Chapter 14
Chase
The front door at the safe house is toast, so we decide to relocate to Harper’s rental for the night now that the danger’s passed.
She’s quiet on the way over, avoiding my eyes. I can tell she’s feeling emotional. Maybe I am too, because all across town, the only thing I can think about is how I’m losing her.
I keep flashing back to the moment Tony pulled his weapon. I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to protect her—that my feelings had interfered with my ability to keep her safe.
But when I saw her face—how frightened she was—I snapped into combat mode.
My mental focus was sharper than ever, my body running on pure muscle memory.
Every movement precise and controlled until the police had him in custody and I finally felt that wave of relief crashing through me like a freight train.
Knowing she was safe. That my feelings didn’t make me weak in that moment when she needed me most.
Instead, they made me stronger.
We reach the house, and I follow her upstairs. But at the bedroom door, I hesitate. I don’t want to hurt her any worse than I already have, but I can’t bear the thought of sleeping in the next room when she’s right here. When I can still touch her.
She turns to face me, her eyes studying mine.
“I wasn’t sure if you wanted me here—”
“Yes.” She gives me the smallest grin, and there’s a sadness in her eyes. But she tips her head to motion me inside, and I follow.
I undress to my briefs. When she steps into the bathroom, I realize how late it is. I grab my phone to send Lexie a quick text, hoping she’s not crushed after being stood up by our dad.
ME: Hey, are you all right? I meant to text earlier, but something came up.
She doesn’t message me back right away, and I’m worried. I don’t want her to feel embarrassed for having had faith in him even though he didn’t deserve it. He’s hurt her so many times. I wish I could give her the strength to know she’s all right no matter what he does.
She starts to reply, and I brace myself.
LEXIE: You know what? I think I am OK.
I breathe a sigh of relief, the knot in my stomach finally easing. She’s older now. Is it possible she’s more resilient than I gave her credit for? That he isn’t going to be able to hurt her anymore?
ME: Love you, Lexie.
I do. She means the world to me, and I never want her to question that. I want her to know I’ll always be here for her. That my love doesn’t come with conditions or expectations like his does.
LEXIE: Yeah, I love you too.
Maybe she’ll finally be able to let it go—move past the hurt he’s caused our family. Like I have.
But…did I?
I walked away from him so many years ago and never looked back. At least, that’s what I told myself. But what if his shadow is still hanging over me, clouding my thinking? What if the bitter feelings I hold in my heart still color every choice I make?
What if they’re keeping me away from a girl who could mean everything to me? Someone I could be good for too.
LEXIE: So what’s up? You guys married yet?
Hmm. I know she’s teasing, but so much has changed in a couple of days.
ME: Umm. No…
I pause. I want Lexie to know something’s shifted, and it seems all right to say. Makes it feel more real.
ME: But things are…happening.
I hit send, then read my words back to myself. It’s true. Everything is changing.
Harper turns out the bathroom light, and I tuck my phone away as she comes to bed.
Then I crawl in beside her, sliding my hand over her hip and breathing in the lilac scent of her hair.
She’s curled up in my arms wearing nothing but my T-shirt and a pair of those lacy panties, and I know for a fact I can’t let her go.
Can’t send her back into that world alone, where she’d be run ragged again.
I won’t do it. Not when I could be her buffer—protect her and keep her safe while giving her the space she needs. I know that world, and I could help to clear a path so she could focus on making her music everything she wants it to be.
But it’s more than just protecting her and supporting her.
It’s holding her in my arms every night when I go to bed.
Dancing with her and kissing her beautiful lips and feeling her energy all around me.
Holding her safe in my heart and knowing I’m hers and she’s mine. That we can count on each other.
I just hope it’s not too late.
“Harper?” I whisper.
“Hmm.” Her voice is quiet, almost wavering.
“Baby, I fucked up.” My lungs are tight with emotion as I say the words I know will change everything about my life and what I’ve made of it here. Everything that’s yet to come between us. “I don’t know why I said what I said to you.”
She turns to look at my face, and her eyebrows rise. “What?” But her cheeks are streaked with tears, and I realize she’s been crying.
“Oh, baby. I’m so sorry.” I bring my hands to her face, wiping her tears away with my thumbs before wrapping my arms around her.
For a moment I worry I’m moving too fast. Scaring her off.
Not all girls approach relationships the way I do, with commitment.
But I know how I feel about her, and being with Harper makes me bold.
Ready to face the next challenge. “I was wrong. It does make sense, you and me. We make so much sense, and the only thing I want is to be with you.”
Her eyes widen with emotion. “Really?”
