Page 22 of Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire

“I’d say it’s the truth…unless I’m totally off base.”

She pulled out of his embrace and turned in her seat so her back was against the door and she could see him.“You’re not.I am a good person.At least I try to be.It was how I was raised.”

“Me, too.My parents would have—well, let’s just say they believed in the adage ofspare the rod and spoil the child.”

She laughed.“So did mine, but I made sure I didn’t get spanked very often.Just once by Mom and once by Dad.Apparently, my parents had an agreement that Mom would discipline the boys and Dad would discipline me.But Mom ended up doing most of it, me included.They only spanked as a last resort.Mom’s ability to use words to make you feel guilty prevented you from misbehaving again.”

“Actually, I didn’t either.One time, I’d misbehaved.Nothing really terrible, but anyway, my grandmother was staying with us and told me to go get a switch.I got the smallest one I could.She wasn’t pleased and got one herself.I think she spanked me twice as long because of what I’d done with the switch.I learned my lesson and was mostly good from then on.”He chuckled at the memory.

She cocked an eyebrow and then laughed.“I sincerely hope so.”I wonder what a young Chase was like?His parents clearly gave him skills to form a company and achieve his dreams.But what else might they have taught him?Honesty, loyalty, perseverance.All good traits, but can I trust him or will he turn out to be like Jared?Why is true love so elusive?

She was so animated.Chase stared at her.Her hair was such a contrast to the starry sky above them.He loved her green eyes, and that she blushed at anything even mildly inappropriate.He’d do almost anything for her or to keep her with him.But that wouldn’t happen, because he couldn’t give her his heart.Was he wrong to want to see her?She made him feel things he hadn’t felt in years.He’d have to keep from getting too close.

Except, when he wasn’t with her, he missed her and wanted her close.He wished he knew what to do.Actually, he wished he could have his cake and eat it, too.He yearned for Meri like no one ever before, but he didn’t want to harm her.However, he couldn’t see an alternative except for avoiding her, which proved impossible.He could give her as much as he had to give.That would have to be enough.And what if it isn’t?What if she wants more than I can give?Will I stay away then?Or will I continue to hurt her?

He didn’t have the answer.

The next Saturday,Meri was driving home from a day out shopping with her mother.Eric and Avery followed closely behind her.She remembered now, while they were in her car, trapped in the weekend’s rush hour traffic, why she did most of her shopping online.

“You picked out some interesting items today,” her mother said nonchalantly.Carole Anderson was a fit woman of sixty-four.Her hair was still the same red as Meri’s, with only a few strands of gray, and her eyes were the same shade of green.

From her father, Meri got her curls.They were the reason James Anderson wore his hair cut close at the sides and not too long on top.He’d learned to manage the curls at the top of his head, so he had enough to comb.His hair was light brown and at sixty-nine he had not one gray hair.

“I’m sorry.What did you say?”

Her mother smiled indulgently.“You’re just like your father.When something bothers you, everything else has a hard time getting in.I commented on your unusual purchases today.”

“Unusual?How?”

She’d bought some sexy underwear and a form-fitting little black dress.Now if Chase wanted to take her out to some place fancier, she would have the appropriate clothes to do it and not make a poor impression.“I’m meeting more high-end clients and need to dress appropriately for our meetings…wherever they are.”She thought she did pretty good coming up with an excuse for her high-end purchases.

“I suppose that’s true, but I’m disappointed.I was hoping there was a special man involved, like maybe Chase Harper.I guess that’s just an old woman’s dream.”

Meri barked out a laugh.“Since when are you anold woman?If I had said anything like that, you would have punched me in the arm.Lightly, of course.”

Her mother chuckled.“You’re right.But I’m getting to the point I wonder if I’ll ever have grandchildren.”

She pulled forward.The traffic jam was finally moving.There must be an accident up ahead.“What are you talking about?You already have six grandchildren.Each of the boys has two.”

“I meant from you.Grandchildren from you.”Her mother had the good grace to blush.“Is it against the law for a mother to want to see her daughter settled?”

“No, it’s not.But I’m not seeing anyone steady.Chase and I’ve gone to dinner a couple of times, that’s all.Mostly business.”Now that was a whopper.They hardly discussed business.But her mother didn’t need to know that.She’d make a big deal out of it, and I don’t want that to happen.I just want to enjoy Chase’s company.I’m not looking for another relationship.

“I doubt it’s all business, not if you’re buying sexy underwear and little black dresses.Whatever you do, just stay safe.”

“Mom.I am not having the safe sex conversation with you.I have no intention of seducing Chase Harper, so drop it.”

Her mother smiled and patted Meri’s thigh.“Of course, dear.”

Fifteen minutes later, Meri finally pulled into her mother’s driveway and cut the engine.

The Yukon with Eric and Avery in it, pulled to the curb in front of the house and stopped.

Meri released her seat belt and turned toward her mother.“Okay, I’ll level with you.I don’t want to make any more out of this than it is.For now, it’s just two people getting to know one another.I don’t care about Chase’s money.I’m successful in my own right.Please don’t say anything to anyone, especially Dad.He’s a bigger gossip than anyone I’ve ever met.He just has to tell all the men at his firm exactly what he’s heard.”

“I promise to keep the secret,” she motioned, locking her lips and throwing away the key.“But I don’t think you give your father enough credit.He can keep a secret.”

“No, he can’t.He told them when I started my period, for gosh sakes.”