Page 32 of The Billionaire's Housekeeper

“Despite what I said yesterday, Chase, I was having second thoughts,” she said, tears in her eyes. Instinctively, Chase gave her back the diary then went over to the tissue box and handed her some tissues to dab her eyes. She took some out and wiped her tears but even though the teardrops were wiped away, nothing could wipe away the shame and pain she felt.

Abbi really screwed up this whole thing. She messed up the relationship with the one man she truly loved and the one man who truly loved her. Chase had been everything good to her these past few weeks. How could she have doubted his feelings for her? So he lied about who he was. But so did she, didn’t she?

“What do you mean second thoughts?” he asked.

“I want you, Chase. I always have. I was hurt and pissed off yesterday because I really thought you were the real deal. Just a regular guy with a decent regular job. Not a rich snob or power-hungry egotistical maniac or a creep living a double life, like my father had, or my ex.”

“Yeah, I guess it didn’t help much when you found out I wasn’t a worker, but the boss.”

She grinned. “I just don’t have any luck around rich, egotistical types.”

“You think all guys with money are egotistical maniacs?”

“No. Just some, like Eduardo. Obviously, you’re nothing like him.” She got up from the bed and went to her suitcase to pack. “I’ll be out of your way.”

Chase grinned.

“What’s so funny?” she said.

“You and me.”

“I thought you were angry with me and couldn’t stand the sight of me.”

“I could never be angry with you, Abbi. Not for long, anyway,” he said, running his fingers over his sexy stubble. God, she loved a man with a shadow on his handsome face. Chase looked more stunning than ever, even when he wasn’t in a good mood, which thankfully was changing slightly.

“So what’s funny then?”

“The fact that both of us lied about who we were.”

She had to admit it was funny in an ironic way. Abbi chuckled despite herself. “I guess you have a point, Chad. I mean, Chase. And you know something? Mrs. Martin was right about me giving you another chance. She told me to never let you out of my sight and that you’re a good man.”

“What else did she tell you?” he asked, curiously.

“Well, nothing. I feel sorry for her. She said that she’d met this really nice sailor but her parents never liked him and she kept thinking of all these excuses not to be with him. Well, she never got married and never had kids. How awful. I’m so glad she told me her story to remind me of what matters and to never live to regret anything,” she said.

Chase couldn’t believe his ears. The look on his face said it all.

“What?” Abbi asked.

“Nothing. Between you and me, Mrs. Martin is widowed with four grown kids and fourteen grandkids, all back south.”

Abbi’s jaw fell open. “Is anyone honest around here about who they are?”

Chase tilted his head back and laughed. “Yes, darling. Mrs. Martin is harmless. She’s a great storyteller but she’s also a proverbist. She tells stories or fables that will help people. For instance, Mrs. K never believed in getting her travel vaccines and Mrs. Martin spun a convenient story of horror about what happened to her when she went to a certain country on holiday. Of course, that never really happened.” Chase grinned.

Abbi smiled warmly. “Well, I think it’s sweet that she…um…tells stories to help people. I never would have had the courage to go for what I wanted with you if I hadn’t kept thinking of her wonderfully sad story about missing out on true love and a life of happiness.”

Chase grinned, then his expression turned a bit more serious, remembering what he had to take care of next.

He drew in a deep breath and pulled out his cell phone. “I’m making a call to security. We’ll get Eduardo. I think Brandon’s got some stuff on his shady business practice. We’ll get him on criminal charges and as for Jake Jackson...”

“Why does this Jake Jackson want to destroy your family’s business?”

“It’s a long story. A family feud between the Jacksons and the Belmonts that goes way back, back a few generations to be exact.”

“Really? That sounds crazy, almost unreal.”

“Oh, trust me. It’s real all right. And you’re right. It’s too damn crazy.”

“How did it get started?”

