Bachelor CEO (McDaniels #1)

Chapter Fourteen

Don Henley had a song with a line saying something about work not keeping you warm. As Chase replayed “The Heart of the Matter”

on his iPod for the tenth time during his nightly jog, he realized what was bugging him.

Sacrifices sucked.

It had been a month since he’d been named CEO. In that time he’d worked ten-hour days, except for a one-day trip he’d taken to see Cecilia’s baby, and he’d worked his body into even leaner shape.

He’d drop into bed each night exhausted, but he never really slept. Instead, he replayed every moment he and Miranda had spent together. It hadn’t taken him long to realize he’d made the dumbest mistake of his life. He’d let her go.

But there was no way to have her and be CEO. He’d been over every possible solution.

He, Chase McDaniel, would not have his Heidi, as his grandfather had. Chase’s role was to build the company into something his nieces and nephews would want to run, or at least into something he could sell one day and set the entire family up for life.

He had to be content with that. Tomorrow was Friday, and he’d taken the day off so he and his grandfather could go to Lone Pine. Leroy had been going stir-crazy in Chenille and wanted to visit the lake one last time before they closed the lodge for the winter. The doctor had agreed with the trip, so long as Leroy had a nurse nearby just in case.

Chase hadn’t been to the lake since the weekend with Miranda. He knew it would only make him miss her more. The caretaker had long ago cleaned up any mess left in the haste of getting Leroy to the hospital, so Chase had had no reason to return.

If all went well, next year Leroy would spend the entire summer at the lodge, having handed over the reins to Chase. So far the transition was going smoothly. An interim vice president was in place and Chase worked well with her. The next meeting with Rhodes Printing was a few weeks away, when company representatives and Iowa officials would arrive in town for a site visit.

Chase reached his house and went inside to shower and pack. He’d hired a limo so that he, Leroy and the nurse could travel in greater comfort. His phone rang and he picked it up.

“Making sure nothing’s changed,”

Leroy said.

Chase held the phone against his ear with his shoulder and stripped off his shorts. “Not on my end.”

“Walter and his wife are meeting us there. They’ll be in the cottage.”

This was a surprise. While Walter did normally spend a week at the lake, Chase had thought this year would be different, since Leroy was in Chenille. Maybe that’s why his grandfather had been so insistent on heading to Lone Pine this weekend.

“Chase?”

“I’m here,”

he replied. “I’ll see you tomorrow at seven.”

“You will be able to handle Walter, won’t you? He was rather harsh last time you saw him.”

Chase answered with a question. “Have I been doing a good job?”

His grandfather sighed. “You’ve gone above and beyond everyone’s expectations.”

“Then it’ll all be fine,”

Chase said. He made himself a promise not to ask about Miranda. She’d told him to go, and he had. Everything they’d had was in the past.

So why did his heart still hurt?

AS THE SUN DIPPED below the horizon, ending yet another Friday, Miranda tightened her grip on the steering wheel. She shouldn’t be here. She’d sworn she’d never come back.

But she’d been in Minneapolis–Saint Paul retrieving her car, close enough that she couldn’t say no to two people who meant the world to her.

After leaving Chenille, she’d put her car in long-term parking and flown to Vancouver, Canada. She’d spent the past month at a high-end wilderness resort, isolated from the rest of the world, basically licking her wounds.

Sadly, Chase had been right. After the first few days, she’d been antsy. By the time she left, she’d been stir-crazy. The resort was beautiful, a full five star establishment. She hadn’t skimped on the money. But there were only so many yoga classes she could take, so many books she could read and so many hikes through the woods she could go on before Miranda longed for what she did best—work.

No wonder Chase had arrived home at the first opportunity. She’d relaxed, but she’d never been able to turn off that driven, alpha side of her personality. While being one with nature was enriching and enlightening, she didn’t find just “being”

very satisfying. She liked supervising things and solving problems. She needed to do something.

Her plan was to return to Chicago and start the job search. She’d save the rest of her severance for a rainy day. Despite what she’d told Chase in a fit of bravado, traveling the world could wait.

She reached the turnoff, and her tires crunched over the gravel that led to Lone Pine Lake. Walter and his wife were staying at the cottage, and she’d agreed to meet them and spend one night before continuing on to Chicago. When she’d spoken to them a few days ago to confirm, Walter had assured her that Leroy was doing quite well. Neither of them had mentioned Chase.

Still, her fingers grew even tighter on the wheel as she reached Lone Pine. In the distance she could see that a few lights were on in the lodge, but neither Chase’s nor Leroy’s car was parked out front. She loosened her grip. The McDaniels weren’t here.

