Free Dear Emily by Julie Ann Levin Page B

about me? How do you know
what happened with Alex?”
    There was no room for it in the
bathroom, but Chase stretched his legs out and folded his hands on
his stomach. She watched his every movement, so he watched her
every movement, liking the way she made wild curls in her hair with
her fingers. She always had great hair. It was a mess half the
time, but still, great fucking hair.
    “I haven't been on the island, but I
still talk to everyone. They're all obsessed with video
conferencing, and they've come to visit me on jobs.”
    “And the best your siblings can come
up with is gossip revolving around my failed marriage?”
    His head tilted to one side. “It's not
gossip. And besides, it's either that or I have to hear about
Ellie's boyfriends. I ask about you; they tell me what's going on.
How Alex talked you into buying this property and then left you in
a shitstorm.”
    “It's not all that dramatic,” Natalie
said.
    He would bet money it was.
    “I'll be fine once I finish school and
get a steady tenant.” She leaned her head against the wall and
raised her voice. “If I can ever get a steady tenant.”
    Chase rocked his head back and forth.
“You're doing it wrong. You have to stand up with your arms in the
air when you make a plea to the rental gods.”
    She gave him a rueful smile. “I would
try anything.”
    God, he felt good—happy to be locked
in a bathroom with Natalie, when he should be with his
father.
    “I thought you were already a nurse,”
Chase said.
    “I am, but I want to be a Registered
Nurse. That way I can supervise and have more responsibility.”
Natalie’s eyes were downcast as she absently picked at the dried
paint on the tiled floor. “Also, it will make my parents happy.
It’s not as good as being a Doctor like my sister-in-law, but my
mother probably won’t frown at me so much anymore.”
    “Frown at you?” Chase
asked.
    “You know, the whole, we sacrificed
everything for you speech.” She took a deep breath and sighed. “My
turn for a subject change. So, you ask about me?”
    He cocked his head to one side. “Don't
you ask about me?”
    “Why, did Ellie tell you I asked about
you?”
    He grinned, and Natalie pursed her
lips—the story of their lives.
    “Ellie talks too much,” Natalie
said.
    “She’s your friend,” Chase
said.
    “Best friend.” And Natalie was going
to thank Ellie and her big mouth the next chance she
got.
    He winked and reached out, placing his
hand on her calf and squeezing. Natalie froze and nibbled on her
bottom lip. Chase's eyes zeroed in on her mouth—full, perfect
lips.
    “I'm walking into the bedroom,” Dylan
said from beyond the locked door. “Don't be doing anything
naughty.”
    As if they had been doing something
naughty, Natalie shot up from the floor. She slipped on water and
grabbed the towel rack to keep herself upright. The metal bar came
clear off the wall in her hand, and she fell flat on her
back.
    “I was just kidding, but I can come
back if you guys need another minute.”
    “She slipped and fell, you idiot,”
Chase said. He leaned over her and helped her sit up. “Are you
okay?”
    Natalie nodded.
    “Let me guess. You were going to fix
the towel rack today too?”
    “No.” She swatted at his hands that
were touching her head, and then her arms and her back as he
checked for injury. “I fixed the towel rack last week, and would
you please stop that?”
    He grinned. “You're adorable,” he
said, and then helped her up to a standing position.
    The door handle jiggled, and Chase
heard the drill through the door. “Today, Dylan.”
    “You want to get out of there
yourself, asshole?”
    Chase returned his attention to
Natalie. “You're sure you're not hurt?”
    “Nothing was broken,” she said. “Only
my pride of course.”
    Dylan opened the door and said, “The
prodigal son returns.” He hugged Chase, and they slapped each other
on the back. Chase wondered if Dylan was trying to dislodge a few
organs while he was