Page 57 of Bachelor CEO

Leroy grinned. “Thanks for confirming mysuspicions.”

Chase groaned. So much for being discreet.Leroy had gotten him with the oldest trick in the book.

But instead of gloating, his grandfathersighed. He didn’t revel in discovering the truth. “I’m an old man. We get up alot in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. While I didn’t seeanything, it’s pretty easy to figure out something’s going on when the boat’smissing and the boathouse light is on until the wee hours of the morning. Iguessed you weren’t down there by yourself.”

“I’m very attracted to her. We got involved.”

“It’s good for you to admit it. Everyone elsecan see how you look at her. Why do you think I kept trying to push you twotogether?”

“But it can’t work. We’re both after the samejob. It’s not something we can share. One of us has to go.And I don’t want it to be me.”

Leroy tapped his fingers on the chair. “Isee.”

Chase stood. “I just wanted you to know.”

“So do you love her?”

Chase froze. “When I first met her I had thiswild idea that she could be the one. But I’ve learned things aren’t always whatthey seem.”

“They often aren’t. But sometimes they are.”

Chase shook his head. “Not in this case. I’llabide by whatever decision the board makes on Monday. I don’t want to cause youany more stress or give you any more reasons to be disappointed in me.”

“I’m not disappointed. I never have been. Ilove you. Always will.”

Chase nodded, his shoulders relaxing a little.“I appreciate that. I’ll come by sometime tomorrow and check on you.”

“I’m not made of glass. And Chris is coming tostay for the weekend. I got a new crossword book.”

Crossword puzzles were Leroy and Chris’sthing. “Okay then. I’ll call you.”

Chase was almost to the foyer before hisgrandfather called his name. Chase paused. Leroy looked so small sitting in hischair, and Chase got a sense of just how frail and precious life really was.

“Your father would be very proud of you,Chase. Remember, this isn’t about doing the right thing for the family. It’sabout doing what makes you happy. I had it all. So can you.”

“Somehow I doubt that.”

“I don’t. Now, go home and drive safe. Oh, andChase? Admit the truth to yourself.”

Chase frowned. “About what?”

“That you love her.”

He laughed shortly. “It wouldn’t matter evenif I did.”

Leroy shook his head and gave a small, sadsmile. “Get your priorities straight. That’s what this year was supposed to beabout. Love is all that matters.”

Yeah, right,Chase thought as he drove home. Love might be all that mattered, butlove also broke your heart. He’d loved his parents and they’d died. Lovebrought pain.

As for Miranda, too many harsh things had beensaid between them to make things okay. You could glue together a broken glass,but it wouldn’t hold water.

Even if he loved her—which he didn’t, he addedquickly—all they’d had was great sex. He liked the way her short black hair layagainst her cheek after lovemaking. He adored the way her lips were puffy aftera long, passionate kiss. He remembered how she felt in his arms and wanted herthere again. He’d probably never stop wanting her.

But you couldn’t build a relationship on that.Hell, they couldn’t even work together without arguing. Any relationshipbetween them was doomed. Come Monday, one of them would stand and one of themwould fall.

He prayed he’d be the one left standing, andas he did, he suddenly understood where his grandfather had been leading him.

Buildings and letterhead didn’t keep you warmat night. Miranda Craig was probably the love of his life. Chase might win andbe named CEO, but he was going to lose something priceless.

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