Penny checked her email, irritated her boss had made her fly all the way to the west coast to meet face-to-face with some spoiled CEO. She could have gone the rest of her life and not ever visited California. The second she’d stepped off the plane, a fresh rush of grief had set in, knowing that Chase Abbott lived somewhere in the state. Her epic fail of a vacation had left her heart splayed apart. After she’d heard him talking with Raine, she’d been devastated. Although she’d thrown herself into work, she’d been unable to shake the memory of Chase from her mind.

She glanced around the office, recalling how Chase had carefully avoided telling her where he worked. Given that he’d neglected to mention he was still seeing his ex, she surmised he’d planned on keeping his whole life a secret. After being given the assignment to go to California, she’d googled Chase, but failed to discover anything regarding his employment. Aside from articles regarding high profile technology patents he’d filed, she’d only found him mentioned in the charity columns, referring to him as a wealthy philanthropist.

Penny’s eyes fell to the nameplate on the desk, Garrett Emerson, and she wondered what the hell was taking him so long. It was typical of her petulant rich clients, acting as if no one else’s time was important but theirs. He probably got off to a late tee time and was wrapping up things at the nineteenth hole.

The sound of the door opening startled her, but she steeled her nerves, refusing to let him see the annoyance on her face. Instead, Penny relaxed into her professional demeanor. By the time the hour was wrapped, she’d have convinced him that the next time they met it would be over Skype.

“Enjoying the view? I’ll admit it’s not the Caribbean but it’s gorgeous nonetheless,” Chase commented.

“What are you doing here?” Penny jumped up, dropping her cell onto the floor. Her eyes met Chase’s and he gestured to the chair.

“Please sit.” It was a command, not a request, his voice low and dominant as if he were angry.

“What kind of a game are you playing? I’m out of here.” Tears brimmed in her eyes and she bent to the ground, sweeping her hand underneath the desk. “I can’t do this. You…us…why did you…”

A strong hand caught her wrist. She lifted her lids to meet his gaze, and glared at him.

“Your phone.” Chase held it up in the air. When she reached for it, he gave her a wry smile. “No, no, no, counselor. I’m keeping this until you hear me out. No more running.”

“Jesus, Chase.” She yanked her arm out of his grip and sat back into her chair, wrapping her arms around her waist. “What did you do? There’s no client, is there?”

“There’s a client, darlin’ and you’re looking at him. I’ve already paid for your time.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“No, this is no joke.”

“Are you crazy? You can’t do this.”

“Do what?” he asked.

“You can’t just fly me out here because you want me.”

“Yeah, I think I pretty much did.”

“Fuck you,” she seethed.

“I plan to darlin’, but first we have to get a few things straight.”

“You want to talk? Are you serious? What is there to talk about? No, don’t even answer. I heard you talking to your ex that day, so as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing to say. I don’t want to do this.” Penny shoved out of her chair but he blocked her with his body. His familiar scent took her by surprise, memories of their time together flooding her mind. She stifled a sob; heartbroken, her words faltered.

“I don’t know what you thought you heard that day, but Penny, please.” His voice softened and he reached for her, cupping her cheek. She lifted her teary lids to meet his gaze. “You are the only person I’ve dated for months. And Raine and I? It’s been over for years.”

“I heard you talking to her,” she bit out.

“You heard me talking to her, yes, but she works here.”

“Oh God…you work together. Are you kidding me?” She shook her head and exhaled loudly. “I’m so stupid.”

“Yes, but I just told you, it’s over between us. She’s had twenty different boyfriends since we broke up and is probably now on to number twenty-one. That day on the phone…the only reason I even took the call was because we’d just shipped samples. I wanted to make sure everything got home.”

“You really expect me to believe that?”

“Yes, I do.”

“This is crazy.” Penny attempted to curb her anger, but the conversation played in her mind. “You said you were going to be with her…at home. I heard you.”

“Yes. My home, as in California. I don’t live with her. I haven’t lived with her for a long time.”

“But you didn’t tell her what you were doing. You didn’t even mention me. It was obvious she was asking you.”

“Jesus, Penny. I was just coming to terms with my feelings about you. Do you really think I was going to tell her how I felt? Did you expect me to tell her that meeting you had been the most earth shattering experience of my life, and I was trying to figure how the hell to ask you to move out here?” Chase took a deep breath and pinned her eyes with his. “I already told you that I don’t even think I ever loved her. I meant that. I meant every word I said to you on vacation. You have to believe me. I’m not letting you go again.”

Penny struggled to process what he was telling her. She pressed the heel of her hand into her forehead, overwhelmed with the knowledge that she could have been wrong about what she’d heard. Her fragile heart ached for him as she cautiously considered the facts. Why would he bring her all the way to California, to stage this elaborate proposal, if he wasn’t telling the truth? It was too much to comprehend how things could have gone so far.

