Page 28 of The Heartbreaker (Chandler Brothers 3)
Surely Chase had to be next.
Eric glanced at her and his lips turned downward in a frown. “Chase is right. You do look a little wiped out.” He glanced at Chase. “Don’t worry, son. I’ll take care of your mother.”
Chase opened the door to let them through. “I know you will. She couldn’t be in better hands.” He smiled at Eric.
“The way you’re both talking about me, I feel like I’m not even in the room,” Raina grumbled.
“And now you aren’t,” Eric said, pulling her over the threshold and into the outdoors. “Good-bye, Chase. Nice to meet you, Sloane.”
Raina had but a moment to wave and then Chase shut the door, leaving them on the street. Eric was laughing so hard, Raina thought he’d fall onto the grass. “I’m not amused,” she said, knowing she was pouting like an unhappy child.
“Only because you’re on the outside looking in. Don’t worry. Chase is old enough to take care of himself.” He patted her hand, but she knew he wasn’t placating her, rather trying to alleviate her distress. “Meanwhile, I’d like to take care of you. Are you feeling okay?”
His gaze told her he was truly worried, just as Chase had seemed to be earlier. An odd reaction for a man who knew about her charade, Raina thought. She debated telling him about her recent bouts with shortness of breath and slight pain, but she’d just been checked by his new partner and given a clean bill of health. There was nothing to be concerned about, so why mention it?
She nodded in reply. “I’m fine.” But she’d be even better once she knew Chase was settled and happy. “Sloane is a beautiful girl. That red hair and those curls. I kept thinking she reminded me of someone, but I couldn’t figure out who.” And then realization dawned, the fragments she’d been grasping for falling into place.
“Who?” Eric asked.
“Do you remember Jacqueline Ford from high school?” She and Eric had been born and raised in Yorkshire Falls.
He narrowed his gaze, obviously trying to remember. “Pretty redhead, lots of curls?”
“That’s her,” Raina said excitedly. “She kept to herself because her parents were such snobs, but she and I were very good summer friends. We’d hang out in the tree house in her backyard when she was home from college. It’s still there, on the McKeever property.”
Then one hot summer day, Jacqueline’s family moved with no warning. The house went on the market and no one except servants returned to pack up their belongings. Jacqueline didn’t keep in touch. In fact, she never returned. Her death was town lore, if only because her father was a senator who made news, as was the man she eventually married, Michael Carlisle, who was now running for vice president. Raina had seen clippings of the press conference on the late-night news.
She didn’t recall details of his family, but then she hadn’t been paying much attention. Not with Eric sitting by her side and nuzzling her neck. She glanced over, not forgetting for a moment how lucky she was to have been given this second chance with a wonderful man.
Jacqueline, whose life had been cut short, hadn’t been given that kind of opportunity. And Raina hadn’t thought of her old friend in too many years. Not even seeing Michael Carlisle on television had reminded her. Too much time had passed.
But then she’d seen flashes of Jacqueline in Chase’s female guest. Enough to strengthen her hunch. Raina grasped Eric’s hand tighter. “I’d bet anything that Sloane is Jacqueline’s daughter. In fact, I’m going inside to—”
“No, you are not.” Eric rarely took a stand, but his dark eyes flashed determination. If that, along with his stern voice, wasn’t enough to halt her, his firm grip on her hand was. “Those two want to be alone. It’s not only obvious, but Chase threw you out.”
“He threw us out,” she countered, then bit the inside of her cheek, knowing good and well Eric was right. Raina was the only one who’d lingered.
He shook his head, a smile tilting his lips despite it all. “What am I going to do with you?” He pulled her close, then brushed a light kiss over her mouth.
A delicious tingling took hold of her body and Raina inhaled deep. The scent of the outdoors, cut grass, and late fall lingered in the air, making her jubilant and happy. Just when she thought age would catch up with her, Eric had come along, causing her to feel young, vibrant, and alive.
“Whatever you’re doing is working wonderfully.” She brushed her hand over his cheek. “And you’re a dear for postponing announcing our engagement until Chase is settled.”
“I agreed to wait until Rick and Kendall got themselves settled. They have. Now all I’m waiting for is to have all three of your sons in town at the same time.”
