She shook her head, not because it was her answer, but because it was what her misfiring synapses told her to do.

"Well, I am. And I want more with you than an affair."

"You do?"

Chase smiled broadly. "I get the feeling I'm not communicating something right here."

Wonderingly, Abby touched his face, her index finger resting in the indentation of his dimple. "Why? I don't understand why you would want a relationship with me."

"You were there this past week, weren't you?"

Abby managed a smile. "Yes."

"It was pretty damned amazing."

"Yes."

"Abby, I want to see where this thing can take us."

Abby's heart felt like it was floating, like the organ was defying all laws of gravity. "Even after yesterday?"

He kissed her, his lips moving over hers in sweet, light caresses. "Yesterday is forgotten."

She pulled back, giving him a stern look. "You shouldn't forgive so easily. It lets people walk all over you."

Chase grinned. "Okay, I'll only forgive you if you come home with me and spend the entire afternoon, evening and night in my bed."

"Okay," Abby agreed slowly, trying to control the smile that struggled to break free. "But you'd better hold me to it."

"Oh, I will."

True to his word, Chase kept Abby in bed all day. During which time, she didn't allow herself to do anything, but taste, touch and feel Chase.

It wasn't until the wee hours of the early morning, when Chase was sleeping, and her limbs were weak with fulfilled exhaustion that Abby began to think.

Her head rested on Chase's chest. The steady thump of his heart created a lulling rhythm, but she couldn't sleep.

She lifted her head, then placed her chin back on his chest, regarding him. His dark hair fell across his brow in messy waves, and his sinfully long, black lashes curled against his cheek. A faint hollow hinted at the deep dimple in his left cheek, and his beautifully sculpted lips were parted slightly. In sleep, his features looked almost feminine, except for the sharp angle of his jaw and the slight flare of his straight nose.

No, not feminine, she decided, but rather stunningly perfect-like an archangel fallen to earth.

She lay her head back down and again listened to the steady beat of his heart.

Why did he want a future with her? She was as dowdy as he was beautiful. She was as reserved as he was approachable, and she was as ill at ease as he was easygoing.

There was another hindrance that neither of them seemed willing to address. Her life was in Boston and his was here. They both loved their work. It was as much a part of their identities as their name or their age.

She rubbed her cheek against his skin, loving the contradiction of textures, like silk over warm steel.

He stirred, his hand moving to the curve of her hip. Still deep in slumber, he lazily caressed her. His work-roughened hand rasped over her skin, the sensation arousing and comforting all at the same time.

Suddenly, her doubts didn't seem quite so important. They would sort out their problems. They would make this relationship work.

"What do you mean?" Summer-Ann shouted, jumping up. The chair rolled back and hit the wall behind her. "Just what I said," Chase said coolly. "I'm letting you go."

"You can't do that."

"Yes, I can."

"But you need me," she said, her eyes narrowing to angry slits. "You know you need me."

"I have someone who will help out until I can find another full-time person." He had already spoken to Ellie this morning after Abby left for work. Ellie had readily agreed to help Chase with the ordering and billing for a while.As for his customers, they could reach him on his cell phone until he could get a new office manager. This information seemed to shake Summer. Chase knew she considered herself indispensable. "You're doing this for her, aren't you?" she hissed. Chase didn't bother to act confused by who "her" was. "Abby didn't ask me to do this. But I decided if things are going to work out with her, I can't have you around meddling." "I won't meddle," she vowed. "You already have. What you did is unforgivable, and I won't have you ruin my chance at happiness." Summer snorted. "Happiness with her? With a frumpy, mousy woman like that?" Chase gritted his teeth, anger coursing through his veins, but he managed to keep his voice even. "Keep Abby out of this. This is really about you and me. And the truth is, I should have stopped protecting you years ago."

"Protecting me!" Her eyes widened with disbelief. Then she laughed coldly. "I've been the one protecting your little secret since junior high. You're the one who needs me."

Chase's anger faded, and he suddenly felt weary. "I'm not doing this to be cruel. It's best for both of us.

It's time we both stand on our own two feet."

The tiredness of his voice seemed to calm her. She stared down at the office desk for what seemed like hours. Finally she raised her head, and tears clouded her eyes. "What about Willy?"

Chase sighed. "I'll be there for Willy if he needs me. But you can't keep filling his head with the notion that I'm going to be his father."

"I haven't."

"Good," he said and started to leave the office.

"I didn't mean to hurt you. Chase," she called after him.

He stopped, turning to look at her. "Just like you didn't mean to hurt me when you told me Willy was mine?"

"I was young," she said, her voice beseeching. "I was scared."

Chase nodded. "I know."

She seemed to relax a bit, offering him a wobbly smile.

"But what are you now?" he asked coolly. "Please have all your stuff out today and leave your key in the

desk." He shut the door firmly behind him.

