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My eyes flew to her face and noticed the sorrow in her expression.
She continued, “He stopped by after one of his morning runs to have a quick word with Cooper about some Last Hope equipment. He was wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt. Looking back, I realized that I hadn’t seen him in short sleeves for a long time. I could see a small portion of a few of those scars and I asked him what happened. He told me more than he’s ever admitted about those injuries. He also told me how some idiot he was dating hyperventilated over how ugly they were. He’s never been that open about what he suffered. I never knew. I think he was so self-conscious that he didn’t really share with anyone, not even his sister. By the time I talked to him on the phone after the incident, he was very lucid and said he’d be home in a few weeks. He did come home, but he’s been distant about it ever since. Until a few days ago. Considering what happened, I’m going to assume he has the same scars all over his body.”
I paused for a moment, not quite sure how to respond. I’d known Torie for too long not to understand what she was trying to ask in a roundabout way. “It’s never mattered to me, Torie. I love him. He accepted my scars like they didn’t exist before I even knew about his. I hate what he went through, but to me, he was and always will be the man with the hottest body on the planet.”
I’d encouraged Chase to wear short sleeves again and not to be so self-conscious because he had no reason to be. I’d also told him that he should consider telling Torie more about what happened since Wyatt had physically been there and knew more about the whole incident.
It was time for Chase to stop feeling like he needed to hide his scars. Spring was here and summer was coming. There was absolutely no reason for him to hang out in long-sleeved shirts when he loved water sports so damn much.
I hadn’t known that he’d started shaking off his uneasiness about his scars.
He hadn’t told me yet that he’d decided to take my advice about Torie, but I knew he would when we had a chance to talk about it again.
My heart swelled at the thought that he was finally getting past what had happened years ago.
Because of that early rejection, I was pretty sure that Chase saw those scars as far more horrific than they were in reality.
She held up a hand as she said, “I won’t ask for too much information. All I wanted was to thank you for loving my brother so much. He really needed you, Vanna. I just don’t think I realized how much.”
The dogs started to bark as they chased each other around the house.
As we laughed at their antics, I thought about what Torie had just said.
She really had no idea how much I’d needed Chase, too, or how damn easy he was to love.
Savannah
“I’m ready,” I told Chase as I opened the door of the master bathroom.
He’d insisted on taking me out for dinner tonight to celebrate the sale of my first independent piece of work about the Darien Gap.
I’d put on a cute black dress that could be dressed up or down with three quarter length sleeves and a V-neck. It probably hugged my ass, hips, and thighs a little bit more than was completely comfortable for me, but I loved that it worked for almost any occasion. It wasn’t blatantly sexy, but it was different from my normally relaxed and casual attire. I’d finished it off by adding a pair of black thigh-high stockings and pair of dress heels.
I’d gone heavier on my makeup to diminish the scars on my face, and I was wearing the turquoise earrings and necklace Chase had given me.
“You look stunning,” he said in a low, throaty baritone as his gray eyes assessed me.
“You’re looking pretty gorgeous, yourself,” I said as I smiled at him, taking in the lightweight cashmere sweater and slacks he was wearing. The sweater was a lovely shade of blue that made his gray eyes pop.
Really, Chase seemed to know exactly what colors to wear that suited him. He looked incredibly handsome in anything he chose to wear.
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?” he asked as he snaked an arm around my waist.
My heart tripped as I saw the appreciation in his gaze.
Nope. I didn’t think I was beautiful, but he never forgot to tell me thathethought so.
Really, no one else’s opinion mattered anymore. Not to me.
“Thank you,” I said softly as I looped my arms around his neck.
The expression in his eyes was breathtaking.
Explosive.
Heated.
Hungry.
