Maisy couldn’t have held back a smile had she tried.
“As you might have guessed, I’ve had my doubts about you. Chase assured me once we met, I’d feel differently.”
“And do you?”
Instead of answering, he grew thoughtful and silent. Afaraway look came over him, as if he were remembering something from long ago. “I married for love once. Unfortunately, it didn’t end well.”
Maisy assumed he was referring to Chase’s mother. “I’m sorry.”
“I tried marriage twice more and failed both times. I don’t want my son to make the same mistakes I did.”
Maisy didn’t want that for Chase, either.
The rest of their conversation was more an exchange of information. He somehow knew the broad details of her father’s sudden death and Gallagher Jewels. Information that surely must have come from Chase, or more likely from a background check; Simon Furst wasn’t a fool. Naturally, he’d had her investigated.
“Anything else you care to know?” she’d asked, after a less-than-comfortable silence.
“No,” Simon said and shook his head. “You may go. I imagine my son is champing at the bit to make sure I haven’t scared you off.”
“You haven’t.” She stood and started for the door, then turned back. “Thank you, Mr. Furst.”
“You’re welcome. I have a feeling we’re going to have a long relationship, in which case you should call me Simon.”
“All right, Simon. And you may refer to me as Maisy.”
He’d grinned, and she’d opened the door to find Chase and Patrick waiting for her on the other side. Simon had made a good assessment of her feelings for Chase. She didn’t have time to reassure him all was well before he’d entered his father’s office and closed the door.
Patrick took a gulp of soda and commented, “Chase was worried, but I told him you’d be okay.”
“That was good of you.”
“I know,” he said, and took one last drink of the soda before handing it to Maisy. She took the soda to the beverage center and emptied it before placing the can in the recycling bin.
By the time she returned, Chase was back and seemed much more relaxed after talking to his father.
Her brother returned to the bedroom, interrupting her thoughts. “Maisy,” he shouted with glee. “Look. I got an Ernie Banks rookie baseball card. He’s the absolute greatest. He’s known as Mr. Cub and…and this card must be worth a million bucks.” Her brother nearly swooned with delight.
Chase had done it again, and despite her determination not to let him spoil her, she couldn’t be upset with the joy he brought her little brother.
Chase collected Maisy and Patrick at 7:30 as promised. She expected him to arrive in a suit and tie for the evening. She’d worn her best dress with heels, and Patrick wore his Sunday clothes with his Cubs jersey over the top of his button-down shirt. It’d been a compromise. Instead, Chase wore jeans and a jacket. The weather was warm during the day, she knew, but cooler come evening.
“You’re going to need a jacket,” Chase instructed.
“Where are we going?” Patrick wanted to know.
Maisy shot him a look to remind him of his manners.
“I mean,” Patrick said, his voice much lower this time, “could you please tell us the surprise?”
“We’re doing a river cruise,” Chase said.
The Chicago River was in full view from their hotel suite. Maisy was fascinated by the many bridges that crossed the waterway, and the smooth flow of traffic.
“Like a cruise ship?” Patrick asked, growing even more excited.
“We’ll eat on the boat,” Chase explained. “However, it’s much smaller than a big cruise ship.”
“That’s okay,” Patrick rushed to tell him. “I didn’t think I’d be hungry, but I am. What’s for dinner?”
