Bad Boy (An Indecent Proposal) - J.C. Reed Page 0,37

much they wanted to meet me because they really believed I’d be suited for the job.

I ignored everything because I was scared.

Shock did that to someone.

“Why didn’t you come?” Chase asked, interested.

“The whole thing was too much,” I said honestly. “Being stuck in an elevator, with no hope of getting out, I was sure it was going to be my last day. I couldn’t go back to that place, not when I thought you were dead.” I shook my head grimly. “I thought I’d never see you again. I didn’t want to be reminded of you.”

“You thought I was dead?” he asked quietly.

I nodded silently.

“Remember that I told you everything would be okay?” I nodded again and he continued, “I promised myself that I’d do whatever it took to save you. Well, you’re alive.”

I don’t know why, but my eyes suddenly felt moist again. My throat choked up, and a tear trickled down my cheek.

I looked away, strangely emotional.

There were at least thirty people around us.

Why couldn’t Chase choose a less public place? To distract me, to calm myself, I grabbed a shrimp and bit into it. The salty flavor reached my taste buds, but it didn’t quite register in my brain.

“So, what are you? A chevalier? A hero?” I asked carefully, unsure what he wanted me to say.

“I would love to say that, but I’m not…as I’m sure you’ve noticed by now.” He began to pile food onto his plate, the motion easing some of the tension between us. “I’m really proud of myself that I once saved a woman’s life in an elevator. That’s about the grandest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

He was talking about me, no doubt about that. “You cannot make me feel guilty,” I said coldly. “It won’t change anything between us.”

“That wasn’t my intention,” Chase said just as coldly.

For a while we sat there in silence. Eventually, Chase began to eat. My stomach rumbled again, reminding me that it would be a pity to waste all that good food. I filled up my own plate and busied myself with my meal. At some point, a waitress appeared with our dessert consisting of two trays with ice cream and tantalizing pastries.

But I couldn’t touch them. And neither did Chase.

“Are you finished?” he asked.

I glanced up and met his gaze. His eyes were burning, and I realized with a shock, that it was sadness that I saw in them.

“Yes,” I mumbled.

“Then let’s go.”

Chapter 13

We’d been back in the limousine for only a few minutes, with neither of us speaking, and it already felt like a whole eternity had passed. I was sitting next to the fish tank, my head leaned back against the leather, Chase at the other end, a glass of bourbon in his hand. Neither of us dared to look at each other. Neither of us dared to talk. And I would be damned if I was the first one.

Finally, Chase moved to the bar. At first, I thought it was to refill his glass. Instead, he sat down next to me—far enough to give me privacy, close enough to make my heart race.

“Look, Laurie,” he started, rolling the glass between his hands. “I get you are pissed.”

I let out a laugh.

“I’m not pissed. I’m hurt. There’s a huge difference.” I paused as I prepared my words. “I thought you were different, Chase. When I married you and let you fuck me, I thought I knew you. I would never have guessed that all that time you were working on your little folder about me. You didn’t even tell me that we had already met a few months ago.”

“Fair enough.” He took a deep breath. “I’d been watching you for some time. Obviously, I couldn’t disclose that fact. Nor the fact that we met the day the floor crashed.”

I looked up and met his blue eyes. The way he said it, I was sure he didn’t even feel sorry. Heck, I wasn’t even sure he had any regrets.

Anger rose inside me.

“You hurt all those people.” My voice shook. I didn’t try to hide the disgust in my voice.

He shook his head. “No, I didn’t do that. That was pure coincidence.”

“Coincidence?” I let out another short laugh and leaned forward, eyeing him carefully. I had a hard time believing that one. “I don’t believe in coincidences. Only in patterns and habits.”

“How would you know that?” His question was cold, just like his gaze. “Do you know what fate has in store for you?