“No. It’s the guy who was here a little while ago,” she says from the doorway. “He’s back with a ton of stuff.”
I turn back to the door where another man is bringing in a dryer. It must be a contractor or something replacing the unit. Miss Abbie was struggling with a washer that broke down this morning.
“Put those in the business center. It’s around the corner and down the hall.” Miss Abbie’s voice comes from somewhere in the front.
Seconds later a man comes down the hall carrying two boxes that barely leave him enough room to see where he’s going.
“Miguel?” It’s the driver who brought me here last night.
“Hi Miss Jasmine,” he calls out cheerfully. “I’ve got a couple of computers here. Do you know where they go?”
“In here.” Rebecca points to the doorway beside us. “Let me make room.”
He hasn’t taken more than two steps when I figure out who’s likely playing Santa. But no, this isn’t his style. He’s more the self-proclaimed selfish bastard than the generous patron.
“Mr. Reynolds,” Miss Abby says with irritation.
My tummy churns, but the best I can do is step aside to let Miguel go into the room. He doesn’t spare me a glance. Though he has to know what’s going on.
Chase appears at the end of the hall. I don’t know if he’s waiting to see if I’ll run or if we should be waiting for a shootout at high noon.
“Mr. Reynolds.” Miss Abby comes running to stand beside him. She’s pale, giving me a worried look then addresses him. “I appreciate what you’re doing for the center.” She glances back to me for a split second. To his credit, Chase hasn’t moved. “But you can’t—”
“It’s okay, Miss Abby,” I tell her. If anyone’s ever needed to be let off the hook, it’s this woman.
Her shoulders sag. “Are you sure?” She’s somewhere between relieved and guilty.
“Yes.” I nod. That seems to break whatever’s holding him in place. Chase starts toward me, his gaze locked with mine, his steps eating up the space between us. He stops two feet away, and I have to tilt my head back to meet his eyes now that I’m in my old sneakers.
“Let’s give them some privacy,” Miguel says from the doorway. He and Rebecca go around us, heading to the front.
“I’m sorry,” he says without hesitation.
The tension around us shatters. What I wouldn’t give to be the kind of person to hold a grudge. I’m not; that’s why I left. But I’m not a fool. It’s fine to be sorry, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be walking out with him.
I nod toward the door, and he follows me into the business center. Turning, he stands in front of me. The man who broke me, and the man who made me realize I’m stronger than I thought I was.
“I understand if you can’t forgive me,” he begins. “This is no excuse, but I’ve had a bad time when it comes to trusting people.” If this is how he treats them, I can understand why. “It was part of the reason I came to teach at the university.”
“But you didn’t orchestrate my financial aid problem?” Outrage is heating up inside me.
“No, but I did use it to my advantage.”
I glare at him.
“I wanted you, but I thought I needed to keep a distance.”
“And this is how you thought it would work?” I ask, shocked. “By setting me up at an auction?” I finish in a harsh whisper.
He takes a breath. “When I said things didn’t work out with my ex, I downplayed it.” He swallows. “I found out she was cheating. She was planning on cutting out and she had a list with my account numbers and some items she planned to take with her. It’s the same thing I’ve found over and over when I have a client who wants me to look into their spouse.” He shakes his head. “I lost the ability to trust…” The dark circles under his eyes and pained expression have me thinking he might actually be honest. “I was fueled by anger and mistrust, and it was wrong to lump you in with everyone else. It wasn’t fair to you at all, and I’m sorry.”
“No, it wasn’t. I’m not like them…or her.”
“I know, and I know I fucked up, but I came to win you back.” He stops to take a breath. “Okay, maybe not the best way to say that, but I do want you in my life.”
“And this is your way to win me back?” I nod toward the boxes on the table. “By buying all this?” He pauses, and something inside me starts to whither.
“No. I did this because of a little girl in pigtails, holding a silver dollar pancake.” He gives me a sad smile. “I saw someone who reminded me of her. I don’t want this little girl to suffer because there was nobody there to offer a hand. Because sometimes having the clothes or the résumé for an interview can give you a chance at a life-sustaining job.”
Finally, he gets it. “Chase…” I never would have imagined he would learn from someone else’s hardship.
“And, if you decide to stay, it might give you a fighting chance, too.”
I have to bite my bottom lip while I’m blinking back tears. “Chase, you’re the most…” I shake my head, trying to string the words together.
“Self-centered, egotistical asshole you’ve ever met,” he says, reminding me of what I said last night.
Laughter bursts out. “Wonderful, generous, thoughtful,” I add, as his lips quirk up at one corner, “self-centered, egotistical, asshole…”
“Who’s ever fallen in love with you,” he finishes quietly.
My heart’s beating in my throat. “Chase…”
“I think it happened with your first ‘what makes your think’ argument.” He smiles. “I just took a really crooked path to let you know.”
“I love you, too,” I confess.
He pulls me into his arms, giving me a hard, possessive kiss. “Are you willing to give us a chance?”
“Are you willing to stop hacking?” It’s something that’s always bothered me.
“No.” He says firmly. “Miguel’s brother-in-law got taken for everything and lost his home and business. The guys out there, helping bring in the stuff for Miss Abby, used to work for him. All of them are unemployed, and it could take him years to get back where he was. I might be able to fix this for him.”
“So, you use your powers for the greater good?” I tease, feeling proud of him for thinking of a way to turn his knowledge into something positive.
“Well, mostly.” He shrugs. “I take what I do seriously, but I could use someone around who can keep me in line.”
“I might know someone who fits the bill.”
The End
Start the Blood Ties Series with Stealing Iris.
https://www.sahararoberts.com/books/blood-ties/stealing-iris/
Find out about Nina’s next recommendation by signing up for my newsletter!