He placed a couple of carrier bags on the counter with a frown on his face.
“Are you sure about this?”
“It's only hair,” she said with a smile as she scooped up the bags and headed to the bathroom.
“Oh,” she said, turning back to face him. “I thought it would be a good idea to pack a few bits to take with us, just in case. You might want to check what I've packed though as you'll have a better idea what to take.”
As she turned away and walked to the bathroom she smiled to herself, pleased she'd had the idea. If Chase’s expression was anything to go by he was impressed. The pleasure of having done something helpful paled in comparison with the glow of his approval. She needed to get a grip. His approval shouldn’t matter to her. She was a capable woman who was going to run a multi-billion pound company. She didn’t need anyone’s approval.
Pulling the strange bottles and tubes from the cardboard box in one of the bags, she frowned at them. Okay, she thought, people do this every day, I can figure it out. After reading the instructions she realized the flaw in her plan. You were supposed to do a patch test at least twenty-four hours before using the hair colorant to make sure you weren’t allergic to it. Well she didn’t have twenty-four hours, so she was just going to have to skip that step and get on with it. But what would happen if she was allergic? Would all her hair fall out? If that was the case she was in trouble. The bald look wouldn’t help her blend in. Squaring her shoulders, she gave herself a little pep talk and got on with it.
Staring at the reflection in the mirror an hour later, she sighed. She missed her long, blonde hair, but it seemed vain to worry about something so petty given the circumstances. She smoothed the ends of the chestnut brown bob that was in its place. The ends were a bit choppy, but cutting her own hair with kitchen scissors could have ended a lot worse. At least it looked natural. She'd specifically asked Chase to get a mid-shade of brown. For the change in her appearance to work she needed to look as ordinary as possible. A dark color would have drained her pale skin, making her look strange. It was not something she was worried about for vanity reasons, but she wanted to make sure no one looked at her twice.
The make-up was heavier than she would normally wear, but she hoped it was on trend enough that it wouldn't stand out. She wore make-up a lot. After all, when you had the world’s media watching and commenting on your every move you needed to look as good as possible all the time. She tried to avoid it, but the endless comments on how she looked and whether she was fit to run the company hurt. Pushing down the familiar pain, she focused on her current situation. Normally she made sure her make-up was understated and classic but had to admit there was something fun about being able to use a little more and play with colors. Gently touching her cheek with her fingertips, she smiled to herself. No one would consider that the person looking back at her was Elizabeth Worthington.
The new clothes completed the look. Boyfriend jeans and a t-shirt with some trainers. Normal clothes that everyone else would wear without thought. Beth, however, only owned one pair of jeans, and that had only been allowed under the strict instruction that they would only be worn around the estate and only when there were no visitors. She hardly ever got to wear them, and the thought of being able to wear jeans out in public gave her a little thrill. She knew how fortunate she was, what a charmed life she led, but she did envy other girls for the way they could dress how they wanted to, how they were free to find their own style and embrace it. Like her best friend Bree. With her amazing dresses and bright colors it wasn’t something you’d find in a current fashion catalogue, but she had a style all of her own that fit her perfectly.
Feeling a twinge of nerves over what Chase would make of her new look, Beth left the safety of the bathroom. It wasn't rational, but she felt tense about how he would react. What if he hated it? Or maybe worse, what if he liked it more than her real look? As she walked into the lounge Chase glanced up from his laptop and looked back at the screen before doing a double-take so fast she thought his head might pop clear off his neck.
“Beth?”
“What do you think?” she asked anxiously.
Chapter Fifteen
“It worked. You look really different.” Chase got up and moved closer to her, as he walked slowly around her taking in the transformation. She'd cut her hair from halfway down her back to above her shoulders and dyed it brown. Her clothes were different from anything he'd ever seen the family wear. He wasn't into the celebrity magazines that seemed so popular, but it was hard to miss the endless photos of her family that were regularly spread across every newspaper, magazine, and TV channel in the country.
He'd suggested to Beth that they get larger sizes for her, as a way of disguising her figure, but she'd disagreed, insisting that clothes that fit would draw less attention. He'd half wondered if it wasn't just vanity on her part. She had, however, given him strict instructions about the cut of the clothes so he didn't buy anything that would be tight. The jeans and t-shirt fit her well but looked casual, and whilst they were flattering they didn't flaunt her incredible figure. She had been absolutely right. He looked at her face. She had managed to do some sort of trick that had changed the shape of her eyes and lips slightly, just enough to change the overall impression of her face. He might not know much about make-up, but he could tell she was as beautiful with it as without.
“You've done a great job,” he said when he’d finished his inspection.
“So no one will recognize me?”
“Well, there's no guarantees but, it's unlikely anyone would figure it out. You're still going to draw attention though,” he grumbled.
“What, why?” Beth asked anxiously, fidgeting with the ends of her hair at his words.
“You're still beautiful,” he said simply, mentally kicking himself for being so direct.
