Knowing she was right, he blew out a breath as she urged him up from the chair. Harper helped him down the hall to the bedroom, turned back the covers on his bed, then helped him sit down on the edge. He tried not to wish she was joining him there naked.
She handed him a pain pill. Needing some rest in order to heal, he took half instead of a whole, hoping to dull some of the ache throbbing through his body.
“Which room is mine?” Harper asked as he set the glass of water back down on the bedside table.
“This one.”
“Wait a minute—”
“You don’t have to worry, angel. I don’t have the strength to attack you.”
She looked even more worried. “You’re injured. You need to rest.”
“I need to keep you close, just in case.”
“Jason’s out there. Surely he can keep us safe until you’re feeling better.”
“I trust Jase. With my life if it came to it. I’m glad he’s here.” He sighed, scrubbed a hand tiredly over his face. “The truth is I almost lost you last night. It was a feeling I never want to have again. I need you to stay with me so I’ll know you’re okay. Will you do that for me, baby?”
She swallowed. Her eyes welled, cobalt blue and shimmering. She bent, cupped his face in her hands and gently kissed his lips. “I’ll stay with you, Chase.”
Something cracked open inside him. A truth he had known but refused to accept. His feelings for Harper ran deep and true. He had realized it as they’d marched through the jungle, had become even more certain last night.
There were obstacles between them that wouldn’t be easy to overcome, but they had been there from the start. The attempted abduction had only made things worse.
It didn’t matter. Whatever it took, Harper was worth it.
“Rest for a while,” she said, easing him back on the pillow. “I’ve got to call Shana and I need a shower. Get some sleep. I’ll come back when I’m done.”
Chase nodded, his eyes drifting closed. There were plans he needed to make, things he needed to do. It was past time he told Harper about Michael.
He shifted on the mattress and fresh pain rolled through him. Trusting Jason to look after Harper, he closed his eyes, hoping to get the rest he needed to regain some of his strength.
One thing he knew. He needed to talk to Harper’s father. Knox Winston was the key. Chase had no idea if the man would be able to help him. Even if he could, Chase wasn’t sure how far the guy would be willing to go to save his daughter.
His jaw hardened. Chase prayed he could unearth at least a shred of decency in a man who seemed to have none.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Harper showered and dressed in a pair of Chase’s gray sweatpants and one of his colored T-shirts. She’d be glad when Shana got there with something that actually fit. She kept some extra clothes in the back room of the office, some EC samples, jeans, skirts, a few blouses and sweaters, sneakers, a couple pairs of heels. Shana would be shopping for the rest: makeup, underwear and anything else she thought Harper might need.
In the meantime, Maddox was in Chase’s man cave, sprawled in a dark brown leather lounger that matched the sofa, watching ESPN on the big-screen TV. The room was equipped with the latest sound system. A poker table and chairs sat in one corner.
With Maddox occupied, Harper had a chance to prowl, see what she could learn about the man who attracted her as no other man ever had.
The condo was a beautiful space, open and airy, with twelve-foot ceilings and huge plate-glass windows. The view over Dallas was spectacular, and there was a lovely terrace that opened off the living room and master bedroom. Impressionist versions of Western art hung on the walls, bringing in bright warm colors.
Dark wood gleamed throughout, but the upholstery was light, a nubby cream fabric in the living and dining rooms. The overall effect was masculine but classy, just like Chase.
She wandered into the modern kitchen with its stainless appliances and granite countertops, sat down in a cozy little window seat, curled up and took out her phone. Which, amazingly, had survived the entire ordeal of the night before.
Yesterday’s clouds were gone. The sun shining through the window warmed her as she checked her messages and made the necessary replies. She texted Shana but got no answer, figured her friend was probably still shopping. Shana loved any excuse to shop.
She was about to call Michael to tell him about the fire, when Chase walked into the kitchen. Though he hadn’t shaved and his hair was mussed, he was still the sexiest man she had ever seen. Harper felt an unexpected stab of longing.
“You shouldn’t be up yet,” she said. “You’ve got to rest if you’re going to heal.”
“We need to talk, baby. It’s about your brother.”
