Page 42 of Body

The garden spans the entire rooftop. It looks like a huge courtyard with a greenhouse, trickling fountains, shrubbery, pretty much everything you would find in an upscale mansion’s backyard but on top of a roof. There’s even a lap pool and a hot tub. I let out a wolf whistle as Chase grips my shoulders.

“You like?”

“I like,” I say, barely able to speak.

I’ve never seen anything quite like it. It’s out of this world. We’ve escaped the city and landed in the book,A Secret Garden. I feel worlds away from concrete and the city, though if you look across the horizon you can see the entire cityscape in all its glory. There’s the magnificent view of the ocean and the bay. It spans the horizon in a perfect line as if the world just clips off and ends where the line stops. The view is incredible.

Chase walks around the garden, holding me close, pointing out different plants, telling me names and whether they bloom or are seasonal plants. His knowledge is telling and I ask about the greenhouse. He explains that he believes all buildings need greenhouses and that Americans can lessen our carbon footprint by placing them atop every city building across the nation.

Being green is something we have in common. I make a mental note to bring it up at dinner tonight. Kat could go on and on about it. Between her and Bree, I’ve been completely brainwashed. I buy organic regardless of the price because I’m convinced that if I bought otherwise they would know and I’d suffer the consequences. I choose to pick my battles with the lovelies. Then again, I make them feel guilty about not giving to charity every chance I get so it evens out.

Bentley serves us a scrumptious brunch, including feta stuffed egg white omelets with plenty of spinach, tomatoes and honey-glazed bacon. He couples it with homemade hash browns that are cut into perfect squares. How he was able to cut a potato into a square I don’t know, but it is delicious. The cook added several different fruits and pastries and Chase opens up a bottle of champagne. We sip mimosas and gaze out over the city. It’s been lovely getting to know Carson and Chase in a casual setting. It’s one of the best mornings I’ve had in a long time.

Carson takes his leave shortly after breakfast and Chase and I spend the rest of the day getting to know each other better.

I’m not surprised to learn he’s involved in a dozen charities. He serves on several of their boards. The others he mostly gives monetary donations to. He also tells me about the different types of businesses he owns, from hotels, to tech related companies, to fashion stores, to night clubs and restaurants. His interests are fascinating and broad. He really does have his hand in a bit of everything.

“You know what’s funny?” I lean my head against his chest as we sit on a large garden lounge chair not quite designed to fit two but we make it work.

“Hmm?” He massages my shoulders and I lean my head back to give him further access to my aching muscles.

“You’re Phillip’s boss, too!” I laugh.

He stops massaging and hums. “Really?”

“Yup, he works for the architectural firm on the 20thfloor.” I giggle.

“Small world.” He continues the massage, digging into the overworked muscles. “So tell me more about you and Phillip.”

I know Chase is worried about my relationship with Phil, possibly even jealous. “We met in high school. I introduced him to his wife Angela. Stood up in their wedding as maid of honor. Oh, that feels good,” I groan as he finds a knot in my neck and works his magic fingers through it.

I sigh when the muscle releases and he smoothes his hands along the base of my neck. “Then they had Anabelle, and I was honored to be asked to be her Godmother.”

“You love that little girl a great deal.” It’s a statement not a question but I answer anyway.

“So much. And since her mom passed, I feel it’s more important than ever that I be there for her.”

He nods his head and snuggles into the crook of my neck from behind. “So you and Phillip were never in a relationship?”

I sigh. I really didn’t want to go into this. “I wouldn’t exactly say that,” I admit.

He stops massaging and his body tenses. The air around us is suddenly thick. Chase pulls me to lean fully against his chest. His arms cross around my front in a hugging manner.

“Tell me,” he whispers against my ear, sending chills of excitement dancing along my nerve endings.

“Phillip and I weren’t in a relationship in the conventional sense. We never dated. He never considered me his girlfriend. I never considered him my boyfriend. Nothing like that.” I exhale, feeling a bit annoyed that we’re even having this conversation.

“What is it, Baby? Just tell me what it was?” His hands slide up and down my biceps. I stiffen, destroying the relaxed place we were moments before. I’m not embarrassed by my relationship with Phillip but I know instinctively how Chase is going to take this bit of information.

I decide to spit it out and go for broke. “Phillip was my first, Chase.” I turn my head but he doesn’t look at me. “It was a long time ago. We were teenagers. I didn’t want my first time to be with someone who would take advantage of me.”

I grip his chin and force him to look at me. I need to see his eyes. He doesn’t say what he’s thinking but his eyes tell me what I need to know. They are cloudy and deep blue. Not good.

“He was your first?” he asks through clenched teeth.

I nod as his eyes calculate my features, jumping from one plane to the next. A deep emotion crosses his features and then with finality he says, “I’ll be your last.”

The look in his eyes is steadfast and haunting. This is the Chase I don’t want to cross. The one who says what he means and means what he says, almost frightening in his intensity.

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