“I’ll be fine.” She glanced over to see Chase shoving his legs into jeans before walking around the bed and coming up beside her. So close she could inhale and smell the masculine scent that settled inside her and made her want so much more than he could give.
“You’re not going anywhere I can’t keep an eye on you,” he said, shoving his hands into his back pockets.
“It’s not like you have a choice in the matter. I don’t want to be your obligation anymore.” She opted to spell things out in language he’d understand. “But if it makes you feel any better, I’m going to my father.”
“Samson sure as hell isn’t safe.” Chase narrowed his gaze. “And since when do you know where he is?”
She shrugged. “Since five minutes ago. I think Samson’s staying with Pearl and Eldin.”
“Just when did you plan on telling me?” he asked, his voice rising.
She shrugged. “I’m not sure that I was. I mean, he’s my father; it’s my problem.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “The last place the man stayed exploded and now he’s living in my brother’s backyard. I think that makes it my problem too.”
She winced, knowing she couldn’t argue. Worse, she realized she hadn’t even thought in those terms. “God, I’m sorry.”
His eyes, which had darkened with anger, immediately softened as he reached for her.
“There’s a lot going on. Too much to take in all at once. But there’s also the fact that I care about what happens to you.” His hand grazed her forearm and his grip was soft as he caressed her skin with his more callused thumb.
His husky voice and honest admission could be her undoing if she let it. “I only just figured out where Samson was staying while you were on the phone with Roman,” she said. “And now that I have, it’s a solution, don’t you think? I can stay with him and that will guarantee nothing happens to either Samson or Rick and Kendall, since my father’s men wouldn’t hurt me.”
“That’s not a guarantee and it sure as hell isn’t a bet I’m willing to lose.”
“Well, to increase the odds, I’ll call Michael and ask him to come up here. To fix things somehow.” She spread her hands wide. “And I’ll be out of your hair. Easy solution, all the way around.”
He stared at her for a long minute, his hot, devouring gaze never leaving hers. “Go shower.”
“What?” She shook her head, unsure why.
“Go shower and I’ll take you over to Pearl and Eldin’s,” he said, feeling resigned.
So he was letting her go. Pain cramped her belly, but what had she expected? That he’d beg her to stay? With regret, she pulled her gaze from his and walked out of the room.
Out of his life would come later.
Chase followed Sloane to Rick’s house in his truck, which was a good thing considering Sloane didn’t think she could be in close quarters with him and still walk away. After pulling up to the curb, she insisted they first talk with Samson before telling Rick that he had the man staying in his guesthouse.
Sloane’s legs shook as she made her way to Pearl and Eldin’s, partly because she wasn’t sure of her reception and mostly because she knew this good-bye to Chase would be final.
She knocked on the door, rapping quickly with her knuckle, before she could change her mind.
The door opened a mere sliver. Considering Pearl’s reputation for friendliness and her tendency to welcome people with open arms, this secrecy cemented Sloane’s certainty.
Samson was inside.
“Pearl?” she called. “It’s Sloane. We met at Norman’s the other day and I was hoping I could talk to you.”
Silence followed, but the door widened a little bit more. Taking advantage, Sloane tipped her head closer. “Pearl, please. I know you have Samson in there and I need to speak with him.”
The admission had the opposite effect as the door slammed shut in Sloane’s face. She jumped back and barreled into Chase. His arms came around her, steadying her before she could fall or knock him over. Unfortunately, they didn’t let go either. And despite the weight of her jacket, she felt his body heat and the security that always came with Chase Chandler.
“Looks like you’re right,” his husky voice said in her ear. “She’s hiding something.”
His warm breath caressed her skin and she shivered. “Small consolation when they won’t let me inside.”
“I think a visit by Officer Chandler might do the trick,” Chase suggested.
Sloane stiffened and tried to turn around, but Chase held her in place. “You can’t turn my father in,” she said, panicked by the thought.
“He’s not wanted for anything serious, Sloane. Rick just wants to ask him a few questions and protect him at the same time.”
Why did anything that came from Chase’s mouth sound so rational, so certain, so right?
“He obviously doesn’t want protection,” she said, refusing to be swayed by emotion.
“Sometimes what people want and what they need are two very different things.”
His husky voice sent tremors of awareness rippling through her body, as did the dual meaning behind his words. But she knew that his desires wouldn’t change his actions.
She needed to get away from this man and the effect he had over her. “If you insist on telling Rick, then I’m going to talk to Samson first, so why don’t we split up and do what we each need to do?”
His arms tightened around her instead, his lips hovering at her neck. “You make the simplest things so damn hard,” he muttered.
“You’re fighting yourself and I refuse to pressure you.” Sloane forcefully wriggled out of his grasp. He’d come to her on his own or not at all.
Chase nodded in agreement, stepping back. He had more self-control than anyone she’d met, damn him.
“Rick needs to know what he’s up against. So we’ll play this your way,” Chase said.
“You handle Samson and I’ll go see if Kendall and Rick are home.”
“Okay.” She waited until Chase disappeared around front and turned back to the guesthouse, knocking once more. “Pearl, it’s Sloane and I’m alone.”
Finally the door opened wide. Pearl grabbed Sloane by the wrist and pulled her inside.
“Good Lord, girl, do you know how hard it’s been keeping this secret?” Pearl patted her bun. “Come eat.”