In the distance, Chase stood with a group of people. I couldn’t make out who he was with, but he was grinning, appearing largely unfazed by their loss.

My stomach fluttered, emotions softening at the sight of him. Other, more primal parts of me came to life as I drank in his broad shoulders and tall frame, clad in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit. Six feet and three inches of beautiful, muscular male, and he was all mine. I was more than a little happy to be going home with him. Though I wasn’t entirely sure what would happen when we got there. I had been mulling that one over for a few days now, torn between brain and body and heart.

But my mood tanked again as I emerged into a small clearing to discover a pretty brunette to Chase’s right, hanging off him. Or trying to, anyway. She laughed, tilting her head back to showcase dazzlingly white teeth framed by bright red lips. Don’t get me wrong, Chase was funny, but she was clearly playing it up. Then she tilted in, placing her hand on his forearm. I stiffened. Whoever this girl was, she was way too comfortable with touching him. Chase withdrew his arm and took a step back, looking about as uncomfortable as I felt.

She wasn’t taking the hint. At all.

My chest tightened, my heart picking up speed. I tamped down on a movie reel of flashbacks from my former life that cued up inside my head. This was not the same. He was not the same. I trusted him.

Despite that, I had the nearly overwhelming urge to turn and walk the other way.

With no small amount of trepidation, I straightened my shoulders and continued forward. Finally, I came to stand beside Chase, gently touching his firm shoulder.

“Hi,” I said.

He swiveled to face me, and his eyes lit up. “Hey, baby.” Ducking down, he gave me a quick peck on the lips and put his arm around my waist, pulling me against him. His familiar scent enveloped me, firm body warming mine, and the turmoil within me receded.

Chase nodded to the girl. “This is Kristen. Kristen, this is James. My Bailey. I mean, Bailey, my”—he faltered, brow creasing—“girlfriend?”

His sheepish stumbling was so adorable, I couldn’t hide my ridiculous, goofy grin. I probably looked like I belonged in a toothpaste commercial. Chase was rarely anything other than confident and completely self-assured, which made his slip especially endearing.

Not to mention, girlfriend did have a nice ring to it.

As I turned my attention to Kristen, my smile went from real to fake. But I could pretend to be polite, at least. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too.” She smiled back at me, but it didn’t reach her eyes either. I had a feeling I was going to have to get used to that.