The red flush that covered her cheeks and nose, muted by whatever she had on her face, was still evident. He needed to guard his tongue. Maybe it would have been better if she had been engaged to Oliver Taylor. That would have drawn a line he would never have crossed. Now he had to rely on his own willpower because there was nothing to be gained from admitting his attraction to her, to himself or anyone else.
“Let me just grab your hair before we go,” Chase said.
Beth's hand flew to the bob that was brushing her neck and he felt a pulse of envy that he couldn’t do the same. “What?”
Laughing, Chase pulled his thoughts back to what mattered and headed away from her to the bathroom.
“Not that hair. The hair you cut off. We'll take that and the packaging for the dye and clothes with us.”
“Why? Do you have some weird hair fetish?” she called to him. The teasing in her tone made his smile broader.
“Oh no. You've found out my secret,” he teased back.
“Seriously, what are you doing with all that?” Beth asked as he returned with a bag full of her blonde hair and the packaging from the hair dye and clothes.
“We'll take it with us and dispose of it elsewhere. If we leave it here we may as well broadcast what you look like and what you're wearing.” Chase pushed the bag into his duffle bag and slung it over his shoulder, carrying the rucksack in his spare hand.
“I can't let you carry bags for me,” he said, flatly refusing to release the rucksack to Beth as she tried to take it from him.
“It's a rucksack,” she said. “Not a sack of rocks, I can manage. Besides which, we'll look more normal if I have a bag as well.”
“Will you stop being so logical?” he grumbled.
At last they stepped from the safety of Chase's apartment into the morning sun. Having worked out the narrow window of safety left to them if they remained in the apartment, Chase didn’t want to risk staying there longer than they had to. The problem was that by his calculations they had six hours before the Commander would be at the meeting point. That is assuming he would be there at all. That was too much time to simply make a few detours, lose any
possible tail and scope the location. Of course he'd scoped it out before and made a habit of doing so every month or so, when he was in the country, that was. But he'd always done it from the perspective of meeting the Commander solo. He'd never imagined using the arrangements with someone else. Especially not someone it was his job to protect at all costs. The problem now was what to do with the extra time.
Chase glanced at Beth to see how she was coping now they had left the security of his safe house and was surprised to see her almost bouncing along next to him, a huge grin on her face.
“What are you smiling about?” he asked.
“I'm outside!” she replied happily.
“I'm sure you've been outside before,” he said. “In fact I know you have. I've seen pictures and everything.”
“Of course I have.” She laughed. “But do you know the last time I went anywhere without it being planned weeks in advance and with an escort?”
“No.”
“I'll tell you when. It’s been four years. I haven’t been outside by myself in over four years.”
“You're not on your own now,” Chase said, slightly miffed.
“You know what I mean,” she said, her happiness clearly undented by his reply. “I don't have to worry about what photos are being taken. I don't have to be formal. I could pull a silly face if I want and know it won't end up front page news.”
She turned, sticking her tongue out at him whilst crossing her eyes, making them both laugh.
“You're nuts!”
“You're just realizing that?” she asked.
“Do you ever wish your family didn’t have the airline?” he asked. He already knew her well enough to know if he asked her if she wished she weren't part of the Worthington family she would say no. She loved her family fiercely. He wanted to be clear the question wasn't about being part of her family but about the responsibilities and attention that came with that.
“Sometimes,” she admitted. “But, I guess that's how everyone feels about their job at some point. But then I remember how fortunate we are and what a privilege it is to be part of such an amazing company. To be able to bring employment to so many people and to help connect people to the places that matter to them. If I’m honest I would love the chance to have a bit more normal time, like when I lived with Bree and Simon. Although even then I had to be careful. I don’t get to go out and do normal things like see London like other people get to.” She paused. “Don't get me wrong though. I know how lucky I am.”
Chase looked at Beth thoughtfully. She was constantly surprising him. Quite how someone who had had such a privileged life could grow up to be so balanced and considerate was a source of amazement. Watching the pleasure she was getting from something as simple as walking down a nondescript street wearing jeans tugged at his heartstrings. He realized that if he got her though this it was unlikely she'd ever be able to do this again. His brain rapidly flicked over options to get them safely through the next few hours.
“We have some time before we have to be at the rendezvous point. How about we walk the long way ‘round? You can see a bit of the city and I can make sure we aren’t being followed?”
Beth stopped walking and looked up at Chase with such adoration that his heart just about stopped beating there and then. A tiny voice at the back of his brain was shouting at him to stop. He was getting himself in too deep. He had a job to do here, two jobs counting the investigation he should be working on. Yet here he was planning to act like a tourist for the day.
“Really?” she asked, her expression hopeful. “Do you mean it?”
Well he couldn't take it back now, could he? He wrestled the voice in his head down and smiled back at her. Taking a long route would give him plenty of time to make sure they were alone, and they wouldn’t stand out in the crowds of the city. Besides, looking Beth over from head to toe, he realized she looked so completely different that no one would recognize her.
“Yes. It should be safe enough. After all I would imagine the last place anyone would expect to find you is wandering around the city.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Beth gasped, throwing herself at him and wrapping her arms around his neck.
