Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
There was no denying they shared a strong connection, but it was hard for Chase to fathom that he could be responsible for all that joy she exuded, or even a fraction of it. Then again, wasn’t she the reason he felt lighter inside?
Not wanting Lee to start asking questions Chase didn’t have the answers for, he instead diverted the conversation before it became any more personal. “Would you like a beer or something else from the bar?” he asked, watching as Lauren walked off the dance floor with one of her cousins and headed toward the ladies’ room.
“No. Beer is for pansies, and all they have at that bar is the cheap crap that tastes like piss. I brought the good stuff.” Lee reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and retrieved a silver flask.
The corner of Chase’s mouth twitched with amusement, because Lee was right. The alcohol the bar was serving was far from the top-shelf premium liquor he was used to drinking. “The good stuff?” he asked, curious to know what the older man had smuggled into the reception.
Lee nodded. “Yep. You can’t go wrong with Elijah Craig, barrel proof.”
Definitely a higher-end bourbon, and one Chase had appreciated more than a few times himself. “You have good taste.”
“Of course I do,” Lee said, and chuckled. “But don’t tell Penny that I snuck some into the reception. A man has to have a few vices to live for.”
Chase grinned as Lee took a swig of the liquor. “Not a word. You have my promise.”
Lee smacked his lips and after recapping the flask, he tucked it back inside his jacket. “So, have you taken Scouty to that fancy restaurant she’s been wanting to go to in the city? In Manhattan, I think it is.”
The older man was looking at him expectantly, like Chase ought to know what he was talking about, but of course he didn’t. “Which restaurant would that be?”
The lines between Lee’s brows crinkled as he tried to remember the name, and then his eyes lit up and he snapped his fingers. “Elysian Heights,” he finally said. “Some top chef on a cooking show runs it. She said it just opened in the past year but it’s nearly impossible to get a table. Just thought you would have been able to pull some strings and make that happen. I mean, you are a partner in an investment firm in New York City, so that ought to come with some kind of perks.”
At least the old man hadn’t called him a fancy pants this time, but the inference was there just the same. And there was no way Chase was going to admit that he’d taken a client to Elysian Heights just a month ago because Chase had an “in” with the owner of the restaurant, another client of his. “I didn’t realize Lauren wanted to go there,” he said, which was the truth.
Lee frowned at Chase, eyeing him speculatively, considering he was supposed to be her boyfriend and know these things. “Huh. I’m surprised she didn’t mention it. She’s talked about it the few times she’s been home this past year.”
Much to Chase’s relief, Lee let the subject go and glanced away, his gaze scanning the last of the wedding guests at the winding-down reception. “Well, would you look over there,” he said suddenly, rocking back on his heels. “I think that’s the first time I’ve seen Greg and Lauren standing that close together since everything went down a few years ago.”
That caught Chase’s attention, and he followed the direction to where Lee was staring. The lights in the room were still dimmed, but he could see that Greg had probably caught Lauren as she’d come out of the ladies’ room, and while Ashley was still on the dance floor. Lauren had proven more than once that she was capable of taking care of herself, but there was no denying the possessive feeling that stirred inside of him. He wanted to be by her side and offer the kind of support she’d given him earlier that afternoon.
“Excuse me,” he said to Lee, not missing the other man’s amused look before he strode across the room, reaching the pair in less than a minute.
Lauren sucked in a startled breath as he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her close to his side. “Everything okay here?” he asked in a commanding tone. Yeah, interrupting them was probably a dick move, but he didn’t give a shit. What he did care about was Lauren, and making sure she wasn’t subjected to anything that might upset her or hurt her in any way.
Greg had a deer-in-the-headlights look in his eyes, clearly not sure what to make of Chase and his territorial gesture. Or his presence in general. “I… uh, just wanted to talk to Lauren. Privately,” Greg added.