Page 10

Chapter

Three

Lizzy barely made it inside the gorgeous bedroom before the tears leaked out of her eyes and down her cheeks. She let them come, leaning against the door for support and hoping she could cry quietly.

Chase seemed like such a nice guy, and he’d been worried she was injured and then tried to reassure her that she didn’t have to explain.

She’d made it even more awkward. Why hadn’t she just told him?

The obvious answer was she’d trusted other men and they’d made fun of her, every time.

Chase already knew something was wrong, and the longer they spent together he’d notice even more.

Sometimes she could walk straight and not have her knees bow in, but when she got tired and stressed like she was right now, it always got worse.

He didn’t seem the type to ridicule anyone, but she didn’t know him well enough to be certain of that.

Looking around the spacious bedroom, she was as impressed as she’d been with the rest of the house.

The windows were large and showcased the greenery, lake, and mountains.

The furniture was a light wood like the interior and exterior walls.

The bed was interesting—two separate mattresses on top of a wooden frame, each with a rolled white comforter arranged artfully next to the pillow.

Was that something they did in all of Europe or just Austria?

Lizzy walked slowly into the bathroom, appreciating the marble countertops and glassed-in shower. There were high-dollar La Prairie skin products on the counter and in the shower. She’d seen those advertised on social media. Was that customary for rental homes to provide such expensive products?

She used the bathroom, washed her hands, and splashed some water on her face, peering at her red eyes. Shoot. Chase would know she’d been crying. Could she pass it off as jet lag? She actually felt pretty good, despite her legs being tired.

There was a closet attached to the bathroom.

It was spacious and already had clothes in it.

Had the previous occupant left all of these gorgeous dresses, wraps, and high heels with brand names she’d only seen on social media and dreamed about wearing?

Stepping up to a silky blue dress, Lizzy knew she could never wear a beautiful dress like this one.

The V-neck would reveal her scar for sure.

Disappointing and frustrating. She was sick of the scar and the pain and terror it represented.

A card sat on a long shelf. Next to it were separately folded piles of swimsuits, shorts, T-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, and pants. What was all of this?

She lifted the note.

Eliza,

I’m so happy you’re here! I hope you love the beautiful and scenic home, location, and most especially our beautiful and incredible Chase.

Lizzy’s cheeks got hot thinking about how ‘beautiful and incredible’ Chase was.

She was definitely not the type of woman he dated.

Could she believe him when he said he rarely dated and wasn’t a player like his friend Brandon Richards?

Madelyne and Brandon endorsing him didn’t mean much as they were his friends and could have a skewed vision of him.

Also, everyone knew Madelyne was Brandon’s girlfriend, but he dated dozens of other women at the same time.

That was no kind of relationship of trust. Rockwell’s endorsement of Chase felt more sincere.

After meeting Chase, Lizzy could see him escorting a little grandma to basketball games and asking girls who might not get a date to a dance. She liked those images of him.

Please use and take home any of the skincare products or makeup in the bathroom and please wear, and take home, any of the clothing you like. I bought it all with you in mind, wanting you to have a fun getaway and feel spoiled and pampered. You deserve it with all you do for the children.

Hugs and love,

Madelyne

So kind, but also humiliating. Madelyne had found her and researched her before offering her this trip.

The model girlfriend of a billionaire knew Lizzy wouldn’t have nice clothes.

It was thoughtful of her but still made Lizzy’s cheeks flare with heat.

Especially as Chase had noticed the red stain on the back of her dress.

She fingered the soft material of the blue Carolina Herrera dress and could only imagine how beautiful she’d feel at a fancy dinner with Chase in such a dress.

Would he wear a suit? Would he hold the door for her?

She was more drawn to him by the moment.

It was hard not to get caught up in this fantasy.

Until she remembered she couldn’t wear this blue V-necked dress and show off her ugly scar.

Sorting through the pile of swimsuits, she found a two-piece Karla Colletto red suit with a bandeau top.

It had the highest neckline and most coverage of any of them.

Still, it wouldn’t cover the barely healed knife wound.

