He set the box down in the nearest available spot. His lips parted, and he was just about to come back with the perfect one-liner when they both heard?—
“Don’t even try denying it because we both know it’s true.”
Chase swung his gaze around just as Logan Hayes—Natalie’s husband and Chase’s team leader—sidled up to his wife. With a hand resting low on her back, the former Navy SEAL leaned in and planted a quick kiss on Nat’s cheek.
Solid build. Short brown hair. Blue-green eyes with nothing but love and admiration for the woman next to him. Unless, of course, they were focused on one of their team’s targets. In those instances, those loving eyes quickly turned as deadly as any Chase had ever seen.
Taking the other man’s advice, Chase didn’t bother trying to defend himself against the couple’s claims that dragging his ass out of bed was an occasional struggle. No reason to, really. Mainly because hedidhave a propensity to ignore his alarm when work wasn’t on the line.
But for this…
“While Imayenjoy the intermittent lazy Saturday morning”—Guilty as charged—“I also know how important this place is to you.” Chase gave his glowing, pregnant friend a solemn look as he added, “Which means it’s important to me.”
“Well, thank you.” Natalie tilted her head in return. “And you’re right. Liberty House is important. This shelter has already given several of our clients a tremendous amount of support and guidance. Truth be told, the help this place offered to those women…and so many others…has been nothing short of amazing. That’s why, when Sloane told me about their first annual Fund and Food Drive, I didn’t hesitate to offer my assistance.”
“And by yours, what youreallymeant wasours,” Chase teased.
“Of course, that’s what I meant.” Natalie blinked, her expression as flat and unmoving as he’d ever seen it. She held the look steady a few more seconds and then…ever-so-slowly…the little sister Chase never had curved her lips into a shit-eating, Cheshire grin. “But seriously.” That same smile instantly turned genuine. “I really do appreciate your donations and your time. And IknowSloane and the women who come here looking for help will, too. So, thank you.”
Sloane Richardson was the shelter’s sole operating manager…and a new asset to Chase’s private security team.
“No thanks needed, Nat.” He flashed her a crooked grin.
From behind his dark, polarized lenses, Chase studied the three-story brick building before him. Based on what Natalie had previously shared with him and his team, the structure had been built two decades earlier by a real estate developer with the plan to rent it out as “high-end” office space. Eighteen months ago, however, that same owner filed for bankruptcy.
Enter Sloane Richardson.
The big-hearted—and determined—woman convinced the non-profit agency she worked for to buy the property. After a few months of hard work and tireless fundraising efforts, Sloane and her people turned the empty space into the beacon of hope it is today.
A safe haven for many, Liberty House had quickly become one of Seattle’s most well-known and trusted women’s shelters. And Natalie was right. The woman in charge of it all was someone he and his teammates both respected and admired.
“How’s it going out here?” Logan asked his wife as he studied the donated items already neatly spread out atop the tables. The man’s hand lifted lovingly to Natalie’s growing belly, which prompted her to cover it with one of her own.
“Great! I just have a few more boxes to sort through, including the one Chase just brought.” She motioned to the large cardboard box filled with donations Chase had picked up from various businesses on his way to the shelter. “I still can’t believe the number of local businesses that agreed to donate. Especially with the shelter still being relatively new.”
“Why wouldn’t they?” Logan wrapped an arm around his expectant wife’s shoulders and pulled her close to his side. “You’re a hard woman to say no to. Trust me.” He kissed her temple. “I know.”
Natalie’s soft chuckle fluttered into the air as Chase’s lips twitched with the urge to do the same. Damn, he loved these two. He loved even more that, after years of avoiding the obvious, they’d finally figured out they belonged together.
Now, after nearly losing Natalie to the hands of some ruthless assholes who cared more about money than an innocent woman’s life, she and Logan were happily married and expecting their first child.
Must be nice.
Chase’s lips no longer twitched, and his eyes were doing some sort of super-fast blinking shit. But who could blame him? Hell, he was barely thirty. What business did he have being jealous of his friends’ domestic bliss?
None. That’s what. So knock that ridiculous notion away.
He blinked again, more than willing to take his own advice. Did he hope to someday meet the woman of his dreams and build a life like the one Logan and Nat were well on their way to achieving? Sure. But until such time, Chase planned to do what he did best.
Live life to its fucking fullest.
But even as the silent motto rolled through his mind, another thought struck. It was as unexpected as the momentary wave of jealousy he’d felt seconds before. Unexpected and…unsettling.
A life without someone to share it with seems pretty damn empty, if you ask me.
Well, he hadn’t asked. Not himself or anyone else. And damn it, where was all this coming from, anyway? Chase was perfectly happy with the life he was currently leading.
He’d served his country with all the honor, loyalty, and dedication Uncle Sam could ask of him. He had a kickass job working private security with his former Navy SEAL brothers. His apartment rocked, he had a sweet ass ride, and he could go wherever and do whatever the hell he wanted.