Page 29 of Bachelor CEO

“This is the deepest part of the lake,fifty-three feet. And unlike a river, there’s no current. We’ll just see wherethe wind takes us. We’re far enough out that we’re not in any danger, and otherboats can see our lights.”

Chase turned to her, shifting his legs intothe center aisle. “I love being out on the water at night. I can’t really eventell you why. I just do.”

Silence descended as he let the magicalambience carry him away. Miranda’s eyes had grown accustomed to the moonlightand she simply sat and listened.

Waves lapped against the fiberglass hull witha gentlethuwump.She could hear whip-poor-willscalling. Somewhere an owl hooted, the sound carrying across the water. The boatrocked gently, a soothing motion. Tension drained from her.

“Wow,” she said. “I see what you mean.”

“I’m glad. Boating’s got to call you. Whilethey like it, no one else in my family loves being on the water as much as I do. My grandfather won’t get in a boat at all if hecan help it.”

“Really?” Miranda’s legs tangled with his inthe space between the seats as she faced him.

“He loves to look at the water, but he’spetrified of being out on it. He’ll have to get on the ferry tomorrow to go todinner. That shows how important you are to him.”

“Was he always like that?”

“No. He was in a sailboat accident when he wasin his twenties. No one got hurt, but he was finished with boating.”

“Yet your family has all these boats.”

Chase took her hand and ran his thumb over hersensitive palm. “He made sure we weren’t afraid. Although none of us like smallplanes.”

“Because of your parents.”

“My dad loved to fly. But he made a basicbeginner’s mistake, and it cost him and my mother their lives. They nevershould have been out in that weather, even though he was certified forinstruments and—”

“Shh.” Miranda freed her right hand andreached forward to put a finger on his lips. “It’s too beautiful out here forregrets or sorrow.”

“It is,” he whispered, his breath hot on herfingertip. She started to pull away, but Chase wrapped his hand around herwrist. “I like the way that felt.” He replaced her finger. “See?”

His lips were soft, and she shivered as a waveof desire washed over her.

A bass boat cruised by, about thirty feetaway, and the runabout rocked as the wake reached it. Chase used theopportunity to kiss Miranda’s fingertips. He slid his mouth up to her knuckle,using his tongue to encircle the digit in a gentle caress.

His gaze locked on to hers,and like a moth drawn to a flame, she couldn’t pull away. Heat flared in everypore.

“I want to kiss you,” he said.

She wanted nothing more. What could one kisshurt?

Everything she’d worked for.

But his sensual suckling of her fingers hadher quivering, and when Chase’s lips moved to hers she couldn’t resistindulging in the sweetness of his kiss.

She lost track of time as the kiss swept heraway. Then coolness descended as Chase moved to start the engine, and Mirandarealized they’d drifted close to one of the tiny, uninhabited islands, a pieceof ground probably not even a sixth of an acre in size. Chase eased the boataway from the danger of running aground.

“Want to drive?”

“Is it safe?” she asked, ignoring theimmediateYes!inside her head.

“So long as you don’t turn the wheel toosharply, it’s like driving a car. Just head toward those lights. That’s ourdock.”

They changed seats and Miranda gripped thesteering wheel. “It’s not going to jump out of your hands,” Chase chided. Sheforced her fingers to loosen. He leaned over her shoulder. “That’s thethrottle. Press forward to go faster. Pull back to ease up.”

The top of the throttle was about the size ofa bar of soap and fit perfectly under her palm. She eased the lever forward andthe boat picked up speed. As they cut through the water she couldn’t helpherself. “I’m driving!” she shouted.

He laughed. “You are. Turn left. Gently. Nottoo fast.”

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