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SEVEN
The intruder got away.
Faith rocked Anna gently back to sleep after her midmorning bottle. Silence settled around them, a welcoming change from the hectic beginning to the day. Aiden and Holly had stayed in the guest bedroom, helping to keep watch over Faith and the baby. Then Maggie, Chase’s mom, had come by for breakfast.
All the guests had left fifteen minutes ago, and while Faith loved having people around, it could be overwhelming if she never got a break. The restless night of sleep she’d had didn’t help. Every time she closed her eyes, she imagined Hillary running away from a faceless masked man. It was terrifying.
“Oh, Anna.” The little one had drifted off to sleep, long lashes casting shadows on her cheeks. Faith gently set her in the playpen next to the couch—she kept Anna close to her at all times—and then gently ran a hand across the baby’s hair. The strands were downy and soft. Like silk. “I know you must miss your mom. And wherever she is, I’m sure she’s missing you too.”
Faith didn’t want to believe Hillary was dead. Not yet. Not without proof.
Chase appeared in the doorway. His hair was damp from a shower and his jaw was clean-shaven. The scent of his cologne wafted in Faith’s direction. She breathed it in, letting the leathery scent soothe the rough edges of her nerves. It drifted through her mind that she didn’t consider Chase to be an intrusion on her quiet. He was…well, he was Chase.
He smiled, the dimple in his left cheek winking. “You got her to sleep. I think you have the magic touch. She absolutely refused to go down after her bottle at 4 a.m. I spent two hours walking around the living room, talking to her.”
“You should have woken me.”
He shrugged. “You need rest. How’s your head?”
“Fine.” She absently touched the stitches buried in her hair. “A little achy, but nothing unmanageable.”
Her heart did a pitter-patter when he joined her on the couch. Faith scooted closer, and Chase automatically wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She rested her head against his chest. The position was familiar, one they’d done hundreds of times over the years, but this time…this time, it was different.
Maybe because Faith was different.
She’d loved Mitch with all her heart. Marrying him had been the right thing to do, and losing him had cut her deeply. But these recent threats, Chase’s protection, and taking care of Anna had opened her eyes to the truth. Faith wasn’t living. Not really. She was standing still, watching life go by, and ignoring the blessings around her.
It had to stop. Yes, she’d lost her husband, and that was a tragedy. But Faith was still alive, and she needed to embrace that gift. It was time to decide what she wanted for herself, and that started with acknowledging this humming attraction for Chase. When it began, she couldn’t say, but somewhere over the last two years, she’d developed feelings beyond friendship. Even now, every inch of her was acutely aware of Chase. The solid beat of his heart, the warmth of his hand, the strength of his muscles.
But did he feel the same way? Would saying something ruin their relationship? Did they even want the same things? Chase had been adamant about not wanting marriage and a family. There was no indication he’d changed his mind about that.
Maybe these pulls toward Chase were just a way of feeling something romantic for someone who would never reciprocate. A way to play it safe. Risking their friendship over an ill-advised romance was a terrible idea. Faith needed to tread lightly.
Anna whimpered in her sleep, and Faith gently rubbed her back. Tenderness swept over her. “When Mitch first brought up the idea of adoption, I’m ashamed to admit I was hesitant. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to love someone else’s baby with my whole heart. But I was wrong. Anna isn’t even mine, but I would do anything to protect her. I could see myself easily falling in love with her.”
It took superhuman effort not to. The situation was precarious, and it was too difficult to think beyond today.
Chase tilted his head. “It’s hard to imagine you ever having any misgivings about your capacity to love a child. It’s obvious to everyone else that you’re a natural caregiver, Faith.”
“We all have our doubts.” She pegged him with a look. “For the record, in case you needed to hear it, you deserve all the happiness in the world. I meant what I said yesterday in the hospital. You’d make a great dad. Husband, too, if you decide that’s what you want.”
An unexpected spark of jealousy flared at the thought of Chase marrying someone else. The intensity of it caught Faith off guard. A warning sign that her feelings might go deeper than even she wanted to admit.
Their eyes locked, and for a heart-stopping moment, Faith thought he’d been able to read the thoughts running through her mind. It pinned her in place. Her heart thundered in her chest, and she suddenly felt woozy.
Then his gaze slid away and Chase cleared his throat. “Thank you for saying so.” His mouth quirked. “But please don’t mention that to my mom. She’ll have every single woman in the county chasing after me.”
Faith rolled her eyes, letting out the breath she was holding. “I’m pretty sure they already are. Which you love. You’ve dated half the town.” She arched her brow. “I’m surprised none of them have dragged you to the altar yet.”
His grin faded as he met her gaze once more. “Maybe I’m just waiting for the right one.”
She froze. There was something in his expression…Faith’s pulse kicked up a notch as heat crept into her cheeks. No, it had to be a figment of her imagination. Chase couldn’t possibly be interested in her. This absurd attraction humming through her was messing with her head.
Faith forced a bright smile. “Don’t wait too long.” She lightly punched his shoulder. “Your looks will fade eventually.”
He brought a hand to his chest in mock pain. “Ouch. Way to burn a guy’s ego.”
They both laughed. The tension, real or imagined, eased from the room. Faith’s shoulders dropped, and she smothered a yawn. “Anna has the right idea. I might take a nap—”
