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And the fact that I’m lusting after this man when his wife is hardly cold in the ground makes me feel like I made a mistake coming here.

He gives me that smile. The smile that once upon a time I foolishly thought was just for me.

Even though I know it isn’t true, it still sends the butterflies in my stomach intoa tizzy.

“Hey, Eden.”

“Hey, Chase.”

He opens his arms and as if I’m stuck in a tractor beam, I gravitate to him.

For the first time in six years, I’m in the arms of Chase Hanover.

I feel like I’m home.

His chest is warm, and he smells the same way I remember.

“Eden.”

His voice is a soft whisper against my hair, and he holds me tighter.

After a few moments we pull away and I look down. “Where’s your sling?”

“How do you know I have a sling?”

“I, uh…I was at the funeral.”

His eyes widen. “You were? I didn’t see you.”

“I was in the back.”

“You should have come and said something.”

I shook my head. “I didn’t feel like it was the right time or place.”

He makes a noncommittal sound and looks down at his arm. “I took the sling off. I hate wearing it.”

I open my mouth, and he places a finger over my lips with a smile. “I know, I know. I should follow doctor’s orders. And I will. But I was just about to get into the hot tub.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I see steam rising from the large hot tub in the middle of the terrace.

“Oh,” I say, turning back to him. “I’m sorry, I’ll go. I just wanted to see how you are.”

He takes my hands. “No, please stay. It’s nice to see a friendly face.”

“You just had a bunch of friends here.”

He frowns. “With the exception of a couple of myteammates, none of those people know me. Not like you. Want to sit down?”

“Sure.”

Taking my hand, he leads me over to the L-shaped couch near a small rooftop bar. Once we settle down with a couple of drinks, he stares at me.

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

I tilt my head and sip my wine. “Why? We’re friends, right?”

“Yeah.” He clears his throat and looks down. “It’s just been a long time.”