Page 69 of The Heartbreaker (Chandler Brothers 3)
“I realize it’s been my fault and I’m the one who insisted we wait. I just wanted my sons happy.”
Eric reached out and stroked her cheek. “And they are, Raina. You raised them well. It’s time to let them go.”
“Now? Before Chase has settled his turmoil?”
He graced her with a gentle smile. “What better gift could you give them? What better gift could you give yourself than to let their good judgment and fate take over?”
“Quite frankly, Chase’s judgment is wonderful when it comes to his family, but it sucks when it comes to his personal life.”
Eric burst out laughing. “I do love you, Raina. Now, how about setting a date?”
A buzzer rang, preventing Raina from answering.
“That’s dinner. I’ve been heating the meal Izzy sent over. I have to go check it before it burns,” Eric said, rising from the bed. “But don’t think I’ve forgotten where we left off.”
“Of course not.” She waited for Eric to disappear out the bedroom door. He had no idea how fortunate the interruption was. Because Raina wasn’t getting married until Chase proposed to Sloane.
* * *
Where was Sloane? Chase had gotten his mother settled at her house hours ago, leaving her in Eric’s capable hands. He’d come home expecting to find his guest, but instead the house was empty. The way it should be.
So why didn’t he feel better?
Because he was worried about Sloane. Because he wanted her by his side. He kicked his foot against the carpeted floor in frustration.
He grabbed his keys and started for the door at the same time she slowly walked inside, as if she had no idea he’d been pacing the floors in concern. He wanted to demand answers, to know where she’d been way past dinner, but the lost, dazed expression on her face stopped him.
Sucker punched him, in fact. He stepped back from his anger and exhaled hard. He knew she’d gone to her mother’s old house, but if anything urgent had come up, she’d have called. She’d promised.
Or had Raina just asked her to check in? He no longer remembered. “Where have you been?” He studied her, wanting to be certain he didn’t miss any clues to what she might be thinking.
She shrugged. “Around.” Swinging her hands at her sides, she started past him.
Without meeting his gaze. “You said you were going by your mother’s old place. Did the memories there upset you?” Drawn back to her despite his better judgment, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
He sensed her struggle not to give in, to maintain the distance he’d begun in his mother’s hospital room. But just as his deepest feelings pushed him toward her, she came to him.
Her body molded to his, her light weight leaning against him. “I found Samson,” she said as her legs went weak beneath her.
“You what?” He turned her around, not letting her fall and providing the support she needed.
Wide eyes met his. “I found … my father. My real father.”
Her voice cracked, and so, he thought, did his heart.
“I walked out back to the tree house and—” She placed her hands out in front of her, wide and imploring. “There he was. As if he’d materialized from thin air.”
That was Samson, Chase thought. He came and went, no one close enough to him to notice or care. He appeared and disappeared on a whim. But after the explosion and his obvious vanishing act, Sloane finding him today was no accident. He’d obviously sought her out. If not, he’d come to the tree house for the same reason she had, solace and peace. He wondered if either of them had found the answers they sought.
“So now you know where I’ve been.” She straightened her shoulders and righted her stance.
Body language indicated she no longer needed him. Chase knew better. He saw the longing in her eyes and it matched the desire pulsing through him. Not just a physical ache that needed satisfaction but an emotional one only this woman could fill. For him, it was an all-consuming need to be a part of her and take away her pain.
“I need some rest.” She started past him, but he stopped her with a simple touch on her arm. Turning, she raised an eyebrow in question. “Is something wrong?”
Hell yes, he thought. Everything was wrong. From his mixed-up emotions to the overwhelming desire to pick her up and drag her to bed and make love to her—no discussion, no questions. And that would solve nothing. Not his problems and certainly not hers.
From the pain in her eyes, he saw she had plenty. “You said you saw your real father for the first time, and in the next breath, you said you needed to rest. Don’t you think you left out something important in between?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” Her gaze darted from his, letting him know in no uncertain terms she was excluding him on purpose.
