Driving her home after work, he stopped to pick up takeout: pasta from Antonio’s, the place he had taken her the night before her father’s birthday party.
It seemed a lifetime ago.
As soon as he pulled into the parking lot, he wished he had chosen someplace else. Someplace that didn’t remind him how happy Harper had been that night, remind them both of the lies he had told her.
She’d been quiet ever since, had barely touched the delicious lasagna he had dished up and served on colorful plates at her kitchen table. The candles he had lit for effect still lingered, though the wineglasses were empty.
“I’ll clean up the dishes,” she said, rising from her chair. “Why don’t you watch TV or something?”
He shoved back his chair and stood up, caught her around the waist as she leaned over to pick up his plate.
“I know how hard this is for you, honey. I’ll do everything in my power to make things right. I know you don’t trust me right now, but I’m hoping in time I can convince you.”
She rested her palms on his chest and looked up at him. “If you mean that, Chase, if you really think there’s a chance we could make it work, then give me some time. We both know how strongly I’m attracted to you. When you touch me, make love to me, my world seems to turn upside down. I just... I need time to figure things out.”
He could give her that, time to work things out. But giving her the space she believed she needed also meant giving her a chance to pull away from him, and that was the last thing he wanted.
He wanted her to know how important she was to him. He wanted her back in his bed. Even more than that, he wanted her to let him back into her heart.
“I can’t leave you here alone,” he said. “I won’t leave you unprotected—you know that. But I’ll go back to sleeping in the guest room if that’s really what you want.”
Relief eased the tension in her shoulders. “Okay.”
He tipped up her chin. “I know how strong you are, angel. If you didn’t want me, you’d never let me touch you.”
A flicker of amusement touched her pretty lips. It was the first hint of a smile he’d seen.
“Wanting you has never been the problem, Chase.”
At least he had that going for him.
Instead of bending his head to kiss her as he desperately wanted to do, he let her go. “I’ll clear the dishes. You just relax.”
She nodded. “Thanks. I think I’ll go up and read for a while before I go to sleep. Good night, Chase.”
“Good night, angel.” He watched her walk away, a heavy weight pressing on his chest. No woman had ever made him feel the things he felt for Harper. No woman had made him want her the way she did.
He didn’t think either of his brothers would have a clue what he was feeling, not even Reese, who was married. Always a planner, Reese had simply decided it was time for a wife and kids. Sandra fit the image he’d had in mind.
By the time they had learned she couldn’t have children, the marriage was already on the skids and they separated shortly after.
Brandon had dated a score of different women, none of whom ever lasted more than a couple of weeks.
Finished in the kitchen, he went to the living room, unclipped the holster at his waist and set his Glock on an end table. A click of the remote turned on the TV. Chase sat down on the sofa, hoping he’d find something to distract his thoughts from the woman upstairs.
Nothing much on. He found an old cop show,Hill Street Blues, on Netflix, still felt restless when it was over. Deciding nothing was going to keep his mind off Harper, he grabbed his pistol and headed upstairs to the guest room.
He’d give reading a try, but he had a feeling it was going to be a damn long night.
Moonlight shone down on the thick Florida foliage along the roadway as Bran parked the rental car in front of Pia’s apartment. “I’ll wait out here.”
Michael nodded, cracked open the car door and started up the walkway. First the DEA had shown up that morning and interrogated him like a criminal—which he understood and was forced to accept since his father actually was one.
Then Bran had arrived with his stunning revelation that Bass Garrett, not Knox Winston, was his real father. That he had three brothers, all men he liked and admired.
Bran told him about the man who had been stalking Harper and that Chase was with her, protecting her. That until they understood what was going on, Bran would be acting as his bodyguard.
“Are you sure that’s necessary?” Michael asked.
