Page 32 of Bachelor CEO

“I’m going quietly,” Chase said.

Leroy’s shoulders sagged and his blue eyesdidn’t sparkle like they usually did. “I know. To be honest, I wish youweren’t. It’s rather unlike you. I expected you to kick and scream the wholeway.”

Chase frowned as Leroy walked into the kitchenand opened the refrigerator. His grandfather removed a plastic container. “I’lltalk to you later tonight. I’m going to eat in my room. Be sure to show Mirandathe sights.”

“I will,” Chase promised. He couldn’t helpworrying about his grandfather, who’d been acting odd these past few days.Chase tried to brush the thoughts aside. They’d talk later, as Leroy had said.Miranda was coming downstairs and didn’t need to sense any of this stress.Chase met her at the bottom. “Ready?”

“As much as I’ll ever be.”

BIRCHWOOD WAS TINY—only five blocks wide.But it had a fantastic sandwich shop and Miranda enjoyed her lunch despite thetension between her and Chase.

She tried not to think about their discussionlast night, but it was like an elephant in the room—impossible to ignore.

“Still want to go out on the water with me orhave we been together enough?” Chase asked on the drive back.

It was boating or reading, and she’d made apoor choice in the book she’d brought. It was supposed to bea thriller, but it always put her to sleep. “I like boating. Do you mind?”

“No. I wouldn’t have suggested it otherwise,”Chase said. “Do you want to drive?”

Miranda laughed, and some of the tensionbetween them dissipated. “Absolutely.”

It turned into an idyllic day. Chase didn’ttry to kiss her, but focused on teaching her all about boat operation. Theytoured the entire lake, going behind the big island, where the shoreline’sshape resembled the lower half of Africa. Down at the tip, a channel narrowerthan the one leading to Balsam Lake led to the last lake in the chain, RedCedar.

“Wow,” she said. Not ready to negotiate theshallows there, she let Chase maneuver the runabout through, and suddenly theypopped out from under the trees into a rectangular lake not even a thousandfeet across at its widest point.

“The entire lake has only four houses on it,”Chase said. “This is another good place to water-ski because it has very littleboat traffic. And the trees block the wind, making the water as smooth asglass.”

Chase returned through the passage, and onceback on Lone Pine, opened the throttle, letting the boat cruise at a higherspeed. The ride was exhilarating, yet Miranda’s excitement slipped away.Tonight was her last night with Chase.

She’d never felt so conflicted. Should she sayyes to what could quite possibly be the best sex of her life, or say no andmaintain the status quo? Either way, two things didn’t change. A year was along time, and at the end of it, Chase planned to return, stopping her ascentto the top spot.

The last thought rankled so much that sheclimbed out of the boat without waiting for his help. Shetook the rope he tossed her, and looped it over a post, mooring the bow.“Thanks for taking me.”

“You’re welcome.” Chase busied himselfsecuring the stern and putting out the bumpers.

This man, who made her knees weak with a kiss,was leaving for good. Overwhelmed by her feelings, Miranda decided to make aquick escape. “I’ll catch you at dinner. I’m going to go clean up and check mye-mails.”

“Sure,” Chase said.

And with that, she fled.

AS MUCH AS HE WANTED TO, Chase refused toturn around and eye her sexy backside. He didn’t want to watch her walk awayfrom him.

Hell, they were two consenting adults. Maybehe should have made love to her last night instead of being chivalrous. Hewould have gotten her out of his system. She hadn’t been protesting. A year wasplenty of time to put any residual awkwardness behind them.

But he wanted her to make the decision. He hadto respect her need for space.

He stepped onto the dock. Here he was inparadise and he’d never been so frustrated.

He had some extra tennis shoes in theboathouse. A long run on the treadmill would do him a world of good. He hadtime to get in at least an hour’s workout. Perfect.

LEROY WATCHED AS CHASE came out of theboathouse. Leroy had woken up from his nap just before their return. He pressedhis fingers to his temples. No use.

He was as stressed as his grandson.

It had been easy to seethe tension in Chase’s shoulders, and his disappearance into the boathousemeant he was running. That’s what Chase did to cope. He exercised. He pushedhis body to the point of exhaustion. When his parents had died, Chase had alsoturned his attention to work. He’d focused on his siblings. He’d wanted to knowwhat needed to be done, and then he did it.

Leroy had wanted Chase to yell or scream orrage, or even cry. But he never had, at least not in front of anyone. Hissiblings had been able to let the tears out. Cecilia had cried herself to sleepfor three months.

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