Page 151 of Master of My Heart

“I am changed, Sabrina. I’m—” He paused. “I was wide-eyed and full of excitement when I met you. The hits life throws at you always change you, but it’s up to you to decide what kind of person you become through those trials.” He leaned forward. “You’ve told me what you did. I didn’t reject you, right? Why do you think I’m going to now?”

She looked around the restaurant. No one was paying them any attention. “I know I told you stuff...” He was right. He hadn’t rejected her. But still...”Why did you encourage me to be with Richard?”

“Encourage you?”

She nodded. “When we were talking about it, you seemed to want me to choose to be Richard’s... Mistress thing.”

Chase shook his head. “I—” He sighed. “No, Sabrina, that’s not what I was trying to do. I was—” He frowned. “I guess I didn’t want to pressure you into doing something you didn’t want to do.”

“What does that mean?”

He closed his eyes and took in a breath. When he opened them he smiled. “The last time I tried to tell you this, you ran away.”

He means the marriage stuff. Was she open to hearing it now, though? “I promise, I won’t run away.”

He searched her eyes. “Okay. But if you do, I’m gonna chase you down and hold you prisoner until you hear everything I have to say, all right?”

She giggled at the thought, and he laughed along.

He took a deep breath. “When we met years ago, you were the first woman I could ever imagine spending the rest of my life with. I’d met a lot of women, at least a lot for being my age, and I couldn’t see a future with any of them.”

“We only talked for a few hours.”

“A few hours were all I needed to know how I felt. And, even after all these years, I’ve still never met anyone who compares to you.” He reached for her hand and smiled. “I’ve gone out with other women, because I had to, but none of them made me feel the way you do.”

Chase’s eyes radiated sincerity. Sabrina couldn’t seem to look away. Not that she wanted to.

“I know you need time to adjust to being here, to being free, and you need to see what Richard offers. But I want you to know that I’m playing for keeps. I want to marry you. More than anything in the world. I just didn’t want you to feel obligated to choose me over Richard.”

Sabrina studied his face. He was older now. Twenty-six or so. He was handsome before, but now... Maturity had made him more attractive. The jagged scar that ran down his cheek only added to his story, his character. She could imagine staring into that face, those eyes, for the rest of her life.

“When I escaped, the first thing I thought about was seeing you. But then I realized it had been so long.” She sighed. “I thought for sure you’d moved on. Gotten married and stuff.”

The waiter returned at that moment and they ordered their entrees. When he left, Sabrina fiddled with her glass.

“I didn’t,” Chase said simply. “I couldn’t, not knowing what happened to you.” He looked down at their hands, which had somehow found their way to each another again. “I know you need to see both sides before you choose. That’s why I said what I did. But I also need you to know that I want you in my life.”

Growing up, Sabrina had watched her parents’ relationship and always imagined she would have one just like it. After she was taken, she gave up on that, but maybe it was possible after all. Maybe, with Chase’s help, she really could be a normal girl. He accepted her for who she was. “You’re the only one I ever imagined having a relationship with.”

Maybe she really could have her happily ever after.

Chapter Fifty

Chase glanced at his watch and pulled out his wallet to pay the bill. “Are you up for a walk? The theater is only a few blocks away and it’s warm tonight.”

Sabrina stared at him for a moment. “Warm?” She looked out the window. “Um. Okay.”

Chase grinned at her doubtful expression. It was warm for Boston, but he could imagine it was chilly for her thin, desert blood. “We can drive if you want.”

She shook her head. “No, that’s okay.”

He smiled. After their serious discussion before dinner arrived, they’d relaxed into a similar feeling as their last date. He’d kept the subjects light, not wanting to stress her out with more intense conversation. It seemed to help because her eyes sparkled with happiness and she seemed at ease.

“Why are you staring at me?” she asked, her cheeks turning pink.

“Am I?” He hadn’t realized he’d been doing it, but he couldn’t seem to stop. “You’ve matured into a beautiful young woman,” he said, his eyes full of sincerity. “You were such a pretty girl, but...” He exhaled slowly. “You’re absolutely stunning all grown up.”

She looked away, blushing terribly, but smiling all the same.

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