Page 104 of Legal

“No, sweetie. Not yet. I changed my mind.”

I was operating on autopilot when I got up and stood in that line with everyone else. I hadn’t thought it all the way through, but that was fine; if I started thinking too much, I might talk myself out of it.

When it was my turn, I got up on stage and faced the audience. I could thank Hazel for my relative lack of nerves, knowing beforehand that the majority of the crowd would be invisible to me.

“I’d like to dedicate this song to love.”

I paused, not sure how much to divulge. It was blatant that I hadn’t planned this out. I didn’t want to overly dramatize the moment, and I didn’t want to make it obvious to anyone but Chase. It was his place of business, after all.

“To everyone in love, but especially to the man I love. He once showed me a beautiful rock underneath the stars. And he taught me that I can always return there if I follow the path of my heart.”

It didn’t matter if I wasn’t making sense to anyone, as long as it made sense to Chase. I quickly scanned the lyrics in my mind, making sure they were age appropriate. I really hadn’t thought this over too well.

I then proceeded to reach inside and pull out everything I had. I sang “Maybe I’m Amazed,” changing everymanword towomanand vice versa. The music played within me, and I followed along, bringing myself back to that night. The strum of his guitar strings. The sense of complete harmony. I got lost in that world, pouring out passion and emotion like I’d never get the chance again.

When I stopped, I had to catch my breath. I’d held nothing back, and it showed. A slight chill went through me despite the hot lights. Strange sensations crawled over as I came down from my high. I needed some fresh air.

I received applause, and that made me feel a bit silly since I was only doing it for one person. I heard murmurs and comments as I made my way back to the table, all of them positive, but I wasn’t looking for an ego boost. What was I looking for? Chase to be waiting right there when I stepped off the stage?

“That was so good, Jillian!” Hazel wrapped her arms around me and hopped up and down.

“Thank you, sweetie.” There was no way she had a clue about anything I just sang. “But I do need to leave now. For real this time.” I did a quick peek around. “Can you say good-bye to your grandmother for me?”

“Okay.” I gave her an extra hug because as much as I’d like to see her again soon, I just wasn’t sure when it’d happen.

I slipped out the gym doors as unobtrusively as possible. I’d already made my scene, no need to make another one. If my song meant anything, Chase knew where to find me.

The parking lot was packed but lit well enough to find my car quickly. I was almost to my door, keys in hand when I felt awhoosh. I smiled and turned around.

“Hazel, what—”

Green eyes stopped me cold then soared me to overheated in two seconds flat. He placed his hands on both sides of my face and held me there, inches from him. My lids dropped, and I might have whimpered just a little. His first touch after a month felt even better than anticipated.

“I’ve missed you so badly, Chase.” Even when I denied it, even when I’d refused to accept it, I was still craving him next to me.

He rested his forehead against mine. “And my life has been hell without you.”

His words sent a river of pleasure through my veins. I never wanted him sad; I just wanted him happy. With me. God, I could taste his lips from here.Please, please kiss me already.“I want you back. I want us back.”Please say yes.

“I will not share you with your ex-husband, Jillian.”

I snapped my eyes open. “I’m not asking you to. I don’t want you to share me with anyone. I don’t want to share anyone with you.”

He inhaled deeply. “He’s in your home. I’m not okay with that.”

How could his mouth be that close without devouring me? Have his body so near without crushing me? Only his hands were in contact with my skin, and they were above the neck. His face wasn’t even touching mine anymore. How the fuck was he not going as crazy as me?

“Chase, he’s not there anymore. I made him leave. I’m so sorry for everything you went through. He needed someplace to stay temporarily. Nothing ever happened, and he’s never coming back. Please believe me.” I didn’t want to spend our time talking about Mike. “He’s not the one I care about. You’re the one. I loveyou, Chase.”

His body pushed mine back, closing the gap between me and my car. I was sandwiched between the cool metal and his hot, hard muscles, and the heat was winning. Fuck, Chase. How was one man able to make me feel so much? I got that kiss I was aching for, and I decided right then and there that I would never come up for air. I would simply drown in it and die a happy woman.

I resisted when he saved me, when he disengaged long enough for me to take a breath. The fact that we were in a school parking lot filtered back, and I knew we couldn’t push it as far as I wanted to go. Overall, his physical actions had been tame. It was my emotions that kicked everything into high gear. His hands and mouth had never felt so erotic.

“So, you love me, huh?”

“Wholeheartedly.” I smiled. “And I’m guessing that excites you?”

He brushed aside a strand of my hair, sending down a pleasant chill. “Oh, you have no idea.”

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