Page 24 of Bachelor CEO

Leroy had woken up feeling all of his eightyyears.

A month ago he’d been so certain this had beenthe right decision. Not that he’d come to doubt Miranda’s competency. EvenChase had grudgingly admitted yesterday that she was perfect for the job.

But Leroy knew that nothing was ever simplewith Chase. His grandson was one of those deep men. Oh sure, he seemed like thefrivolous, self-centered type on the surface, but Leroy knew better. Chasemight have run through women like water, but he had a steadfast soul and a pureheart. He was one of those men’s men, the kind you wanted fighting by yourside. He was intensely loyal, almost to a fault. He just hadn’t found what hewas looking for yet.

Leroy wanted so much for Chase to be happy.His grandson had been simply existing, going through the motions, for severalyears. He needed this time off to find himself.p>

But in the back of his mind, Leroy couldn’thelp worrying that he might have made a terrible mistake and hurt Chase in away he’d never intended.

CHASE AND MIRANDA reached Lone Pine Lakearound 5:00 p.m. Amazingly, the drive hadn’t been that bad. Although she’d beenphysically aware of him the entire time, for the most part Chase had left heralone to read her book. Conversation had been minimal, and mostly regarding thescenery.

When they stepped out of the SUV, she noticedthat Chase’s tension melted away. His eyebrows rose when he saw her staring.“What?”

“Nothing. You just seem more relaxed, and wehaven’t even gotten the luggage out yet.”

“This is where I hang my hat,” he said,popping the tailgate.

“Meaning?”

“This is where I decompress. It’s that way formy whole family. Maybe it’s the air or the serenity of the water. Like you saidlast weekend, you could sit and look out at the lake for hours. You’ll probablyget the chance.”

“I’m too keyed up to relax,” she admitted.She’d kissed him here. Her body remembered, even if her brain declared the bestkiss of her life off-limits.

“You will. You’ll find this place changes yourperspective. You’ll have lots of opportunities to hang out in the great room,since you’re staying above the kitchen.”

“I’m not in the cottage?”

He shook his head. “No. Both are occupied. Alot of guests come and go over the summer. My grandmother’s sister is stayingin one for a season. She prefers to keep her own company,though, so you probably won’t meet her. My uncle Harvey and his wife are alsohere for three weeks. Harvey’s my grandfather’s younger brother. He’s alawyer.”

“Oh, I remember seeing him at the party. Weweren’t introduced.” She and Chase toted their luggage into the lodge and Chaseset his on the kitchen floor.

“Let me take those from here.” He reached forher carry-on bag and opened the door that led upstairs. Miranda followed him.

She’d seen the room on her first visit. Setinto the rafters, the space was like an A-frame, with four dormer windows onone side and a fifth on the opposite wall, filling the room with light.

“Your bathroom is in here,” Chase said,showing her a room immediately off the landing that was only large enough for ashower, toilet and pedestal sink. “Feel free to use the armoire for yourclothes.”

“Okay,” she replied, taking her suitcase fromhim and rolling it to a stop by the double bed. Unlike the front bedrooms,which looked out over the lake, her room had a view of the meadow where Leroy’sparty had been held. The sun was still high in the sky, and she would have afantastic view of the sunset.

“Take some time to freshen up and then meet mein, say, thirty minutes?”

“That sounds fine.”

Chase’s footsteps thudded as he wentdownstairs, and Miranda sank into the rocking chair. It was a lovely room. Shelooked at the small table next to her, where on a shelf below, three ancientbooks waited for someone to pick them up.

She obliged, and opened the first. Inside wasthe inscription “To my darling Heidi on our fifth anniversary.”Leroy had scrawled his signature after the wordLove.Miranda closed the book and pressed it to her chest, hands folded protectivelyover the cover. She knew enough McDaniel history to understand how much Leroyhad adored his wife.

What would it be like to be loved like that?To be wanted only for yourself?

The only times she’d experienced true passionin a kiss had been in the boathouse and on the dock with Chase. Probably not agood idea to go too near the water this visit!

She replaced the book, changed into casualclothes and made her way to the great room.

“That’s a bad habit of yours,” she said as shewalked into the room.

Chase swiveled around. He was sitting in oneof the mission chairs that faced the lake. “What is?”

“Always being early.”

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