He didn’t desire the same thing and the existence of the other woman in his life, the one named Cindy, merely validated her belief. Sloane was only a diversion for Chase Chandler until they went their separate ways.
But she didn’t want anyone or anything between them now. With the compress covering her forehead and eyes, she didn’t literally have to face him and it seemed the perfect time to ask. “You said Cindy wasn’t simple to explain, but the longer we’re together, no matter how temporary, it bothers me that you’re involved with someone else.”
“I ended things with Cindy.” His voice sounded clear and strong, shocking her with the admission.
Sloane swallowed hard. “Why?” she asked, still not opening her eyes.
“I should think that would be obvious.” Leaning forward, he touched his lips to hers.
At that moment, more memories of last night resurfaced and she recalled thinking that she’d fallen in love with him. It hadn’t been a drunken thought but rather one from the heart. Opening her mouth, she greeted him with all the passion, desire, and love swelling inside her.
But the ringing telephone interrupted them, and with a groan, Chase grabbed the receiver on the nightstand by the bed. “Chandler.”
Sloane waited, her head still pounding as hard as her heart, but for different reasons now.
She’d fallen for this Chandler man, one who wanted no family, no future with any woman because he’d already had his fill of responsibility. He’d lived life out of order and Sloane would have to pay for that by letting him go and live his dreams when the time came.
“Mom’s in the hospital?” Chase’s voice halted her more selfish thoughts.
Raina was sick? Hadn’t Sloane sensed as much? But Rick and Chase had insisted it was a ruse, a game to get her boys to settle down. It wasn’t, and she should have insisted he look closer.
“I’ll be right there,” he said, slamming down the phone and turning to face Sloane. “I have to go.”
She’d already figured that out. “What happened?”
“Mom had severe chest pains in the middle of the night and called an ambulance.” The truth slammed into Chase’s chest with brutal force. Raina had called him first, but he’d been otherwise engaged. With Sloane.
For the first time ever, he’d been too busy to check his answering machine, and stellar newsman that he’d become, he’d been too preoccupied to remember his beeper.
Family had always come first, until now. And look at the end result. He stood and reached for his pants.
“Let me go with you.” Sloane sat up higher in bed and groaned, reaching for her head with her hands. “God, it’s like a drummer took up residence.”
He was better off going alone so he could concentrate. And regroup. “You stay. I’ll call and check in,” he promised.
“What happened? I thought your mother’s heart condition was fake?”
“According to Rick, it was real this time. She reached him and he’s been there all night.”
“Why didn’t he call?”
“He did.” He buttoned his pants and pulled on a sweatshirt. “I was too busy to answer.”
She winced, obviously catching his meaning. “I’m sorry.”
“No big deal,” he lied. He’d already given her too much insight, too much power over his feelings and emotions. The time had come to rein himself in.
He grabbed for his keys. “You sleep it off and I’ll update you when I know more.”
She nodded. If she was hurt by his withdrawal or affected by his need to shut her out, she didn’t show it. And despite his deep need to fortify his defenses and keep her out, a part of him wished for the emotional reaction he struggled not to give.
He wanted to hold her and let her hold him one more time before heading over to the hospital. Instead, he waved and walked out the door.
The door slammed shut behind Chase and the sound of the truck’s motor quickly followed. Then silence ensued. Any blossoming hope Sloane had held since hearing Chase admit he’d broken up with Cindy crumbled around her. He’d withdrawn and it didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out why.
She’d known the Chandler brothers for under a week but she already understood their family code of honor. Family first. Always. And Chase had defied that code last night.
He’d ignored the telephone because he’d been too wrapped up in Sloane. And now he felt guilty. He probably always would. She’d be better off concentrating on her life and her problems and leave Chase Chandler and his family to their own.
Picking up the phone, she called her stepmother. Not a morning person, Madeline still answered on the first ring. “Hello?”
“Hi, Mom.”
“Sloane, honey, thank God.” Relief echoed in Madeline’s tone. “I needed to hear your voice.”
A lump rose to Sloane’s throat as did a longing for home she hadn’t expected. Despite the lies, she loved her family. That was one truth that her time in Yorkshire Falls was making clear. “I’m fine. And I needed to hear your voice too.” To her shock, her own voice cracked and she broke down crying.
“Did you find Samson?” Madeline asked, concern lacing her tone. “Is that why you’re crying?”
Sloane shook her head, answering, “No, I didn’t find him. He’s taken off since the house explosion, but according to people here, he’s odd and his behavior isn’t all that surprising.” She blotted her eyes.
Still trying to keep Madeline in the dark and protected, she kept her explanation to a minimum. “When I left to come here, was Dad upset?” If Michael Carlisle were worried about Sloane, he might send someone after Samson to find him first, which might explain the person Earl said had been looking for Samson.
“No. He understands this is something you have to do.”
Sloane bit down on her lower lip. “And the campaign? How is that going? Frank and Robert must be working Dad like crazy, now that they’ve publicly announced Dad’s running for vice president.” Sloane mentioned Michael’s campaign manager in the hope that Madeline would inadvertently provide helpful information. After all, Frank was the one person who’d threatened Samson. The one with the most to lose, next to Michael, if the campaign were derailed by a loose cannon like Samson Humphrey.
“Actually, Frank’s been in meetings nonstop while Robert went out of town,” Madeline said.