Page 25 of Trainer

“How did you get in here?” I asked him. “Where’s Natasha!? How did you find out where I live?!”

“Your roommate is asleep on the couch with a guy,” he said with a smile. “Passed out, I’m pretty sure. The door was unlocked, and finding out where you live for a guy like me is pretty easy.”

“So you just let yourself in? Just because you could buy the building doesn’t mean you already own it!”

“I had to see you,” he replied. “I couldn’t let you go the whole night thinking…thinking that you didn’t mean the whole world to me.”

Shit.

My heart melted.

Chase’s gorgeous eyes were filled with love as he stared at me, and even though I wanted to stay skeptical and protect myself from getting hurt again, there was nothing I could do. I was helpless.

“Really…?” I whimpered.

“Yes, Cady,” he nodded, taking my hand. “I know it’s early for me to say this—we just met the other day and everything—but, Cady…I’m pretty sure I love you.”

Chapter Thirteen

Chase

Cady’s eyes sparkled in the dim light coming in from the street. She was on the verge of tears and her delicate hand was trembling in mine.

My words hung in the air between us, and I had to admit that I was waiting with baited breath for her to answer.

How long had it been since I told her I loved her?

Too long to not get a response, that much was for sure! But I understood her hesitation. Hell, I’d only met the girl yesterday, and Melinda had done her best to poison her against me. I honestly wouldn’t have been surprised if she didn’t say it back.

But I’d wait for her. If she needed time, I’d wait. I didn’t care. She was my princess and I would wait as long as it took to make her my queen.

“You don’t have to say it back—” I started to say, but Cady cut me off.

“I love you too, Chase,” she said.

Her words almost leveled me. I had to tell her how I felt; there was no way I would have been able to keep my true feelings in, but hearing her say it back to me…

My world will never be the same.

Her hand was shaking in mine. I squeezed harder, letting her know that I would never let anything happen to her. The fact that I’d already fucked up by letting Melinda get near her was something I’d forever regret.

I’d made a mistake, but I was going to spend the rest of my life making sure I made up for it and never made another again.

“It means so much to me to hear you say that,” I told her. “I was worried Melinda would turn you against me…”

“I’d like to say that I didn’t believe a word she said,” Cady replied, using her other hand to wipe the tears from her eyes. “But I—”

“It’s okay,” I interrupted. “I don’t blame you. Melinda can be very convincing when she needs to be. That’s why I hired her.”

“So…she’s in love with you too?”

“No,” I replied. “She just wants me. It’s a possessive thing. She’s one of those women who sees something, wants it, and has to have it no matter what. I’m just the next thing on her list.”

I knew what she was going to say before she said it, so I was ready.

“Did you two ever—?”

“No,” I said firmly. “Never. Never even close.”

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