“You must be referring to the guy she dated before me. The one who broke her heart,” Chase added for good measure. The point of all this was to show that Hayley had more sides than her boss and coworkers had seen. Showing some vulnerability on her part could only help, right?
Marvin laughed and shot him a look. “Broke Hayley’s heart? Really?”
He didn’t like what the man was implying. “Yeah. The guy was a real womanizer—was cheating on her for months before she found out,” he said. He really didn’t know why Hayley and her ex had broken up. It could be true. It would explain her aversion to men and commitment. “She was devastated and lucky for me, I was able to swoop in while she was vulnerable and win her heart.”
The man stared at him in disbelief and Lila cleared her throat and shook her head quickly. What had he said wrong?
“Sorry. You have to forgive our disbelief. It’s just that Hayley doesn’t come across as a fragile flower, you know. She’s tough and strong,” Marvin said. “I believe the Los Angeles Woman article called her a ruthless man hater.”
Article?
“Didn’t you read it?” Marvin eyed him with suspicion.
“Of course I did.” Or at least he was going to look it up the next chance he got.
“Well, then, you can understand why we have a hard time believing that Hayley could ever be heartbroken over a man,” Marvin said, lining up for his turn.
“Well, many people just don’t know her like I do,” Chase said.
He waited until the men headed off for the next hole before catching up with Lila. “How am I doing?”
“Great, honey, don’t sweat it,” she said, readjusting her sun visor over her red curls as they followed at a safe distance not to be overheard. “And don’t worry about that lie you told about James breaking her heart—no one knows what really happened, except me.”
“What did happen?”
“The same thing that always happens to Hayley’s relationships—he got too close, too serious, so she ended it.”
Wait a second. “She broke it off with him?” Hadn’t she told him that the dentist had called off the relationship?
“Not exactly. He proposed, she said no and well, there’s just no recovering from that,” Lila said as they reached the others.
He proposed, she said no. So the antimarriage thing really wasn’t an act. “Yeah, I suppose not,” he mumbled. “Excuse me. I’ll be back before my turn.”
Heading toward the restrooms, he removed his phone from his pocket and opened his internet browser. The roaming fee and data-usage charges were going to mean a hefty bill next month, but he needed to see this article for himself. Typing the name of the magazine, he waited for their latest digital issue to load on the tiny screen, then he flipped through the virtual pages of the issue to the Women On Top article. Top Woman Number Four—Hayley Hanna. The picture of her was spectacular. Dressed in a tight gray pencil skirt, white blouse and black, fitted jacket that exposed the tops of her tanned, beautiful breasts, she definitely looked successful. But ruthless man-hater attorney—come on... She was nowhere near that bad...
As he quickly scanned the article, the larger, bolder text of quoted phrases jumped off the page. She couldn’t possibly have said some of these things... Not the woman he was getting to know anyway...then again, how well did he really know Hayley Hanna? Maybe it was time they had another talk. There were things he, too, had failed to mention, and with Kendall’s arrival that evening, there would be no more avoiding it.
* * *
IN HIS HOTEL room later that afternoon, Chase removed his golf shirt as someone knocked on the door. He went to answer it, expecting to collect the dress pants he’d sent out for ironing. He opened the door and smiled. “You’re early...” Hayley stood in the hallway wearing a light pink strapless sundress and silver strappy heeled sandals. With her blond curls piled high on her head, a few strands falling around her face, she was breathtaking. “You look amazing,” he said, deciding to tone down the compliment, especially since she looked annoyed.
“We need to talk.” She moved past him into the room.
It was true, they did...but wasn’t he the one who was supposed to say that? What had Kate said? “Everything okay?” He closed the door and waited. His sister hadn’t given any indication that their afternoon shopping had gone sideways, and Kate wasn’t one to hold back if there was something to be said.
Hayley sat on the edge of his bed and shook her head. “I’m not sure we’re doing the right thing here. In fact, I know we’re not doing the right thing.”
“Kate said everything was great. What happened?” He sat next to her and she stood.
“Nothing, I just... Well, I’m starting to like your family and it’s one thing to fool my coworkers for a week, but I don’t think it’s fair to lie to your family like this.”
He stood. “You worry too much. Let me handle my family, okay?”
“Chase, I’m serious. Deceiving them is wrong. Kate is so wonderful and if she finds out the truth, it might ruin her wedding... I can’t breathe.” Her chest rose as she struggled for a breath.
“She won’t find out,” he reassured, stopping her pacing and squeezing her shoulders. “You have your own stuff to worry about.”
She frowned. “Why? How was golf?”
“It was fine... I didn’t mean to freak you out. There was actually very little discussed in the way of business, probably because I was there.” He touched her cheek. “Stop worrying. Everything’s going to work out.”
“Kate told me about Kendall,” she said quietly. Her face gave no indication about how she felt about that.
“I was going to tell you tonight,” he said.
“You should have been honest with me from the start.”
“Would it have made you reconsider going through with this?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Your situation had seemed less complicated than mine, but yours is actually much more so...”
