Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“Yeah, I know he can be a little gruff,” Billie said with a wince. “Do you mind me asking… why did you bid on Chase, anyway?”
“Because I need a date to my sister’s wedding next month in Massachusetts and he was my last resort. Literally,” she added wryly. “I was expecting to bid on Neil Pierson.”
Billie’s eyes grew wide with shock. “Wow, he actually agreed to accompany you to a wedding for an entire weekend?”
Lauren laughed at the disbelief she heard in the other woman’s voice. “It took some convincing, but yes.”
“I’m glad you gave him a chance,” Billie said, her tone heartfelt, showing just how much she cared for her brother. “I know Chase has this whole standoffish vibe going on, but underneath that cantankerous demeanor, he’s really a solid, decent guy.”
“I know,” Lauren said, realizing she meant it. Because despite Chase’s initial reluctance, he had responded to how open—and yes, even vulnerable—she’d been with him about her situation, when a man without a heart would have still refused to fulfill his obligation. She’d also seen that soft spot he had for Billie, which spoke volumes, too.
“I’m actually glad you won him,” Billie admitted softly.
Lauren blinked at the other woman. “You are?”
She nodded and smiled. “I think you’ll be good for Chase.”
“In what way?” Lauren couldn’t help but be skeptical.
Billie absently tucked a strand of pink hair behind her ear and shrugged. “You’re not like the other shallow, superficial women he dates, which I know he does on purpose. It makes it easier for him to suppress his emotions and keep his distance.”
“Why?” Lauren asked, intrigued by this deeper insight to Chase.
“It’s… complicated.” Billie paused for a moment, as if trying to decide what to reveal. “I think he harbors a lot of anger over what our mother, Darlene, did to his father, and how she left Chase when he was just a young boy,” Billie said, her tone tinged with sadness. “And there’s definitely lingering resentment toward his dad, who kept things from Chase until his father was literally on his deathbed a few years ago, like the fact that I even existed.”
Lauren’s heart clenched in her chest. She couldn’t imagine how painful that revelation had been for Chase, not to mention being abandoned by his own mother.
“Anyway, the things he’d had to deal with…” Billie’s voice trailed off and she shook her head, as if realizing how much she’d divulged. “I’m just letting you know that Chase has valid reasons for his walls, for not letting people in or getting too close, and I would love to see him loosen up and enjoy life beyond work. I just want him to be happy. Really happy, you know? And you’ve got such a great attitude in general, you’re so upbeat and positive, how can he not respond to that?”
Clearly, this man had many layers, and while she appreciated the insight to his psyche, which explained a lot of his behavior, the last thing she wanted was for Billie to pin her hopes on Lauren, thinking she could magically cure Chase of a life that had clearly been filled with pain and disappointments.
“I’m not looking to fix him,” she said, though a part of her wished she had the ability to do so.
“I’m sorry,” Billie immediately apologized. “I didn’t mean it that way. I know that nobody is responsible for fixing Chase and his suppressed issues and emotions except Chase himself.” Then, she smiled as she picked up the box of things Lauren had packed up for her. “But I can’t deny the thought of you shaking up his nice, orderly world doesn’t give me a bit of hope that maybe, hopefully, he’ll walk away from this experience a better man who smiles more and frowns a whole lot less.”
Lauren laughed, because that was a lot to wish for with a staid man like Chase, and her own powers of persuasion only went so far. It was going to be difficult enough to wipe that perpetual scowl off his face when he met her family. “I offer no guarantees.”
Lauren walked Billie to the elevator and once the other woman was gone, she returned to her office to finish an event contract she’d been working on for a client. Except the legalese kept blurring on the screen as her mind kept replaying what Billie had told her about Chase and his reasons for being so guarded. A few sentences, really, and most of it vague, but it had been enough to pique Lauren’s curiosity.
The man was such an enigma, and as unwise as it might be, she wanted to know more about him. She wanted to peel away those protective layers and soothe the hurt beneath, which was dangerous, because she suspected he wouldn’t appreciate anyone poking around and stirring up all those complicated emotions he obviously kept on lockdown. But damn if she didn’t want to try, because Chase Gossard was a paradox who intrigued her. On one hand, imposing and intimidating, and on the other, a man who’d been surprisingly compassionate and empathetic to her situation. He’d lowered all those defenses and reservations enough to give Lauren something important to her.