An Engagement in Seattle - Debbie Macomber [99]
“He and Mom are both retired. They live on a small ranch in Montana now and really love it.”
“They sound happy.”
“They’d like a couple of grandkids to spoil someday but—” Lesley stopped abruptly and her face turned a soft shade of pink.
“But what?” he inquired.
“Oh, nothing.” She shrugged, looking decidedly uncomfortable. “It’s just something Daisy said to me this afternoon. And…she might be right.” Her voice faded.
“Right about what?”
“Nothing,” she said quickly.
Whatever the subject, it was obvious that Lesley wasn’t going to discuss it with him.
“Will you be meeting more women tomorrow?” Lesley asked.
Chase nodded with little enthusiasm. “I should never have agreed to that news story. The phones have been ringing off the hook ever since. There’s no way I could possibly interview eight hundred women in two weeks’ time.”
“Eight hundred!”
Lesley sounded as shocked as he’d been when he’d heard the original number of five hundred. Since the story had aired, three hundred additional calls had poured in.
“That’s…incredible.”
“Just remember, I haven’t met a single one I like better than you.”
Lesley laughed. “You’ve already heard my answer to that.”
“I don’t have much time in Seattle, Lesley. Less than three weeks. I need to make some decisions soon. If you’d be willing to marry me, I’d promise to be a good husband to you.”
“Hold it!” she said, raising both hands. “Back up. I’m not in the market for a husband. Not now and possibly never again. Men have done some real damage to my heart, starting with my father and most recently Tony. I don’t need a man in my life.”
“True, but do you want one?”
She hesitated. “I don’t know.”
“It’s something to think about, then, isn’t it?”
“Not right now,” she answered, her voice insistent. “I don’t want to consider anything but having fun. That’s my goal for this summer. I want to put the past behind me and get on with life in a positive way.”
“I do, too,” Chase assured her, and it was true in a more profound way than she probably realized.
“I baked cookies this morning,” she said. “It was the first time in months I’ve wanted to bake anything.”
“I don’t suppose you saved any for me?”
Lesley smiled as if she knew something he didn’t. “There’s a full cookie jar reserved for you.” She suddenly recalled that she’d said Kevin and Eric could have them. She’d have to compromise. “Well, half a cookie jar,” she amended.
Chase couldn’t remember the last time he’d tasted home-baked cookies. “This calls for a picnic, don’t you think?”
“Paradise.”
He frowned. “Do I have to wait that long to try these cookies of yours?”
“No, silly. Paradise is in the national park on Mount Rainier. There’s a lodge there and several trails and fields of wildflowers so abundant, they’ll take your breath away.”
“Sounds like Alaska.”
“It’s one of my favorite places in the world.”
“Let’s go, then. We’ll leave first thing in the morning.”
“You can’t,” she said, with a superior look.
“Why can’t I?”
“Because you’ll be interviewing a prospective wife. Eight hundred prospective wives to be exact.”
Chase cursed under his breath and Lesley burst out laughing. Only then did Chase see any amusement in his predicament. What she didn’t seem to understand, and what he was going to have to prove, was that he’d willingly leave all eight hundred prospects behind in order to spend time with her.
The sun had barely peeked over the horizon when Chase arrived. Lesley had been up for an hour, packing their lunch and preparing for their day. Her hiking boots and a sweater were in a knapsack by the door and the picnic basket was loaded and ready for Chase to carry to his rental car.
“’Morning,” she greeted him.
“’Morning,” Chase returned, leaning forward to kiss her.
The kiss seemed instinctive on both their parts. A kiss, Lesley noticed, that was exchanged without doubt or hesitation.
Suddenly their smiles faded and her lungs emptied of air.