Page 67 of Bachelor CEO

There were no guarantees. “Times change. Whathappens when it doesn’t work out? When you get tired of me? When the challengewears off?”

“Not going to happen.”

She longed to believe him. “Chase…”

His brow creased and his lips thinned withdetermination. “I want forever. With you. That’s where this is heading. I’mdone dating. I’ve found what I was looking for.”

“I need to think. I—”

He took her hand and pressed it to his heart.“We both analyze too much. It gets us in trouble. You don’t need to think. Foronce, just feel.”

The thump of his heartbeat reverberatedbeneath her palm.

“I love you,” he said. “Tell me what it’sgoing to take.”

“Would you make me CEO?”

He laid his other hand atop hers. “Is thatwhat you really want?”

No, it wasn’t. She’d thrown it out there tosee how he’d react. “I want us not to fight. But I have towork. And I can’t have you undercutting me. No more power plays.”

“Equal footing.”

She nodded and tears began to flow. “Yes. Thatwould be nice.”

“Shh.” He drew her into his arms then. “Don’tcry. It’s all going to be good between us from here on out.”

“I’m so scared.”

He pulled her tighter. “I’ll let you in on asecret—so am I. But do you love me like my grandfather says you do?”

“Yes.” The word seemed to carry on the stillair. “And it’s hurt so badly. That’s why I quit. I couldn’t stay. Not lovingyou like this. You needed to be CEO more than I did.”

“I need you more than I need to be CEO.”

“It has to be a McDaniel on the letterhead,”she said.

“It will be. But our life is more important.”He lowered his head for a light kiss. “I’m going to make all your dreams cometrue. I love you. It’ll be amazing what we can do, so long as we’re together.”

And in the stillness of the night, Mirandabelieved.

Epilogue

“You know, I’m getting tired of theseimpromptu board meetings,” Walter Peters grumbled as he took his seat onTuesday afternoon. He turned to Leroy. “Do you know what this is about?”

“Nope. Chase hasn’t said a thing. Like I toldyou, he took off early Saturday morning and I haven’t seen him since.”

“I haven’t heard from Miranda since thisweekend, either. Do you think they ran into each other and fought?”

“I have no idea,” Leroy replied. He and Walterhad been over this several times already.

Kathleen Kennedy came into the room and glaredat the two men. “If you have any more tricks up your sleeves, I’m going toresign,” she warned.

“I’m at a loss, too,” Leroy announced. He tookinventory. A few people hadn’t been able to drop everything and show, but theboard had a majority present, which was all Chase needed. The agenda had beenpretty vague, which wasn’t acceptable at all. If he were running things, it’dbe different.

His grandson finally entered the room, Carlaon his heels. They left the door open.

“Thanks for coming,” Chase said. “I have someimportant items we need to vote on. I’ve filled our corporate vacancies.”

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