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He dropped me gently into a lounge chair and wrapped me up in a fleecy blanket before he took his own seat in a matching lounger on the other side of the small outdoor table.
I was still breathless as I picked up my wine and snuggled into the blanket. “I’m starting to think you’ve lost your mind,” I muttered with no hint of criticism in my tone.
“Absolutely not true,” he countered. “I’d have to be crazynotto want to spend time with a beautiful woman watching a winter sunset.”
He was right. Sunsets seemed more spectacular this time of year in San Diego for a variety of reasons. I’d noticed that when I was a child. Since then, I hadn’t really taken the time to watch a sunset anywhere.
Okay, maybe the sunset is pretty, but he is definitely missing the beautiful woman part of the equation.
“No work in the office tonight?” I asked nervously, wondering why Chase was breaking from his usual routine.
“Nope,” he answered, sounding like he was perfectly content exactly where he was at the moment. “Relax, Vanna. Are you warm enough?”
“Yes,” I squeaked before I took another sip of my wine.
Relaxing wasn’t exactly my forte or something I knew how to do.
Especially not with someone like…Chase.
“It’s a beautiful night,” he commented as he leaned back in his chair.
I finally pulled my eyes from him and focused on the sky.
It was alight with reds and golds that swirled together until you couldn’t tell where one color ended and the other began.
I took a deep breath, noting that while there was a slight chill in the air, it wasn’t exactly freezing out here.
“Itisreally pleasant,” I agreed, finally allowing myself to unwind a little.
Chase had a beautiful waterfront home, and between the distant cadence of the waves and the blindingly gorgeous sunset, I felt a little mesmerized.
A comfortable silence settled between Chase and I while we drank our wine and watched the sun slowly drop out of sight.
“That was incredible,” I murmured after the light left the sky.
Chase picked up a remote from the table and turned on a muted light, just enough so I could see his face as he grinned.
“It was good enough to draw out as long as possible, right?” he asked jokingly.
I nodded, still not used to this new and different Chase Durand. “It was.”
“Now that it’s over, tell me how you’re really doing, Vanna,” Chase said in a more serious tone. “Your body is healing. It’s just a matter of time. I want to know how you feel.”
“About the kidnapping?” I asked since we rarely discussed anything else.
“About anything and everything,” he corrected.
Uncomfortable with the intensity in his expression, I turned my head toward the lights of a few boats sitting out on the water. “Chase, you’re so busy—”
“Don’t,” Chase growled. “You said something similar when I asked you to spend time with me in Vegas. I’mnottoo busy to listen to you. I’mnottoo busy to spend time with you. I’mnottoo busy to give a shit whether or not you’re okay emotionally, and that’s not limited to your kidnapping, Vanna. I’mnotasking as a CEO of Durand. I’m asking as a guy who cares about you.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but ended up closing it without saying a word.
I wanted to tell him everything he was asking for, but I wasn’t quite sure how to really talk to Chase about anything other than the kidnapping.
I finally responded. “I don’t know how to communicate with you if we’re not in the middle of a debate or talking about my issues from the kidnapping,” I confessed.
“It’s quite simple,” he cajoled. “Just open your mouth and tell me what’s on your mind. I plan on being honest with you. I wanted to spend time with you in Vegas. That desire hasn’t changed for me.”
