“How long do you plan to stay?” she asked him.
“Three to four days. That should give us plenty of time to spend together doing as much as we can.” He tilted his head. “And if you’re wondering what to do to keep busy while I’m buying diamonds, you’re more than welcome to accompany me. Or, better yet, you might want to use the opportunity to do some shopping. Antwerp has boutiques that carry some of the top designers’ fashions.”
“You make it very hard to pass up,” Paula said softly.
He grinned slyly. “That’s the whole point. Saying no is not an option.”
She met his eyes. “You’re so wonderful.”
“Can I take that as a yes?” Chase was hopeful.
“Can I have a day to think about it? I have work and Isa to consider.”
He smiled, rubbing her hand. “Of course. I understand that you have a life and responsibilities. Even if I’d really love to have your company in Antwerp, I don’t want you to feel that saying no will be a game changer as far as what’s happening between us.”
“I don’t,” she told him, knowing it was a sweet gesture and a clear indication that he thought enough of her to extend the invitation. “And thank you.”
Paula leaned over and gave Chase a long kiss, slipping her tongue in his mouth. She lost herself in the sweet taste of Chase’s lips and the protection of his strong arms enveloping her. Paula never thought she would find a man who not only “got” her, but also opened up enough to allow her to “get” him. Yet that was precisely what she had gotten with Chase McCord, and she definitely would never take that for granted. The idea of being whisked away to a romantic paradise in Antwerp was gaining steam with every second that their mouths burned with impassioned harmony.
When Paula went inside, she found her grandmother still up watching TV.
“How was the movie?” Isabelle asked.
“Wonderfully romantic and funny.”
“Glad you liked it, though I’m sure a lot of that had to do with the company.”
Paula smiled thoughtfully. “More like all of it.”
“No surprise there,” Isabelle declared. “Your gentleman jeweler certainly left a favorable impression on me.”
“Oh, really?” Paula teased her. “I hadn’t noticed.”
“He seems to be the complete package as far as I can tell.”
“Yes, he certainly is,” Paula concurred, if such a person really existed. She couldn’t be more pleased that she had finally introduced Isa to someone neither of them could find fault with. There was no doubt in Paula’s mind that the magical spell Chase had weaved so masterfully over her could potentially last a lifetime. “By the way, that complete package just invited me to go to Belgium with him next week.”
“What?” Isabelle sat up. “Are you serious?”
“Yep.” Paula beamed. “He’s going to Antwerp to buy diamonds for his stores and wants to turn the trip into a romantic escape for a few days.”
“That sounds wonderful. I take it you told him yes?”
Paula paused. “I told him I needed a day to think about it.”
Isabelle frowned, creasing her brow. “What’s to think about, child? He’s offering you the world, or at least a very nice part of it.”
“I don’t want to have to worry about you while I’m being romanced in Europe,” Paula told her.
“Then don’t,” Isabelle snapped. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself for a few days. If I need help, I can call my friend Frances. Besides, I would feel terrible if you missed out on something so special because of me. I want you to put yourself first for once.”
Paula smiled lovingly. She should have known Isabelle would not allow her to use this as an excuse to miss out on the trip of a lifetime.
“And that means first ahead of your job,” Isabelle continued. “I know you have work lined up and clients who want to monopolize your time. They will still be around when you get back. However, good men like Chase don’t come along every day, and they also don’t need to put themselves out there if the woman plays hard to get.”
Paula frowned. “I would never do that to Chase.”
“Good. Then it’s settled. You’re going to Antwerp, and I’ll hold the fort here till you get back.”
Paula grinned, knowing her grandmother had cleverly made her see the light as always. “Okay, you win. I’ll go.”
“No, you and Chase win,” Isabelle said magnanimously. “You have your whole lives ahead of you, so don’t waste a moment. Believe me, it can all end way too soon.”
Paula leaned over and gave Isa a big hug, aware she was referring to her true love who had been taken away prematurely, and perhaps to the loss Chase had experienced. The thought was sobering to Paula.
The next morning, Paula went running in the park. She ignored the cold breeze whipping at her face in favor of the adrenalin rush she got from pushing herself to go the extra mile. Paula was halfway to her goal and thinking about Chase when she heard the familiar voice from behind.
“I thought I’d find you here.”
Her pulse missed a beat as she watched Sheldon pull up alongside her. Where had he come from?
Paula managed to keep her cool. “You’re stalking me now?”
“Not at all,” he said. “Remember we used to run together.”
“That was then,” she told him.
“Well, I’m still doing my thing every day.”
“Good for you,” Paula uttered sarcastically, resisting the temptation to run in a different direction. “If this is your attempt at a repeat of what’s already been said, then—”
“Who’s the dude?” Sheldon asked point-blank, keeping pace with her.
She stared at him, pretending to be mystified. “What are you talking about?”
“The man you were with last night,” Sheldon said irritably.
Paula grew alarmed. “So you are stalking me?”
“Wrong again,” he claimed. “I saw you at the theater when I was there with my date.”
