Page 65 of Bachelor CEO

He captured her hand. Her skin was warm andsoft. “Everyone in town constantly asks about you. They miss you, too.”

She tried to pull away, but he held ontighter. “They’ll get over it,” she stated.

“Iwon’t.” He wishedshe’d believe him.

Her lower lip quivered and he hated that he’dhurt her. “Chase, don’t lie. You were over me before your grandfather’s heartattack. I saw the picture of you and that girl in Colorado.”

Ah.That explained so much. Another missing puzzle piece dropped intoplace. “Is that why you’re so mad?”

“I was never mad,” she retorted.

He couldn’t help himself; he smiled. “Liar.You were jealous.”

“You need to stop thinking so highly ofyourself. We had sex. It was nothing.”

“If you really believe that then let’s havesex again. Right here. Right now.”

She sputtered and stared at him as if he werecrazy. “That’s ridiculous.”

He pulled her into a tight embrace. He’d somissed holding her. “Why? We had really great sex. The best of my life. Ihaven’t even kissed anyone since I last kissed you. As for the girl, we werehiking buddies on that trip, nothing more. So indulge me. Let’s give ourselvesanother night to remember. After all, you’re saying it’s meaningless. So morepleasure for pleasure’s sake shouldn’t matter.”

She shoved against him and he let her go. He’dpushed her far enough. He knew what she’d do, but still thanked the heavenswhen she reacted as he’d hoped.

“No. I’m not a piece of meat to be chewed upand spit out.”

“You weren’t then. Why would you be now?”Chase ran a finger down her arm again. Now they were getting somewhere. Thefirst wall had cracked. She’d revealed her jealousy, meaning she cared. He’dlearned that he’d hurt her—she thought he’d used her and cast her aside.

Even though she’d said she was okay with onenight of sex, she really wasn’t. Their lovemaking had been much more, and shewas finally close to admitting that.

A flicker of hope flared to life and hepressed further. To have a chance, they were going to have to pull down all the walls between them. Through the physical they couldget to the emotional. To the heart of the matter. To the truth—that theybelonged together. “See how your body reacts to my touch?”

“Stop it. I’m not going to have sex with youagain.”

“Because our connection scares you.”

She scowled. “I’m not scared.”

“Oh yes, you are. Because the only time we’veever been honest with each other has been on this lake. I made a horriblemistake in letting you go. I’m not doing that ever again.”

“I can’t just have casual sex with you. Ishouldn’t have that night.”

“Who said the sex would be casual? I didn’t.That’s not what I want, either. Don’t you realize the reason we fight isbecause you and I have feelings for each other?”

“I can’t do lust.”

She was still missing the point. “I’d say whatwe feel for each other goes a lot deeper than that—much deeper, and far moreserious.”

Chase reached out and took her hands. Shedidn’t pull away. “My grandfather said something that surprised me.”

“What was that?” she whispered.

“He told me that you and I look at each otherthe way he and my grandma used to.” Chase moved his thumb in a circle on herpalm. “You never met Heidi, but to this day I can picture the love she sharedwith him.”

“Oh, Chase, that’s so not us.”

“It could be,” he said stubbornly.

She tried to free her hands but he held themtight.

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