Page 96 of Chasin’s Surrender

But Chasin being Chasin, which meant he was observant, attentive, sweet, funny, good-looking, protective, open—he got it the first time. And I knew he did because his whole face changed. At some point, his hand slid to the back of my neck and he gave me a squeeze before he confirmed, “No, baby, I do not care you are Vivi Rush.”

“You like me.”

“No, Genevieve, I love you.”

Straight out, he said that. In front of Bobby and Holden he flat out, bluntly, boldly, told me he loved me.

What do I say to that?

Nothing. I said nothing. I planted my face into his chest and breathed deeply in an effort not to cry. Or maybe it was in an effort not to jump for joy, or dance a jig around the living room, or whoop with excitement that this amazing man loved me.

Just me.

Not Vivi.

Not the country music star.

Not my music, because he didn’t even like country.

Not my money.

Not what my fame could get him.

None of that.

Just freaking, plain ol’ me. Genevieve.

“I love you, too,” I whispered against his shirt.

The change in Chasin wasn’t slight—it was massive. So immense, he froze. My cheek was resting over his heart and I could swear I felt the uptick. One second it beat in perfect rhythm, the next it was thumping so violently it forcibly pounded on my cheek.

Then the front door opened and I was no longer in front of him. For the second time in one day, he pulled this superhero maneuver, and I had no idea how he’d moved me behind him in a play so fast the Flash would be impressed. I also noted his hand had gone to the weapon on his hip.

“Reporters are moving in.” Nixon’s voice boomed.

“Fuck,” Chasin bit out.

“Whoever leaked the story included that Gemini Group was providing protection. Reporters have been calling the office,” Nixon continued.

“Fuck,” Chasin repeated.

“I need to make a statement,” I told them.

“Hell no,” Chasin countered.

I stepped out from behind him and took in three very pissed-off male faces.

“I do. Trust me, they won’t stop. Bobby, let’s call Colleen and ask her how we should play this. I could outright lie and say there is no stalker, but if the letters are leaked, then I’m screwed. I think the best thing to do is downplay it.”

“I agree.” Bobby nodded. “We can spin it that you’re not in hiding, you just left the city to write your next album. Maybe even give your fans a taste of the new material. Acoustic, stripped down, and raw. Your fans will love it. That also has the added benefit that it’ll hype the next release.”

“I have a few songs you can look at. Colleen can set something up.”

My publicist Colleen was awesome, she’d have a plan in two-point-five seconds.

“Colleen was already working on a statement. I’ll call her and tell her you’re gonna go live.”

“No way.” There was an unmistakable, unhappy bite in Chasin’s tone.