Damn, was she going to back out now? “I know. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. I just... I don’t know why I didn’t tell you. Guess I didn’t want to look like a guy that was still hung up over his ex.”
“So you’re not?”
Not really. “No. I mean, it’s been over for a long time...she’s married and five months pregnant.”
“With your brother’s baby.” She raised an eyebrow.
“What else did my sister tell you?” After four hours with Kate, he suspected there was little to confess on his own anymore. Which was a relief in some ways. Talking about the situation with Kendall and Adam was something he preferred to avoid. Especially when his sister asked him how he felt about it. How was he supposed to feel? He was happy for them. Deep down he knew he’d never have been able to give Kendall the life she wanted.
“She said Kendall couldn’t handle your commitment to your job and your ex-partner’s family—Mia and Angie.”
So basically, Kate had told her everything he should have. He cleared his throat to speak, but she continued.
“I think it’s admirable. What you did for them.”
He wrapped her arms around his neck and, placing his hands on her waist, he drew her closer. “It was a long time ago... Things worked out for them. Things worked out for Kendall and Adam. Things are good.”
“What about you? Are things working out for you?” she asked as they heard another knock on the door.
“I have a beautiful woman in my arms, so yes, things are working out exactly how I like them.”
Another knock.
She moved away. “I’ll go so you can get ready.” She still seemed uneasy, unsure, but he didn’t know what to say to ease her mind. “I’ll see you tonight.”
* * *
IN THE SHOWER moments later, Chase closed his eyes, letting the ho
t water flow over his body as memories of past failures resurfaced.
“How is this supposed to work, Chase?” Kendall had asked in the driveway of his apartment a few years before.
“The way it always has. Kendall, nothing is changing between us.” He’d almost been foolish enough to believe the words at the time. In a week his life had been turned upside down—losing his partner and best friend and now gaining the responsibility of the man’s family, whom he swore he’d take care of. Losing Kendall now would tear him apart.
“That’s the problem, Chase. Nothing ever changes between us.” Tears had filled her eyes then and he’d crumbled.
Women and tears. He never knew what to do with them. Kate’s teenage years had been torture on him and that week he’d seen enough tears from the women in his life. Now hers brought his own to his eyes. “I’m sorry... I know. Look, we can figure this out, I promise. I just need you to stay with me. Don’t give up on me yet.” He would have dropped to his knees and begged if that was what she’d needed him to do, but the look in her eyes had said it all. She’d shaken her head.
“I can’t continue being with someone who won’t even tell me he loves me, won’t ask me to move in...and is now living with another woman.”
He’d said he loved her, hadn’t he? It certainly had been implied. He’d never have been in a relationship for two years otherwise. And they’d never talked about her moving in. He’d assumed she liked things the way they were. And it wasn’t like he’d wanted this extra responsibility... “You know I love you,” he said, knowing the words were coming far too late.
“No, Chase, I don’t.” She’d wiped the tears from her cheeks, then and turned. “I have to go.”
“Kendall...” She was really leaving—now when his heart couldn’t take another break. “I’m sorry, Kendall...” How many times had he said those words in the two years they’d been together? I’m sorry I missed your surprise birthday party. I’m sorry I missed Thanksgiving dinner and I wasn’t there at midnight on New Year’s Eve. I’m sorry my job comes first. The truth was, he was sorry. So damn sorry that he couldn’t walk away from all of it for her, for them. But he couldn’t and now he certainly couldn’t walk away from Mia and Angie, the way she obviously needed him to. He’d made a promise to Will.
She’d turned back and hesitated, looking torn and anguished before saying, “It’s about protecting people, Chase. You are about protecting people. You just can’t help it, and when the people you’re protecting no longer need you to save them, you find someone else who does. Unfortunately, I haven’t needed your protection in a long time. I was sticking around hoping for your love.”
He’d swallowed hard and closed his eyes, unable to watch her disappearing figure as she’d gotten in her car and driven away. Hell, he couldn’t even argue with her. She was right. But he wished she could understand that protecting the people he loved was the only love he knew how to show. And that he was unable to give her what she really wanted—needed—from him. Now more than ever. Will’s death, his leaving his family had only served as a bitter reminder of what was at stake every time he put on his uniform.
Letting Kendall leave was the best thing for both of them.
As he turned off the water, he ran a hand over his scruffy five o’clock shadow. He’d sacrificed everything to do the right thing before. Would that part of him ever change? Or would a commitment to serving others always force him to sacrifice his own happiness?
Until that week, until meeting Hayley, he hadn’t had a reason to care about the answer.
* * *
“OKAY, I’M SENDING the picture of option number three,” Hayley said. Her light blue sundress with the flared skirt was one of three new dresses she’d bought at Whalers Village that afternoon.
“Receiving... Man, my phone is slow,” Terri-Lynn said. Only in today’s fast-paced society could someone say four seconds for a picture to transmit was too long. “Got it. Oh, this one is my favorite for sure.”
