01 - The Heartbreaker Read online

  Sloane chuckled. “Remember the extra bags of groceries?” she reminded Chase. “They obviously have someone staying with them.”

  And suddenly she knew who it was. Her father. Samson was hiding out with Pearl and Eldin, which explained why he was tired of ducking the cops. He was attempting to elude Rick at every turn while living under his nose. It would have been funny if the situation weren’t so pathetic.

  “I know I have stairs too,” he said. “Come over and we’ll figure something out.”

  Which was perfect, Sloane thought, because once she was gone, Chase might just appreciate the company Roman and Charlotte would provide.

  His voice brought her back to his conversation with his brother. “Pearl and Eldin don’t pay rent. Now they’re housing guests. Don’t you think they’re taking advantage?” Chase listened, then said, “Yeah, see you soon” before he slammed the phone down, still muttering to himself.

  “You’re in a foul mood this morning.” Sloane eyed him warily.

  He exhaled a long and deep breath. “Then come make me feel better.” He held his arms out, expecting her to roll into his embrace. But as she met his gaze, she recognized the same wariness in his expression that she felt in her heart.

  It was time.

  She shook her head. “I can’t. We both needed last night, but we’ve come to the end, don’t you think?”

  He sat up straighter in bed, arms folded across his chest, a barrier she couldn’t let deter her.

  “Your choice,” he said.

  She laughed, but the sound was bitter. “Not really.” She rose from the bed, grabbed for one of his T-shirts, and pulled it on. At least she’d be covered until she got back to the guest room, showered, packed, and moved on. “It’s your choice,” she said softly.

  He raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

  “I’m sure of myself and sure of my feelings, Chase. Despite everything that’s going on in my life, I know. I love you.”

  He flinched. She hadn’t imagined it, but to her surprise, his expression softened. “I love you too, Sloane.”

  The words warmed her heart despite the fact that she knew they wouldn’t change a thing. Still, shock and a jolt of hope filled her veins.

  “For a man of few words, you do choose them well.”

  She took a cautious step toward him, but he held out one hand to stop her. “I love you, but I can’t follow through on commitment any more now than I could when we first met.” Pain etched his expression, but she heard the definitive tone in his voice.

  She forced a smile. “You’ve already raised a family.”

  He nodded. “Been there, done that,” he said too lightly. “And I haven’t begun to reach for my professional dreams.”

  “You want more for yourself than to run the Gazette,” she said knowingly. “You need to prove yourself and the story of a lifetime’s hovering just within reach.”

  “You know me well.” A wry smile lifted his lips.

  She laughed despite the pain in her heart. “Yeah, I do.”

  “My entire life has revolved around other people—keeping the paper going for the town, maintaining my father’s legacy, supporting the family.” He shook his head. “Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do, but I’ve always dreamed of more.” He folded his arms across his chest. “I’ve always wondered what having my freedom would be like.”

  She nodded slowly. “Then you need to find out. Chalk us”—she gestured between them—“chalk us up to a case of bad timing.” She swallowed over her disappointment and sought to find the words that would allow her to depart with dignity. “I knew where we stood from the beginning,” she finally managed with a flippant shake of her head. “Which is why I’m making this easy. I’m leaving.”

  He swung his legs over the side of the bed and she forced her gaze away from his bare chest and naked body. Forced herself to focus on ending things, not getting caught up in sexual attraction that would lead to nowhere but heartache.

  “You aren’t leaving this house. Not until we know you’re safe,” he said as he stood.

  “I’ll be fine.” She glanced over to see Chase shoving his legs into jeans before walking around the bed and coming up beside her. So close she could inhale and smell the masculine scent that settled inside her and made her want so much more than he could give.

  “You’re not going anywhere I can’t keep an eye on you,” he said, shoving his hands into his back pockets.

  “It’s not like you have a choice in the matter. I don’t want to be your obligation anymore.” She opted to spell things out in language he’d understand. “But if it makes you feel any better, I’m going to my father.”

