“Isn’t he a handsome young man?” one of the ladies said, as if Chase wasn’t standing three feet in front of her.
“My, yes,” said another with a grin.
“And look at those eyes,” said a third. “Have you ever seen such blue eyes?”
“If I was fifty years younger, he wouldn’t have a chance,” said another.
The whole group laughed at that statement.
“Ladies,” Chase said, an embarrassed smile on his face. “It’s nice to meet all of you—”
“And he’s a millionaire,” said a different woman with bright red lipstick. “Handsome and rich.”
“My father is the millionaire—”
“Joy.” One of the women in the back stepped forward and Joy recognized her from church. “Are you and Mr. Asher a couple?”
Chase turned to Joy, an apologetic look on his face.
“No,” Joy said, shaking her head. “We’re just friends.”
He smiled at her.
“I wouldn’t mind being his friend,” the oldest woman in the group said with a sigh.
Chase sent Joy a pleading look, but she could only smile and watch.
“We were wondering if you’d do us a favor,” Marcy said to Chase.
His cheeks had colored from all their attention, but he handled it so well, Joy could only marvel. “Of course,” he said.
The group twittered with excitement.
“We heard about the Bee Tree Hill Festival,” Marcy said. “And we also heard that Miss Gordon was asking service organizations in town to make donations to the event.”
Joy sat at the table, but Marcy didn’t address her.
“You’ve heard correct.” Chase was respectful and sweet, even though she could tell he was uncomfortable with all the attention.
“Good.” Marcy turned to the other ladies and they all nodded their encouragement to continue. “Because we have an idea for the auction.”
“I’m excited to hear your idea,” Chase said.
Marcy took a deep breath. The wrinkles around her eyes deepened as she smiled. “We want you to auction off yourself.”
The smile on Chase’s face fell away. “Excuse me?”
“Like an old-fashioned bachelor auction,” Marcy said. “We’ll all bid on a date with you.”
“It’ll all be innocent and in good fun, of course,” said the lady from Joy’s church.
Joy had to put her hand up to hide her smile.
“We just want a chance to relive our youth for an afternoon,” said another.
“You want to bid on a date—with me?” Chase frowned.
“You’re the most eligible bachelor in town,” Marcy said and the others nodded in agreement. “We think you’ll fetch a handsome sum of money for Miss Gordon’s cause.”
“Most definitely,” said the oldest lady.
Chase glanced at Joy, a mixture of horror and honor on his face.
Joy bit her lips so she wouldn’t giggle.
“Think of the children,” said Marcy, her face serious.
The other women all nodded.
“Miss Gordon has done so much for those little boys,” Marcy continued. “We all want to help and we agree this is the best use of our money.”
This time, when Chase looked at Joy with a question in his eyes, she shrugged. “It’s for the children,” she said.
Chase ran his hand through his hair and rested it on the back of his neck as he squinted for a moment. “I suppose, if it’s for the children, how could I say no?”
“Oh, good!” Marcy and the others clapped and voiced their pleasure.
Marcy finally turned and acknowledged Joy. “Be sure to organize all the details, Miss Gordon, and I’ll be sure to bring my checkbook.”
“I will,” Joy said.
“We’ll let you two get back to your lunch.” Marcy gathered the women together like a flock of wandering ducklings and they went back to their table, giggling and chatting the whole way. Several cast appreciative glances back in Chase’s direction.
Chase slowly sat, an embarrased flush in his cheeks. “What just happened?”
Joy started to laugh and she couldn’t speak for a moment.
“It’s not funny,” he said, trying to suppress the laughter in his voice. “No one even knows my name in my apartment building in Seattle—but here—”
“In a small town, everyone knows who you are.”
“Do you ever get used to it?” Chase asked.
She shrugged. “I’ve never lived anywhere else.” Joy readjusted her silverware and lined it on the table. “Unfortunately, it’s taken me most of my adult life to lose the stigma of being a foster child—the kid abandoned and left alone for over a month.”
He grew serious. “Have you ever wanted to leave Timber Falls?”
“I planned to leave as soon as I finished college.” She couldn’t look him in the eyes. “But my life took a turn I didn’t expect.”
“I’m sorry, Joy.” He reached across the table and set his hand over hers.
His touch was soft and gentle, and full of such tenderness, she had to swallow the unexpected emotions clogging her throat.
“You need to stop apologizing,” she said, meeting his gaze. “I’m happy I stayed. I made choices, too.”
“But I left.”
“And I chose not to tell you the truth sooner.”
Pulling his hand away, he offered a half smile. “Do you think we could start over?”
Could they? “I guess there’s no way to know unless we try.”
“I’d like that.”
“So would I.”
Their waitress appeared with their meals and Joy was thankful for the distraction. She didn’t want to talk about the past anymore. She was ready to start discussing the future—whatever that might be.