“You said that about the other two.” Hayley scanned the options on her bed. She hadn’t been able to decide which dress she liked most, so she’d splurged and bought all three. The pale yellow halter style—backless and floor-length—had caught her eye in the window. The short white strapless dress would make Chase drool, but the blue sundress was light, flirty and not too much...just enough.
“I know. They’re all so pretty... Maybe I need to see them on you. Try them on and then send me selfies.”
Hayley checked the time on her bedside clock. She had less than an hour to meet Chase before heading to the Grotto Bar near the pool at the Hyatt resort for drinks with his family...and Kendall plus baby bump. Her pulse raced. She still couldn’t believe Chase hadn’t been completely honest with her about all of this. Meeting his family had become complicated enough...this was so much more stressful. “I don’t have time for a fashion show.” She bit her lip. “I think I’ll go with the blue.” She had to stop stressing and get ready. She couldn’t wait to get that evening’s awkward meeting over with.
“Good choice... And, um, can I borrow the white one for my date with Mike next week?”
“Sure... Hang on—Mike? What happened to George?” The last text message she’d received from her friend two days ago had been a photo of herself with a guy who looked at least ten years older with the caption “husband number three—George.”
“Yeah, that didn’t work out, but I’ve got a really good feeling about Mike.”
Hayley laughed and it eased some of her tension. “Okay. Gotta go. Love you and please don’t join any weird cults or anything for this guy before you talk to me, okay?” She was kidding, but she really did worry about her friend and her chameleon ways. The ever-evolving Terri-Lynn must get dizzy sometimes.
Ending the call, she let the cell phone fall onto the bed beside her as she reached for the blue dress. The color had really brought out her eyes, and the low-cut neckline accentuated the length of her neck. Sliding it over her head, she yanked the tight fabric down over her hips and immediately rethought her decision. She needed to look perfect. There was no way she could come face-to-face with the only woman Chase had ever really loved and look anything but.
* * *
“I DIDN’T THINK it was possible, but you are even more beautiful than I’d remembered,” Chase said, leaning forward to kiss the cheek of the drop-dead knockout standing in front of him.
Hayley fought to control her thundering heart. “You just saw me two hours ago.”
Chase stood behind her and gripping her waist, he pulled her into his chest. “Two hours too long,” he whispered against her ear.
She moved away. “Stop it, you’re going to mess me up.”
“I don’t see the problem,” he said, a slow grin appearing on his lips. “You didn’t mind getting messed up yesterday in the water.” Damn, if the thought of the two of them hadn’t made him hard every time he’d recalled it. Which was every other second that day.
The flush of her neck and chest said she hadn’t been able to forget, either. “Yes, well, yesterday in the water, I wasn’t about to give an Oscar-worthy performance as your girlfriend.”
He tried not to trip over her words. Surely by now, it was more than just an act. He’d seen the way she looked at him, felt her passion come alive in her kiss and experienced her body tremble in pure delight when his hands explored her soft flesh. If that was all an act, then he was certainly fooled.
Reminding himself that he should be relieved she’d hadn’t brought up what would happen when they returned to LA was proving difficult. If she really was as anticommitment as he was, what would be the harm in continuing things?
His own growing feelings for her were the problem. She was getting too close, which meant she would be at risk of getting hurt.
“Ready?” she asked, interrupting his thoughts.
He wasn’t sure it was possible to ever be ready to see an ex—let alone one who was now married to his brother and expecting a child—but sooner or later, it was bound to happen. And with Hayley at his side, the sight of his youngest brother across the room holding Kendall’s hand as they talked and laughed with Cooper and Kate wasn’t the punch in the gut he’d been expecting, just a mild twist of his insides. His body must have given away his emotions, however, as he felt Hayley’s hand tighten around his.
“You got this,” she whispered as Kate turned in time to see them enter the underwater cave-like bar.
“Chase! Hayley!” she said, rushing to greet them. The others followed more slowly, cautiously, he noticed.
Oh, come on, what were they expecting from him? Anger? Sadness? Disappointment? Sure, he’d been through those myriad emotions, but now as two of the people he loved most in the world stood in front of him, he felt only happiness for them and a slight unease at the thought that he was deceiving them.
Adam looked nervous as he extended a hand. “Hi, bro.”
Chase pulled him in for a hug. “Hey, man. Good to see you.”
His brother’s face was pure relief as he pulled away. “You’re cool? We’re cool?” he asked.
Chase nodded. “Yeah, man, we’re cool.” His family was the most important thing to him and in that moment, he was the one who had every reason to be feeling guilty, not Adam.
Then he turned to Kendall and hesitated before saying, “My brother? Are you kidding me? Of all the men...” He broke off with a laugh as the look of nervousness on her face grew frantic. “I’m kidding, sweetheart,” he said, opening his arms.
“You’re a jerk, Chase Hartley. You just gave me indigestion,” Kendall said, hugging him tightly.
“That wasn’t me. That’s football head’s baby in there giving you grief...and it’s not even born yet.” He winked at his brother.
“He’s not even born yet,” Kendall said with a smile.
Kate nearly jumped out of her skin beside him. “Oh, my God! It’s a boy?” Her screech caught the attention of several bar patrons.
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