“What about it?” he asked, absently running his thumbs along the back of her hands.
“I was thinking that you should bring me,” she said, nodding solemnly.
“I suppose I could do that,” Chase murmured, deciding not to mention that he’d already planned on doing that. He’d already bought the tickets, bought a tux, canceled his classes for the day, and rented the second most expensive suite the hotel had to offer. He would have rented the most expensive suite the hotel had, but Hunter already beat him to it.
That was fine, Chase thought as he leaned in to kiss her because he planned on making this a night that they never forgot.
*-*-*-*
Roman Palms Hotel
Orlando, Florida
“You look beautiful,” came the softly spoken words that drew Sloane’s attention to find Chase, standing in the doorway, looking unbelievably handsome in a black tux with a matching shirt and tie.
For a moment, all she could do was stand there, watching him through the hotel’s ornate mirror and felt her heart skip a beat. She’d never seen anyone as handsome as Chase, Sloane thought as she watched him walk into the large bedroom. She’d always thought that he was handsome but over the past few months…
Something had changed, he’d become more confident, more relaxed, and happier than she’d ever seen him before. He smiled more, laughed easier, and was so incredibly sweet that she hadn’t been able to help but fall in love with him. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him and do all those things that she never thought that she would want, but she wanted them with him.
When he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against him so that he could press a kiss against the side of her neck, she found herself opening her mouth to tell him everything only to decide against it.
She wanted tonight to be perfect, Sloane decided as she tilted her head back so that he could brush his lips against hers. “Thank you,” she murmured softly, loving the way that his lips pulled up into a pleased smile as he brushed them against hers one more time.
“We could skip the party,” Chase suggested in a soft murmur as he pressed a kiss against her jaw.
“Deb would never forgive you,” she pointed out with a smile as she leaned back against him.
“Yes, she would,” he murmured absently as he pressed another kiss against the side of her neck. “I’d just tell her that you beat me and wouldn’t let me go.”
“You’re evil. Did you know that?” Sloane asked with a mock glare even as she debated asking him where his cane was only to realize that it was pointless since he was too stubborn to listen to her.
“Yes,” he suggested in a seductive whisper as he ran his hands teasingly along her sides only to run his hands slowly over the soft swell of her belly, making her wonder if he already knew.
Not that it should come as a surprise. For the past six months, they hadn’t been able to get enough of each other or maybe the problem was that she hadn’t been able to get enough of him. God, the things he did to her…
She should have taken the test when she’d first suspected that she might be pregnant, but she’d wanted to wait to find out, terrified to find out that it was all just a dream. Tomorrow, she would find out, but tonight…
Tonight, she planned on telling him that she loved him.
Chapter 37
God, he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her.
He’d never seen anyone more beautiful, Chase thought as he stood in the elevator, running his eyes over Sloane, taking in the shy smile that she was trying to hide from him to the incredible emerald dress that hugged the generous curves of her breasts only to soften around her hips and ended just above her ankles with a graceful slit running along the side, giving him a glimpse of a lightly tanned leg and–
He regretted not skipping this gala and spending the rest of the night making love to her. Hoping that he could talk her into returning back to the suite with him, Chase reached over and took her hand in his, giving it a small squeeze as he pulled her closer so that he could whisper, “I want you,” in her ear.
“You already have me,” she promised him with a teasing smile that had his hand tightening around hers even as her words tempted him into wanting something more, something impossible, but something that he wanted more than anything.
“Then come back upstairs with me,” he whispered, more than willing to pretend that he could have her even if it was only for one night.
“You’re not getting out of this,” Sloane said with a teasing smile as she turned around in his arms and leaned up so that she could kiss his chin.
“Why are you so mean to me, Pookie?” Chase asked softly as he reached up to cup her face only to groan when she stepped out of his reach when the elevator doors slid open.
“Because you love it,” she said with a wink as she walked away.
Sighing heavily, he pushed away from the wall only to bite back a pained groan when the muscles in his back tightened, warning him not to overdo it tonight and reminding him that he’d forgotten to take a muscle relaxer.
Shit!
He reached out and slapped his hand over the elevator doors, stopping them from closing as he stood there, tempted to say the hell with it and worry about it later, but he knew that if he didn’t take a pill now that his muscles would lock up.
“Are you okay?” Sloane asked, the teasing smile gone as she reached up and cupped his jaw in her hand.
“I need to run back upstairs. I forgot something,” Chase said, forcing a reassuring smile, knowing better than to admit that his back was acting up.
He didn’t want her worrying about him tonight.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Sloane asked, already moving to join him.
“No, I’ll only be a few minutes,” he promised her, leaning down to kiss her forehead before he released his hold on the elevator door and stepped back. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Fine,” she said with a heartfelt sigh and a pout that had him chuckling as he watched her turn around only to smile when she spotted Teddy slowly making his way toward her on his crutches, instantly forgetting him as she focused on the little boy that she had a soft spot for.