She parked next to Walter’s car, turned off the engine and hopped out. Although she couldn’t see them, she could hear Walter and his wife talking.

“Hey,”

she called.

“Ah, Miranda! We’re in here.”

Christine answered from the porch. “Let me turn a light on.”

“No need. Then the bugs will swarm. I can see well enough.”

Miranda knew the short path by heart, and soon pulled on the screen door and entered. Walter and his wife sat in Adirondack chairs, several citronella candles providing a romantic glow and protection against any insects that got through the screens. Both rose to their feet and hugged her.

“I’m so glad you didn’t chicken out,”

Walter told her as he released her.

“I’ve missed you two,”

she replied.

“You didn’t enjoy Canada?”

Christine asked.

“It was lovely, but I’m ready to get back to work.”

“I’ve heard about a company that needs a vice president,”

Walter said. “You’d be perfect for the job.

“You can tell me about it tomorrow. I’m pretty beat. I lost two hours, flying east, and I had to get up really early to catch my flight.”

“Grab her bags, Walter,”

Christine insisted. The screen door banged as he left. “Are you doing okay?”

“I’m fine,”

Miranda lied. “It gets easier every day.”

“Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry. Walter told me what happened. I never imagined you would fall for Chase. Do you still love him?”

Tired as she was, Miranda didn’t even question how Walter knew about that. Leroy had probably told him. Hopefully, that was as far as the revelations went. “I don’t know. I think I’m still grieving.”

“That’s understandable and so normal. My son is going through a divorce. It’s horrible. At least you didn’t marry the man.”

“We were never like that,”

Miranda said. They hadn’t even dated. They’d just had sex.

“Still…”

Christine soothed. “Come inside. Your bed is all made up and you look exhausted. We were about to turn in anyway. We were just waiting for you.”

Fifteen minutes later Miranda was settled in the room she’d stayed in her first time here. An hour later she was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. While she was physically exhausted, being at Lone Pine brought back too many memories and emotions that kept her awake.

She clicked on the light and picked up the novel she was reading, but after staring at the page for several minutes, unseeing, gave up.

Tomorrow she was leaving. She might as well go down to the dock for one last visit. Maybe that would finally exorcise the demons and lay them and Chase to rest.

She slid out of bed and carried her flip-flops in her hand so she wouldn’t wake Walter and Christine. The moon wasn’t full, but there was enough light to see, and soon she was dangling her feet from the end of the pier.

A sense of peace had washed over her the minute she sat down. The world was still, except for nocturnal creatures searching for food and mates. Then she heard something else—the motor of a boat. She peered through the night, but didn’t see anything. It was probably the sound of a fishing boat far out across the water. Lone Pine’s runabout was gone, but she assumed the caretaker had put the craft in dry dock after she’d called about Leroy.

She lay back and folded her hands under her head so she could stare at the stars. Even Canada couldn’t compare to this, and where she’d been, the sky had been as close to heaven as one could get.

This place was magical. She sighed. She was going to miss coming here.

Water began to lap at the dock, and Miranda rose up on her elbows. The bow of a boat came into view about fifteen feet away. The craft was hugging the shoreline, and for a moment Miranda worried the driver wouldn’t see the dock, since a big oak tree jutted from the point.

But the boat maneuvered around it smoothly and came closer. She realized why as the man on board grabbed the post at the end of the dock. The words left her mouth at the same time they left his.

“What are you doing here?”

“ME? I LIVE HERE.”

Chase stared. He’d been out on a night cruise, seeking solace. He certainly hadn’t expected to find Miranda sitting on the dock like some water nymph. His libido slipped into overdrive and he tried to calm himself. Even in the shadows she was breathtaking. “And you?”

“I’m staying the night with Walter and Christine. Tomorrow I leave for Chicago.”

Her tone turned accusatory. “I didn’t think you’d be here. Where’s your car?”

“We hired a limo. Leroy needed the space to stretch out.”

Chase drew the boat alongside.

Miranda’s jaw dropped. “He’s here, too?”

Chase nodded. “For the weekend. We’re closing up the house. And he wanted to visit with Walter.”

“When did Walter learn you were coming?”

Chase shrugged. “I think they arranged this trip sometime last week.”

“I don’t believe it. Of all the sneaky things to do.”

Miranda jumped to her feet.

Chase killed the engine and tossed her the rope. “So what’s going on?”

“Walter. He told me Leroy wasn’t coming…No, I guess he didn’t. I just assumed.”