Chase froze for a moment, his expression stiffened. “It’s nothing I want to get into right now. Besides, I…my brothers and I don’t have all the facts, yet. My father has some explaining to do. And I hope he does it soon, so we can know what kind of hold the Jacksons think they’ve got over us…” he said, his tone filled with bitterness and chill.

“Anyway,” he continued. “Right now, Eduardo will be doing some serious time.”

Abbi gasped. As much as she wanted Eduardo stopped, the thought of him being arrested and locked up sent her mind dizzy with emotion. She could just imagine how furious he would be, not to mention vengeful. She’d seen both sides to Eduardo and neither was pretty. Still, he had to be stopped. She knew that deep down, the guy was trouble with a capital T. He was ruthless.

“He’s going to try to set me up…” Abbi said. “I know him.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Chase reassured her. “He doesn’t have a thing on you. We’ve got him cornered. He can’t touch you.”

“Okay,” she sighed quietly.

After Chase finished with his call, he placed the phone in his pocket. “Now, how about we start over again?”

“What?” Abbi asked, confused.

“Abbi, as someone once said, ‘trust is the glue that holds relationships together.’ You’re going to have to learn to trust me.”

“Okay, fine,” she murmured.

“Do you want to start over since we both got off on the wrong foot?” he said, arching his sexy brow. His lips curled into a grin, showing his cute dimpled cheek and oh, she had to fight the urge to kiss him right then and there. “Or should I say, we got off on a false start.”

“You’re right,” she agreed, grinning sheepishly. “We did both get off on a false start. Yes, I’d love to start again.”

“Hi, I’m Chase Belmont, part owner and board member of Belmont Hotel & Resorts Worldwide and you are…?”

She smiled. Abbi could not believe he was giving her—or giving them, a second chance. Her heart felt warm inside. “I’m Abbi Lopez, part-time housekeeper, part-time undercover hotel inspector and aspiring hospitality entrepreneur. Nice to meet you, Mr. Belmont.”

“Please, call me Chase.”

“And you can call me anytime,” Abbi said flirtatiously. She gave him a knowing grin then wrapped her arms around his neck as he lowered his head to hers. He pressed his soft lips to hers and caressed them with sweet kisses, stirring a delicious reaction inside her, dizzying currents raced through her veins.

“Hey, listen up. I want to take you somewhere.”

“Right now? Where?”

“You’ll see,” he said, grinning. His cute dimpled cheek appeared on his handsome face.

“Okay,” she said, feeling giddy with excitement, once again.

Before long, he’d taken her over to the spa cabin. “I just thought you could do with a little massage since you’re all tense and everything,” he said. “Remember, I promised to give you a good back rub.”

“Oh, Chad. I mean, Chase. You really shouldn’t…” she playfully flirted with him, wanting so badly for him to rub his soft hands all over her body and more.

“I had this all set up before…well, before our little confrontation about who we were, of course,” he said, and he pressed his lips to her neck.

“Hmm, I see.”

The massage room was relaxing like an oasis with a flowing waterfall on the wall and tranquil music playing in the background through the sound speakers. Leafy green plants were placed in the corners of the room.

Chase first locked the door after putting the private notice on the other side of the doorknob.

When Abbi stripped off, Chase then applied oil and proceeded to slowly smooth his strong hands over her shoulders then her back, sliding gently over her oily skin. Nothing turned her on more.

“Oh, God, Chase. I don’t think I can last like this…” she said, her voice hoarse. She was dying to be with him again.

“Me, neither,” he said, sounding just as aroused as she was.

Chase then repositioned her and placed a large towel on the massage table. "This room is all about rest and relaxation. By the time I’m done with you, you won’t even remember which universe you’re in,” he murmured passionately. “I want all of you, Abbi. I'll never let you go again. I want us to start something. Being with you has been the best thing that’s happened to me during these past couple of months. You're the one I've been waiting for my whole life. I'm just sorry it took me so long to realize that."

“I feel the same way about you, too, Chad…Chase. I was just so scared to try and love again, but it's so true, you should never let love pass you by.”

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