Some of the anxiety eased from Chase’s shoulders. “Your sister isn’t being foolish. I’m falling in love with her.”
Patrick’s eyes lit up with glorious excitement as he blurted out, “Are you going to marry her?”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Chase said, feeling more than a little silly admitting his feelings to her ten-year-old brother rather than to Maisy herself.
“If you decide to marry her, will you let me know first?”
“Probably not,” Chase said, hiding a smile.
“I didn’t think you would,” Patrick grumbled. “Can I have another soda?”
“Sure.” Chase led him back to the beverage center and Patrick helped himself to a second root beer, then needed to use the restroom.
By the time Chase brought him back to Simon’s office, Maisy was just exiting. She offered Chase a reassuring smile. When she saw the second drink in Patrick’s hand, she frowned. “That’s way too much sugar for you, young man.”
While Maisy chastised her brother, Chase stepped into his father’s office, having enough forethought to close the door behind him.
“What was that about?” he asked, walking up to Simon’s desk and standing in front of it with his arms crossed. Simon knew Chase would be bringing Maisy to the office. It wouldhave been better had his father told him in advance that he wanted time alone with her.
His father shrugged. “I had a few questions for Maisy.”
“What kind of questions?” Chase wanted to know. He’d already made his feelings for Maisy clear. He didn’t want their relationship getting derailed by an inquisition.
“I’m sure you can imagine.”
Chase opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Simon stopped him by raising his hand. “I like her.”
Chase’s mouth snapped closed as he bit off the words he was about to say.
“She’s genuine.”
“And kind and beautiful,” Chase added.
“She’s fairly attractive,” Simon stated, as if he set the standard for what could be classified as beautiful and who was or wasn’t.
Chase was about to disagree and claim his father was way, way off. Maisy was beautiful. He stopped himself. He recalled that when he first met her, he’d viewed her much the same as his father—fairly attractive. What he’d learned in the weeks since was that Maisy’s inner beauty was why he now thought her the most beautiful woman he’d ever met. Thankfully, in their brief exchange, Simon had quickly recognized Maisy was the real thing.
“You approve?” he asked next.
“I do. I don’t know how you’re going to get yourself out of this mess with Harry Newman, but I’ll leave that up to you.”
“What about Harry?” Chase asked. Was there more? Chase had no intention of misleading Harry or Astrid. As soon as she arrived home from the cruise, he’d straighten everything out.
“You don’t know?” His father appeared surprised.
“Apparently not.” Chase hadn’t seen or heard from Astrid’s father since their run-in at the country club earlier in the week.
Simon’s eyes widened. “Harry’s spread the word of your engagement far and wide.”
“That’s ridiculous. Astrid knows…” He hesitated and heaved a heavy sigh. “I’ll explain everything to her the minute she’s back. We need to get this nonsense squared away.”
“I agree” was all Simon had to say. His tone was as empathetic as Chase’s intentions were.
Maisy and Patrick were waiting for him once Chase left his father’s office.
Her eyes immediately found his. Before he could speak, she said, “I like your father.” She seemed to want to reassure him.
He relaxed. “Apparently, he feels the same about you.”
