Lost Without You: Book 2 in the Chasing Olivia Series Read Free Page B

on the rail so we’re eye to eye.
    “You told me not to marry Evan.”
    “Did I now? Did I give a reason?”
    “You told me to follow my heart and everything wasn’t what it seemed. Then you disappeared into the surf.”
    “It seems I give good advice in dreams, too.”
    “Yes, apparently you do,” I say, my face twisting into a partial smile. “I thought it was real. It felt so real. Then I woke up in a panic. I should have followed your advice,” I say with a quiet sigh, my head dipping low.
    “Hey,” he says softly, “you couldn’t have known. He was very good at hiding the truth.”
    “That’s what worries me. If I didn’t know about him, what else don’t I know?” I ask, my voice trailing off as I gaze back out at the ocean. The soft, salty breeze whispers across my face, blowing my hair back.
    “So, that’s what’s been bothering you?”
    “I don’t know who to trust. I feel like everything is one big lie.”
    “Look, I can tell you to trust me, but you should figure that out on your own. My life’s an open book,” he says, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Ask me anything.”
    “Are there any other women I should know about?”
    “Besides my stalker?” he asks, trying to lighten the mood. A smile crosses his face, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “By the way, my locks have all been changed. She won’t be able to get in again.”
    “Yes, besides her.”
    “There were a few other women, but they’ve all moved on. A few are married, one is engaged. Natalie was the only crazy one,” he quips.
    “That’s good to know,” I quip back.
    “You, on the other hand . . .” he jokes.
    “Are there any Chase juniors running around I should know about?”
    “God, no. I was always safe. That’s why when Natalie said she was pregnant, I immediately left Davis. I couldn’t figure out how that was possible. And we both know she faked the whole thing.”
    “Nothing is one-hundred effective.”
    He chuckles. “No, I don’t have any kids.”
    “Good.” I take a sip of champagne as we continue to sail away from Key West.
    “I thought this might calm you,” Chase murmurs.
    “The sailboat or the champagne?” I ask, deadpan.
    “Both.”
    “They’re both helping, thanks.”
    “I told you. I’ll do anything to make you happy.”
    He says that, yet when I pushed him away, he didn’t fight for me. When the going got tough, he bailed. “Why didn’t you try harder?” I ask.
    “Try what?” he cocks his head to the side, a puzzled look crossing his face.
    “To fight for me, to get me to realize what I saw wasn’t real,” I say, unable to hide the pain in my voice. If he would have convinced me before, I never would have gotten back with Evan.
    “I tried calling a million times, kept leaving message after message. Then I called, and Evan answered. If he made you happy, who was I to stop him?”
    “You would have given me up, just like that?”
    Dipping his head, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “It was hard. I’ve never felt hurt like that before. I was dying inside.” He looks up, pain hiding behind those rich blue irises. He takes another breath and continues. “In the short amount of time we were together, I found myself falling in love with you.” He pauses. “I am in love with you, but your happiness is more important than mine.”
    Wait, did he just admit to loving me again? I want it to be true, but I still lack the conviction and confidence to believe that, especially since we come from two different worlds. How could he possibly want plain old me?
    “That’s the thing. After I saw you with her, I felt so betrayed. You knew what happened with Evan,” I say, looking over the rail and watching the waves slowly lap against the bottom of the boat. “I didn’t think I was worthy of a love without flaws. It wasn’t until I saw you in my dreams that I realized I was settling. I didn’t think I was good enough to keep you.”
    “Why would you think that?” he