Page 3 of Rescuing Sadie

But Chase could also be super confusing. Running hot and cold. One minute she was sure he wanted her, and the next he was treating her as an annoying little sister. The last month had been torture, being around him and not knowing what he really thought about her.

The old Sadie would’ve called him on it. But ever since being held captive by Jonathan Jones at that school, she’d felt unsure about nearly everything. She hated not being the kick-ass Sadie she used to be and was working her way back to being that person, but it was slow going.

“I was just saying goodbye to Sadie,” Sean said, turning away and bending over to pick up Sadie’s bag. “Grace packed some stuff for you,” he told his niece, handing her the bag. “Thought you’d appreciate having more of your own things.”

Sadie nodded. She wasn’t surprised Aunt Grace had the presence of mind to make sure she had more of her favorite clothes. Every time her uncle had come to check on her, he’d brought more and more of her wardrobe. Before long, Grace would have sent her entire apartment. As it was, it already looked like she’d completely moved in with Chase.

“Take care of my niece,” Sean ordered Chase.

“She’ll continue to be safe with me,” Chase replied.

The two men stared at each other for a long moment. Finally, Sean nodded. “I’ll be in touch.”

Then he leaned over, kissed Sadie on the head, and was gone.

She turned to Chase and held her bag in front of her like a shield.

He held out his hand. “Ready to go?”

Sadie swallowed hard and nodded. She put her hand in his and let him lead her out of the small room.

Chapter Two

Chase Jackson tried to keep his eyes off of Sadie’s ass as she climbed the stairs to the apartment over Cormac Fletcher’s garage, but failed. He was only human, after all.

The first moment he’d seen Sadie Jennings, he’d wanted her. Wanted her with an intensity that seemed to come out of nowhere. He hadn’t ever felt like this about a woman before. As if he needed her in order to breathe.

“Are you sure it’s okay for me to stay here?” Sadie asked as she put the key in the lock.

“Us.”

“What?” she asked, a confused look on her face.

“Us,” Chase repeated calmly. “And yes. Fletch has no problem with us staying here while your uncle and the Feds continue to try to track down Jonathan.”

Sadie froze—one hand on the doorknob and the other holding her bag as if her life depended on it. “I thought you’d just be with me during the day.”

Chase gently edged Sadie to the side and pushed open the door. He put his hand on the small of her back and guided her into the apartment. He pried the bag out of her hand and let it drop to the floor before leading her into the living area, which contained a couch, a small coffee table, and a television.

“Chase?”

“I can’t make sure you’re safe if I’m not here, Sadie.”

“But…your Delta Force friend lives next door. I thought that’s why I would be staying here,” Sadie protested.

“That’s part of why you’ll be safer staying here. Not to mention the cameras he’s got covering every inch of the property. But if you think I’m going to rely solely on him or the cameras to keep you safe, you’re crazy.” Chase turned to look at the woman who’d had his feelings turned upside down since the day he’d met her.

She was looking at him in confusion, chewing on her lower lip, her brows furrowed. She was also wringing her hands in front of her and she wouldn’t quite meet his eyes. He wanted to shake her at the same time he wanted to haul her into his arms and tell her she never had to worry about anything ever again.

Her auburn hair hung in curls around her pale, freckled face. He loved how her small upturned nose wrinkled when she was confused and how her face glowed pink when she was embarrassed or excited. Her eyes were a hazel green that sparkled when she spoke of anything she was passionate about…which was almost everything. She was tall, around five-nine, and curvy. Her hips were wide and she had a small pooch of a belly, which was cute rather than a turnoff. Her arms and legs were muscular; he knew from talking with Sean Taggart that when she lived up in Dallas, she worked out at least twice a week with the men and women in the McKay-Taggart group and held her own.

But it was more than her looks that drew him. It was her personality. She was loyal, both to her friends and her family. She was determined and compassionate. She was tough, fearless, and most of the time not afraid to speak her mind.

Sadie looked around the small apartment. “There’s only one bedroom.”

Chase wanted to tell her that they’d share it, but didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. “I’ll sleep on the couch.”

Sadie looked at it dubiously, then looked him in the eye. “I’m not a baby, Chase. I’ll be perfectly fine here by myself. You can go back to your place to sleep, then come here in the mornings if you feel the need to babysit me.”