“Of course.”
“Are you ready to get out?”
“Would you mind leading me to the pool, taking the blindfold off, and I’ll close my eyes until you’re gone? I want to swim some laps to counteract all the time sitting on the plane. I can bet I’ll shower and get ready for dinner faster than you.”
“That’s a safe bet to make. Sounds like a plan.”
Lizzy put the two empty water bottles in his free hand and took the Gatorade and Propel in hers, then led him with his other hand out of the hot tub, directing him to a garbage where they threw everything away. She helped him sit on the side of the pool, savoring the incidental touches of his hand and arm. Kneeling down behind him, she untied her shirt and freed his eyes. She quickly smoothed it out. Trying to slide the damp shirt over her head was ridiculous and sticky. Finally, she tugged it into place.
Chase still had his eyes squeezed shut. He was handsome and such a great guy.
She bent close and softly whispered in his ear. “You can look now. I put my shirt back on.”
His head whipped around, and he was so close their lips barely missed each other. She startled but didn’t pull away as her stomach flip-flopped in a good way, not nerves like she was accustomed to.
His blue eyes penetrated through to her soul, and she had never been tempted to lean in and kiss some man she’d just met like she was at this moment.
She needed to keep her head on straight. No whirlwind romances.
Easing back, she smiled. “Thanks again. I’ll see you soon.”
He nodded, studying her face as if drinking it in.
She stood and walked toward the stairs, sweeping up her shorts. Amazingly, her legs felt rejuvenated, and she walked as straight as she ever did. She didn’t even mind him watching her walk away.
“Lizzy?” Chase’s voice carried to her.
She turned to look at him. He hadn’t moved from the side of the pool.
“I didn’t mind the blindfold, but thank you for taking it off so I could see the scenery.” His gaze was completely focused on her face, not the epic scenery beyond the pool and patio.
“It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?” She gestured toward the outside world.
“Yes, it is.” Again, he only studied her.
She blushed and grinned at him, touched deeply by the compliment.
Then she turned and started up the stairs, gripping the handrail but only lightly. He was watching her go. She hadn’t shown him the scar on her chest or told him about the weakness in her legs, but she was trusting him to watch her walk away.
Lizzy felt gorgeous in his eyes.
She wasn’t certain what to make of this connection or Chase, but he’d done more to alleviate her fears and help her trust him in an hour than she would’ve thought possible.
Chapter
Six
Chase swamsteady laps for about half an hour, thinking through every word, touch, and exchange with Lizzy, especially all that she hadn’t said.
That beautiful lady had trauma in her past.
He could relate. Throughout his childhood and teen years, he’d never felt a sense of home or belonging and sometimes he’d been around adults who were abusive emotionally and physically. He’d longed for a parent figure to love and protect him, a safety net, a cheerleader, and someone who saw the good in him. Coaches, teachers, pastors, and his friends’ parents had filled some of those roles for him. He’d had his faith and reliance on his Savior and the support of great friends. That was ultimately why he’d survived and thrived. His allegiance to his friends was also the reason he was here in this swimming pool, but more importantly in Austria with Lizzy.
He’d seen and done things with the military that had scarred him deeply. Still, he couldn’t regret his time there. He loved being the protector, needed, valued, successful, and the associations with his second group of brothers, his Ranger unit. He hated thinking that it had to come to an end but he wouldn’tchange his and Robbie’s choice to save the Syrian mothers and their children.
Could this adventure and whatever matchmaking Brandon and Madelyne had cooked up be the start of a new chapter in his life?
Chase finished his laps and wiped the water from his eyes. He longed to get to know Lizzy better. Something told him he could open up and relate to her. He related to all of his ‘brothers’, but he wasn’t really one to open up to anybody. Listening and being calm were more his talents.
