Page 72 of The Heartbreaker (Chandler Brothers 3)
“You know me well.” A wry smile lifted his lips.
She laughed despite the pain in her heart. “Yeah, I do.”
“My entire life has revolved around other people—keeping the paper going for the town, maintaining my father’s legacy, supporting the family.” He shook his head. “Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do, but I’ve always dreamed of more.” He folded his arms across his chest. “I’ve always wondered what having my freedom would be like.”
She nodded slowly. “Then you need to find out. Chalk us”—she gestured between them—“chalk us up to a case of bad timing.” She swallowed over her disappointment and sought to find the words that would allow her to depart with dignity. “I knew where we stood from the beginning,” she finally managed with a flippant shake of her head. “Which is why I’m making this easy. I’m leaving.”
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and she forced her gaze away from his bare chest and naked body. Forced herself to focus on ending things, not getting caught up in sexual attraction that would lead to nowhere but heartache.
“You aren’t leaving this house. Not until we know you’re safe,” he said as he stood.
“I’ll be fine.” She glanced over to see Chase shoving his legs into jeans before walking around the bed and coming up beside her. So close she could inhale and smell the masculine scent that settled inside her and made her want so much more than he could give.
“You’re not going anywhere I can’t keep an eye on you,” he said, shoving his hands into his back pockets.
“It’s not like you have a choice in the matter. I don’t want to be your obligation anymore.” She opted to spell things out in language he’d understand. “But if it makes you feel any better, I’m going to my father.”
“Samson sure as hell isn’t safe.” Chase narrowed his gaze. “And since when do you know where he is?”
She shrugged. “Since five minutes ago. I think Samson’s staying with Pearl and Eldin.”
“Just when did you plan on telling me?” he asked, his voice rising.
She shrugged. “I’m not sure that I was. I mean, he’s my father; it’s my problem.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “The last place the man stayed exploded and now he’s living in my brother’s backyard. I think that makes it my problem too.”
She winced, knowing she couldn’t argue. Worse, she realized she hadn’t even thought in those terms. “God, I’m sorry.”
His eyes, which had darkened with anger, immediately softened as he reached for her. “There’s a lot going on. Too much to take in all at once. But there’s also the fact that I care about what happens to you.” His hand grazed her forearm and his grip was soft as he caressed her skin with his more callused thumb.
His husky voice and honest admission could be her undoing if she let it. “I only just figured out where Samson was staying while you were on the phone with Roman,” she said. “And now that I have, it’s a solution, don’t you think? I can stay with him and that will guarantee nothing happens to either Samson or Rick and Kendall, since my father’s men wouldn’t hurt me.”
“That’s not a guarantee and it sure as hell isn’t a bet I’m willing to lose.”
“Well, to increase the odds, I’ll call Michael and ask him to come up here. To fix things somehow.” She spread her hands wide. “And I’ll be out of your hair. Easy solution, all the way around.”
He stared at her for a long minute, his hot, devouring gaze never leaving hers. “Go shower.”
“What?” She shook her head, unsure why.
“Go shower and I’ll take you over to Pearl and Eldin’s,” he said, feeling resigned.
So he was letting her go. Pain cramped her belly, but what had she expected? That he’d beg her to stay? With regret, she pulled her gaze from his and walked out of the room. Out of his life would come later.
* * *
Chase followed Sloane to Rick’s house in his truck, which was a good thing considering Sloane didn’t think she could be in close quarters with him and still walk away. After pulling up to the curb, she insisted they first talk with Samson before telling Rick that he had the man staying in his guesthouse.
Sloane’s legs shook as she made her way to Pearl and Eldin’s, partly because she wasn’t sure of her reception and mostly because she knew this good-bye to Chase would be final.
She knocked on the door, rapping quickly with her knuckle, before she could change her mind.
The door opened a mere sliver. Considering Pearl’s reputation for friendliness and her tendency to welcome people with open arms, this secrecy cemented Sloane’s certainty. Samson was inside.
“Pearl?” she called. “It’s Sloane. We met at Norman’s the other day and I was hoping I could talk to you.”
