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I stood, ready to be done with all this for the day. “I came here to see if you want to have lunch with me, but all of a sudden I’m not hungry?”
“Do you feel ill? Could you be pregnant?”
“I feel exhausted from all the testosterone.”
Chase let out a hearty laugh. Like the last time, it felt like a true expression from a man who was normally guarded and in control. “I apologize for that. How about we go to the deli around the corner. Then James can take you home.”
I nodded. “I like deli food.”
He walked up to me and again put his hands on my arms and rubbed them. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.” Then he shocked me by leaning forward and giving me a quick kiss on the lips.
21
Chase
After lunch, I sent Sara home and took a minute to regroup. A lot had happened today, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it all. I was disturbed that a man tried to grab her off the street and bothered that she didn’t seem to take it very seriously.
I was concerned that she wasn’t up to having a party, and yet, I knew my brothers were right: I needed to make it official if only to control the message. I also needed to tell my father. I was sure that the news would get out in the office and he needed to hear it from me, not Alex.
At five, I made my usual stop by his office.
“I’ve got your drink ready,” my father said, handing me my usual. It occurred to me that I’d done a lot of drinking today.
I set the glass down without having any. “I’ve got something to tell you.”
“That Florida deal isn’t going well,” my father said.
“It will. The owner is an ass. That’s not what I need to talk to you about.”
“That ass is trying to renege on some aspects of the deal.” My father took a seat behind his desk. I always thought he did it to remind me that he was still the boss.
“It’s handled. He’ll back off when he gets served papers suing him for breach of contract.” I sat in my usual spot in front of his desk.
My father sighed. “What’s that going to cost?”
“Nothing. He doesn’t have the money to fight. His pride is a problem but his greed will win out. He’ll take the money and leave. When I have I not come through?”
“You always come through, but I worry you’re overconfident.” He sat back in his chair.
“I know people. This guy won’t be a problem. I want to talk about something else.”
“Okay.”
“I got married.” There was no sense in a lead up. “We’re having a party on Friday to make the official announcement.”
My father quirked a brow. “I wasn’t invited to the wedding.”
I shrugged. “It was a spur of the moment thing.”
My father shook his head. “I hoped you’d take my purpose behind this new deal seriously.”
“I did. You said get married and have a kid. Chances are good that in nine months you’ll be a grandfather.”
“Jesus, Chase.” My father rose from his chair and I had a moment of worry that he was going to change the rules again. He looked out the window. “I loved your mother when I married her. Despite what you boys think, I loved her up until the day she died. Still do.” He turned to me. “That’s what I wanted for you.”
“Who says I don’t love her?”
My father laughed. “It doesn’t bother you that you’ve basically taken a sacred vow and bastardized it? I can only imagine the type of woman that would enter into whatever deal you’ve set up. I don’t want gold-diggers in the family, Chase.”
I shot up from my chair. “She’s not a gold-digger, and I’ll expect you to treat her with respect.”
My father’s eyes widened for a second and then narrowed as he studied me. “Of course. Leave Alex with the details of your party. I’ll be there.”
Feeling antsy, I left my father’s office, wondering why I was all bent out of shape by Kade and my father calling Sara a gold-digger. She wasn’t one, but she had married me for money, so it wasn’t much better.
I spent the rest of the week wanting to know Sara’s every move to make sure she was safe. But I caught on that she worried about being controlled, as I suspected her ex had done. I wasn’t a stalker nor was I worried she was doing something that would displease me. All I wanted was for her to be safe, especially if she was pregnant.
Dealing with my brothers was a different issue. In an effort to extend the olive branch, Kade volunteered to have our party at one of his restaurants. I agreed as a way to make amends, but told him to not do a full formal menu or setting, knowing that would make Sara anxious.
