"Come on, Amaya, stop thinking too much and stop over-analysing this. Give me your answer and we’ll go from there," Chase asked.With her heart pounding and the heat from his proximity prickling her skin, she wrenched her gaze from his chest within tantalising touching distance and slowly raised it until wavering blue locked with questioning brown. "I told you I'd marry you, but I need to see the contract.""Of course, it's not like I'm signing you into a death sentence.""Exactly my points, Chase. Exactly that.""Wow, I wonder what made you so distrusting that you thought I could trick you into something drastically evil in the contract."Her voice barely above a whisper, she nodded. "Things...Chase, bad things can make someone so distrustful. Bad decisions and regrets...that too.""Hmmm."Chase snuck into the side entrance of his office ten minutes later, not wanting to intrude but driven by curiosity.Since Amaya had agreed to his proposal, she’d morphed into a businesswoman dervis
"How's this dessert?" Amaya asked as she held out the chef’s chocolate mint cake, wishing Chase would take the damn thing before it tumbled from her shaking hands.They had been silent during their late lunch, and it was making Amaya nervous.This meal was supposed to set her mind at rest—a pre-wedding get-together to discuss plans and take the edge off her nerves.So far, it hasn’t worked.How could it work when Chase kept looking at her like she was a damn lemon pie with chilli? It made her self-conscious."Oh, well, at least my pasta is not overcooked. Anyway, thanks, that looks delicious."His gaze flicked over her, appreciation lighting his eyes, and she had no doubt he wasn’t talking about the cake.She’d spent an hour deciding what to wear, aiming for casual yet wanting to make him look twice. After five changes, she’d finally decided on a green yoke-waist skirt and white crop top that fitted like a second skin. The fresh tones highlighted her hair and skin to perfection.In th
Lunch had been a quiet affair, and her genuine appreciation for his culinary skills made him feel like a god, yet the underlying tension with every glance and every smile stretched taut between them.While she looked amazing tonight, her fancy top and figure-hugging skirt outlining her body to perfection, a body that beckoned him to trace its contours and feel every gorgeous line, it was more than that.They’d slipped back into the comfortable camaraderie they used to share, and he was thrilled. While he had no illusions about this marriage being anything other than what it was—a convenient business arrangement—it would be so much easier to be friends.Or more than friends, if he was lucky. He wanted her just as badly now as he ever had; the driving hunger was startling and ferocious and capable of sending him bonkers."Are you going to help me or just sit there with that goofy look on your face?" She waved the pen under his nose, and he managed a rueful grin. He’d settle for goofy wh
Amaya sipped her coffee as she glanced over her iPad, catching up on company emails as she walked to the spacious living room of the mansion, where her son Tommy and Chase were engaged in a lively card game. Earlier, before getting up from the shared bed, she told Tommy about marrying Chase, and the little boy was over the moon. He didn't even bother to question her; he was just happy to have a father. Yes, it was very selfish of her to keep a secret from her son, but Amaya was just as scared of losing him, and the idea of risking something she couldn't live without didn't count on her bucket list of risks to take."Mom, guess what!" Tommy exclaimed with excitement, his face lighting up as he held his cards close.Amaya looked over with a warm smile. "What is it, sweetie?""I just got the rarest Pokémon card in the whole game! Daddy Chase is losing!" Tommy said, showing off the card in his hand to Amaya.She frowned when she heard him calling Chase Daddy. "Tommy, did you ask Mr. Johns
"Not at all." She forced a smile. "The meeting went well; I’ll write up a report and get the information to you. And also, Justin mentioned Daphne Rogers. He said you’ll know what it was.""Okay, but I wasn’t talking about that meeting." Chase frowned. "Is anything wrong?""Nothing," Amaya said, then realising what he’d seen, she relented. "I’ve got a bit of a headache, that’s all."Chase raised a brow, "Have some medicine and coffee, okay?""Yeah. Thanks.""By the way, Amaya, um, my butler, is not well.""Oh! Um, so you need something?" Amaya blinked, reaching for the phone. "Do you want me to ring the agency and arrange a replacement?""I’ll survive for a day without Juan," Chase said magnanimously, "but I am going to be flying to L.A. this afternoon and be back the next day, just an hour before Donna’s wedding, so can you go over to my room and pack for me? I'm... clueless about that thing. Juan knew everything, and without him, I didn't know if I'd survive—""Sure. It's no bother.
"Here." She was back, holding out a glass of water and punching out two tablets from a blister pack. "Take these, um, for the headache.""Only if you do."Amaya punched out two for herself, and they shared the glass of water. Funny that he noticed a little thing like that—funny that to Chase it mattered that she didn’t go and get another glass."We’ll feel better in twenty minutes." Amaya smiled, glad that they seemed to be talking normally again after the strain of the past few weeks. "It says so on the box."She zipped his suit holder and picked up the phone to summon his driver as Chase downed a quick shot of espresso from his coffee machine. He stuffed files and papers into his briefcase as he gave her a few last-minute instructions that would take about a couple of hours to execute."Any problems, ring me. It doesn’t matter what time it is there—things have to be in place for tomorrow.""Sure!" He watched her bristle slightly, and inside Chase smiled."And tell Tommy, I'll win ov
As Chase's private plane lifted off for Greece into the early morning sky, all Amaya wanted to do was close her eyes and sleep. Donna had a sudden change of heart and wanted a Greek wedding instead, and it wasn't a miracle what money could do with the sudden shift of mind of the bride.However, Tommy had been misbehaving the past two nights without Chase, and she was surprised how easily he was attached to him. And her Sunday night had been spent packing, planning, dreading, and finally weeping. Weeping for a father she resented.She was resilient, though she had always had to be, so she hid her swollen eyes behind huge Prada sunglasses and pleaded for another headache when Chase commented on them. She had, after a night of weeping, pushed away yesterday’s worries and left her son to his nanny again, which she hated but needed and was, in a bizarre way, actually glad to be getting away for a few days and leaving all her fear behind her.They were served a sumptuous breakfast of eggs,
Landing at Chase's father’s mansion, Amaya had enjoyed the helicopter ride that had taken them on the final leg of their journey to his small coastal village—and everywhere Amaya looked, the view was stunning. Houses perched on top of houses were all staring out to the twinkling ocean, and the mansion was the jewel in the crown—the massive home had been lavishly extended, and every room was angled to take in the spectacular sea view.Donna’s welcome was warm and effusive, pulling Amaya into an embrace and kissing her on both cheeks, then guiding her through to a large terrace that ran the length of the house while chatting non-stop in her rich accent, alternating between English and Greek."Chase!" The squeals of delight from Donna had Amaya smiling, and he was far more pleased to see his sister than Amaya’s own father ever was—hugging her warmly, teasing her about the face pack she was wearing, and introducing her to Amaya, whom Donna eyed with the same suspicious navy eyes as her br