Summer-Ann watched Chase leave, then collapsed into her office chair. She gripped the arms, her nails digging into the tweed upholstery. Tears formed in her eyes, but she fought them away.

She didn't cry, not really. Not unless it would help her get what she wanted. Real tears only showed that a person was weak and ineffectual.

But Chase's dismissal hurt more than she would have imagined. They hadn't been involved for years, but Summer-Ann never really let go of the idea that Chase was hers.

It was true that Chase hadn't shown any romantic interest in her since the day she'd told him the truth about Willy. But even when Chase had dated other women, he'd remained close to her.

A couple of years earlier, he'd been quite serious about Lisa Harris. Yet he would still come to Summer-Ann whenever she called, which she did often. Often enough that Lisa had finally ended things, saying she couldn't compete with Summer.

Summer smiled smugly. And that's why she had been so demanding. Just to show other women that she'd always be first in Chase's life.

And other women did seem to recognize her control.

Chase did date now and then, but his relationships never developed into anything noteworthy. Yet, Abby Stepp- insignificant, frumpy Abigail Stepp-had waltzed into town and messed up everything.

And how? What on earth could Chase see in a woman like that? She was attractive in a plain sort of way, but she wasn't a beauty by any stretch of the imagination. And Chase had always been drawn to a certain style.

Summer-Ann wasn't blind. She noticed that all the women he'd dated in the past had similar qualities. Blond hair, high cheekbones, petite curvy bodies. Just like her. Chase kept looking for someone to replace her. And Summer-Ann knew eventually he'd realize that he would never be able to do that, and come back to her.

But he wasn't going to now... not unless Abby Stepp left for good. And what would make a freakishly intelligent woman turn tail and run?

Summer-Ann leaned back in the chair, steepling her fingers together in front of her. She had just the ammunition to get that exact reaction.

She frowned. But if she did use her secret weapon, would Chase be able to forgive her this time? He had forgiven her before, many times, and when he realized there was no one else who really understood, he would again. And she would have a family-the family her son deserved.

"Oh Chase," Abby said, her fingers pausing in his hair. "You didn't."

Chase lifted his head from her lap. "I don't want Summer-Ann around where she can cause more trouble. And you did say I was too forgiving."

"You are," she said resolutely, stroking his head again.

He lowered his head. Closing his eyes, a contented smile curved his lips.

Abby tried not to think about the worry that tugged at her, instead concentrating on the silkiness of Chase's hair and the warm breeze grazing her skin. But alter a few moments, the worry won out. "But what is she going to do?"

Chase opened one eye. "She's getting a large severance check, and she was a hairdresser before she began to work for me. I know Marnie Gagnon will take her back at Shear Pleasures."

"Will she make enough?"

Chase smiled indulgently. "She'll be fine. And so will Willy."

He reached up and pulled her down to him, kissing the troubled little frown from her face.

When they parted, it was Chase's turn to look pensive.

"What?" Abby asked, confused by his concerned look.

"In my office, you mentioned that Summer-Ann had pulled another trick on you-back in high school.

What was that?"

Abby shifted. She didn't want to tell him. She didn't want him to feel pity for her. But she knew she was going to have to tell him. If there was one thing she'd quickly learned about Chase, it was that he was as tenacious as he was forgiving.

"On graduation day, she asked me if I wanted to attend the graduation party at the Ledges with you guys," she said, keeping her voice light and indifferent. "I was thrilled that Summer-Ann asked. I said yes, rushed home to get ready and waited. And no one ever showed up. It wasn't a big deal."

Chase sat up. "I had no idea she did that."

Abby smiled. "I know. I mean, back then I thought you were probably a part of it. But now I know you, and I know that wasn't your style."

"Well, you give me too much credit. I could be a real jerk, but I honestly didn't know Summer did that."

"It's really no big deal," she assured him and realized it truly wasn't. It was just a stupid thing that occurred a long time ago.

"I'm sorry," he said, pulling her against him.

"I'm not." She nuzzled his neck. "In fact, I'm rather glad it happened."

Chase moved away to give her a dubious look.

"I really am. If I had gone, I probably would have been uncomfortable and had a terrible time. But now, I'll always remember the Ledges very fondly." She wiggled her eyebrows. He chuckled.

The sound was so warm and rich that Abby could practically feel it trickle over her.

"But who's to say you wouldn't have discovered that same fondness fifteen years earlier," he said, cocking his eyebrow.

Abby shook her head with great certainty. "Nah, I would have passed out if you had even talked to me."

Chase laughed incredulously. "Why?"

"Because I was hot for your body," she admitted as she placed her hands on his chest.

"You were?" This time it was surprise that raised his brows.

"Mmm-hmm." She placed a kiss against his neck.

He pulled her tight. "Damn, I wish I'd gotten to know you back then."

"Well, I never believed in things like destiny and fate, but now I have my doubts."

"Me too," he agreed, capturing her mouth.