She looped the rope, securing the runabout. “I’m sorry, but it seems as if Leroy and Walter are doing some matchmaking. Walter knew I was flying into Minnesota today and he insisted I come by and visit him and Christine. I didn’t realize you would be here or I would have said no.”

Chase hopped onto the dock. “You’re a surprise to me as well.”

And not a bad one. He thought of her often. He missed her. And right now, in the soft moonlight, she was a vision. “How are you doing?”

“I’ll be fine once I get out of here.”

She stepped forward, but Chase stood between her and the shore. He held his ground.

“Do you hate me that much?” he asked.

She waved him aside. “It’s just better if we avoid each other.”

“That day at my grandfather’s, he suggested we talk. Perhaps our meeting here is a sign that we should.”

“Oh Chase, what is there to talk about? Haven’t we said all that needs to be said?”

The answer came to him in a flash. “No, we haven’t. I was wrong.”

She sighed and planted her hands on her hips. “Please don’t start. You’re never wrong. You know, I was bored in a week’s time. There. I said it. I’m headed to Chicago to find a job. So don’t. I’m already beating myself up enough with the fact that you were right.”

He ran a finger down her forearm. She jerked, but not like someone who hated his touch. “I’ve missed you terribly.”

She looked startled and her arms straightened. “You have? I don’t believe you.”

He captured her hand. Her skin was warm and soft. “Everyone in town constantly asks about you. They miss you, too.”

She tried to pull away, but he held on tighter. “They’ll get over it,”

she stated.

“I won’t.”

He wished she’d believe him.

Her lower lip quivered and he hated that he’d hurt her. “Chase, don’t lie. You were over me before your grandfather’s heart attack. I saw the picture of you and that girl in Colorado.”

Ah. That explained so much. Another missing puzzle piece dropped into place. “Is that why you’re so mad?”

“I was never mad,”

she retorted.

He couldn’t help himself; he smiled. “Liar. You were jealous.”

“You need to stop thinking so highly of yourself. We had sex. It was nothing.”

“If you really believe that then let’s have sex again. Right here. Right now.”

She sputtered and stared at him as if he were crazy. “That’s ridiculous.”

He pulled her into a tight embrace. He’d so missed holding her. “Why? We had really great sex. The best of my life. I haven’t even kissed anyone since I last kissed you. As for the girl, we were hiking buddies on that trip, nothing more. So indulge me. Let’s give ourselves another night to remember. After all, you’re saying it’s meaningless. So more pleasure for pleasure’s sake shouldn’t matter.”

She shoved against him and he let her go. He’d pushed her far enough. He knew what she’d do, but still thanked the heavens when she reacted as he’d hoped.

“No. I’m not a piece of meat to be chewed up and spit out.”

“You weren’t then. Why would you be now?”

Chase ran a finger down her arm again. Now they were getting somewhere. The first wall had cracked. She’d revealed her jealousy, meaning she cared. He’d learned that he’d hurt her—she thought he’d used her and cast her aside.

Even though she’d said she was okay with one night of sex, she really wasn’t. Their lovemaking had been much more, and she was finally close to admitting that.

A flicker of hope flared to life and he pressed further. To have a chance, they were going to have to pull down all the walls between them. Through the physical they could get to the emotional. To the heart of the matter. To the truth—that they belonged together. “See how your body reacts to my touch?”

“Stop it. I’m not going to have sex with you again.”

“Because our connection scares you.”

She scowled. “I’m not scared.”

“Oh yes, you are. Because the only time we’ve ever been honest with each other has been on this lake. I made a horrible mistake in letting you go. I’m not doing that ever again.”

“I can’t just have casual sex with you. I shouldn’t have that night.”

“Who said the sex would be casual? I didn’t. That’s not what I want, either. Don’t you realize the reason we fight is because you and I have feelings for each other?”

“I can’t do lust.”

She was still missing the point. “I’d say what we feel for each other goes a lot deeper than that—much deeper, and far more serious.”

Chase reached out and took her hands. She didn’t pull away. “My grandfather said something that surprised me.”

“What was that?”

she whispered.

“He told me that you and I look at each other the way he and my grandma used to.”

Chase moved his thumb in a circle on her palm. “You never met Heidi, but to this day I can picture the love she shared with him.”

“Oh, Chase, that’s so not us.”

“It could be,”

he said stubbornly.

She tried to free her hands but he held them tight.

“What will it take to make you believe me?”

he asked. “I made the biggest mistake of my life. I don’t want to make another one.”

Her eyes widened. “You keep saying that.”

“Well, it’s true. I chose McDaniel. I chose my name on the company letterhead. I couldn’t see any way to be CEO and still have you. So I lost you. It hurts to admit how stupid I was.”

