Page 54 of Chasin’s Surrender

I started to turn, knowing my movements had less to do with bravery and everything to do with curiosity. As soon as I was facing Chasin, his hands went to my face and he cupped my cheeks. God, I loved it when he did that.

“Nothing’s changed, Evie.”

Evie.

What in the world? He hadn’t called me that in days, but it still made my legs feel like jelly.

“Something has,” I argued.

“Right. My approach changed but nothing else.”

“What’s that mean?”

“You ready to hear this?”

Um. What does that mean?

“Hear what?”

“About what hasn’t changed.”

I’ve always considered myself fairly smart, maybe not the sharpest tool, but certainly not the dullest. However, right then I was feeling pretty dumb.

“Why wouldn’t I be ready to hear about what hasn’t changed?”

“Because what hasn’t changed might freak you out and you have an album to write, a house to sell, movers to coordinate, an assistant to convince not to quit, though I think you’re pretty safe on that front. Your manager has called three times in the last two days wanting a meeting. And I’ve asked you to avoid Leslie, which means she’s getting antsy and calling Bobby off the hook, wanting updates on the new album. So with everything you got going on, the last thing you need to be is freaked out.”

It must be noted that all of what Chasin said was factual, though nowhere in the list of things I had to deal with did he mention my stalker.

That was because that was not on my to-do list—that was on his. Something he’d made clear at dinner one night. His job was to keep me safe, and my job was to relax. At that declaration, Bobby had smiled like a crazy dingbat.

“Well, now, I think I need to hear what you have to say,” I told him.

Chasin took a moment to hold my stare. I watched as his eyes did the visual scan I’d become accustomed to.

“Okay then, nothing’s changed. The other day in your kitchen I was straight with you. I told you I wasn’t letting you go again and I’m not. I also told you I wasn’t stupid. I know when to push and when not to. You have a lot going on and you needed a minute to catch your breath.”

“But I thought you said you weren’t gonna give me time to think.”

Man-oh-man, being as we were up close and personal, his face right in front of mine, I could hardly miss the wolfish grin that pulled at his mouth and made his eyes heat. And thank God I didn’t—the smile was a mix of cocky and sexy and caused my girly parts to tingle.

“I said I wasn’t gonna let you think of ways to lock me out. And that still stands; you start to build those walls again, I’m fighting my way through. But I’m not an asshole and I know how important your music is to you. I also know you needed time for you and Bobby to work through your shit. She’s important to you. Since we’ve gotten here, you’ve given me the woman I first met. You’ve been at ease, you’ve been open, you’ve been happy. I already knew I wasn’t letting you go, but watching you these last few days has only solidified my resolve. I’m not letting you go. Which means we got a lot to work out. To do that, I’m gonna want all of your time and right now, I can’t have it. When the time’s right—”

“The time’s right,” I blurted out.

Chasin’s body went solid and I couldn’t blame him. I, too, was shocked at my words. I wasn’t entirely sure where that bout of courage came from, but the words were out there hanging between us and I hoped like hell he’d catch them, because I wasn’t sure I could take his rejection.

No, I was sure.

Very, very sure that if Chasin rejected me, it was going to kill.

One hand left my face and trailed down my neck, over my shoulder, down my arm that was lamely dangling at my side, and his fingers locked around my wrist. Slowly, he brought my hand to his chest and settled my palm over his heart. Once he had me situated, his fingertips grazed over my tattoo.

“I love your tatts. Colorful and vibrant, just like the woman who wears them.”

The swift change of topic had me off-balance. I didn’t know where he was leading the conversation but I was pretty positive the butterflies in my stomach weren’t the good kind. They were the ones that warned you of the danger up ahead.

“This one’s new. What’s it mean?”