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“I just knew that you’d need more than words. And honestly, when I got back, I thought maybe I needed time to figure out what I really wanted. The fact that you’d think I’d do that to you. That I’d sleep with you, lie to you. You didn’t even stick around to give me a chance. I was angry.”

“I’m sorry… that day…you said you were going to her.” Penny tried to back away but he took her hand in his. Her bottom edged against the desk.

“Yes, I did. She needed me to look at her dive equipment. Our group here, we do all kinds of things together. Evan and Garrett, they lead up our sky jumps. I do scuba. And they trust me to look at their gear.”

“They can’t get someone else?”

“Yes, they can. That’s not the point. The point is that if I’m here, I’ll do it. But there’s nothing between Raine and me anymore…it’s over.”

Penny gasped as Chase surrounded her, straddling her legs and placing his palms flat onto the desk. His lips brushed her cheek, his warm breath on her ear. Her skin pricked in awareness as the heat of his muscular body emanated onto hers.

“I’m sorry…it’s just when I heard you, it sounded like you were still with her. I shouldn’t have left, but I just couldn’t stay to argue about it. I’ve been hurt before,” she managed. Guilt flooded her chest as she realized she’d misjudged him. “Oh God, I should have known you’d never do that to me.”

“You should have but you know what, mermaid?”

“I’m sorry.” Penny shivered as his strong hand glided up her back, into her hair. She surrendered, allowing him to tilt her head to meet his gaze. Her neck exposed, she yearned for his lips on her skin.

“I forgive you,” he breathed.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated.

“These past two weeks have taught me a very hard lesson.” He pressed his lips to the delicate skin behind her ear. “I need you here with me…”

“In California?”

“Yes. In California. In my life. In my home.”

“Chase…” Trembling, she placed her palm on his chest.

“I’ve already arranged for you to take on Emerson as a client, so you can continue with your firm. I want you here. Travel with me. Be with me.”

“I…” Penny’s heart tightened with love for her handsome rescuer as her dream lingered within reach. Everything she had built in New York had been an empty shell of misguided priorities, but he’d made it possible for her to continue working, so they could be together. What he didn’t realize was that she would have moved half way around the world to be with him, job or not.

“Say yes,” he whispered.

“Yes, Chase, yes, yes.” As the confession fell from her lips, Chase kissed her.

Breathless, Penny slid her arms up his back, desperate to touch him. He reached for her knees, spreading her legs apart. As his erection brushed her panties, arousal tore through her. She moaned in protest as his lips tore from hers, trailing down to her collarbone.

“I love you, Penny Travis.”

“I love you, too.”

“God, I missed you. Never run from me again,” he growled.

“Never,” she promised.

His fingers slid up her thighs, hooking on her panties. As he tugged them down, she kicked them off, grunting as he speared his fingers into her pussy.

“Missed me?” he asked with a sexy smile.

“Just a little,” Penny laughed. She slid her hand down into his pants, and fisted his steel hard cock. “Missed me?”

“Fuck yeah, and I’m about to show you how much.”

Penny giggled as he swept his arm across the desk, sending a stapler and pens flying across the room. As he turned her toward the window, she caught sight of the ocean beckoning in the distance. The cool air conditioning skimmed across her wet opening as he hiked up her skirt and bent her over. Her palms flattened against the smooth surface, his knees spreading her wide open. As he donned protection, her heart sped in anticipation. A slap to her bottom caused her to squeal and her breath quickened, his head pressing into her entrance.

“Ah,” she cried, as he sheathed himself to the hilt.

“You see that view, darlin’?” He pulled out and slammed back into her.

“Ah, yes.” She laughed. “Is this a real estate tour?” Her flippant remark was rewarded with a sharp spank on her other cheek and her pussy contracted around his shaft.

“That is what we are going to wake up seeing for the rest of our lives. You and me.”

“Please don’t stop,” she begged as he increased the pace of his thrusts.

She clawed at the edge of the desk, bracing herself. It had been so long, missing him, loving him. He plunged inside Penny, his swollen flesh stroking her channel. She exhaled as he reached over her, raking his fingers through her hair and bringing his lips to hers. As his other hand found her clit, she moaned in response. His touch set her nerves on fire, her climax building. Penny screamed his name into their kiss, their simultaneous release exploding like fireworks.

“I love you,” she heard him tell her over and over.

As the waves of ecstasy subsided, he scooped her into his arms. She kissed his chest as he carried her to a small loveseat that sat across the room. They fell onto it, and Penny smiled, her heart blooming with happiness.

Within his embrace, she quietly celebrated their reconciliation. A simple vacation affair had transformed into a burning love that wouldn’t be denied. She didn’t know for certain what their future held, but she knew whatever adventures they forged, they’d explore them together.