Page 16 of Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire

“Your station is outside Ms.Anderson’s door.”

“Please call me, Meri.”

Chase turned to her and smiled, before turning back to Eric and Avery.“As I said, you are to stay outside Ms.Anderson’s door and accompany her when she leaves the loft.”

“Understood.”Eric was blond, with his hair to his shoulders and a neatly trimmed beard and mustache.He looked a lot like a Viking.

“I have folding chairs you can use.I refuse to have you standing for however long I’m in my home, while you wait for me to leave.”

Both Eric and Avery stood with their legs apart and their wrists crossed in front of them.

“That is much appreciated, Meri,” said Eric.

“Okay, you can assume your positions.I’ll bring the chairs out to you.”

“Yes, sir,” said Avery.

“Yes, sir,” said Eric.

Both of them walked out of the door.

Avery closed it behind them.

Meri looked at Chase.“Are you sure this is necessary?”

“It is for my peace of mind and for yours as well.Let’s do it this way for a while and see what happens.”

“Okay.Let me get those chairs.”

“I’ll help.”

She headed into the guest bedroom.It was as large as her bedroom.To make it appear even larger, Meri had furnished it with a queen-sized bed.Two nightstands and bookcases that were full of paint and canvases.Her easel occupied one corner, leaving a generous amount of space between it and the bed.

The folding chairs were in the walk-in closet next to a tall chest of drawers.

She grabbed one in each hand.

“Here, let me take those.”Chase took the chairs and headed out to give them to Eric and Avery.

When that was done, she and Chase walked back over to the sofa.

“How do you feel now?”asked Chase.

“Better, actually.”She picked up her wineglass and took a sip.“Between your kindness and having Eric and Avery outside, I feel safe.”

“Good.That’s what I wanted to hear.Now, do you ever go to the mountains to see the stars?”He spoke softly, almost in a whisper.

“I’ve been, but I rarely go, anymore,” she whispered back, afraid to speak louder and somehow break the spell.They had fallen back into their conversation as if no interruption had occurred.

He moved his head and looked down at her.“Come with me.Tomorrow.I know of a great restaurant up there and then we can drive farther into the mountains and look at the stars.They’re magnificent when you get away from the city lights.”

Her pulse speeded up.“Are you asking me on another date?I’m assuming tonight was a date.”

“I am, and it was.I want to get to know you better.”

“I’d really like to, but tomorrow is dinner with my parents.I can’t miss it.None of my brothers are around the area anymore, so I’m it for Tuesday dinner.We used to do it on Sundays, but I try to work all weekend, so we moved it to Tuesday.”Her face heated.“But you didn’t really want to know all that, did you?”

He waved off her concern.“That’s not a problem.Now I know what days you can come out with me.So, how about Wednesday night, then?”