Seeing her smile when she emerged with him allowed me to let go of a breath I didn’t realize I'd been holding. I spun the chair around as they approached me, afraid they’d see the look in my eyes.
“Is she finally released?” I walked around the desk, and my eyes connected with my brother’s to gauge his mood.
“Yeah.” He smiled at me, then Maryellen.
She was happy, and that could only be good for us.
“She’ll fill you in on what we talked about. I suggested you guys take off for the rest of the day, this has probably been…hard.”
The urges were strong. I had so many of them. I wanted to hug and kiss her. To hug my brother, believe it or not.
To cry.
But I held it together.
She came to my side, and we shared a grin before her arms wrapped around my torso, something I never thought she’d be comfortable doing at the office. The fact that my brother, Mr. All Business, was telling us to take the afternoon off was insane. He was full of surprises. We were halfway down the hall when he called out to me.
“Oh, and Chase,” Gage said. “She told me about Iggy’s.”
I froze.
My face fell and Mare noticed. She tried to hide the horror that filled her eyes but couldn’t.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
I gripped her hand and turned toward my brother. As I did, the smile he gave me had me blinking to make sure I was seeing things clearly.
“That’s exciting news, Brother. Were you going to say anything? I’m gonna check with Harper and see if we can make it.”
He gave us both a wave and disappeared into his office.
My double take at the spot he once stood didn’t go unnoticed by Maryellen. She pulled on my hand, anxious to get going. As was I.
Once in the elevator, the pain in my chest lifted slightly. Maryellen leaned over to get my attention.
“I’m sorry, but the conversation went so well, and it just happened. He was so happy for you when I told him. His face lit up, Chase. He really is happy for you.”
“It’s fine, it will be fine.”
I had to keep saying that in my head to convince myself.
CHAPTER 21
Maryellen
Chase’s bed was huge. Huge and comfortable. I loved my own bed. I loved the crisp white sheets I had coupled with my quilt and mountains of pillows. But the simplicity of his bed was such a contrast to mine in a good way. The dark silky sheets were a welcome change to my sweaty skin.
Chase was sweaty as well as we lay in each other’s arms.
“That was amazing. You are amazing.” He flipped on his side, and we were face to face. “We barely made it to the bedroom, that was kinda hot.”
He was right. Most of my clothes were scattered across his living room and staircase.
“I’m not done with you, but I am curious to find out what you and my brother talked about.”
I got up from the bed and grabbed his robe from a chair. “Let’s get a snack,” I said as I started for the stairs.
Chase threw on some sweats and ran ahead of me to the kitchen. He was searching in the fridge by the time I sat at his massive island, which had eight stools surrounding it and a sink at each end.