  “Samson sure as hell isn’t safe.” Chase narrowed his gaze. “And since when do you know where he is?”

  She shrugged. “Since five minutes ago. I think Samson’s staying with Pearl and Eldin.”

  “Just when did you plan on telling me?” he asked, his voice rising.

  She shrugged. “I’m not sure that I was. I mean, he’s my father; it’s my problem.”

  A muscle ticked in his jaw. “The last place the man stayed exploded and now he’s living in my brother’s backyard. I think that makes it my problem too.”

  She winced, knowing she couldn’t argue. Worse, she realized she hadn’t even thought in those terms. “God, I’m sorry.”

  His eyes, which had darkened with anger, immediately softened as he reached for her. “There’s a lot going on. Too much to take in all at once. But there’s also the fact that I care about what happens to you.” His hand grazed her forearm and his grip was soft as he caressed her skin with his more callused thumb.

  His husky voice and honest admission could be her undoing if she let it. “I only just figured out where Samson was staying while you were on the phone with Roman,” she said. “And now that I have, it’s a solution, don’t you think? I can stay with him and that will guarantee nothing happens to either Samson or Rick and Kendall, since my father’s men wouldn’t hurt me.”

  “That’s not a guarantee and it sure as hell isn’t a bet I’m willing to lose.”

  “Well, to increase the odds, I’ll call Michael and ask him to come up here. To fix things somehow.” She spread her hands wide. “And I’ll be out of your hair. Easy solution, all the way around.”

  He stared at her for a long minute, his hot, devouring gaze never leaving hers. “Go shower.”

  “What?” She shook her head, unsure why.

  “Go shower and I’ll take you over to Pearl and Eldin’s,” he said, feeling resigned.

  So he was letting her go. Pain cramped her belly, but what had she expected? That he’d beg her to stay? With regret, she pulled her gaze from his and walked out of the room. Out of his life would come later.

  Chase followed Sloane to Rick’s house in his truck, which was a good thing considering Sloane didn’t think she could be in close quarters with him and still walk away. After pulling up to the curb, she insisted they first talk with Samson before telling Rick that he had the man staying in his guesthouse.

  Sloane’s legs shook as she made her way to Pearl and Eldin’s, partly because she wasn’t sure of her reception and mostly because she knew this good-bye to Chase would be final.

  She knocked on the door, rapping quickly with her knuckle, before she could change her mind.

  The door opened a mere sliver. Considering Pearl’s reputation for friendliness and her tendency to welcome people with open arms, this secrecy cemented Sloane’s certainty. Samson was inside.

  “Pearl?” she called. “It’s Sloane. We met at Norman’s the other day and I was hoping I could talk to you.”

  Silence followed, but the door widened a little bit more. Taking advantage, Sloane tipped her head closer. “Pearl, please. I know you have Samson in there and I need to speak with him.”

  The admission had the opposite effect as the door slammed shut in Sloane’s face. She jumped back and barreled into Chase. His arms came around her, steadying he
r before she could fall or knock him over. Unfortunately, they didn’t let go either. And despite the weight of her jacket, she felt his body heat and the security that always came with Chase Chandler.

  “Looks like you’re right,” his husky voice said in her ear. “She’s hiding something.”

  His warm breath caressed her skin and she shivered. “Small consolation when they won’t let me inside.”

  “I think a visit by Officer Chandler might do the trick,” Chase suggested.

  Sloane stiffened and tried to turn around, but Chase held her in place. “You can’t turn my father in,” she said, panicked by the thought.

  “He’s not wanted for anything serious, Sloane. Rick just wants to ask him a few questions and protect him at the same time.”

  Why did anything that came from Chase’s mouth sound so rational, so certain, so right? “He obviously doesn’t want protection,” she said, refusing to be swayed by emotion.

  “Sometimes what people want and what they need are two very different things.”

  His husky voice sent tremors of awareness rippling through her body, as did the dual meaning behind his words. But she knew that his desires wouldn’t change his actions. She needed to get away from this man and the effect he had over her. “If you insist on telling Rick, then I’m going to talk to Samson first, so why don’t we split up and do what we each need to do?”

