Page 99 of Worth the Chase

Thomas pulled the set of apartment keys from his front pocket and dropped them in my hand.

“You going to handle the lease and stuff?” Thomas asked, reminding me that I needed to do that.

“Yeah. I’ll deal with that before I head into work. Can you let Dad know I’m wrapping up a few things and then I’ll be in? I texted him earlier, but that was hours ago.”

Thomas nodded. “You’re allowed to take the day off. Dad will understand.”

I knew that.

“I know, but I’m not sure I need to.”

What I needed to do was see what Bells’s plans were for the rest of the day. If she was going into work or not, if she wanted to be alone or not. My day depended on what she needed.

“I was told the girls talked about taking a self-defense class,” Thomas said. “But Bella said she wanted to talk to someone first.”

“Like a therapist, you mean?” I asked, wanting clarification. This was all news to me.

“Yeah. Just so you’re aware.”

“Thanks. I think either or both of those are good ideas. Whatever she wants, I’ll support,” I said, and my brother knew that I was a goner for my girl.

Patrick blew out a breath as he looked at his cell phone. “Keep us in the loop with everything. Addi’s at the restaurant, yelling at the camera installer.”

“She is not,” I said with a laugh because Addi rarely yelled at anyone.

“Apparently, she is. I’m going to stop by there before she makes him cry or something,” he said before he started sprinting up the stairs. “Come on, Jasper!” he yelled, and the dog rolled onto his feet and ran after his owner.

“Okay.” Thomas shrugged. “I should get to the resort. We’ll talk later.”

And just like that, the house was empty once more, but it had all of Bells’s things in it. And somehow, it felt more like home than it had twenty-four hours earlier.

I hung out downstairs for a little while and unpacked a few boxes, just trying to give Bells some space of her own. I was torn between gluing myself to her side or letting her come to me. When I heard her talking to someone on the phone, I continued the unpacking. There wasn’t that much stuff, but it looked damn good. Pulling up the app on my phone, I played some music just to have some noise. Usually, I’d have the TV on in the background to drown out the silence.

“Matthew?” Her voice was soft, but I still heard it over the sound of anything else.

“Downstairs,” I shouted.

That was when I noticed her standing there, looking like a dream. Her long, dark hair was almost to her waist, and she looked so damn cute, wearing my old hockey jersey and quite possibly nothing else. My dick instantly sprang to life. He was an animal. I shifted my legs, trying to get him to calm down, but it was no use. If Bells was in the room, he was aware of her presence.

“What are you wearing?” I asked, my voice gravelly.

She did a little spin before stopping. “Found it in the closet. Do you like it?”

“Are you kidding me? You, wearing my jersey, are a sight to behold, Bella Sanchez.” I reached for her shoulders and spun her so that her back was facing me. I brushed her hair over her shoulder and took a look. “You have no idea how sexy that is.”

She glanced over her shoulder at me innocently. “What?”

“My last name on your back.”

“Oh.” She sounded surprised. “You like that?”

“No. I fuckinglovethat.”

I’d never had this kind of reaction to seeing a woman in my jersey before. The fans were one thing. My ego absolutely adored that, but I’d never been filled with pride and the desire to show this woman off to every person on the planet—only with her on the Jumbotron as I made sure they all knew that she belonged to me. Then again, I’d never been in love until now.

Bells turned around so she was facing me, and she tossed her dark hair off her shoulder. “I want to ask you something, but I feel kind of weird about it.”

“Ask away.” I reached for her hands and held them as we faced one another.

---