“You made the right decision. I would have done the same thing.”

The night seemed to envelop them. Even the sounds of nature faded as she reassured him. She was so wonderful.

“No, you wouldn’t. In fact, you didn’t. You resigned instead. You sacrificed yourself and your dreams to make me happy, like my grandfather did for my grandmother when he failed that math test. Why would you do that? I can only think of one reason. It’s the same reason I sacrifice for my family. Love.”

“Chase…”

Again she tugged. But he refused to let go, afraid she would disappear.

He shook his head. “Please let me finish. When I first saw you, I told myself you were someone worth knowing. It’s like something inside of me knew you were the one I’d been waiting for. Then all this craziness with work started.”

“We can’t work together. We proved that.”

“Yes, we can work together. We can do whatever we want if we put our minds to it. You and I belong together. You and I deserve a chance to see what we can become. My job has never made me as happy as I was with you, here, that one weekend.”

Her mouth opened in protest. Oh, how he loved her lips. He loved everything about her. No sense in denying it. He’d found his soul mate.

“Lust. It blinds you,”

Miranda scoffed.

“Don’t downplay what we had. It was special, unlike anything else. I would trade my company to feel that way again.”

“What way?”

“Whole. Complete. Content. In love.”

MIRANDA TUGGED AGAINST his grip, but he still refused to let go. Didn’t he see this would never work? She’d spent the last month trying to forget him and the fiasco with McDaniel. Now here he was, saying things that she’d never get over.

“Chase, you don’t love me.”

His eyes held hers. “And you know what’s in my heart?”

Miranda faltered. Actually, she had no idea.

“Do you know what I gave up to be CEO?”

Chase asked.

She was so tired, and emotionally wrought. Every day since he’d left for Colorado had been hell. “What?”

“I gave up true love.”

He’d caught her off guard, but this time she got her hands free. “Please. Don’t.”

He reached for her again and she sidestepped. “Don’t what? Tell you the truth? Tell you that I’ve fallen in love with you? Because that’s the only explanation for the pain I’ve been in since you left.”

“You don’t know what love is,”

she said, still unable to believe.

His posture was strong and certain. “Oh, but trust me, I do. I’ve seen perfect examples in my siblings, my parents and my grandparents. The only time I’ve ever been overpowered by emotions I never experienced before has been with you. I overreact. I say things I don’t mean. I want so much to knock down the walls you hide behind. I want you, but it’s so much more than sex. I want a future, and for the first time in my life, I can’t find a way to make that happen. Tell me, what do I have to do so we can be together?”

Tears came to her eyes. “I don’t know.”

He lifted her chin with his fingers and peered into her eyes. “It’s about forgiveness. I love you. Please give me another chance.”

She wanted to, but she’d been hurt before. Could she trust him? Could she bring down her walls and expose herself to pain yet again? “Chase, you can’t always get what you want.”

“I used to believe that. Not anymore. I love you. Please don’t walk away from me again. Stay.”

There were no guarantees. “Times change. What happens when it doesn’t work out? When you get tired of me? When the challenge wears off?”

“Not going to happen.”

She longed to believe him. “Chase…”

His brow creased and his lips thinned with determination. “I want forever. With you. That’s where this is heading. I’m done dating. I’ve found what I was looking for.”

“I need to think. I—”

He took her hand and pressed it to his heart. “We both analyze too much. It gets us in trouble. You don’t need to think. For once, just feel.”

The thump of his heartbeat reverberated beneath her palm.

“I love you,”

he said. “Tell me what it’s going to take.”

“Would you make me CEO?”

He laid his other hand atop hers. “Is that what you really want?”

No, it wasn’t. She’d thrown it out there to see how he’d react. “I want us not to fight. But I have to work. And I can’t have you undercutting me. No more power plays.”

“Equal footing.”

She nodded and tears began to flow. “Yes. That would be nice.”

“Shh.”

He drew her into his arms then. “Don’t cry. It’s all going to be good between us from here on out.”

“I’m so scared.”

He pulled her tighter. “I’ll let you in on a secret—so am I. But do you love me like my grandfather says you do?”

“Yes.”

The word seemed to carry on the still air. “And it’s hurt so badly. That’s why I quit. I couldn’t stay. Not loving you like this. You needed to be CEO more than I did.”

“I need you more than I need to be CEO.”

“It has to be a McDaniel on the letterhead,” she said.

“It will be. But our life is more important.”

He lowered his head for a light kiss. “I’m going to make all your dreams come true. I love you. It’ll be amazing what we can do, so long as we’re together.”

And in the stillness of the night, Miranda believed.