Page 73 of The Heartbreaker (Chandler Brothers 3)
Silence followed, but the door widened a little bit more. Taking advantage, Sloane tipped her head closer. “Pearl, please. I know you have Samson in there and I need to speak with him.”
The admission had the opposite effect as the door slammed shut in Sloane’s face. She jumped back and barreled into Chase. His arms came around her, steadying her before she could fall or knock him over. Unfortunately, they didn’t let go either. And despite the weight of her jacket, she felt his body heat and the security that always came with Chase Chandler.
“Looks like you’re right,” his husky voice said in her ear. “She’s hiding something.”
His warm breath caressed her skin and she shivered. “Small consolation when they won’t let me inside.”
“I think a visit by Officer Chandler might do the trick,” Chase suggested.
Sloane stiffened and tried to turn around, but Chase held her in place. “You can’t turn my father in,” she said, panicked by the thought.
“He’s not wanted for anything serious, Sloane. Rick just wants to ask him a few questions and protect him at the same time.”
Why did anything that came from Chase’s mouth sound so rational, so certain, so right? “He obviously doesn’t want protection,” she said, refusing to be swayed by emotion.
“Sometimes what people want and what they need are two very different things.”
His husky voice sent tremors of awareness rippling through her body, as did the dual meaning behind his words. But she knew that his desires wouldn’t change his actions. She needed to get away from this man and the effect he had over her. “If you insist on telling Rick, then I’m going to talk to Samson first, so why don’t we split up and do what we each need to do?”
His arms tightened around her instead, his lips hovering at her neck. “You make the simplest things so damn hard,” he muttered.
“You’re fighting yourself and I refuse to pressure you.” Sloane forcefully wriggled out of his grasp. He’d come to her on his own or not at all.
Chase nodded in agreement, stepping back. He had more self-control than anyone she’d met, damn him.
“Rick needs to know what he’s up against. So we’ll play this your way,” Chase said. “You handle Samson and I’ll go see if Kendall and Rick are home.”
“Okay.” She waited until Chase disappeared around front and turned back to the guesthouse, knocking once more. “Pearl, it’s Sloane and I’m alone.”
Finally the door opened wide. Pearl grabbed Sloane by the wrist and pulled her inside. “Good Lord, girl, do you know how hard it’s been keeping this secret?” Pearl patted her bun. “Come eat.”
Sloane blinked. From foreign intrigue to food. “Pearl, where’s Samson?” She glanced around the small entryway, from the fresh, bright paint to the older but immaculate couch and chairs in the living room.
“He went to get his dog from Doc Sterling.”
“Won’t that be like announcing his presence?” Sloane wrinkled her nose.
“He’s just gonna take him. Doc doesn’t lock his doors,” the older woman said. “No one in town does.”
Sloane merely blinked at that. “But I’m sure he’ll figure out that Samson has him.”
“But he won’t know where Samson is. Unless you tell him.” Pearl leveled her best glare on Sloane, which wasn’t worth much since sweetness oozed from the older woman’s voice.
“Pearl, Chase is telling Rick as we speak. This isn’t a safe situation for anyone involved,” Sloane said, coming to a decision. “I need to make a call.” Pulling her phone from her purse, she dialed Michael Carlisle.
He answered his private line on the first ring. “Sloane, thank God. Sweetheart, I have been so worried.” Her father’s voice dropped an octave, the relief he felt on hearing her voice evident.
A little girl’s need to have her daddy rose up along with adult respect for the man who’d raised her and loved her. “I need you, Dad.” Her voice cracked and she didn’t care, didn’t bother holding back the tidal wave of emotion.
“You don’t have to ask twice. You never did. Madeline said you’re in Yorkshire Falls. I can be there by tonight.”
Turning away so Pearl, who was obviously eavesdropping and watching with eager eyes, couldn’t witness everything, Sloane blotted her eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
She hung up, realizing she didn’t have to make peace with Michael Carlisle’s decision not to tell her the truth about her parentage. She already had. She could forgive him because he loved her and had shown her that in so many ways over the years. But because she now knew the truth, she understood herself better too. And hopefully, now she’d have the time to get to know the eccentric man who’d sired her.
“I think this occasion calls for a brownie, don’t you?” Pearl asked.
Sloane turned back to face her hostess. “Sure.” She might as well eat while she was waiting for Samson.
