“It’s a nice shirt,” Laurel argued.
Chase let out a laugh. “Not anymore.”
“Where is Zeus anyway?”
“At home. I’ll pick him up when I run back to change my shirt.”
She’d met the lovable Australian shepherd mix once during a birthday cookout at Kinley and Ryder’s. Zeus loved playing with their dog, Rowdy. Laurel had tried to ignore him, but the dog had a special affection for her when he wasn’t busy chasing his girlfriend or sneaking table scraps. It would do no good to get attached to Chase’s dog. But secretly, the dog’s interest thrilled her, and she’d discreetly rewarded Zeus with bites of her cheeseburger.
“Do you get to bring him to work often?”
“Yeah, Chief Bauer likes having him around the office.” Chase turned his shoulders at her as they walked, wearing that dangerous smile that had stolen her heart in the beginning of their romance. “Tomorrow he gets to come with me to talk to a classroom of kindergarteners.”
“He must love that.”
“He goes nuts for those kids.”
They approached the law office, and Laurel’s heart tightened. It shouldn’t feel like this a second time, but no matter how hard she pushed down those pesky feelings, some slipped out. It wasn’t only the missed signature, but everything those papers represented.
Chase had always wanted a large family, and he was amazing with kids. He didn’t need a dog to win them over. They gravitated toward him in droves, like he was the cool uncle of any situation. He deserved to be with someone who could give him what he wanted most.
“Looks like we’ll have to wait.” Chase tapped a finger against the glass, pointing to the posted sign.
“I can come back after lunch and take care of this.”
“After lunch next Monday might do it.”
“NextMonday?” Panic rose in her chest as she shoved around Chase to read the taped note for herself. She took a deep inhale to keep her exterior self calm. She could kick and scream later, when no one was around to see it.
“It’s been five years. One more week going to spoil your plans to take over the world?”
“No, funny guy.”
Chase was right. This wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. It was only a week, after all. How hard could it be to dodge him for seven measly days? She’d managed almost six months. This week she could hide out in her parents’ house and help Haylee with the baby, no matter how much Mom’s hovering drove her insane. Work her dad’s books remotely. She could order takeout so Ava and Kinley would come to her to discuss wedding plans.
Seven days. Piece of cake.
Chapter Two
Chase
Chase Monroe lost the fight with a yawn as he rubbed sleep from his eyes. Last night’s fire started after he’d fallen asleep on his reclining couch, feet propped up, and Zeus in his lap. He woke to a TV show a couple episodes ahead of where he remembered leaving off. It was well after two in the morning before the crew returned and the station was locked up.
Zeus grumbled at him from beneath the desk as Chase stretched in his rickety office chair, causing it to screech. His neck and shoulders rebelled, but whether from last night or all the hours stuck in this chair, he couldn’t be certain.
Despite his exhaustion, he’d tossed and turned last night until his alarm went off. Something about this fire tugged at his instincts, but he couldn’t pin what. Chief Bauer was convinced it was a squatter who was long gone after accidentally setting fire to his temporary home. Chase wanted to believe it was that simple. He didn’t have time for something more complicated, especially now that the clock was ticking with Laurel. He’d been waiting for the right opportunity to tell her the secret he’d been keeping for months, and thanks to Ed, he finally got his chance this morning.
Another look at the fire site now that the smoke had settled would hopefully put his suspicions to bed and give him time to focus on winning Laurel back. Seven days to convince her the missed signature wasn’t merely a coincidence but the very reason they shouldstaymarried wasn’t much time in the grand scheme of things.
He wholeheartedly believed that running into her today had been fate.
If Chase closed his eyes now, he could still smell Laurel’s flowery perfume. That sweet scent brought all the old memories to life. He never used to believe in fate, but he had too many encounters these past few years to believe themallcoincidental—including Ed’s timing today. Rather than dismissing the notion, he had learned to lean into the opportunities it granted him.
He knew Jenkins was on vacation when he confessed to Laurel that they were still married. But as set as she already was on ripping up the grass with her incessant pacing, Chase wasn’t about to work her up any further by admitting Jenkins and his wife were in Maui, likely sinking their toes in the sand and sipping on Mai Tais. She would’ve blamed him for telling her today on purpose. Never mind that he couldn’t force Ed to do his bidding.
He reached for his coffee cup, not surprised to find it ice cold. He dropped it into the trash bin, not sad to see it go. He rarely drank coffee. Only on the most exhausting days, and even then, he wondered why he suffered through it. If it hadn’t been for that late-night fire, he would never have run into Laurel this morning outside of Black Bear.Or Ed.
“Maybe everyone around here is onto something by calling that moose a matchmaker, huh, Zeus?” The beast had turned and looked right at them, after all. He hoped to one day tell that story to their grandkids.
