Page 12 of Mind

“She’s a guardian angel. I saved this piece from ruin in Greece. She was in the garden of a decrepit abandoned mansion that was being torn down. I bought the land for an environmental project that’s been in the works for a few years. Still is. Didn’t know what to do with her, so I shipped her here to find a home.”

“Why was the mansion abandoned?”

“The family line that had lived there for centuries died out. The last remaining member didn’t have any children or family to speak of, so when the last living member died, their fortune was donated to charity and the house sat untouched for years.”

I reach out and touch a feather on one of her wings. It’s cool to the touch. “That’s unfortunate,” I murmur enchanted with the angel.

I could feel him smiling against my cheek as we stare at the intricate wings spreading wide, and the angel’s face poised in a secret smile.

“It is. The house once was beautiful.”

Lightness fills me as I hug Chase’s arms closer around me. “I didn’t mean the house. I meant the family dying out. It’s sad to imagine a future with no children running through your dreams. Don’t you think?”

Chase stiffens; his forearms tighten against my body. He doesn’t speak.

“You do want children?” I ask, just now realizing we’d never spent any time talking about the future beyond being together and getting married. Spinning around in his arms, I stare into his face. His eyes are thoughtful, not harsh. That is a good sign.

“I guess I haven’t ever thought about it before, because I’ve been so focused on building my empire. With you, though, I find myself wanting and considering things I’d never wanted or considered before.” His tone is a low grumble, the perfect pitch for seduction as his nimble fingers dig into the soft skin at my hips.

His answer has me smiling, my heart filling with hope for the future. “We have time. But start thinking about it. I want to carry your son or daughter one day.” He gasps at my response and spreads a large hand over my stomach, looking down at his hand dreamily.

“When you say it like that, I want nothing more than to see you bloom with my child. The heir to everything we have.” His smile is wistful when he leans down and takes my lips with his.

Gillian

The rest of the day was spent trying on the dresses Dana, Chase’s assistant, had efficiently placed in my closest. Of course, all of them fit perfectly, which irks me. I want to hate his perky assistant, but, really, she hasn’t done anything to me, and she’s been nothing but professional with Chase. It did bother me that there was a woman his age in his life who knew him better than I did, or at least knew his business side better. He told me he never confided in anyone about his past. Only his cousins and I know what he’d been through before moving in with his Uncle Charles.

As it turns out, we’ll be seeing his uncle and mother tomorrow for a family brunch. His mother insisted on it. Even though my guy typically bristles at someone else attempting to take charge, he most certainly jumps when that woman speaks. I cringe, realizing that if I’m honest with myself, I wouldn’t have a problem spending time there if she liked me or even gave me a chance. Mr. Control Freak thinks I’m reading too much into his stoic Mother. Swears that she has nothing but pleasant things to say about me, but I’m not buying it. A woman knows when another woman doesn’t like her. There’s a look, a sensation that you get when you’re around them. Almost like there’s a tension surrounding the two of us. When Colleen and I are sharing a space, it permeates the air making it as thick as walking through molasses.

“A million dollars for your thoughts?” Chase asks.

“A million? Really? Do you always go overboard?”

He looks at me deadpan. “Yes, when it comes to you, I’d pay just about any price to know your thoughts.”

I laugh and cuddle into his side. He swipes away a russet lock of hair pushing it behind my ear. These moments of quiet, sitting in the back of his limo, heading to our destination, are precious to me. During the day he’s a giant, a business tycoon set on one goal and one goal alone, building and keeping his empire growing. At home, he’s all man, a sexual god, and sometimes gentle lover. But when it’s still, calm, that moment when you can hear your mate breathe, those are the times where I feel most content. Any couple can burn up the sheets, share careers, but how many can justbewith one another. No pretenses, no pressing issues, the complexities of life all gone, leaving you stripped bare. What do you have left? Me, I have Chase, and he’s all I need.

As if he can read my thoughts, he kisses my temple then caresses my cheek with the pad of his thumb. His eyes are dark, midnight in the shadow of the car.

“You’re all I need,” he whispers then brushes his lips over mine. Expressing my exact thoughts back to me has me fearing I said them aloud, but I know I didn’t. We’re connected in a way that defies reality.

His phone chirps, and the connection we have is not lost but definitely put on hold. Our moment of peace is gone, but it will be back. We have a lifetime to experience the quiet, and that thought makes me blissfully happy.

As Chase barks orders into the phone, all big businessman once more, we arrive at the restaurant, and Jack opens the door. Austin is flanking the door by the limo. If I was alone, he’d be helping me out of the car and escorting me in. When Chase is with me, he stands just off to the side, ensuring no suspicious characters get too close. Chase exits, looks around, then grabs my hand, swiftly pulling me into his side. His hand grips my hip protectively as a hoard of paparazzi come barreling towards us, cameras flashing.

“Looks like Dana’s tip to the media that we’d be at Red SF didn’t work. Showtime, my darling.” Chase keeps me close and moves forward. “Austin, not even a finger,” he growls as the paparazzi come from every direction.

“Chase, Gillian, look here!” one screams.

“No, Chase, Chase over here. Show us your bride!” another hollers.

“Yeah, let’s see her rock!” A rotund man shouts, shooting his camera so close to my face I could hear the rapid-fire clicking. Austin shoves the man’s hand from in front of me and holds him back.

The sound is deafening and the flashes blinding. I stumble in my too high heels, but Chase catches my waist, Austin steadying me at the elbow. I’m flanked on both sides by the men now. Jack is in front of Chase, pushing photographers out of the way so we can get through. I can’t see as the flashes continue to flare, so instead I just tuck my head down and stare at the ground, letting Chase and Austin lead the way.

Finally, we make it past the lobby and into the sanctuary of the elevator.

“Jesus that was crazy. It’s never been that bad before.” I take a deep breath as Chase rubs his hand up and down my bare back. I’ve worn another dress open in the back. My man loves to touch my skin. And since I crave his touch, it’s a win-win scenario any way you look at it. Besides, when I put on this form fitting little black dress, I felt hot. It’s a respectable length, goes down almost to the knee in a pencil skirt style and comes up into a boat-neck collar, running along the clavicle, and three-quarter sleeves. The surprise is when I turn around. The entire back drops away into a cowl shape that dips all the way down to the top of my ass. It’s extremely revealing from behind, but shows absolutely nothing but tight curves in the front. I’ve paired it with the black, platform Louis Vuitton shoes Dana ordered and nothing else.

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