I took another sip and looked up, my gaze imploring him to understand.
“Chase,” I began. “I haven’t told you everything. If I marry you, not only do I get the letters, but also half of Waterfront Shore.”
“But you said your mom—”
“She left everything to Clint,” I cut him off. “However, my grandfather left only half of the house to her, who was supposed to act as my guardian until I turned twenty-three. After her death, he never had the chance to change his will, because he died four weeks later. Her last will hadn’t even been read yet. It’s a huge house worth millions, meaning I’d either have to move back home and live with Clint, or he’d be forced to sell and share the profits or”—I took a sharp breath and let it out slowly—“he’d have to pay me out of his pocket.”
I let the words linger in the air.
“That’s the reason why he and Shannon keep pushing for me to move back in,” I continued after a pause. “I agreed to pass my share on to him as long as I get the letters. But obviously, he’s scared my future husband might try to change my mind, so he offered me a quarter of the money the mansion’s worth now as long as I sign a contract that I won’t want more later. If I accept the money, I won’t ever have any future claim. But I don’t want anything, not now, nor later.”
“My God, Laurie. Why would you refuse what should be yours?” Chase looked perplexed. “It should all be yours. Not his.”
I should have seen the question coming. Anyone with half a brain would ask it, but even if I explained, no one would understand. Chase hadn’t seen what I had seen, hadn’t carried the burden of so much wealth on his shoulders.
“I have my reasons,” I whispered. “Just accept it.”
His expression changed from confusion to disbelief. He opened his mouth, as though to say something, then closed it again.
“It’s…complicated,” I added. “Like I told you, my mom was scared, and I trust her judgment. Long story short, I will never take that money.”
Chase remained silent, his eyes focused on me as he seemed to process my words. Strangely, I felt guilty, and I had no idea why.
“So, what are you thinking?” I asked when I could no longer stand the silence.
“That your grandfather died very soon after your mother’s death.”
I nodded. “Yeah, he died before he could change his will to leave the entire estate to me.”
“I don’t like this,” he said. “After everything you told me, I’m more convinced than ever that you’re not safe from Clint.”
Even though the thought was ridiculous, I couldn’t help the pang of fear settling like a rock in my stomach. “What makes you say that?”
“I don’t know. Call it intuition or whatever, but people don’t just try to pay others off.” His glance hardened, and filled with determination and anger. “I don’t trust him.”
I smiled weakly. “Now you sound like me. I don’t want you to get involved. I don’t know what the deal is with Clint or what his plans are, but I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.” His hands wrapped around mine, and something passed between us—something dark and heavy. My heart fluttered a bit faster, but not because of my blatant attraction to him. I trusted Chase, I really did, but for some reason I couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye.
“I know you do, but—”
“Laurie.” His sharp tone cut me off. “He’s trying to stop you. If marrying you is what it takes to get those letters and reveal the truth, then so be it. I’ll marry you, even if I have to drag you down that aisle myself and force that ring on your finger.”
It was a joke; I could tell that much from the amused glint in his eyes.
“You won’t let the bastard control your life,” he continued, more seriously.
Clint wasn’t. I had made sure of that a long time ago.
I leaned my face against Chase’s chest. For a while, I focused on my senses: hearing his soft, slightly ragged breath, smelling wafts of his masculine aftershave, and feeling the touch of his warm hands on my back.
“I wish there was something I could do for you, too. I don’t like owing you,” I said eventually.
“Actually, I have a thought—”
He didn’t have to say it. I knew exactly what he wanted. I cut him short by pressing my mouth against his, and our lips connected in a quick, hot kiss.
He pushed me back softly to regard me with eyes that seemed to burn. “Laurie.” His voice came hoarse, and a small laugh escaped his lips. “I wasn’t talking about a kiss, which is great, don’t get me wrong, and more than I bargained for, but—” He paused, hesitating.