01 - The Heartbreaker (22 page)

Though Chase understood the severity of the situation, he wouldn’t be letting Raina manipulate him this time around. “Mom, it’s time to drop this subject.”

“After I have my say.”

Knowing she’d talk no matter what, he settled into Rick’s abandoned chair. “I’m listening.”

Raina turned toward the window, giving Chase the chance to study his mother some more. She’d aged but still had maintained the beauty she’d had in her youth. She’d also kept the wisdom and heart that led her to do impulsive things in the name of protecting her family. Chase couldn’t imagine his life without her in it.

“I’ve made many mistakes,” Raina said finally. “And manipulating you boys into thinking I was sick was a doozy. But it wasn’t the biggest mistake I made.”

Chase couldn’t help it; he laughed. “Sorry, but I’m hard pressed to find a bigger one,” he said

“Aah, but I can. Letting you take over as parent when your father died. That was an error I can’t ever take back.” She sighed, slowly turning toward him.

He could see how difficult she found it to face him but didn’t understand why. “What else could you have done?”

“Sent you off to college, for one thing. Run the paper myself, for another. Raised your brothers like a single parent without relying on you, when you were just a boy yourself.” She shook her head and he was shocked to notice tears falling from her eyes.

“I was more than capable of handling things,” he reminded her, at a loss over what to do about her emotional state. Women and tears had never been his thing.

Which, he realized now, was probably why he’d stepped in so quickly and taken over when his father had passed on, not giving Raina the chance to make her own decisions or control their futures. He’d seen himself as the man of the house and acted accordingly. But in doing so, he’d denied all of them different paths. “What’s done is done, Mom.”

“I agree.” She pulled a Kleenex from the tissue box on the side table and blotted her eyes. “But the future doesn’t have to be a replica of the past.
That’s
what I need you to understand.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering how to explain. “I’ve come to terms with things. I have a great life. I have a great family. So what if I gave up a few things on the way? Who doesn’t make sacrifices?” he asked. “But it’s my time now and I intend to reach for my dreams.”

“I’m glad.”

A rosier glow touched his mother’s cheeks and relief washed through him. He’d obviously gotten through to her and she wasn’t going to worry about him when she should be taking care of herself.

“Just make sure you realize two things,” Raina continued.

“And what are they?”

“Make sure those dreams are present ones, not ones born in the past. And accept the difference between helping me raise your brothers, who were already half-grown pains in the ass,
and the joys of raising a family of your own.” Laughter tinged her voice but didn’t negate the seriousness of her point.

She wanted him married with children. That much hadn’t changed. “I hear you, Mom.”

“But you aren’t listening, are you? Life is short. It’ll pass you by before you know it, and if you let Sloane walk out of your life, you’ll have regrets. I don’t want you—after all you’ve done for us—to have regrets.”

He shook his head. “No regrets. I never look back.” Yet he didn’t want her holding out hope that he wanted to settle down like Rick and Roman had either. “But my future’s mine to determine, and like I said, I have my priorities in order.”

“The Chandler way,” Sloane’s familiar feminine voice said from the doorway. “Family first, kids never,” she said jokingly, paraphrasing his words the first time they’d made love.

Safety first, kids never.

Chase turned to see Sloane standing in the room, a strained smile on her beautiful face. After all they’d been through together, she knew him well. Though his words and thoughts wouldn’t surprise her, he saw her obvious dismay. His gut churned, letting him know in no uncertain terms that he didn’t like disappointing her.

He ran a hand through his hair, then stood and walked over, drawing her into the room. “What are you doing here?” he asked, unable to stop the smile on his face.

Just looking at her, pale from last night’s ordeal, but gorgeous anyway, made him feel lighter and happier than he had a right to be, considering his mother lay in a hospital bed.

“I came to see how Raina’s feeling, of course.” Sloane stepped toward the bed and pulled a pink rose attached to a G
ET
W
ELL
balloon from behind her back. “I wanted to bring a box of chocolates but thought I should check with your doctor first.”

“You’re such a sweet girl.” Raina beamed as she accepted Sloane’s gift.