She was so good with him, Chase thought, leaning back against the elevator wall as he watched the doors close. Sloane was so damn kind, patient, sweet, and her job was slowly killing her. She hated her job and he couldn’t blame her.
One thing was clear, he couldn’t let her go back. She deserved better than to have her heart broken. He owed her that much. He would try to convince her to find something else and see if he could convince her to take one of those courses that she’d been debating taking and if that didn’t work…
He’d convince her to take the job that Ryan and Grey had offered her. It would make it harder to walk away from her, but he wanted her to be happy. He’d figure it out when the time came, Chase told himself as the elevator opened and he made his way back to their room.
Within minutes, he took his pill, called down to the front desk to make sure that everything was all set for later, and headed back downstairs. Once the elevator doors opened, he stepped out into the lobby and–
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Thomas, who had fucking balls, asked, not that he should really be all that surprised that the asshole came tonight since most of the guys from the station had purchased tickets to help support Shadow House. He’d assumed the asshole would realize that coming here was a bad fucking idea.
“No,” Chase said, stepping past him and headed toward the small path that would take him past the ship and into the large atrium built in the middle of the hotel.
“Chase, look, I just want to talk to you,” his best friend since the academy said as he caught up with him.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” Chase said, making his way down the long winding path toward the soft sounds of an orchestra playing only to stop just past the rock overpass next to the baby alligators when Thomas said, “I’m sorry,
” because he couldn’t have heard him correctly.
“You’re sorry?” Chase asked, shaking his head in disbelief as he slowly turned around to face the man that had taken everything from him. “That’s really fucking great.”
“Look, I don’t expect you to forgive me. I just wanted to tell you how sorry I was with the way that everything happened,” Thomas said with a helpless shrug.
“What are you sorry for, hmm? That I woke up from a fucking coma to find out that you’d been fucking my fiancée or having to deal with the fact that I might never walk again without my best friend by my fucking side telling me that everything was going to be okay? Which one are you sorry for, Thomas?” Chase bit out between clenched teeth as a middle-aged couple quickly made their way past them.
“Everything,” Thomas said hollowly.
Shaking his head in disgust, Chase said, “God, I hope she was worth it.”
“I wasn’t trying to hurt you, Chase. I was–”
“I fucking loved her!” Chase shouted, cutting him off because he didn’t want to hear his fucking excuses.
“I did, too,” came the quiet response that took him by surprise.
“Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Chase said with a humorless chuckle as he shook his head in disgust.
“I never meant for any of this to happen,” Thomas said, sighing heavily.
“No? Then explain why you waited until I was in a fucking coma to make your move?” Chase snapped.
“I didn’t,” Thomas said hollowly as Chase stood there digesting his words and when he did…
“You’re fucking unbelievable,” Chase murmured, having heard more than enough for one night and turned around to head into the ballroom when Thomas’s next words stopped him.
“Do you still love her?”
“Not even a little fucking bit,” Chase said coldly as he glanced over his shoulder to find his ex-best friend watching him.
“You love her, don’t you?” Thomas asked only to add, “Sloane,” when Chase just stood there.
Shaking his head, Chase said, “No,” and walked away, in no fucking mood to explain why falling in love with Sloane was the last thing he wanted to do.
Chapter 38
“Are you okay?” Tristan asked as Sloane joined him by the bar set up along the far side of the ballroom.
“I’m fine,” she lied, somehow managing a smile as she struggled to hold it together.
He didn’t love her.
“You don’t look fine,” Tristan said, taking a sip of his beer as he glanced around them, taking in the crowded ballroom while Sloane stood there, feeling like her heart was breaking in two.
He didn’t love her, but the problem was that she loved him.
More than anything.
She wanted to spend her life with him and…and…he said no. She’d been worried that he was overdoing it without his cane and went to make sure that he was okay and…
He said no.
“What the hell is wrong, Sloane?” Tristan asked, pushing away from the bar as he watched her. Unable to answer him, she bit her lip as she shook her head, praying that he let it go for her sake.
When she felt Chase’s arms wrap around her from behind, she closed her eyes and released a shaky breath. “What’s going on?” Chase asked on a soft murmur as she felt his lips brush against her temple.
“That’s what I was wondering,” Tristan said, sounding pissed.
“I’m fine,” Sloane managed to get out, wondering how many times she was going to have to say it before she believed it.
“You’re trembling,” Chase said, releasing her so that he could turn her around in his arms and cup her face in his hands. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m just a little tired,” she promised him, reaching up to cover his hand with hers as she stood there wondering how much longer she was going to be able to hold it together.
For a moment, Chase stood there, searching her face only to sigh as he leaned down and pressed his lips against her forehead. “You’ve got to start taking it easy, Pookie,” he said with another kiss against her forehead before he pulled back as his thumbs gently caressed her face.
