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Her fingertips brushed back and forth against his skin. “Chase. I don’t know what to say to that. We never spoke about... us.”
“You made it clear you wanted to keep the focus on Eliza. I wasn’t here, so I understood that you were trying to make sure the limited time I had for a call or video chat, I spent it with Eliza. When we talked, it was about her, but I also wanted to hear about you.”
“Why?”
He chuckled under his breath. “You’re the mother of my child. You’re the woman I spent an amazing night with and left even though I really wanted to stay.”
Astonishment lit her eyes. “You did?”
He wanted her in his arms right now. “Why does that surprise you so much? We were great together. I wanted to see what more we could have, but I couldn’t ask that of you when I was walking out the door and would be gone for God knows how long.”
“But you’re... you. And I’m... not the person you’d pick.”
He didn’t like that she felt that way. “I picked you that night,” he reminded her, trying to figure out why she didn’t think he’d want her beyond a one-night stand. Granted, sometimes people didn’t make it past that, but they didn’t have to be those people.
“That was just sex.” She sounded like she was trying to convince him and herself of that.
“Was it?” Maybe he’d read things all wrong. Maybe he was feeling things she wasn’t. “I’m interested in you, Shelby. If you don’t feel the same way, I’ll let it go.” He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand, which she still kept in his. “But if you want to take a chance on a slightly broken and definitely battered guy who really loves his little girl, then let’s work on getting to know each other better.”
That same wonder he’d seen a moment ago filled her eyes. “You’re serious.”
He leaned forward. “Put me out of my misery. I don’t think I can take the rejection right now.”
She laughed. “Have you ever actually been rejected?”
“Yes. Of course.” Hadn’t everybody? With women, it didn’t happen to him often. He’d usually been the one to walk away. But his whole damn family sent him packing, and that really stung. “I plan to do a hell of a lot better with you.”
“I can’t imagine any woman saying no to that face. And the rest of you,” she added, her expression serious and thoughtful.
“My mother used to say she had a hard time saying no to me, too. I’m irresistible. So please stop resisting and say you’ll date me.”
Her eyes went wide. “Seriously?”
“Yes,” he said, exasperated, but with a smile. “What did you think I was asking?”
She shrugged that shoulder again, and a smirk tried to tilt her lips, but she fought it.
She had him thinking about their night together, but he wanted a hell of a lot more this time.
“It might not be the usual dating thing since we’llhave a chaperone.” He cocked his head toward Eliza, who watched them while gnawing on a piece of bread.
Shelby laughed under her breath. “I... I really didn’t expect this.” She thought he wanted another night, or just some superficial no-strings-attached sex.
Why?
Why didn’t she expect more from him?
Did she think him shallow?
Did she think he didn’t deserve her?
Maybe he didn’t, but he’d show her that he’d be good to her. For her. They could be good for each other.
“I’m going to figure out thewhy notabout you not expecting me to be interested in you one of these days, but right now I just want you to say something to the effect of, ‘Yes, Chase, I’d love to date you.’”
“What if it doesn’t work out?”
“I want to build a solid friendship with you no matter what. If we do this and it doesn’t work out for whatever reason, let’s promise to always be friends.”