When it came to Sloane Carlisle, his mother was in as deep as Chase. The only difference was, Chase knew how a woman like Sloane, her desires and her needs, would conflict with his newfound freedom in life. His instinct this morning had been the right one. Withdraw and steer clear.

“I plan to continue eating chocolates to my dying day—which won’t be for years. I have too much living to do,” Raina said. “I want out of here.”

Chase laughed. “I saw Eric walk by and wave. I’m guessing it’s just another hour or so until you sign the paperwork and get sprung.”

“Good. In the meantime, you two go on and leave me in peace. I’d like to nap.” She closed her eyes and turned her head to the side as if she were already down for the count.

Chase rolled his eyes. “She’s so obvious,” he said to Sloane.

She laughed, brightening his spirits. “I know. But she means well and she’s so cute.”

Raina cleared her throat, but her eyes remained closed.

“Anyway, I also wanted to tell you that I planned to go by the vet and check on Samson’s dog. Would it be okay if I brought him to your place? I know it’s a lot to ask, but I hate thinking of him alone there, when I could take care of him and—”

“Chase loves dogs,” Raina said from the bed.

“You’re supposed to be sleeping,” Sloane and Chase told her at the same time.

Raina merely smiled. “Great minds think alike. Married couples complete each other’s thoughts. Same for couples who should be—”

Sloane let out a laugh she was obviously unable to contain, cutting off Raina’s expected last word.

“Go back to sleep,” Chase snapped before his mother could meddle some more. “You can bring the dog to my place,” he said to Sloane. “Just ask Dr. Sterling to give us whatever we
need to feed him and tell him I’ll send him a check to cover the cost.”

“See? Beneath that gruff exterior, he’s such a softy,” Raina chimed in.

Sloane reached out and caressed his cheek. “He is, isn’t he?”

Her gentle touch seeped through his skin, warming him. Instead of enjoying, it made him nervous. If he let her, this woman could destroy his dreams of finally having his life to himself, no one at home to answer to, only his career ahead of him. He wasn’t sure why the goal that had sustained him for years suddenly made him feel cold and empty, but he wasn’t about to worry about it now.

Decision made, Chase stepped back, out of reach.

Sloane sensed his withdrawal immediately. Combined with what she’d overheard between mother and son, she understood Chase’s actions were deliberate. Raina wanted him to settle down with Sloane and Chase wanted no part of her plan. He’d have no regrets. He’d never look back. He’d said so himself.

She had no choice but to find Samson, fix the mess that her life had become, and move on. She turned to Chase, determined now to play things as cool as he was.

“I can pay for Samson’s dog myself, but thank you for offering,” she said in a more formal, more distant voice than she’d used with him before. Was it her imagination or did he flinch at her icy tone?

“Well, regardless of who pays, Chase can go with you. He’s finished here.” Raina waved her hand expansively around the room, ignoring the suddenly chilly undercurrents.

“No, I’m not. Not until I hear from your doctors exactly what’s wrong and your prognosis.” He folded his arms tight and Sloane had a hunch he was shutting her out more than trying to make a point with his mother.

“Ridiculous,” Raina said.

He raised an eyebrow. “Is it really? You got the best of me
once, Mom. I’m going to hear things from the doctor’s mouth this time.”

She frowned, pursing her lips in blatant disapproval, then turned to Sloane. “Well, before you drive over to the vet, at least call Dr. Sterling and make sure he’s in the office. People in this town take advantage of his good nature and expect more house calls than an old-time doctor used to make.” Raina fiddled with the wires connected to the heart monitor. “I want out of here,” she muttered again.

“Soon enough.” Chase nodded toward the phone. “Mom’s right. Call the vet first.”

Sloane didn’t like Chase telling her what to do in that cold voice, but she knew good advice when she heard it and stepped over to the table and picked up the phone. Dialing the number Raina gave her, she listened and hung up, resigned. “You’re right. I got the answering machine.”

“See?” Raina smiled, obviously happy to be correct. “Now you can stay here with us.” She patted the side of the bed with an unspoken request that Sloane join her.

She smiled at the older woman. “Much as I’d like to, I have an errand I have to run.” Besides, Chase obviously didn’t need or want her here.

“Where to?” Raina asked.

