“He doesn’t have a lick of his mother’s sense, that much I can tell you.”
“Whoa,” Sloane said, realization dawning. “Back up. You told Chase to go after me?”
“Of course I did. Do you think I want you or him suffering the same fate as me? I told him what it’s like to live life wishing things could have been different,” Samson said, clarifying, his eyes glittering with satisfaction that he’d done his daughter a good turn.
She didn’t want to know when he and Chase had had this conversation. Nor could she bring herself to tell him that he’d merely played on Chase’s innate guilt and white-knight complex. Samson had helped push Chase into Sloane’s arms, offering proclamations of forever, but Chase needed to come on his own, without being prompted. Without guilt.
He needed to opt for a future with her because it was what he wanted, not what he thought he owed her, or what he thought she needed.
But Samson had performed his first parental duty on Sloane’s behalf and she loved him for it. She crooked her finger and Samson came forward, and this time, no bullet flew as she received her first father-daughter hug from Samson.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Chase paced the floor of the hospital waiting area, along with the rest of the family.
Charlotte’s water had unexpectedly broken, nearly a month early, and she was inside, in labor. Thank God all signs indicated nothing was seriously wrong except for the baby’s rush to join the Chandler clan on its own schedule. Charlotte’s parents were on their way back from L.A. and the rest of the Chandlers were gathered here together. Waiting.
“You are one pathetic human being,” Rick said to Chase as he leaned against the wall.
Although everyone was nervous for Roman and Charlotte, that wouldn’t stop Rick from ganging up on Chase in the meantime. And since Rick knew Chase wouldn’t leave until the baby was born, he had Chase cornered. “So I’m pathetic, huh?”
“That’s what he said.” Hannah came up beside them, bouncing from foot to foot, excited beyond belief at the prospect of being crowned baby-sitter.
“Go away, squirt. I’m trying to talk to my brother,” Rick said.
Hannah shook her head. “There’s no talking to Chase when his mind’s made up about something. At least that’s what you always say.” The pretty fourteen-year-old grinned, laughing wickedly.
Rick groaned. “You’re not helping.”
“Oh, I think she is.” Chase leaned closer to Hannah and whispered, “What else does Rick say about me?”
“Hmm.” She twirled a long strand of hair around her finger and pursed her lips in thought. “He says you’ve been a pain in the ass since Sloane left. That you should have gotten down on your hands and knees and begged.” She paused to giggle. “But it probably wouldn’t have mattered, since Sloane got out while the getting was good.” She nodded, apparently satisfied she’d hit on all pertinent details.
“Tsk, tsk.” Rick said, winking at Hannah. “There’s no allowance for you this week, kid.”
“Hannah, you get over here and leave Rick and Chase alone,” Kendall called from across the room.
Rick rolled his eyes. “Too little, too late,” he informed his wife.
Kendall shrugged. “I tried.” Then she turned her attention back to Raina, who was sitting on the couch, browsing through a magazine.
Chase dug one sneakered foot against the linoleum floor, wondering how much to tell Rick about Sloane leaving him. “I never figured you had much of a brain, but I have to admit you nailed things with me and Sloane.”
Rick raised an eyebrow. “What happened?” he asked, all signs of joking and laughter gone from both his tone and expression.
When things got serious, the brothers were there for one another, ribbing and kidding put aside. “I did ask her to stay. In a manner of speaking. I told her I’d changed my mind, that I wanted a future.”
“And she left anyway,” Rick said.
The reminder caused an ache in Chase’s already empty heart. “That much is obvious.”
“But you don’t know why.”
Embarrassed to be discussing both his failures and his love life, Chase merely nodded.
“Need me to spell out Sloane’s reasons for you?”
“Might as well start.” How else could Chase fix things? He’d come up empty on his own.
“Sloane knows you well.” Rick pulled up a chair and straddled it, settling in. “Probably as well as Roman and I do, and considering how short a time you’ve been together, that’s saying a lot.”
Chase snorted. “You call this analysis? Tell me something I don’t know.”
Rick shrugged. “Relax. I’m getting there. I’m guessing Sloane thinks you wanted an affair. Short term by definition. No commitment.”
Folding his arms across his chest, Chase eyed his middle sibling. “Again, so far I’m not impressed. This is all obvious.”
“I’m just getting started.” Rick rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “She thinks these things because you used your famous saying: Safety first, kids never. Am I right?”
Chase rubbed a weary hand over his burning eyes. “That about sums it up.” It was the same lecture he’d given his brothers over the years, when being forced to perform the fatherly duty of safe-sex discussions. “So?”
“So women have memories like elephants,” Rick explained. “Sloane’s not likely to forget you said that.”
“You’d think she’d appreciate the fact that I looked after her,” Chase muttered.
“She appreciates it, all right. Then she fell in love and all that appreciation flew out the window. Now she wants the house, the white picket fence, the kids,” Rick said, his eyes drifting to his own wife, who sat holding Raina’s hand.
Chase sighed. “I told her I want all those things too.”
“After she’d seen Chase Chandler in action. She’s seen you with your family, seen how you put Mom first. If I had to guess, she’s seen you step up in a crisis and pull away in the aftermath.” Rick slanted his head toward Chase, awaiting an answer.
“What the hell makes you think you know me so well?”
His eyes opened wide. “I grew up with you, the model of perfection. You never once bailed on a responsibility. But when you’re alone and quiet, you withdraw. I’m sure that wasn’t easy for Sloane.”