“I will,” Sloane promised him, not quite able to meet his eyes, afraid that she’d lose it if she did.
“I’m taking you home,” Chase said, dropping his hands so that he could take her trembling hand in his and–
“Not before I dance with my sister,” Tristan said, smoothly reaching over to take her hand before Chase could and pulled her closer.
“Sloane, I–” Chase began only to sigh when she said, “I’m fine,” as she allowed Tristan to pull her toward the crowded dance floor.
As soon as they reached the dance floor, Tristan was pulling her into his arms and saying, “Okay, now tell me the truth. What’s going on?”
“I’m leaving,” she said hollowly, placing her hand in his as she found herself watching Chase from across the room only to find him watching her, worry etching across his handsome face.
Tristan released a muttered curse and asked, “When?”
“Tomorrow,” she mumbled sadly as she watched Chase drag his attention away from her and forced a smile for Deb, who was wearing the pretty white dress and the tiara that Chase bought for her.
“That soon?” Tristan asked, drawing her attention back to find her brother frowning down at her.
“Yes,” she said softly, almost wishing that it was today, but she wanted one more night with Chase before she was forced to let him go and if she found out that she was pregnant…
God, she couldn’t even think about that right now.
“When will you be back?”
“Not for a while,” Sloane said, watching as her brother glanced over at Chase, who was now dancing with Deb, dutifully turning her and sweeping her off her feet.
“What if he asks you to stay?” Tristan asked as she forced herself to look away.
“He won’t ask,” she said with a sad smile.
“You don’t know that.”
“Can we please talk about something else?” Sloane asked because she didn’t want to talk about this, not when she was trying to keep it together, but she knew that tomorrow, after she forced herself to walk away, that she wouldn’t be able to hold it together any longer.
“I’m going to miss you,” Tristan admitted with a soft smile.
“I’m going to miss you, too,” Sloane said, returning his smile and wishing that things were different.
“So, then don’t go,” he said stubbornly.
“I can’t stay, Tristan,” she told him, wishing that he’d let it go.
“Why do I feel like you’re not telling me something?” Tristan said, sighing heavily as he continued to move them to the music.
“Because you’re paranoid,” she told him as she found herself watching Chase.
She was going to miss him so much, Sloane thought, unable to help but smile as she watched him slowly twirl Deb around. She knew this was a mistake from the beginning, but even knowing that hadn’t stopped her from falling in love him. No matter how much this hurt, and god, did this hurt, she couldn’t regret it.
She also couldn’t stay.
After everything he’d gone through, Chase deserved to have his life back and she…
Wanted one more night with him.
“He loves you.”
“No,” she said with a sad smile, “he doesn’t.”
*-*-*-*
“Come on, come on, come on…” Chase bit out, rubbing the back of his neck as he watched the numbers light up as the elevator slowly made its way to his floor while he stood there struggling not to lose his fucking mind.
He should have taken her back to their room as soon as he realized that there was something wrong and there was definitely something fucking wrong. He’d never seen her like this before. She always had a teasing smile on her lips even on those days when she wanted to wring his fucking neck, but tonight…
She looked like her heart
was breaking in two.
He didn’t know what her brother said to her, but when he found out, he was going to–
“About fucking time,” Chase said, sighing in relief when the elevator arrived at his floor.
The doors barely had a chance to open before he was shoving past them and heading down the hallway toward their room. A minute later, he was opening the door and rushing inside and–
Shit!
She wasn’t there.
For the past hour, he’d been forced to stand back and watch as her brothers swooped in before he got a chance to find out what was wrong and asked her to dance. He’d watched as her brothers argued with her, the sad smiles that she gave them, and the resigned looks on their faces as they’d stepped away from her only to note the looks of pity they’d sent in his direction before her next brother asked her to dance.
By the time that her father asked her to dance, Chase had been close to losing his fucking mind. He’d managed a dance with his sister and another dance with Deb before he’d given up pretending that he wasn’t waiting for a chance to get to her. The only thing that mattered to him was pulling Sloane into his arms to make sure that she was okay and he’d been on his way to do just that when his sister had rushed over to warn him that Amy was there.
Since he’d been well aware of the woman in question watching his every fucking move for the past hour, he’d returned his attention to the only woman that mattered to him only to realize that she was gone. After playing twenty-fucking-questions with her brothers, he’d gone looking for her and now…now, he was telling himself every line of bullshit that he could think of to explain the panic threatening to take over at the thought of never seeing her again.
Sloane was his best friend and he was worried about her. It was as simple as that, Chase told himself as he walked into the bedroom and swore when he found it empty. Ready to tear the fucking hotel apart, he turned around and headed back into the living room only to feel something that he couldn’t quite name deep inside him ease when he spotted Sloane standing on the balcony overlooking the large atrium. Needing a moment, Chase pulled off his jacket and tossed it on a chair before he dropped down on the small loveseat with a sigh.
Furious Page 20