She’d thrown her old threadbare swimsuit in the suitcase, but it wouldn’t cover her scar either.

Shoot. She hadn’t been thinking clearly when she’d insisted they swim instead of hike or bike. Actually, she had been thinking about how tired her legs were, and how she didn’t want it to get worse if they went on a hike or a bike ride right now.

Lizzy slowly took off her dress, glancing at the red stain on the back.

Chase had noticed so many awkward things about her.

He had to be wondering what he’d signed up for.

She hoped he’d already gone downstairs and was enjoying the pool instead of waiting for her.

She tried to move faster in case he was waiting but tripped over her own underwear and had to steady herself on the shelf.

She tugged on the red swimsuit. It was flattering and high quality.

It gave her full coverage of her chest and rear, but sadly nothing could cover up the puckered red of the knife wound.

The doctor had said the wound would fade with time, but she knew it would never disappear.

What to do? She wanted to wear one of the beautiful swimsuit coverups hanging next to the dresses, but they were either see-through or had a V-neck.

Instead, she picked up a LouLou Lemon T-shirt and shorts and slid them on.

They were comfortable and lightweight. Could she keep them on while they swam?

My goodness, she was awkward.

Lizzy let out a sigh as she shuffled back through the room. Despite sleeping on the plane, she must be overwrought. She should’ve told Chase she needed to unpack and rest before dinner.

She didn’t want to miss this experience despite her discomfort, and with all the clothes and products Madelyne had left for her, she didn’t need to unpack.

She might only open her suitcase to get her running shoes out.

When it was time to leave, would it be bad form to dump all of her clothes in the garbage and keep all of these beautiful clothes?

Pulling open the door to the hallway, she stared at a vision of manly perfection leaning against the opposite wall.

“Lizzy.” Chase straightened and spread his hands. “Ready?”

She couldn’t swallow past her dry throat.

Chase’s upper body was beautifully muscled.

He should be on a billboard or at least a magazine.

Him spreading his hands engaged the muscles in his shoulders and arms. How had she ever thought he wasn’t classically handsome?

With that smile, his radiant blue eyes, and a body like that, he was the most handsome man she’d ever met.

She leaned against the doorframe. “Oh, my, gloriousness.”

Each of the four men she’d dated seriously as an adult had been large and strong, but none of them had reached this level of initial enticement.

She was more drawn to Chase than she’d ever been to a man, and that wasn’t smart.

Could he truly be as gentle as he appeared and Brandon, Madelyne, and Rockwell had claimed?

She was certain she wasn’t his type, and they also lived in different states.

It would be ludicrous to think they could develop some relationship.

No matter how Madelyne and Brandon wanted to push that.

Any rational good sense didn’t register at the moment. Her heart raced as she stared at him. Was all that muscle truly used to protect and serve instead of to pull women in and then control and demean them?

Chase stepped closer, brow creased. “Are you all right?”

“I can’t. I just can’t.” She put up a hand to shield her eyes. “Please. I don’t want to gawk like a twelve-year-old, but … do you not have a T-shirt you could throw on?”

“I figured I’d just take it off when we got downstairs.” He arched a brow as if she should leave her T-shirt and shorts in the room too.

“That’s your choice and who am I to judge you for it?”

He chuckled at that.

She prayed he wasn’t judging her, but the look in his eyes said he was trying to figure her out. Good luck, buddy. She was messy inside and out. Her mom feared she had anxiety after the nightmare of Darren and Grady Worthen’s attacks last month. Well, who wouldn’t?

Instead of worrying about any of that, she smiled cautiously. Chase returned her smile. Oh, how he returned it. His smile was glorious—even more beautiful than his upper body.

They were instantly caught in a net of smiling that hit her deep inside.

Could this be the man who would lift her up and love her like her mom and Janie prayed for daily?

She sometimes got snippy with them, telling them she loved them but to stop praying for a man for her.

She was perfectly content taking care of the children.

But a man like Chase had never been on the table, or smiling at her while shirtless.

Her cheeks filled with heat.