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She looks like those words caused her pain to say out loud. It drags a small smile from my lips. “When are you gonna learn, baby? I’ll do anything for you.”

Her eyes widen at that admission. Before she can make a big deal out of it, I kiss her again and say, “Go pack a bag. You’re staying with me tonight.”

She shakes her head and pulls away from me. “I can’t leave Dad alone without power.”

“Sure, you can,” her dad interjects. “No use in both of us suffering.”

“Fuck,” I grumble as I wipe my hands over my face. In the heat of the moment, I’d forgotten about her dad. I look between them as they’re having their own stare down. Seeing the determined look on her dad’s face, I’d say he’s just as stubborn as his daughter.

“Okay, fine,” I say, breaking up their staring match. “I’ll be back soon.”

I rush past Lina and head toward the front door.

“Chase!” Lina cries. “Where are you going?”

I spin around and pull her into me, giving her a hard kiss. I don’t even give a shit that her dad is watching. “To get some things. I’m not asking you to let me help you anymore. I’m just gonna do it, and you’re gonna accept it. I’ll be back.”

I release her and rush to my truck. When I start it up, she’s standing in the doorway, looking a little dazed and dumbfounded.

I kind of like that look on her. It softens her hard edges. It also means she’s not fighting me, and that’s progress.

I need to make progress with her. Because one day very soon I’ll tell her exactly how I feel. I just hope she loves me too.

Chapter 25

Giving into this man feels too good

Lina

“Doll, if you don’t stop pacing, you’re going to wear a hole in this carpet. It’s in bad enough shape as it is. It doesn’t need help from you.”

I spin around and face my dad. He’s sitting in his recliner with a wide grin on his face. “Why do you look so happy? Need I remind you we have no power?”

“Temporary problem.” He shrugs. “Can’t be upset about that when my daughter is in love with a good man.”

“Love!” My eyes widen. “I am not in love with him.”

It’s been almost an hour since Chase left me standing in the doorway, stunned by his declaration. I’ve paced around the small space of the living room ever since. I don’t know why I’m so stunned. His insistence on helping shouldn’t surprise me at this point. It’s right on brand for the man he’s proven himself to be.

I’ve spent so much time over the past couple of months either pushing him away or refusing his help. He ignored me every step of the way.

And yet he keeps surprising me in more ways than one. I’ve always seen him as a goofball that doesn’t take anything in life seriously. I’m right about the goofball, but not the other.

Chase might be one of the most serious people I’ve ever met. He’s also one of the most dependable. If he says he’s going to do something, he does it. That’s a quality I like very much.

It also scares the shit out of me.

Because it makes me like—not love—him far more than I’m willing to admit to myself. Sure, he’s stirred feelings in me I didn’t know I could feel. But love? I’m not even sure I know what that is.

Dad chuckles. “Sure you’re not. Just like he’s not in love with you.”

I scoff. “He’s not. He couldn’t possibly be. I mean … It’s not like I make this relationship easy on him. If anything, he …”

He what? I pause, thinking about how to finish that thought. I rack my brain for every possible negative emotion Chase could feel toward me and I come up empty-handed. Because I know he likes me. He wouldn’t do the things he does for me if he didn’t.

But love? Could he really love me? Could I love him? I let that thought roll around in my head and when I settle on an answer, I close my eyes. “Fuck.”

Dad’s soft chuckle surrounds me like a welcomed hug. “Don’t sound so annoyed. Lovin’ a good man isn’t a bad thing, doll.”

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