Some jerk had dared to hit and threaten Lizzy?
When he didn’t respond, she lowered her gaze. “I always choose the wrong men to date. My dad was abusive too.” She shook her head and pulled back, edging away from him on the couch. “The men I date always seem charming and treat me well … until they don’t.” She bit at her lip and looked dejected.
“Lizzy.” Chase turned toward her, wanting to hold her close and fight her every battle but not knowing what his role was. “I …” He had to swallow through the thickness of his throat. “If I can please have the full names of each of the men you’ve dated who didn’t treat you right, starting with this Darren loser, I will track them down and rip their arms out of their sockets.”
Lizzy burst out a surprised gurgle of a laugh. Shaking her head, she looked at him with appreciation in her soft brown eyes. “You’d do that for me?”
“Oh, yes ma’am. Happily.” Chase eased closer and gently tilted her chin up with his fingertips. “You understand it is in no way your fault that you dated men who were out-of-control jerks.”
Lizzy shrugged, looking vulnerable and beautiful. “I chose to date them.”
“They put on a mask to trick you into dating them.”
She nodded. “They always were charming and kind and then … usually because I embarrassed them with my condition, the monster would climb out and belittle me and sometimes hurt me.”
“None of those men were in any way worthy of you, Lizzy. You are a shining light, an inspiration, an angel.”
She smiled at him, but the subject must’ve been tender as a tear crested her eyelid and rolled down her silken cheek.
Chase bent and kissed the salty wetness away.
Lizzy whimpered, flung her arms around his neck, and clung to him.
“I hope you know I would never hurt or belittle you,” he said softly. If she allowed him to, he’d love and protect her.
“I do know that, Chase. I trust you.”
Then she arched up and kissed him.
Chase wanted to stay diligent about her protection, and he would keep one ear open, but returning her kiss was of the utmost importance right now.
Chapter
Twelve
Lizzy awoke lyingon something both hard and soft. Bright morning light filtered through the windows. She blinked and focused on Chase. He sat on the sofa, staring down at her. She lay on his lap.
“Mornin’,” he said softly.
“Good morning.” She smiled, thinking of the beautiful kisses they’d exchanged last night and his even more beautiful words. The way he’d protected her had touched her deeply. Chase would never hurt her, and she trusted him.
She straightened, wincing at the stiffness in her neck. She rolled her head around and thought about the other occurrences last night and why she and Chase were sitting on the couch in a vacant guest suite. A shudder ran through her body.
“Did you sleep at all?” she asked Chase.
“No.” He gave her a partial smile. “But you’re safe and that’s all that matters.”
“Oh, Chase!” She wanted to hug him and kiss him again, but she had morning breath, needed to use the bathroom, and she probably had makeup all over her face. “Can we go to my suite so I can brush my teeth and then kiss you properly?”
Chase chuckled and nodded. Standing, he offered her a hand. He slid his phone into his pocket and walked her to the door of the suite. Cautiously opening the door partway, he studied the hallway for a few beats and then murmured, “Stay right behind me.”
Lizzy doubted another attacker was going to spring at them, but she appreciated his diligence. The man who’d come after her had an accomplice, according to Joshua. She supposed anything was possible.
They eased across the hall. He stopped at the door to her room, turned the knob, and pushed it open. Guiding her inside, he shut the door behind them and said, “Wait right there.”
He swept through the room, looking under the bed and behind the couch. Then he looked in the closet and the bathroom.
Lizzy watched him, warmth bubbling in her chest. This strong, brave, incredible man was protecting her, was interested in her, and had kissed her multiple times. She wanted answers about the attacker, but her answers about Chase seemed to be all positive, all green flags waving or pointing at this man.
