Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Are you kidding? I thought about it all the time, Chase. Every guy I was with, I wanted them to be you.”
And maybe it would have been if I hadn’t been a coward. “I’m here now.”
“I finally wore you down,” he joked. “Got tired of me giving chase and had to give in, huh? And that was cute as hell—giving chase, you know, your name.”
A deep laugh vibrated through my chest. He could always do that to me—make me laugh. “You’re a dork. I’m glad you didn’t give up, but know that I’d be the one to chase you now if I had to.”
“I know,” Kellan replied and kissed my chest. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep tonight. I thought I’d be able to, but I can’t help but wonder if someone is out there.”
“Yeah, I know. Me too. We can head to your place if you want.”
“No.” Kellan shook his head. “I want to stay right here.”
“Then we will. I’ll talk to you until you fall asleep.”
But he didn’t fall asleep. Neither of us did. We lay there and talked all night, about our childhood and funny memories. About Griff, and Kellan’s art, and my time in the Marines. We talked and held each other until the sun came up, then made love before getting up for coffee.
And as I sat there with him, I knew there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do to keep Kellan Caine in my life.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Kellan
The morning was a long one. Both Chase and I were tired from not sleeping. We’d already decided we’d stay at my place for a bit, which I hated giving in about. It felt like we were letting whoever had taken the photographs of us win, but I also knew I couldn’t go without sleep. I wasn’t sure I was ready to stay at Chase’s house, even though I wanted to.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea that I go with you?” Chase asked after our third cup of coffee. “It’s Griffin’s home. I don’t want to make him uncomfortable.”
“It’s my home too, and I want you there.” The thing was, I knew my brother well enough to know he would too. Yes, he was angry that we hadn’t told him about us, and yeah, he wasn’t comfortable with the idea of Chase and me as a couple yet—which eek! Was totally fun to think of us that way—but he also loved Chase. Griff would want Chase safe. It was the way Griffin was. I didn’t think there was a man with a bigger heart than my brother, a man who was such a caretaker as he was, except for the man I’d fallen in love with, who was the same.
“I’d still feel better talking to Griff about it first. And I can always get a room somewhere if you don’t want me to stay home.”
Oh, was that not the sweetest thing ever? Chase wasn’t afraid to stay home, but he’d still stay at my place. If that didn’t work out, he was willing to get a room if I didn’t want him to stay alone. “If you go get a room, I do too. And if Griff isn’t comfortable with it, we’ll stay with Josh.”
He nodded just as the doorbell rang. We both tensed up. Chase shoved away from the table, stalked over, and looked out the window. “It’s Chief Potter.” He tugged the door open.
“Chase,” the gray-haired chief said. “Kellan.” He nodded at both of us.
“Do you have any news?” Chase asked.
“Come in,” I added, walking over. “Have a seat. Do you want some coffee?”
“Sorry. One-track mind,” Chase said.
“No worries, Hawthorne.” Chief Potter came in and sat on the couch. “And that’s okay, Kellan. I appreciate the offer, but I won’t be here long. I wanted to let you both know that Buck has an alibi for the night the photos were taken.”
“Who is it?” Chase asked.
“You know I can’t tell you that, son.”
“Fuck,” Chase gritted out. “This is such bullshit. I shouldn’t be on leave right now, and you know it.”
“Yes, you should. Any officer would be. My hands are tied here.”
I put a hand on Chase’s arm in support. Jesus, I hated that all this was happening and that Chase felt helpless.
“My dad?” Chase asked. His voice was clipped, like there was no emotion to it, when I knew there had to be.
“That’s the thing…we can’t seem to find your daddy. He’s not home and hasn’t been there. He’s not in any of his regular hangout spots, and all his friends say they haven’t seen him.”
My heart dropped to my gut, my whole body feeling too heavy and my heart aching. Not for me, but for Chase. His dad being gone wasn’t a good sign. It would kill Chase if his father was somehow involved in this.