Paula wasn’t sure she believed him, but hoped he had found a reason to leave her alone. “In that case, I don’t think we have anything left to talk about,” she said tartly.
“You still didn’t answer my question,” he pressed.
Nor did she want to, but if that was what it took to get this over with, Paula decided to satisfy his curiosity. “We’re seeing each other, as if you haven’t already guessed.”
“Yeah, I figured as much.” Sheldon took a breath. “So, did you do some work for him, too?”
Paula swallowed. How she’d met Chase was irrelevant. They could have become involved anywhere. The fact that she’d met Sheldon under similar circumstances after Virginia passed along that he was looking for an interior decorator was purely coincidental. It hardly meant a pattern or anything, as Paula’s other boyfriends had nothing to do with her profession.
“That’s none of your business,” she said sharply.
He chuckled snidely. “Yeah, that’s what I figured. And I’m sure you’ll drop him like a hot potato, too, as soon as you set your pretty little eyes on someone else who comes along.”
Paula had had just about as much of this as she could take. He had no right passing judgment on her, or pretending to be the wounded party. She stopped running, prompting him to do the same, and faced him squarely.
“You need to grow up!” Her voice shook. “When our relationship ended, I wasn’t seeing another man.”
Sheldon wiped his forehead. “And I’m supposed to believe that?”
Paula’s brows knitted. “Believe whatever you want. I don’t really care. I’m through playing these silly games with you, though. We broke up. That’s what couples do when it’s not working. So get over it and stop hounding me.”
He backed off, as though pushed. “You’ve got it! I’m done.”
“Thank you,” Paula offered, for lack of anything more to say. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to finish my run—alone.”
“Don’t let me stop you.”
She met his unreadable gaze and took off, half expecting him to follow. He didn’t, and she assumed that he’d finally gotten the message.
Paula sucked in a deep breath. She was glad that they had been able to settle this. Why were men so sensitive and downright hostile when it came to being the one dumped instead of the other way around? Why shouldn’t it be a woman’s prerogative to know when a relationship was going nowhere?
Paula couldn’t imagine ever wanting to say goodbye to Chase, not when the man’s kisses caused her heart to flutter wildly and her body temperature to rise to dangerous levels. That didn’t even include his many other qualities. She couldn’t wait to travel with him to Antwerp.
Chapter 15
Chase was up bright and early for a workout before showering, eating some oatmeal and going to the office. He wondered if it had been a mistake to ask Paula to accompany him to Antwerp. Maybe their relationship hadn’t developed enough to expect her to toss aside any plans she may have had with little time to spare. He would rather have her go because she wanted to rather than just to please him.
The mouthwatering kiss they had shared when they said their goodbyes last night told Chase that Paula was definitely as much into him as he was her. But that didn’t mean she was ready to move into uncharted waters in their burgeoning relationship. It was a big step for him, too. The only woman he’d ever taken to Belgium was Rochelle, so it would feel a bit strange to be there with another woman. It felt right, though, to invite Paula, since she had blended into his life in a way that made him want to experience as much as possible with her. He could only hope she felt the same way at the end of the day.
Sitting at his desk, Chase shared these sentiments with Monica. He felt if anyone would understand, it would be her, since she had traveled to Antwerp with and without companionship.
“Don’t sweat it, she’ll go,” Monica said flatly while sipping coffee.
“How can you be so sure?” Chase was curious, particularly when he wasn’t nearly as certain.
Monica rolled her eyes. “What woman in her right mind would pass up a romantic excursion to the diamond capital of the world?”
“Maybe someone like Paula who has her business to consider. She’s also responsible for her seventy-one-year-old grandmother who lives with her,” Chase said. “And Paula doesn’t strike me as a woman who is easily impressed with diamonds.”
“Trust me when I say that diamonds leave an impression on every woman, no matter what kind of life she has.” Monica sighed. “I don’t know Paula very well, but it’s pretty clear to me that she’s crazy about you. With the holiday spirit in the air and romance blooming, spending time together in a faraway land is something she’s equally excited about.”
“Then why I am I still waiting for an answer?” Chase scratched his jaw. “I thought I asked her at the perfect moment, but apparently not.”
Monica laughed. “You still don’t know women very well, do you?”
He cocked a brow. “What don’t I know?”
“That we like to keep you in suspense. It’s part of our nature to not always agree right on the spot to things, no matter how tempting.”
“That doesn’t make sense.” Chase shook his head.
“Doesn’t have to, not to you anyway,” she said. “The point is, it’s our way of making you sweat it out so you don’t take us for granted.”
Chase grinned. “So that’s all there is to it, huh?”
“Hey, take it from a woman who’s been there, done that, with men for years. It’s not meant to be head games, it’s just our way of trying to maintain some control, even while our hearts flutter wildly in being with our man.”
Chase nodded. “Now that you mention it, I suppose Rochelle was like that, too.”
“Exactly. So why should Paula be any different?” Monica asked. “Women are women. We just want to be appreciated and pursued, even if the man’s already captured us.”
Chase frowned. “The problem is, I’m not quite sure we’re there yet insofar as knowing who’s hooked whom.”
