Page 33 of Bachelor CEO

But Chase always kept his emotions guardedlike a fortress. Miranda Craig had cracked his armor; Leroy could tell thatmuch. But Chase was being stoic and chivalrous.

Leroy cursed under his breath and stepped offhis sunporch, back into his suite. He wanted his grandson to be alive. To trulyfeel—and not just some fleeting passion with those women he usually dated. Itwas as if Chase pursued the wrong type just so he didn’t have to emotionallyinvest himself. That was one reason Leroy had decided on this sabbatical. Hewanted Chase to find what was missing in his life. Stripped of work, Chasewould have to face himself.

“Damn,” Leroy said, hitting the top of hisdresser for emphasis. If his wife were around she’d immediately chastise him.Leroy let the memory bring a smile to his lips. It was bittersweet, but hebelieved he’d see her again. It just wasn’t time.

First Leroy had Chase to worry about. At theother end of the house a door slammed, indicating that his grandson had arrivedinside. Leroy sank down in his chair. Too bad he couldn’t have seen into thefuture. If he’d known how Miranda would make Chase’s skinprickle, Leroy would’ve hired her years ago, and would never have needed tosend his grandson away.

If only Chase would fight to stay…

But family loyalty and doing the right thingcame first for Chase. He wouldn’t go against Leroy’s wishes.

A year was but a grain of sand in thehourglass of time, Leroy reminded himself. Still, he couldn’t helpsecond-guessing himself.

THEIR DINNER DESTINATION, Marstall’s LodgeResort, could only be reached by boat. Housed on the twenty-seven acre islandin the center of Lone Pine Lake, Marstall’s Lodge was a former lumber baron’spalatial summer home now open to visitors.

“This place is as old as me,” Leroy announced.He’d braved the resort’s ferry and walked up the ramp to the main building. “Ofcourse, they’ve updated it.”

“But they preserved it well,” Leroy’s brother,Harvey, said. He reached out a hand to assist his wife. “I helped them get iton the national historic registry. I’m their lawyer.”

“You lived here?” Miranda asked. She’d thoughtthey lived in Florida.

“For a while. Outside Bloomington, Minnesota.I met Laverne one summer after Leroy found this place, and that was the end ofChenille for me.”

“We retired to Naples,” Laverne explained. “Myfather was in charge of the construction crew that rehabbed Lone Pine Lodge. Itwas in pretty bad shape when Leroy bought it.”

“We fixed it up right,” Leroy said.

The brick walkway brought them to the maindoors of Marstall’s Lodge, and they climbed the steps tothe stone patio.

Like Lone Pine, the place was made entirely ofwood. The logs had been left exposed, including the beams that spanned thepeaked ceiling. Light fell from wooden chandeliers that didn’t have a hint ofcrystal. Mounted deer heads lined the walls and the furniture was rustic. Themassive stone fireplace reminded Miranda of Lone Pine’s, only bigger.

She looked down at her sundress, and mentallysighed. Most people were in casual shirts and pants.

The bell she’d seen earlier, hanging in itswooden tower, sounded, and soon every table in the massive room had filled withguests. The McDaniels’ round table for five was comfortable, but Miranda satnext to Chase, whose leg kept brushing against hers. And when she passed himthe butter tray their fingers touched, sending a shiver down her spine.

“So, Miranda, tell me a little aboutyourself,” Laverne said. Grateful for the diversion, she told them the editedand condensed version of her history she’d long ago perfected.

“I think it’s wonderful that this is yourdream job,” Laverne stated.

“I agree,” Harvey said. “So, Chase, we hearyou’re taking a vacation. Where are you headed?”

“Think I’ll go west. Colorado, Montana,Wyoming, one of those.”

“All good choices. You can do somefly-fishing,” Harvey said.

“Probably won’t catch anything,” Leroy teased.

“I might,” Chase replied. “Maybe our curse isonly for Minnesota lakes.”

“Nope. I never catch fish anywhere,” Leroysaid.

Everyone laughed, andMiranda marveled at the easy way the family got along. She knew Chase wasbitter, but he never let it show. She awarded him some brownie points for that.Living at her aunt’s had always been tense. Miranda doubted she would handle thefamily interference as well as he had.

“I can’t eat another thing,” she protestedwhen the dessert tray came by.

“Take a walk after dinner to work off thecalories. You have to take her to the gazebo, Chase,” Laverne suggested.

“I doubt Miranda wants a stroll.”

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