Page 91 of Chasin’s Surrender

“What’s your gut telling you?” Chasin asked.

“Same as yours. He’s our man.”

Fuck, fucking, hell.

“Didn’t like any of that,” Chasin started. “And not just ’cause she’s my woman. On the way home, Genevieve and Bobby told me one of the reasons Evie had refused to work with Bent was because he liked to touch her and did it frequently. It’s to the point she avoids him at industry functions.”

“Christ, why didn’t either of them tell us about him?”

Just thinking about why the women hadn’t mentioned it had Chasin’s blood boiling.

“Because it’s not uncommon. Bobby said she’d need a ream of paper to list all the men who had made dirty comments or tried to touch her. And a second ream to list the names of the assholes who didn’t come straight out and say it but implied that if she slept with them, Vivi Rush would benefit.”

“God, fuck, shit. What about Genevieve? That happen to her, too?”

“Yep. Only for her, it’s the other artists and songwriters. Seems Bobby gets the label executives, and before that, promoters, club owners, bouncers, anyone who could’ve helped get Evie into the business seemed to expect a piece of Bobby’s ass.”

“Fucking pigs.”

That was an understatement.

“Not to change the subject, but while we’re in a holding pattern, need to talk to you about something. Genevieve’s going stir crazy being locked in the house. I was thinking about having everyone over to the farm, give her some company, but I think she needs a change of scenery.”

“We’ll do it at my house,” Nixon immediately returned. “Alec’s place is bigger but if we do it at mine, you don’t have to drive her anywhere, you can take the four-wheeler through the woods and keep her hidden.”

That was exactly what Chasin was thinking. The two properties were connected and they could move freely back and forth without being seen.

“’Preciate it. Second thing, and I wanted to do this in person but it can’t wait. Just know that whatever your answer is, it’s all good and I’ll understand. Also know you’ll need time to think on it so I’m not expecting an answer.”

“Christ, spit it out.”

“I wanna buy your farm.”

Just as Chasin knew it would, his statement hung thick between them. Nixon loved his farm, it had been passed down from his beloved father. He’d married McKenna in the back field. He’d grown up in the house that Chasin now lived in. It was a long shot, but Chasin wanted to buy it for Evie.

The idea hit when she and Bobby were rhapsodizing about turning the old milking parlor into a studio. The more they talked about putting in a bar and having bonfires, the more the idea grew until he couldn’t think about anything else.

He wanted to watch her make music in the space she’d imagined. He wanted to sit outside with a fire roaring and listen to her play her guitar and hear her sweet voice.

He wanted all of it bad enough he’d ask his friend to sell him the property that meant the world to him.

“You know you can live there as long as you like. Genevieve and Bobby, too. It’s yours for as long as you want it,” Nixon said, breaking the silence.

“I know and I appreciate it,” Chasin returned.

Then he spent the next ten minutes explaining Genevieve’s vision and why he wanted to buy the land. Chasin had money, remodeling the milking parlor and barn to Genevieve’s specifications would make a dent, buying the farm would be another hit. He had it, but he also wasn’t stupid about money, and sinking that kind of cash into something that wasn’t his wasn’t smart—so he explained that, too.

“Listen, I get it. This place means everything to you and I get why. Think on it, and if the answer’s no, I get that, too. We’ll find somewhere close where we can build.”

“Have you shared these plans with her yet?”

“Nope. Wouldn’t do that until I talked to you.”

There was a beat of silence before Nix continued, “You’re already there with her?”

Chasin knew what his friend was talking about so he didn’t bother playing dumb.

“I was in this place less than twenty-four hours after I met her. And had I not jacked her around, we would’ve never left that place. She’s got a stalker, a career change, and a move to deal with. When all of that is done, I want to give her a place to settle, not temporary housing at her uncle’s place. That house is sweet, it wouldn’t be a hardship for her to live there, but honest to God, I never want to go there again. I can’t even stand in that living room and not remember how I gutted her. So I’d prefer for her to move in here with me.”