“I’ll make the arrangements and text you all the details.” Mom stands, giving me another one of her strange air kisses. I don’t know why it bothers me, but it does. I watch her leave the little shop before I go up and order myself a real drink and grab a slice of lemon pound cake before heading back to my own car.

As I start to get in, I swear I spot the same woman from the other night at my father's birthday. She jogs by in workout gear. I shake it off, thinking I’m crazy. When I get into my car, I smile when I see Chase has been blowing up my phone.

What if I did give in to him too? What would it hurt to allow myself one night of fun? I could work him out of my system and then truly let him go.

11

Chase

“What do you mean you don’t know who she was with?” I try to keep the irritation out of my voice. I’m starting to unravel, and I know it. It’s getting hard to do my job. Thankfully, I have a solid team around me to pick up my slack.

I had no clue that the distance I’d kept from Emily over the years helped keep me together. Now that I can taste how close she is, everything inside of me is changing. The waiting is eating me alive at this point. I’ve always been protective and jealous over others who got her attention. Even a bit obsessive, but this is something else altogether.

“Sir, it was only a blond woman. They had tea and hugged and left.” Okay, that’s not too bad. Still doesn’t stop my jealousy. Why can’t she be having tea with me? I’ll take her little ass to London and get her the best damn tea of her life. I make myself calm down before I do something irrational. I’m sure she went out with a friend. She did get out early today. “The woman seemed older, but it was hard to tell and still keep my distance.”

Of course. I’d told her that after I got Emily’s last text to not get too close. Emily had noticed me talking to Riley. Is that why she’d up and disappeared from the party the other night? This hot and cold game she is playing with me is driving me insane.

“Thanks. Just let me know where she’s headed.” I’m guessing home. She stopped responding to my texts. Either she was being a brat to me, which is deserved, or she’d put her phone away while she hung out with this friend.