Page 46 of Bachelor CEO

He’d told Carla he was coming, yet she rose toher feet when he approached. “Chase!”

He was glad to see her and gave her a quickhug. “Hey. Ready to get to work?”

Carla nodded. “Absolutely. I knitted an entireafghan for your sister’s baby while you were gone. Ms. Craig’s secretary hasn’tneeded a thing. You can only play so much solitaire, and my credit card can’ttake much more online shopping.”

“Well, get ready to put your nose to thegrindstone.” He repeated what he’d told Ethel. “Both of you will work togetherto help me.”

“Of course. Whatever you need.”

“What I need is to see Ms. Craig. Will youcall her and request she meet me here in thirty minutes?” With that Chaseentered his office and flipped on the light. Everything looked exactly as he’dleft it. He reached into his briefcase and returned the family portrait to itsspot. He also found a place for the new digital picture frame he’d bought atthe hospital gift shop. He’d already uploaded the device with his Coloradopictures and shared them with Leroy while he recuperated at the hospital.

He sat behind his desk, taking a moment toabsorb the feeling. For the six weeks before Leroy’s heart attack Chase had hadno agenda. He’d been hanging out in one of the most beautiful parts of theUnited States. While the mountains had been majestic and awe-inspiring,they didn’t evoke the satisfaction coursing through him right now. This waswhat fit him best. This office was where he belonged.

He was home.

MIRANDA FUMED as she got ready to meet withChase.

He was back.

Worse, he was staying. Walter had said he’dtold him to go, but so far Chase hadn’t. Nor did it appear as if he intendedto.

Miranda picked up a mechanical pencil andtapped the eraser end on her desk. The motion did little to release herfrustration, or to reduce the migraine starting behind her left eyebrow.

She should be thrilled to see him. She’dmissed him.

Sort of. In fact, she’d kept herself so busyshe hadn’t had time to worry about “that night” and what it meant. She’dimmersed herself in work.

She’d pretty much been running the company, asLeroy, on his summer schedule, had turned over many of his day-to-dayresponsibilities. She was doing Chase’s job and more.

Now she’d been ordered to Chase’s office likea student called to the principal. She fingered the two-inch binder labeledMcDaniel Emergency Plan. The company had detailed instructions outliningprocedures for everything from earthquakes to tornadoes. McDaniel Manufacturingeven had a terrorist plan.

They’d prepared for everything exceptsuccession; the directions were woefully inadequate for that particularcircumstance. Walter had told Miranda that he was working on the board, feelingthem out. He’d assured her that Chase wouldn’t fire her, which was Miranda’sworst-case scenario.

Her phone rang, making herjump. She took a deep breath to calm herself, and reached for the receiver.“Miranda Craig.”

“I didn’t want you to be late,” her secretarysaid.

“Thanks,” Miranda replied, replacing thehandset. She stood and tried to smooth out the wrinkles in her skirt. Time toface Chase.

CHASE ROSE TO HIS FEET when Miranda enteredthe room. As it had that first day he’d seen her, his throat constricted andhis temperature soared. He stepped out from behind his desk to greet her, as hewould any other colleague.

Except Miranda wasn’t any other colleague.He’d made love to her, multiple times. She’d given him the best night of hislife.

Instead, as he said, “Miranda,” and guided herto the chair in front of his desk, he knew that that one night was all he’dever have with her. No matter how much his body wanted her, his mind had tofocus on what was important, especially when Walter was trying to unseat him.Chase knew he had to choose: Miranda or McDaniel Manufacturing. He wasn’t thetype to delude himself into believing he could have both, not at this criticaljuncture.

While Leroy had promised Chase he would beCEO, the terms of the deal were known only to the two of them, Miranda andWalter. The board would not necessarily honor an agreement they had knownnothing about. They could easily unseat Chase if Walter got his way.

Chase refused to let that happen.

Miranda would probably hate him before theweek was out. He understood her well enough to know she wasn’t going to likehim taking away her power.

He sank into his big leather chair wishingthings could be different between them. “Thank you formeeting with me.”

“I didn’t think I could ignore your summons.However, I’m not a child needing to be called into the principal’s office, andI’d like you to treat me better.”

His eyes narrowed at her description. Shedidn’t plan to hold anything back. She wasn’t happy with his return. Well, he’dalways warned her today would come. It had just arrived earlier than expected.“I’m sorry if you felt that way.”

She leaned forward and her white shirt gaped alittle, showing him a hint of smooth skin where he’d placed hungry kisses. He’dtasted her, and could remember all the little cries she’d made. He knew thatthere could be no more. Yet she sat across from him, a siren that lured. Whyhad he thought making love to Miranda would get her out of his system? This wastorture.

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