Page 30 of Bachelor CEO

Miranda did, and the boat turned. She drovefor about five minutes, until they came close to the Lone Pine docks. “Put itin neutral,” Chase instructed.

He again took the driver’s seat, steering theboat in. He hopped out and tied up, and then reached to help Miranda.

She placed her hand in his, as she’d beendoing all day. But when she set foot on the dock, he pulled her to him, into anembrace. His arms tightened around her.

“Fun?” he asked, raising one hand to brushaway a loose tendril of hair.

“I had the best time,” she replied. Her bodytrembled from the excitement of driving the boat and the giddy pleasure ofbeing pressed up against Chase’s body. “The lake was wonderful. Thank you. Youwere—”

His impatient kiss swallowed the rest of herwords, which probably weren’t important, anyway. She leaned into him and thepassion flaring between them spoke for itself.

This was what she wanted. She desired him asmuch as he desired her. His kiss changed tempo, but he didn’t break contact.Instead, what had been urgent softened. He touched her jaw with his free hand.He seemed intent on exploration, on making sure the moment stretched. Almost asif he was memorizing the taste and texture of her lips.

“So perfect,” he murmured, the hand on herback guiding her still closer.

She had no idea how her legs managed to holdher weight. Her knees felt like jelly. She clung to Chase, molding herself tothe hard planes of his hips and chest. The soft hairs of his legs tickled herthighs. She could sense every inch of him—especially that part revealingexactly what kissing her did to him.

Then his lips left hers, and he eased back andtouched the edge of her mouth with the pad of his thumb, a gentle caress.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

Miranda froze. It was as if someone had dumpeda bucket of ice water over her head. Her shoulders stiffened and she cringed.How many times had she heard those words? “I’m sorry” had been Manuel’s onlyresponse after using her.

Hearing the wordsI’mterribly sorryhadn’t brought her parents back.

I’m sorrywas likebut.The words following were nevergood and never said anything that really helped.I’m sorrywas simply a way to ease a person’s guilt, a way for him to make himself feelbetter.

She’d put herself out there with Chase, takena chance, and here came the rejection. She steeled herself, waiting for therest.

“You rattle me. I want you. I’ve neverpretended otherwise. But I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I didn’t comedown here to seduce you.”

Anger and shame bubbled forth as he tarnishedwhat had been a beautiful moment. Miranda hated herself. She’d given in whenshe shouldn’t have. She had to salvage some of her pride, especially when shehad read more into the night than he’d intended.

“Look. You told me you wanted me. I’m not somedumb virgin without a clue. I’m not trying to trap you. The kiss was nice,until you went and made a mere kiss more than it was.” She stepped away fromhim.

“That’s why I stopped. I got carried away. Idon’t want you to think I’m trying to take advantage of you, especially givenour work situation. I’m returning at the end of my sabbatical, and when I do,I’ll be CEO.”

Her eyebrows knit together. “A year is a longtime. You could change your mind.”

“Won’t happen. My grandfather promised to makeme CEO when I get back. He’s a man of his word.”

Miranda wrapped her armsprotectively around her torso. The night air felt cold, or perhaps the chillcame from once again going too far with the wrong man.

“Okay,” Chase said when the silence stretched.“Tell me how it plays out. Wait, let me guess. We ignore it. Pretend it didn’thappen?”

He smiled then, obviously trying to diffusethe tension with humor.

“I don’t think that works anymore. A bad ideaon my part,” she conceded.

“Whew. Because that wasn’t just anotch-on-my-belt kiss. You have to understand that.”

“Oh.” Learning the kiss had affected Chasesoftened her toward him.

“Look,” he said in a low voice. “There’ssomething between us.”

“I know.” She dropped her gaze. Chase hadturned her emotions into quicksand. “You’re leaving.”

“Yes. But maybe that’s for the best. Perhapswe should get the physical stuff out of our systems. After a year apart, we’llhave moved on and be able to work together without distraction. I’ll come backand you’ll step aside and all will be well.”

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