Page 113 of Master of My Heart

Those were unusual women, though. Not the kind he wanted to marry.

Not like his date tonight. God, no one was like Sabrina.

She still stared at him.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” Chase brought their hands down to his knee.

“Sh-shouldn’t have done what?” she asked.

“Kissed your hand like that.”

“Why not?”

He gave an embarrassed smile. “Palms can be very erotic. It’s not right to do that on a first date.” Or any date with you.

“I don’t mind,” she whispered, leaning toward him.

He cupped her cheek and sighed. “Sabrina, I’m going to be honest with you, okay?”

She nodded, leaning back and chewing her lip nervously.

“I didn’t ask you out tonight just to ask you out. I want to get to know you, and you me, to see if, well, if we still feel the same way about each other as we did years ago.”

“Okay...” She looked confused.

“When I met you, I told you that you were the first woman I’d ever met who I could imagine spending the rest of my life with. I still feel that way.” He took her hand and placed it on his chest. “My heart still pounds for you like it did that night on the yacht. I don’t want to scare you, but I don’t want to mislead you, either. I want to find out if what I’m feeling is real or just remnants of a past hope. If it is real, Sabrina...” He swallowed. “I want to marry you.”

*****

Sabrina shook her head and tried to pull her hand away from him. “No. No, you can’t.” How could he say such things? That was five years ago. When she was still innocent. Before she became a murdering whore. She’d been having such a good time with him tonight... forgetting what she was... forgetting her past and enjoying the present.

Now it came crashing back onto her head. How could she have let it go so far? He wanted to marry her? How was that possible?

She knew how.

He thought she was still that innocent girl from the yacht. He had no idea what she was now. That was the only possible reason he would still feel that way.

“What do you mean I can’t?” he asked, taking her hand again. “I know it’s been a long time. I know a lot has changed, but—”

“No!” she squeaked. “You don’t know!” She turned away and started pulling at the door handle. She couldn’t breathe. She needed to get out of the car. She needed air. “Please. Let me out.”

“Sabrina, we’re in the middle of the street.”

“Let me out!” she pleaded, his face blurring through the tears in her eyes. “Please. Let me out.”

Chase stared at her for a moment. “Rafael!” he called to the driver. “Pull over, please.”

Sabrina stared at her hands, trembling until she felt the car stop. Chase pushed open the door and got out, holding his hand out to help her, but she didn’t take it. She didn’t want to taint his honorable presence with her disgusting self. She turned and started walking back the way they had come. Chase hurried behind her.

“Where are you going?” he asked, walking next to her.

“Home,” she choked out. Why was he following her?

“Why?”

She didn’t answer as she started walking faster. He didn’t let her get away, his long legs allowing him to keep up with her easily. But he stayed quiet. Finally, she stopped and turned to glare at him.

“Why are you following me?” she growled.

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