“None of your business,” Chase said.

Sloane covered a shocked gasp with a cough, walking over to his mother, edging between them and patting Raina’s hand. “I appreciate your asking. I’m going to visit my mother’s old house,” she informed Raina with a gracious smile. “I have the address you gave me.”

“Oh dear. You really shouldn’t go alone.”

“Why not?” both Chase and Sloane asked at the same time.

Sloane only knew she wanted to get out of the hospital and away from her escalating feelings. Chase just obviously wanted her gone.

She reminded him of his failings, and apparently, Chase Chandler held himself up to higher than human standards. He didn’t permit himself to have wants or desires that came before his family. She inhaled and squared her shoulders. Well, then, too bad for him. She wanted someone human in her life. Besides, she had her hands full finding her father. She didn’t need to add Chase’s hang-ups to her own. Much as she wanted to.

Raina clucked her tongue, as if chastising them both. “Because it’s an emotional situation and Sloane shouldn’t face the past alone.”

“It’s my mother’s past. Only indirectly mine.” Sloane shrugged, forcing herself to make light of the situation, at least until she left the room. “I’ll be fine.”

Raina expelled an exasperated breath. “But I don’t need Chase here.”

He shot her a glance, then leaned down on the portable tray that substituted as a nightstand and leaned closer. “All the more reason for me to stay.”

“Chase has a point,” Sloane said, through clenched teeth. She didn’t want anything he wasn’t willing to give. “He won’t be satisfied until he hears you’re going to be okay, and I don’t blame him. I’m just going to deal with some family skeletons, try to get the dog, and then go back to Chase’s. I’m hoping maybe we’ll get a call from Earl or get a lead on Samson so I can settle things here and head back to D.C.” She shifted her purse strap higher on her shoulder. “I want to get out of everyone’s hair.”

“Nonsense.” Raina waved a hand dismissively. “You’re not in anyone’s way. But if you do get any leads, make sure you call Chase here or at my place,” she said in her best dictatorial voice.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree with my mother. If something comes up, you call. Whoever’s after Samson is dangerous.” Concern flickered in Chase’s darkened gaze, a hint of longing he couldn’t hide.

But longing wasn’t enough, not without his willingness to act. “Don’t worry,” Sloane said with a flippant shake of her head. “I can handle my life. I appreciate all your family has done for me so far, but you have more important concerns now.”

Gathering her reserve strength, she walked away as if the man in the room meant nothing to her. She had no choice but to accept that unless he came to terms with his conflict, she was on her own. A place she’d been for a while now. But it was a place that was so much more lonely now that she’d known Chase.

S
loane was feeling brave until the moment she pulled up to her mother’s old house. As she stepped out of the car, her knees went weak and she began to tremble. She’d have given anything to have Chase by her side, but he was needed elsewhere and she didn’t begrudge him time with his family. Wasn’t she here to learn more about hers? Though what she thought she’d find, she wasn’t certain.

A cold fall breeze circulated in the air, keeping her blood pumping and her adrenaline flowing. She pulled her denim jacket close around her and focused on the house as she approached. The old Colonial looked well maintained. With the kids playing out back and the American flag hanging on the porch, Sloane figured the house was also well loved.

Not wanting to scare the kids by showing up in the backyard, she knocked on the door, intending to ask permission.

A woman opened the door. “Can I help you?” She wiped her hands on her jeans and leaned against the door frame.

Faced with the owner, a woman with bobbed hair, manicured nails, and a friendly smile, Sloane wasn’t sure where to begin. “This may sound silly, but my mother grew up here and . . . Well, I was wondering if I could look around?”

The woman smiled. “I don’t see why not.” She opened the door wider. “Come on in.” Stepping back, she let Sloane inside. “I’m Grace McKeever.”

“Sloane Carlisle,” she said, opting for honesty. She looked around at the floral wallpaper and dark wood floors and furniture. She had a hunch the house had been redecorated recently and had changed much since her mother resided there. “How long have you lived here?” she asked the woman.

“About eight years. From what I understand, this house has changed hands many times.” She gestured around the large entryway and toward the circular staircase in front of them. “I’m not sure what you’re looking for, but feel free to wander.”