  His arms tightened around her instead, his lips hovering at her neck. “You make the simplest things so damn hard,” he muttered.

  “You’re fighting yourself and I refuse to pressure you.” Sloane forcefully wriggled out of his grasp. He’d come to her on his own or not at all.

  Chase nodded in agreement, stepping back. He had more self-control than anyone she’d met, damn him.

  “Rick needs to know what he’s up against. So we’ll play this your way,” Chase said. “You handle Samson and I’ll go see if Kendall and Rick are home.”

  “Okay.” She waited until Chase disappeared around front and turned back to the guesthouse, knocking once more. “Pearl, it’s Sloane and I’m alone.”

  Finally the door opened wide. Pearl grabbed Sloane by the wrist and pulled her inside. “Good Lord, girl, do you know how hard it’s been keeping this secret?” Pearl patted her bun. “Come eat.”

  Sloane blinked. From foreign intrigue to food. “Pearl, where’s Samson?” She glanced around the small entryway, from the fresh, bright paint to the older but immaculate couch and chairs in the living room.

  “He went to get his dog from Doc Sterling.”

  “Won’t that be like announcing his presence?” Sloane wrinkled her nose.

  “He’s just gonna take him. Doc doesn’t lock his doors,” the older woman said. “No one in town does.”

  Sloane merely blinked at that. “But I’m sure he’ll figure out that Samson has him.”

  “But he won’t know where Samson is. Unless you tell him.” Pearl leveled her best glare on Sloane, which wasn’t worth much since sweetness oozed from the older woman’s voice.

  “Pearl, Chase is telling Rick as we speak. This isn’t a safe situation for anyone involved,” Sloane said, coming to a decision. “Can I please use your phone?”

  “Oh surely. Are you going to tell Chase to keep that reporter’s mouth of his quiet?” She leaned closer, obviously enjoying the intrigue.

  Sloane laughed. “No, but I am going to put an end to this once and for all.” Following Pearl to the kitchen, Sloane picked up the phone and called Michael Carlisle.

  He answered his private line on the first ring. “Carlisle.”

  “Hi, Dad. It’s me, Sloane.”

  “Sweetheart, I have been so worried.” Her father’s voice dropped an octave, the relief he felt on hearing her voice evident.

  A little girl’s need to have her daddy rose up along with adult respect for the man who’d raised her and loved her. “I need you, Dad.” Her voice cracked and she didn’t care, didn’t bother holding back the tidal wave of emotion.

  “You don’t have to ask twice. You never did. Madeline said you’re in Yorkshire Falls. I can be there by tonight.”

  Turning away so Pearl, who was obviously eavesdropping and watching with eager eyes, couldn’t witness everything, Sloane blotted her eyes. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  She hung up, realizing she didn’t have to make peace with Michael Carlisle’s decision not to tell her the truth about her parentage. She already had. She could forgive him because he loved her and had shown her that in so many ways over the years. But because she now knew the truth, she understood herself better too. And hopefully, now she’d have the time to get to know the eccentric man who’d sired her.

  “I think this occasion calls for a brownie, don’t you?” Pearl asked.

  Sloane turned back to face her hostess. “Sure.” She might as well eat while she was waiting for Samson.

  As she shared a chocolate square and hot tea with Pearl, the man Sloane sought finally arrived.

  Samson walked in through the back, his pug following close behind. “Had to run from the cops, avoid a reporter, and that damn man who kept asking directions. Then Dog here had to make a run for it when that dumb-ass mongrel Rick and Kendall call Happy came bounding round the side of the house,” Samson grumbled, not looking up or noticing Sloane. “What the hell kind of name is Happy for an animal, anyway?”

  “I suppose Dog is better?” Sloane couldn’t help asking.

  Samson frowned, glancing from Sloane to Pearl. “What’s she doing here?”

  “I’m looking for you.” Rising from a chair in the kitchen, Sloane rubbed her damp palms against her pants.