Without knowing how it had happened Chase found that he had lowered his head. Flames licked through him as the soft heat of her lips pressed against his, and reason fled. Wrapping one arm around her, he pulled her closer. The need to feel her pressed against him had been building from the moment he’d hoisted her out of the church, a torture of the sweetest kind that had only grown as he’d come to know the incredible woman behind the headlines.
Losing himself in the sensations of her sweet floral scent, the softness of her hair as he tangled his other hand in it, his need grew. He had to get her back inside where he could really appreciate her and do all the things that had looped around his head tempting him. What had started as a delicate kiss had quickly deepened into something more carnal and desperate. His hand slid lower on her back, shifting under her t-shirt in his desperation to feel her skin. As he made contact Beth parted her lips and gasped. The sound shocked him from his haze, and, mortified, he pulled back, although the look of raw desire in Beth's eyes nearly undid his good intentions.
“Umm, yes,” she muttered. “Probably not a good idea.”
Her familiar blush was back and clearly evident, despite the make-up she was wearing. Chase sighed and rested his forehead against hers. He should just take her to the rendezvous point and wait it out there. Beth would hate him for snatching her chance to sightsee away from her, but maybe that was for the best. He wasn't a good choice for her. It would only cause more heartache for him when the adrenaline of the current situation wore off and she realized they not only had nothing in common, but that he was investigating her family company. He’d be taking complete advantage of her if he let anything happen between them. His family reputation was in ruins, and he was likely to make things a hell of a lot worse before he got to the bottom of it. Whilst there was a cold, reasoning voice in his head telling him to make the most of the situation he couldn’t do it, couldn’t find it in himself to abuse her trust so completely.
Chapter Sixteen
Beth pulled away from Chase, mortified. She knew he was attracted to her, but she also knew that that physical attraction wasn't enough. He might have responded to the way she’d thrown herself at him, but it was clear he wasn’t interested in taking things any further. Besides which she should know better than to even consider getting involved with someone. A relationship with her would change someone’s life, if not forever then at least for a time, regardless of whether it worked out or not. Beth realized how arrogant that sounded, but the impact wasn't because of her but because of who her family were. The press would remain interested in anyone she was involved with for years to come. Even now, years later, they still reported what her old university boyfriend was doing from time to time. At least she didn't have to worry about Chase running to the press to kiss and tell like her old boyfriend had, or at least she didn’t think he would do something like that.
No, she concluded, her life wasn't something that would ever appeal to Chase, even if he had felt more than physical attraction for her. Hadn't she just spent the last few minutes telling him that she wanted the chance to do ordinary things? She would never be so cruel as to take that away from him.
Feeling the need to put some physical distance between them, she stepped further back. Her lips were still tingling, and her heart was still racing. It had been a lot of years since she'd kissed someone, but she was pretty sure it had never been like that. Her entire body was flooded with the emotion of it, making logical thought difficult. If she wasn't careful she was going to fall in love with him, and she needed to protect her heart. There were more important things to deal with right now.
“'Okay. Where are we headed?” she asked, determined not to add to her humiliation by discussing that all-consuming kiss.
“How about the Thames? It’s a handy rou
te to pass some time, and we can cut through past St. Paul’s and on to the rendezvous point. Maybe we can even get an ice cream while we’re at it,” Chase suggested, his gaze flickering up and down the street, his body tense with that ever-present awareness she had become accustomed to.
“Ooh, yes please.”
They walked in companionable silence for a few minutes before coming to a corner shop. The place was ram packed with products, the shopkeeper barely visible behind the counter covered in rotating displays and racks of chocolate bars. Smiling as she looked around, Beth figured someone could probably find everything they needed in this one store. From tins of custard, frozen pizzas, condiments, beach towels, and flipflops through to plasters and safety pins. In fact, browsing the narrow aisles, she thought the only thing that was missing was fresh fruit and vegetables. She let Chase lead her to the chest freezer, and peering through the sliding glass doors that topped it she selected a tub of Cornish vanilla ice cream. Rich and creamy, it was by far the best ice cream around as far as she was concerned. She smiled as Chase selected a multi colored ice lolly. More refreshing sure, but nowhere near as satisfying.
Walking up to the till she placed her ice cream on to the counter and suddenly froze. What on earth was she going to do? She didn’t have her bank cards, didn’t even have any cash. Embarrassment washed over her as she realized it had never occurred to her she’d need to pay for the ice cream. She couldn’t expect Chase to keep buying for things for her.
As her mind panicked, Chase simply handed a note over to the shopkeeper.
“Thank you,” she said to Chase, whilst mentally trying to tot up what he must have spent on her so far. The least she could do was keep track and eventually pay him back.
As the balding man rang up their purchases Chase twirled one of the rotating displays. It was filled with so many sunglasses that they were balancing precariously on top of each other. Each of the protruding holders supported at least two pairs. He pulled off a pair with large round lenses and with a smile placed them on her face, his fingers brushing through her hair and lightly touching her temples as he did so. The gentle contact made her chest tighten, and she drew in a breath.
Broken Trust Page 8