Page 66 of Bachelor CEO

“What will it take to make you believe me?” heasked. “I made the biggest mistake of my life. I don’t want to make anotherone.”

Her eyes widened. “You keep saying that.”

“Well, it’s true. I chose McDaniel. I chose myname on the company letterhead. I couldn’t see any way to be CEO and still haveyou. So I lost you. It hurts to admit how stupid I was.”

“You made the right decision. I would havedone the same thing.”

The night seemed to envelop them. Even thesounds of nature faded as she reassured him. She was so wonderful.

“No, you wouldn’t. In fact, you didn’t. Youresigned instead. You sacrificed yourself and your dreams to make me happy,like my grandfather did for my grandmother when he failed that math test. Whywould you do that? I can only think of one reason. It’s the same reason Isacrifice for my family. Love.”

“Chase…” Again she tugged. But he refused tolet go, afraid she would disappear.

He shook his head. “Please let me finish. WhenI first saw you, I told myself you were someone worth knowing. It’s like somethinginside of me knew you were the one I’d been waiting for. Then all thiscraziness with work started.”

“We can’t work together. We proved that.”

“Yes, wecanworktogether. We can do whatever we want if we put our minds to it. You and Ibelong together. You and I deserve a chance to see what we can become. My jobhas never made me as happy as I was with you, here, that one weekend.”

Her mouth opened in protest. Oh, how he lovedher lips. He loved everything about her. No sense in denying it. He’d found hissoul mate.

“Lust. It blinds you,” Miranda scoffed.

“Don’t downplay what we had. It was special,unlike anything else. I would trade my company to feel thatway again.”

“What way?”

“Whole. Complete. Content. In love.”

MIRANDA TUGGED AGAINST his grip, but hestill refused to let go. Didn’t he see this would never work? She’d spent thelast month trying to forget him and the fiasco with McDaniel. Now here he was,saying things that she’d never get over.

“Chase, you don’t love me.”

His eyes held hers. “And you know what’s in myheart?”

Miranda faltered. Actually, she had no idea.

“Do you know what I gave up to be CEO?” Chaseasked.

She was so tired, and emotionally wrought.Every day since he’d left for Colorado had been hell. “What?”

“I gave up true love.”

He’d caught her off guard, but this time shegot her hands free. “Please. Don’t.”

He reached for her again and she sidestepped.“Don’t what? Tell you the truth? Tell you that I’ve fallen in love with you?Because that’s the only explanation for the pain I’ve been in since you left.”

“You don’t know what love is,” she said, stillunable to believe.

His posture was strong and certain. “Oh, buttrust me, I do. I’ve seen perfect examples in my siblings, my parents and mygrandparents. The only time I’ve ever been overpowered by emotions I neverexperienced before has been with you. I overreact. I say things I don’t mean. Iwant so much to knock down the walls you hide behind. I want you, but it’s somuch more than sex. I want a future, and for the first timein my life, I can’t find a way to make that happen. Tell me, what do I have todo so we can be together?”

Tears came to her eyes. “I don’t know.”

He lifted her chin with his fingers and peeredinto her eyes. “It’s about forgiveness. I love you. Please give me anotherchance.”

She wanted to, but she’d been hurt before.Could she trust him? Could she bring down her walls and expose herself to painyet again? “Chase, you can’t always get what you want.”

“I used to believe that. Not anymore. I loveyou. Please don’t walk away from me again. Stay.”

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