“I think it’s a mutual thing,” she said over her mug. “Give Paula a little more time, and I’m sure she will happily accept your invitation.”
Chase chuckled. “Maybe you should write a book on all this stuff. It would probably be a bestseller.”
“Yeah, right,” Monica scoffed. “Once I’ve retired from the diamond business, I’ll have the time for that.”
“Not much chance that will happen,” he said. “Something tells me we’re both in this business for the long haul.”
“Probably.” Monica eyed him. “Just relax with Paula and don’t push her too hard. Some women tend to back off if they feel too pressured.”
Chase drew his brows together. “You’re saying I shouldn’t have asked Paula to go to Antwerp?”
“Not at all,” insisted Monica. “That was the right thing to do. In fact, she probably would’ve been hurt if you hadn’t.”
“But I don’t want Paula to feel under any pressure to do what she’s not comfortable doing. That’s not me.”
“I know that, and so does she. I also know that you’re a lonely widower trying to find love again. Maybe you’ve found it with Paula. I just don’t want you to blow it by overreaching.” Monica leaned forward. “You’re doing fine giving it your best effort. Just go with the flow and don’t worry so much. It will all work out.”
“I hear what you’re saying,” Chase told her, feeling better about the situation.
“Do you?” Monica looked skeptical.
He grinned, appreciating her shoulder to lean on. “Yes, loud and clear. I promise not to seem too desperate or pushy. I like Paula and respect her as a lady who is her own person and happens to make me happy. Whether she goes to Antwerp or not, we definitely seem to be headed for bigger and better things.”
“I agree,” Monica said. “There’s no telling how far you two might go, if you allow it to happen.”
Chase started at the thought. He realized it was totally in his character to have a woman like Paula in his life. He hadn’t known until recently just how much he missed a strong intimate connection. There was no going back for him now, and if things went his way, Paula would echo these sentiments.
“Chase is taking you to Antwerp?” Virginia’s eyes widened as she sat across the table from Paula at a café.
“I haven’t given him my answer yet, but yes,” Paula said elatedly over a steaming latte. “It caught me totally off guard when he asked me.”
“Aren’t surprises what true romance is all about?”
“I suppose.” Paula sipped her coffee. “I didn’t realize that he goes there every year to buy diamonds.”
“So now you’ve uncovered another layer of the man and his travels.” Virginia nibbled on a glazed donut. “I am so jealous that you’ve met someone who’s clearly prepared to go the extra mile for you, no pun intended.”
Paula smiled. “I think we’re both committed to following our hearts. Then there’s our physical attraction to each other.”
“Oh, yes, you can’t leave that out.” Virginia chuckled. “Something tells me there will be plenty of time in Antwerp to work on the sex appeal.”
“Chase will be there on business first and foremost,” Paula reminded her. “Seems as if Antwerp is the place to go for those in the diamond trade. Chase will represent McCord Diamonds in purchasing diamonds and making contacts.”
Virginia’s eyelids fluttered. “And you think he’s just bringing you along for the ride?”
“I didn’t say that.” Not exactly.
“Wake up, girlfriend. The man could’ve hopped on a plane all by his lonesome and resumed your torrid romance when he got back. Instead, Chase asked you to go with him. Doesn’t that tell you something?”
Paula gazed at her. “Yes, that he would miss me like crazy,” she avowed honestly.
Virginia tapped her hand. “Exactly!”
“It work
s both ways,” Paula admitted dreamily. “So I guess that makes both of us a little crazy.”
Virginia smiled. “I have a sneaky feeling that the L word might be spoken real soon.”
Paula beamed at the notion. She would love to hear Chase say that he loved her, but she didn’t want to get her hopes up. Maybe it was too soon for them to know what they felt on that level. Or perhaps the feelings were just one-sided when it came to the ultimate emotional commitment.
“Let’s just wait to see how it goes,” Paula uttered, seeking to downplay her expectations. “If and when the L word comes up, I’ll deal with it.”
Virginia’s eyes widened. “What better place to exchange I love yous than when you’re surrounded by glittering diamonds?”
Paula couldn’t help but smile. “You really are the quintessential romantic.”
“And you aren’t?”
“Hope springs eternal,” Paula said poetically, a fever of suspense building. “I think it’s best not to speculate too much. Right now, I just need to let Chase know I’m going to Antwerp with him.”
“Yes, you do. And make it snappy,” Virginia said. “Tonight we’ve got some shopping to do.”
“We do?”
“Of course. You have to dress for the part.”
Paula smiled. “That’s true.”
“And undress, too.” Virginia giggled.
Paula laughed. “You’re so bad.”
“Hey, I’m just being real,” Virginia replied. “Let’s face it—you’ll be spending a lot time in bed, so you might as well make sure it’s a memorable experience.”
Paula’s eyes twinkled. “I think that’s pretty much a given.” She thought about her previous sexual escapades with Chase that had left her panting and wanting more.
“I’m sure you’re right about that,” Virginia agreed.
Paula sipped her latte. “By the way, did you ever talk to Sheldon?”
Christmas Diamonds Page 13
