Page 63 of Chasing Forever

“Anyway, I finally found you by your author photo. It’s a great picture of you.”

“Don’t do that, Chase. Don’t treat me like one of your little bikini-clad girlfriends from the pool. You can’t charm me that easily.”

He stared at her for a moment and shook his head, anger and disappointment rising up in him. Why was this all his fault? All he’d wanted to do was get to know her better, and now this. He pushed himself off the bed, walked around to where his clothes were, and started shoving them on.

“I still don’t get it. From everything I read, you’re a successful romance author with an avid fan base, including my sister, who’s read every book you’ve ever written. Why can’t you just own that?”

“This isn’t about my profession. It’s about you sneaking around behind my back and lying. When were you going to tell me, or weren’t you? You probably thought it didn’t matter because we’ll never see each other again after Hawaii. Am I right?”

He looked down at the carpet and shook his head. “I don’t know. I wanted to tell you a few times, but I didn’t. I figured you had your reasons for not telling me you were a romance author, so I decided to let it go. But if you’re ashamed of what you do, you shouldn’t be.”

“I’m proud of what I do,” she said, slapping her hand against the mattress. “I’m a damn good writer.”

“I know. I read two of your books.” He’d blurted it out without thinking, but he was glad he had. Even if she hated him and never wanted to see him again, at least he didn’t have any more secrets. Or did he? You haven’t been forthright about your own profession. But now was not the time.

She stilled, and her eyes went wide.

“That’s right, and I’m not sorry. I thought reading one of your books might help me get to know you better. That was my only motivation, to know you better. So, there you have it. Full disclosure. Guilty as charged.”

“You actually read my books? Which ones? When?”

She looked a little less angry, but he was still wary.

“I asked my sister for a recommendation, and she told me to start at the beginning of the series, so I did.”

“And then you kept reading?”

“I’m a wuss. Sue me.” Lawyer-speak often weaseled its way into his conversations even when he didn’t want it to.

“Chase…”

He started backing up to the bedroom door. “No. You know what. I was wrong, okay? Wrong to go behind your back and wrong about a lot of other things. I’m leaving now.”

She started to move like she might try to stop him, but he turned and stalked out, knowing there was nothing left to say.

He heard her call his name, but he was out the door before she emerged from the bedroom. Since his wallet and keys were in his pockets, he decided to take off for a while and clear his head. Besides, he wasn’t ready for another confrontation. He needed distance, and for the first time, he wished they weren’t living next door to each other.

He got into his rental car with no destination in mind. It was already getting late, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway. He’d just drive until he got tired and then turn around and go back.

He backed out of the parking space and sped off, forcing himself not to look in the rearview mirror. He didn’t want to know if she’d come outside after him or, worse, if she hadn’t. It didn’t matter either way. The damage was done. She probably thought the worst of him now—that he was a lying, scheming, conniving SOB who didn’t care about anything other than getting in her pants (or up her dress, as it were).

If only she’d known the true story—that he’d genuinely liked, admired, and been attracted to her long before they’d made love. That, to him, she was more beautiful and sexier than any of the “bikini-clad girlfriends” that he’d met at the pool. And if he had the chance, he’d do everything over the right way so that instead of arguing, they might still be wrapped in each other’s arms, loving each other all night long.

Chapter 29

Callie had hastily thrown on a robe and run to her front door, but it was too late. Chase had peeled off into the night, and she stood there until his taillights disappeared. Sighing, she went back inside and flopped onto the couch, noticing they’d left their wine glasses on the coffee table. She picked up her glass and took a sip, but it was lukewarm, and she preferred it chilled. She thought about getting up for a fresh glass but realized it was futile. No amount of wine would make her forget what had happened.

She’d screwed up big time. Her initial shock and anger had worn off, and now she was left feeling cold, lonely, and ashamed. Chase wasn’t the only one who’d dug up information and kept it a secret.

She needed to come clean too, but she hadn’t gotten the chance. After explaining himself, Chase had raced out of there so fast she’d had no hope of catching him. Maybe it was for the best.

Confessing her own secrets might have made a bad situation worse. Anyway, what did it really matter? In the end, they’d be going their separate ways. This was just a vacation fling, a temporary escape, and in her case, an experiment of sorts. Too bad the experiment would be short-lived. Chase probably wouldn’t want anything to do with her now that she’d gone off on him like that, and she wouldn’t blame him.

He’d been right about one thing. She’d been cagey about her profession but not for the reasons he’d thought. She wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed about being a romance author. She was proud of it. But she hadn’t wanted him to discover she was using him as her muse. The less she talked about writing the better, or so she’d thought.

She wondered if her story would stall out again. She’d stopped writing in the middle of a sex scene, and then they’d actually had sex. That in itself would be a major source of inspiration, but now she’d sabotaged herself.

Sitting there in the dark, staring at their empty wine glasses and recalling every detail of their lovemaking, she felt incredibly sad. Being with Chase had brought her complete and utter happiness, something she hadn’t felt in a long time, and then she’d gone and ruined it.