“Yes. If that’s what you want.” I hold my breath, desperate for a sign of whether I’ve fucked this up beyond repair or if there’s still a chance for us.
And when she nods, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks and a smile spreading across her face, my heart soars.
“Yes. That’s what I want.” She tips her face up and I bend to kiss her, tasting the salt of her tears on my lips.
“I’ve never met anyone like you.” I pull her in close, my whole body feeling the warmth of her. “I can’t believe I almost let you slip through my fingers.”
She nods against my body, her tears streaking down my bare skin. “I thought I was losing you.”
“No. You’re not losing me, baby. I’m sorry I scared you.” I skim a hand over her hair. “Let me go with you.”
Her fingers trail down my back. “You mean— Not just to the airport or something?” I feel her grin against my chest, and I laugh.
“No, not just to the airport.” I run my fingers along the lacy edge of her panties.
Her skin is silky smooth. “I want to be there when you go back to the tour, and—” I need to make sure she understands I’m in this for the long haul.
That it isn’t something I take lightly. “And everywhere else your music takes you. I’m serious about you. ”
“Yeah?” She tips her head back to gaze at me, her face cracking into a smile so wide it makes my chest squeeze.
I nod. “You make me feel alive in a way I haven’t in a long time.”
She snuggles against me. “I love the way I feel when I’m with you.”
“Yeah?” I let my thumb slide under that lacy edge and into the soft hair there. My cock stiffens in response.
She nods. “You make me feel grounded. Safe.”
“Safe, huh?” I press my erection to her thigh, and she grins. Then she tugs her shirt up and over her head, exposing her bare breasts. I take one in my palm, and she arches her back as I suck her firm nipple. “You gonna let me protect you?”
She gives me a sexy, teasing wink as I move in for a slow kiss. “Why? You wanna be my personal bodyguard?”
I drag her panties all the way off before spreading her knees with my hands.
“I’ll be your bodyguard, baby,” I whisper, bending to lick her sweet pussy until her gaze is soft and dreamy, her hips writhing in my hands with every stroke of my tongue.
And when I crawl over her, she wraps her arms around me, dragging me down until I’m flush with her body.
Our lips touch, and she moans into my mouth.
“Chase…”
“Yeah?” I guide my cock along her slick seam, aching to fill her again.
“I’m so glad you’re my bodyguard,” she pants, a hint of a smile crossing her lips until I nudge into her arousal and she tips her head back.
She’s so fucking beautiful, her red hair strewn over the pillows and her breasts bared for me. Her cheeks are flushed, and even that little pink blotch on her cheek is brighter now.
“Oh, me too, baby,” I rasp, gripping her round hips as I push in deep.
Harper stirs in the morning, her warm hand coming to rest against my cheek for a moment. Then her legs brush past mine, the edge of the sheet pulling away from me as she climbs out of bed.
“You getting up?” I stretch out my arms.
She nods. “I need to get caught up with messages. Figure out the flight.”
“OK. I’ll text Cass to let him know what’s up.”
Her brow furrows in concern. “Will he be upset about losing you?”
I laugh. “Nah, I don’t think so. He’ll probably give me a pat on the back next time he sees me. He knows I’ve been doing this gig too long. It’s time for a change.”
Her eyes meet mine, and she grins. I watch as she digs inside her bag for something. The sun is beaming through the glass balcony doors, reflecting off the waves in her mussed red hair. It’s making me smile, thinking what I did to her last night to muss it.
She pulls out her phone, then sits at the edge of the bed to turn it on. A clash of sounds ring out all at once: a dozen beeps and dings and whoops and…
Hold on.
Is that my solo from 6ixPack’s number one hit, “Tell Me U Love Me”?
“Oh my God.” Harper spins to face me, clasping her hand over her mouth. “That wasn’t— You weren’t supposed to hear that—” She shakes her head frantically. “I’ll turn it off.”
I chuckle as she silences it. “Is that your ringtone?”
“Oh…” She shrugs, waving a hand in the air in an ill-fated attempt to dismiss it. “I don’t know.”
“Wow, you are a big fan.”
Her cheeks flush a deep shade of red, and I feel bad for teasing her. “Honestly, I’m a little starstruck,” she admits, and I chuckle.
“Is that right?”
She nods, and I snap my head to the side to get her to come close enough for me to pull her back into bed. Then I wrap my arms around her and kiss her sweet lips, rolling her so I’m on top.
She grins, gazing up at me with so much love in her eyes, and I can’t believe this incredible woman is mine.
“That’s all right, baby,” I whisper, bending to kiss her once more. “The feeling’s mutual.”