolling the virtues of her sons. Especially her last unmarried one,” Eric said wryly.
“You have to admit, he knows you well, Mother.” Chase raised an eyebrow, daring her to disagree.
“Oh pooh. Both of you need to back off. I’m old and frail.”
At that, Chase and Eric burst into disbelieving laughter. Raina wished she were joking, but lately, she was growing short of breath while doing activities she used to enjoy. She’d even cut back on her sneaky treadmill runs. She wondered if it was God’s way of telling her that her charade had gone on too long. But since after a brief rest, she’d return to feeling normal, she ignored the problem. Surely it would pass.
Those around her continued to laugh and Eric squeezed her tight. Chase was correct. Eric knew her too darned well. He was aware of her charade and vehemently disapproved, yet he understood her reasons and accepted her without reservation. Though she adored Eric and he’d given her a future, she’d never completely forget the past. How could she, when John had blessed her with three handsome, wonderful sons?
Something Sloane had obviously noticed too. But Raina felt certain she had eyes only for Chase. In fact, she kept meeting his gaze frequently, and each time she did, the heat in the room would soar another notch.
Oh, to be young. Raina stifled a happy laugh. “You do realize that by complimenting my sons, you’ve found the right way to charm me?”
Chase shot Raina an annoyed look. “Mother, leave her alone. She isn’t working her wiles on you. She’s just being polite.” He placed his hand on the doorknob. “You have to understand,” he said to Sloane. “She’s been trying to marry off all three of her sons and now that I’m the only one left, she’s turned shameless.”
Sloane chuckled. “That’s okay. Your mother’s assuming a few things. The first is that I’m interested in you.” She raised one finger in the air. “The second is that even if I were interested, that I’d need her approval.” A second finger went up. “She’s right on the last one. Any woman who is interested in a man should make nice with his mother.”
“She’s a smart woman,” Raina said, enjoying the girl’s forth-rightness.
“It’s just that in this case, we’re simply friends, Mrs. Chandler.” Sloane put a hand on Raina’s arm. “But I’d still like your approval.”
She tilted her head to the side, waiting for a reply, and with Sloane’s chin at an angle, Raina felt that sense of familiarity again. “You have my approval. In spades.”
Pink stained Sloane’s cheeks, while Chase’s gaze zeroed in and didn’t let go. Oh, Raina liked this girl. She was exquisite and her son was obviously enthralled. Raina didn’t buy for a minute that Sloane didn’t reciprocate that interest. She was just being coy, completely appropriate so early in the game.
If Raina was reading the signs right, Sloane and Chase could possibly end up together. If so, the end of Raina’s “heart trouble” was in sight. She’d be able to slip Eric’s engagement ring, now settled in a bank’s safe-deposit box, on her finger, get married, and dance at her own wedding. After she danced at her eldest son’s wedding, of course.
Not that she’d figured out how she’d wrangle her miraculous recuperation, but she’d manage. She’d finessed the marriage of her two youngest sons, and once Chase was settled, managing to bounce back would be a welcome piece of cake. The first two hadn’t quite forgiven her, but they obviously hadn’t yet told Chase. And with Sloane here, Raina would milk the situation for all she could.
“We have to be going now,” Eric said. “Your mother needs to get off her feet.” He squeezed Raina’s hand, silently urging her to go. Eric tended to pull her out of the fray and prevent her from meddling further.
She appreciated his concern and since she was unusually tired, she nodded. “I would like to lie down.”
Chase narrowed his gaze as he stared at her. “Are you okay? You look a little pale, and with your heart problems and all, you shouldn’t be running around town.”
“I’m fine.” She mentally crossed her fingers. Not even the mild pain she’d experienced recently eased her guilt over lying. The charade was awful, but she couldn’t deny it made her boys soften toward women and the idea of marriage. Even if it was an imperceptible softening at first, in the end, it had led her first two sons down the aisle.