Chapter Twelve
Sunshine rippled across the water as Chase reclined on the red-and-white-checkered blanket they’d set out for their Fourth of July picnic. A huge oak tree unfurled its ancient branches overhead, providing the perfect amount of shade. The delicious meal of fried chicken, potato salad and chocolate cake that Mrs. Thompson and Joy had prepared was eaten and the leftovers were stored in the cooler.
“We go swimming?” Kinsley asked as Joy applied more sunscreen to Kinsley’s nose.
“Not today. The river is too high.” Joy had to move fast to get the sunscreen on Kinny’s face.
“Will there be fireworks tonight?” Jordan asked, sitting on the blanket next to Joy.
“They will shoot them off from the park across the river,” Joy answered patiently for the tenth time that day. “When the sun goes down.”
“Will we be awake then?” Ryan asked.
“I’ll be sure to keep you awake,” Mrs. Thompson answered and winked at Chase.
Chase winked back, but Joy was so busy slathering sunscreen on the kids, she didn’t notice.
“Can we play in the tree fort now?” Kodi asked.
Joy stopped fighting Kinsley and wiped her hands on the corner of the cloth. “Sure.”
The boys didn’t waste a minute. They took off for the tree fort without looking back.
“I think I’ll bring the food up to the kitchen and put it in the refrigerator,” Mrs. Thompson said.
“I’ll help.” Joy started to stand, but Mrs. Thompson shook her head.
“Stay here and enjoy yourself for a bit.” Mrs. Thompson tried to get off the blanket, but struggled, so Chase jumped up and gave her a hand. “Thanks, honey,” she said.
The cooler was in the boys’ wagon, so she picked up the handle and started toward the service road leading up to the house.
Harper sat on the blanket with her feet stuck out in front of her, a book in her lap, like usual.
“I throw sticks in the wat
er?” Kinsley asked.
Joy shook her head. “Why don’t you stay here and I’ll read to you and Harper.”
Chase sat on the blanket again, watching Joy and the girls. He still marveled that they were his daughters.
Harper stood and walked across the blanket. She stopped in front of Chase and smiled, her brown eyes sparkling. “You read to me?” She extended her book.
Chase glanced at Joy. “Do you mind?”
She smiled and shook her head. “Of course not.”
Kinsley came over and also sat in Chase’s lap. The girls snuggled close to him, and he hugged them before he opened the book.
Joy lay on her side, her hand supporting her head as she watched him read. Once in a while, he glanced at her to see if she’d fallen asleep, but she was wide awake, the expression on her face unreadable.
The story was another favorite of Harper’s. It was about a scared little llama that was afraid of the dark.
When he came to the end, he closed the book and looked down at the girls. Their eyelids were heavy, but neither one had fallen asleep.
“Chase?” Joy asked quietly.
He met her gaze.
“Is it alright if I tell the girls?”
His heart started to pound and he swallowed the rush of unexpected nerves. Was she ready to tell Harper and Kinsley he was their father? Once she did, there was no going back—for any of them. But he couldn’t think of anything he wanted more.
Everything would change—forever. No longer would he be a stranger. He’d be their dad, with every responsibility and privilege that came with that honor.
He nodded. “Yes.”
“What, Mama?” Kinsley asked.
Joy sat up and moved across the blanket to sit in front of Chase. Harper reached for her and she took the little girl into her lap. She cuddled her close and then looked between both of their girls.
“I thought it was time to tell you something very important.”
“What, Mama?” Kinsley asked again.
“Chase is your daddy.”
Kinsley and Harper both looked up at him. Their identical brown eyes stared at him in curiosity.
“My daddy?” Kinsley asked him.
He couldn’t find his voice, so he simply nodded.
Without hesitation, she smiled at him and everything else faded away. She leaned into him and said with a sigh, “My daddy.”
Warmth filled Chase’s chest and he tried to hold on to the moment as he held the little girl close.
Harper watched him in her quiet, gentle way. It wasn’t uncertainty he saw in her eyes, but hesitation. After a moment, she looked up at Joy with a question in her eyes.
Joy simply nodded, as if she knew what their daughter was asking.
At her mother’s reassurance, Harper’s lips turned up into the most amazing smile Chase had ever seen in his life. Her eyes danced and her little shoulders came up in excitement—but she didn’t voice her pleasure or even leave her mother’s lap to hug Chase.
Instead, she stayed where she was and continued to smile.
“Your name is Daddy?” Kinsley asked Chase.
He looked at Joy for her approval.
She met his question with a smile of her own. “Do you want them to call you Daddy?”
“I do.” More than he realized until that very moment.
“Yes,” Joy said to Kinsley. “His name is Daddy.”
Kinsley burrowed deeper into his arms and yawned. “I love you, Daddy.”
Tears burned the backs of Chase’s eyes for the first time in years. “I love you, too, Kinney.” He met Harper’s gaze. “And I love you, Harper.”
The first blush of bashfulness came over Harper as she turned her cheek against Joy’s chest—a smile still on her lips.
“I think it’s time for a nap,” Joy said to the girls, wiping at her cheeks. “We’ve all had a busy day.”
