Page 77 of Isabella and the Slipper

“Yes,” he said, not letting her go. “I hope you can forgive me. I didn’t mean to break my promise. I never meant to hurt you.”

She was silent for a moment. “How long have you known?”

“A week.”

She pulled back from him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know how. I didn’t want you to run away from me.” He brushed his fingers across her cheek. “I was trying to tell you last night, but it didn’t work.”

“I thought you’d be ...” She swallowed, her gaze landing on the floor. “I thought you’d be disappointed when you found out.”

He leaned over and gave her the lightest of kisses. “I was anything but disappointed.” He kissed her again, longer this time. After he pulled back, he admitted, “I was starting to have feelings for both of you.” He brushed the pad of his thumb along her jawline. “Imagine how happy I was to find out I could like you both without it being complicated.”

“This is anything but simple.”

“True. And if you like Paul instead ...”

Isabella burst out laughing. “Paul wasn’t really Paul. I likedyoufrom the beginning. Which was really funny when you were jealous of yourself.”

Chase was so relieved by this, he pulled her in for another long kiss. “Then you’ll be my girlfriend?”

Her eyebrows knit together, and she shook her head. “I can’t.”

Chapter 24

Isabella’s chest tightened, and she pulled away from Chase. “We can’t have a relationship.”

“Why not?”

“My stepmother ... Delilah. I don’t know what they’d do to me.” She blinked, unable to hold back the wave of emotion crashing through her.

Chase liked her. And not just as Five, the mystery girl. He liked Isabella.

Her spirits soared, despite the circumstances.

“We can keep it a secret. They don’t have to know.” He took a step toward her, taking her hand in his.

“She’ll find out.” She lowered her gaze. “She saw your texts last night. My phone ... she crushed it.”

Tingles ran through her as he squeezed her hand. “I’ll be more careful.”

The thought was tempting. Sneaking away to see Chase on a personal level. She could easily talk herself into that. But it wasn’t very smart. “Even having you here right now is risky. If Elenore came in ...”

“I won’t come to the gallery anymore. We can meet somewhere else.”

She bit her bottom lip, wondering if she were crazy to seriously consider it. They could be careful not to be seen together at school or the gallery. “Maybe that would work.”

He wrapped his arms around her, the warmth of his chest making her heart pound. “It has to work. Because I’m falling for you, Isabella. And I need you in my life.”

She closed her eyes, and for the first time she allowed herself to think that maybe she could have her Prince Charming.

Isabella approached Flatwater Park, but there was no sign of Chase at their usual meeting spot. She pried up the loose brick and found a note. She unfolded it. In his slanted scrawl she’d come to love, it said: “I’ll be a few minutes late. Please wait for me. Love, Chase.”

She looked around, stuffed the note in her jacket pocket, then sat on the bench to wait. They’d been meeting for two weeks, in secret, after dark. When she saw his shadowy figure approaching, her heart pounded in her chest. She ran to him, and he pulled her in for a hug.

“Thanks for waiting.”

They sat down on the bench, and she snuggled her back into his chest. He put his arms around her and lightly caressed her arm. They chatted for a few moments, then sat in silence, just enjoying being together.

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