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unguarded and a gift like none she d ever received before.
Unable to find words she put her fingers over his lips and smiled,
tears in her eyes.
I almost hate to come, you feel so good. I want to feel this forever,
right here on the edge& he murmured against her fingers as he pressed
deep one last time and came.
After a shower, they snuggled back in bed as they waited for sleep to
come. You want to tell me what the non oh fuck me harder thought
was? He nuzzled her neck.
I was just thinking about how much I love and trust you. How you ve
helped me be a person I was pretty sure would never exist again.
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210 Lauren Dane
She felt his smile against her skin. That s a good one. You know,
you ve done that for me as well. For the last years I haven t trusted
anyone, least of all myself. I kept my heart walled off and only allowed
myself to love my family. I had this missing piece of myself, turns out
that piece was you.
You know I saw her. Sandra.
He stiffened and moved so he could look into her face. When?
Last week. Penny and I were in Riverton, shoe shopping, and she
walked past. Penny pointed her out.
She s nothing to me. You know that right?
Cassie laughed. Shane, you were going to marry her at one point in
time. You two lived together. She hurt and betrayed you with your best
friend. Of course she s something to you. But I m not threatened by that.
I know it s in your past but I don t expect that not to have made a dent in
your heart. It s okay to have feelings about her.
I used to hate her. I don t even have that anymore. I just feel bad.
We weren t right for each other, I should have seen it sooner. Hell, I miss
Ron, my old best friend, more than I do her. Anyway, I hope it didn t
upset you and I don t know why you didn t tell me.
It upset me because she hurt you.
She s married now, to Ron. It s all in the past. Shane shrugged. If it
had worked out with her and me, there d be no you and I. So I can t be
sad about it. Everything happens for a reason.
She s sorry you know.
He raised a brow. And you know that how?
She told me.
He sat up and pushed a hand through his hair in that way he did
when he was agitated. It made her smile.
You talked to her?
Of course I did. She snorted. She fucked you over. I walked right
out of that shoe store, Penny ran behind me trying to stop me. I called
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Taking Chase 211
out Sandra s name and she turned and when she saw Penny she paled
but waited. That took guts. Anyway, I told her who I was and she looked
me up and down and nodded her head. Congratulated me, told me what
a bitch she d been and how sorry she was for breaking up two best
friends and for hurting you so much. She s happy now with your old
friend but he misses you too, talks about you all the time according to
Sandra. He apparently stood in the back at the last two swearing in
ceremonies when you were re-elected. By the way, even with saggy boobs
and stab scars, I am way hotter.
He burst into laughter and pulled her against him, kissing the top of
her head. You are indeed way hotter, darlin . I can t believe you
confronted my ex on the street. He snorted. Thanks for defending my
honor.
I was ready to smack the spit out of that woman but I have to say,
after talking to her, I believe that she is sorry and while she hurt you and
that can t be taken back, she did me a favor. But I ll tell you if I ever see
Maggie s mother or sister on the street? Oh it s going down!
Look at you, like a gorgeous badger. If I weren t a man, I d have
smacked the crap out of Maggie s mother and sister too. Two more
callous women I ve yet to meet. But you d have to stand in line behind
my momma.
Oh I know. I talked to her about the Sandra thing. She was hopping
mad at me for a bit. It s okay now, she still hates Sandra and I can t
blame her but she knows why I did it and I hope you do too. I want you
to have closure on this. I want you to let it go because she s not worth it.
A smart badger too. He kissed her upturned lips. I have to admit
that it does feel good to know she s sorry and also that Ron came to my
swearing in. I can t say that I d ever share a beer with him again but it
hurts a little bit less now. No more going all Terminator on my ex-
girlfriends though.
Worried about your fan club president? Man does she hate me.
Kendra? She does? Honestly, Cassie, I dated her a few times. I
haven t in several years now.
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212 Lauren Dane
Shane, if I were threatened by every woman in this town with a torch
burning for you, I d be miserable. I trust you. That s all I can do. She
shrugged.
Well, if I get face to face with your ex things won t be so nice.
Good.
Summer broke with ridiculous fury. Cassie was pretty sure that she d
never been so damned hot in her life. It was only late June and she felt
like melting candle wax every time she walked out onto the street.
But things were going well otherwise. No more contact from Terry,
her job at the bookstore made her happy and she d expanded her jewelry
business to include several local stores as well as her booming market
stall.
Shane s house was hers now. She no longer felt like a guest but
comfortable enough to change around furniture and hang pictures on
the walls.
I m out of here, Penny. Cassie called back to her friend as she got
ready to leave for the day.
Okay, see you later tonight at The Pumphouse. Penny was seeing
Ryan every weekend now and he d looked at houses in a town that was
halfway between Atlanta and Petal so he could see her more often. He
drove out every Friday night after work or she would stay with him while
Cassie handled the store.
Just as she rounded the corner to the courthouse where Shane s
office was, her phone rang. Moving fast now, she saw that the number
wasn t one she recognized.
Picking up, she waved to Shane and pointed to her phone when he
saw her. He ran to her as she said, Hello?
And how are you, Carly?
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Taking Chase 213
She took a deep breath and Shane moved the phone so he could hear
as well. I was fine until you called, Terry. Don t you have somewhere to
hide?
Oh ho! I see my little mouse has found her roar. Talking tough when
you think I don t know where you are, aren t you? I can find you. I did
before, remember that night?
Shane s arm tightened around her and she focused on the people
milling around and tried to keep from losing it. She would not let him
win.
Which night, Terry? The one where you were convicted of attempted
murder but then you scurried off like a coward? That night?
You fucking bitch! I told you you were mine, don t you forget it. I
made you, you whore! I ll tell you when you can walk away, I m not ready
yet. When I kill you at last I ll be ready.
The line went dead and Cassie let Shane take her phone and lead her
into the alcove outside his office. His secretary took one look and helped
her sit down, pressing a glass of water into her hand. Shane grabbed the
phone and went to work.
An hour later, the office had filled with Chases and Penny as well.
Polly held one of Cassie s hands and Edward was on the phone with
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