  “And I couldn’t very well leave her on the doorstep, now could I?” Pearl put a hand on Sloane’s shoulder. “It’s wintertime.”

  “It’s not quite winter yet. Anyway, how’d she find me?”

  “Any reason you don’t just ask me?” Sloane said.

  His scowl deepened. “ ’Cuz if I ignore you, maybe you’ll go away.”

  “Samson Humphrey, you apologize this instant,” Pearl said before Sloane could react. “I won’t be putting up with rudeness in my house. Just ask Eldin. We speak with respect here, or we don’t speak at all.”

  “Then there must be a lot of quiet time ’round here,” Samson grumbled.

  Sulking, Pearl folded her arms over her ample breasts, then lowered herself into the chair Sloane had vacated.

  This wasn’t getting them anywhere. Although Sloane knew better than to be insulted by Samson, who treated everyone with the same surly disdain, there was a part of her that wished he’d look at her differently and talk to her like the little girl he’d lost. But that was a lot like wishing Chase would treat her like the woman he loved and wanted to raise a family with. Neither wish would be coming true.

  At this point, she’d settle for being allowed to stay with Samson during the little time she had left in Yorkshire Falls. And she didn’t think he needed to know Michael Carlisle was on his way here either.

  “Look,” she said, coming up to Samson. She scooped up the pug for good measure and petted his head. “I need a place to stay, and since we want to get to know each other, I thought I could stay with you,” she told Samson.

  It wasn’t until she’d spoken the words aloud that she realized she was afraid he’d say no. Reject her. She curled her fingers into the fur on the dog’s back.

  “The sofa in the family room pulls out,” Pearl said at the same time Samson growled at her.

  “You ain’t staying here. I said I wanted to know if you was mine, but I didn’t say I wanted no kid in my life.”

  Sloane shut her eyes, but his words remained out there. “It would just be for a day or two. Until I’m ready to go home.”

  “Stay with your boyfriend. There’s no room here,” he said, a defiant tilt to his chin and an uncompromising tone in his voice.

  Even Pearl, whose eyes had opened wide, merely remained silent.

 
“Chase only wants me when I’m some damsel in distress,” she admitted aloud for the first time. And the notion hurt.

  Samson’s head jerked up and he met her gaze.

  Eerily familiar eyes stared back at her, reinforcing a family resemblance she hadn’t acknowledged until now. But he glanced away just as quickly, severing the connection. Apparently, two men were about to turn her out of their lives, but she forged on, determined not to make it easy on Samson. “I can stand on my own two feet just fine.”

  “Maybe you can, maybe you can’t. Depends on what kind of stuff you’re made of.”

  “I’m made of your stuff,” she shot back. “And apparently, you’re not that much of a recluse if you’ve heard the gossip about me and Chase.” Sloane straightened her shoulders, holding her own with him.

  “Yer shacking up with the man. How could I not know?”

  She sighed, not wanting to let him get off track. “I think we have some things to discuss, like my mother, for one, and where you’re going to live, for another.”

  He waved a hand, dismissing her. “I don’t remember saying I wanted or needed you in my life. I can handle things without your help, thank you very much.”

  She bit down on her lower lip. “What if I want to know you?”

  “Then you’re flat out of luck. Now give me my dog.” He grabbed his animal out of her arms and turned away.

  She told herself it was fine. He hadn’t been a part of her life until now and she didn’t need him in her future.

  She’d ensure his safety from her father’s men and be gone. But her emotions didn’t match her thoughts and the pain she felt was raw. Her chest hurt and her throat grew full. She swiveled toward the front door, but instead of an escape from the hurt, she found more.

  Chase stood at the open door, along with Rick and Kendall, and a couple she’d only seen in pictures but recognized as Roman and a very pregnant Charlotte. All witnesses to her humiliation.

  Oh, she didn’t need this now. Unable to deal with the embarrassment, she walked past them without meeting anyone’s gaze and headed for the street. Her rental car beckoned like the haven she didn’t have, and ignoring the voices calling her back, Sloane unlocked the car, slid inside, and drove away.