Joy stood with Harper in her arms and Chase followed. They didn’t speak as they left the blanket and started to walk toward the house.
After a few moments, Chase looked at Joy over Kinsley’s head and said, “Thank you.”
She nodded.
They passed the boys and Joy told them to be careful in the tree house, then they continued up to the kitchen door.
No doubt the boys would have questions when they heard Harper and Kinsley calling him Daddy, but he and Joy would deal with that when the time came.
Mrs. Thompson was in the kitchen humming to herself as she ran a wet rag over the counters. She smiled at them when they entered.
“Chase is my daddy,” Kinsley said to Mrs. Thompson.
Chase paused in his tracks and met the stunned expression on Mrs. Thompson’s face. To her credit, she quickly recovered. “I know that, sweetie.”
Kinsley hugged Chase’s neck even tighter.
He laughed, and in that moment he knew without a doubt that he could never walk away from these girls. In a few short weeks, they had become his world.
Joy led the way up the stairs and laid Harper on her bed. The little girl sought out Chase’s gaze one more time before she smiled and closed her eyes.
Kinsley wasn’t as easy to get to sleep. When Chase set her on her bed, she sat there and grinned at him.
“It’s time for your nap,” Joy said, bringing a blanket over from the chair and spreading it across Kinsley’s legs.
Kinsley lay down and wiggled in excitement.
Joy had to settle the blankets over her again and put her hand on Kinsley’s forehead. “Sleep tight, little one.”
Kinsley blinked several times and yawned.
Joy walked to the door and motioned for Chase to follow her out.
She closed the door behind him and stood in the semidark hallway. “I’m sorry for springing that on you.”
Chase shook his head. “I’m happy you did.”
“I should have given you more time to decide.”
“I would have said yes, no matter how much time you gave me.”
“But now you’re committed.”
He didn’t hesitate. “I made the decision to be committed the moment you told me I was their father.”
She studied him. “Are you sure?”
“More sure than I’ve ever been in my life.”
Joy moistened her lips and nodded her head slowly. “Okay.”
He smiled. “I’m happy they know.”
She was quiet for a moment, but then she returned his smile. “So am I.”
“I have a surprise for you, too.” He moved away from the girls’ door and into the main part of the hallway.
Frowning, she followed him. “What?”
“Mrs. Thompson agreed to babysit the children tonight so I could take you somewhere special.”
Her frown deepened with curiosity. “Where?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“But what about the fireworks?”
“Mrs. Thompson will take the kids outside to watch the fireworks and then she’ll put them all in bed for us.”
“But—”
“Just say yes,” he said. “I want to take you somewhere this evening and I don’t want you to say no.”
Her chest expanded with a deep breath—when she let it out, she said, “This isn’t a date.”
He shook his head. “It’s not a date.”
“We’re going as friends.”
“Just friends.”
She bit her bottom lip.
“Will you say yes?” he asked.
“Yes.” She put her hands up to her cheeks and smiled.
He smiled, too. He couldn’t wait to take her out and have a little time alone.
Chase was determined to prove to Joy that he was a man worthy of her love—and he’d start tonight.
* * *
<
br /> Pink, purple and orange spread across the western horizon as Chase led Joy out of the main gate of Bee Tree Hill. The air had already started to cool, making her happy she’d brought along a light sweater, which she pulled onto her arms. She’d changed into a summer dress and put on heeled sandals. She’d even taken the time to curl her hair and put on some fresh makeup before joining Chase in the foyer.
And she was happy she had, because he’d gone to the carriage house and changed into a pair of dark blue jeans, a button-down shirt and a dark suit jacket. His eyes had been bright when he saw her coming down the stairs and her cheeks were still warm from the memory.
Now, as she walked beside him, she felt like she had over four years ago when he’d taken her out on their first date.
But this wasn’t a date—at least, that’s what she kept telling herself.
Because it felt an awful lot like a date.
“You look really pretty tonight,” he said.
“Thank you.” She wanted to tell him he looked amazing, too, but she couldn’t find the words.
They walked along the fence hugging the front of the Ashers’ property. Cars were parked along Main Street and people were heading in the general direction that Joy and Chase were heading.
“Are we going to the Fourth of July celebration in the park?” she asked, almost certain they were.
“I heard there is dancing.”
Their hands brushed together as they walked and a thrill raced up Joy’s arm.
“Do you like to dance?” he asked.
“I love it.”
His hand brushed hers again, and this time, she suspected that it wasn’t an accident.
Since the park hugged the opposite side of the pond connecting it to Bee Tree Hill property, they didn’t have far to walk.
The city park had several fountains springing forth from ponds, a large pavilion that housed the dancing, and meandering paths that wove in and out of willow trees along the riverbanks. Main Street sat high above the park and they had to descend a couple flights of stairs.
Hundreds of people had gathered to enjoy the celebration. The live orchestra played under the pavilion, their beautiful music floating on the gentle breeze, beckoning Chase and Joy to join in the fun.
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