The Look of Love (The Sullivans) by Bella Andre: Chapter 8 + Audiobook + Exclusive Commentary from Bella
I hope you loved Chapter 7 of The Look of Love (The Sullivans)! I started quilting when I was pregnant with my son eighteen years ago. I immediately loved it, which is why it was so much fun to make Chloe a quilt artist. It also meant that when Chase needed some help with the clothes the models he was photographing were wearing, Chloe could step right in and save the day. It was just the boost of confidence she needed after having been through so much with her ex. And it became one more thing that Chase fell in love with about her.
In Chapter 8, we get to find out more about Chase’s 7 siblings and his widowed mother as we lead up to Chase and Chloe’s first kiss.
If you’ve missed any of the previous chapters you can find them here:
Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6 / Chapter 7
Enjoy Chapter 8!
Note: You can also listen to THE LOOK OF LOVE for free!
AUDIOBOOK:
Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6 / Chapter 7 / Chapter 8 /
CHAPTER EIGHT
copyright 2022 Bella Andre / Oak Press, LLC
Please Note: My books are sexy and emotional love stories. Which is to say there will be lots of scenes where the hero and heroine are smooching (and doing much, much more!) in nearly all of my posts. 😍
Chloe felt surprisingly comfortable at the small party at Marcus’s house. Although, she thought as she glanced around her to take it all in, his property was really more of a Tuscan-style estate. Surrounded by hundreds of acres of his vineyards, the land directly around his home had been landscaped into a botanical paradise full of ancient oak trees, mature olive trees, fruit trees and a classically designed vegetable garden on the side of the house.
And yet, even though she’d never seen a house more beautiful, and knew it had to be worth an absolute fortune, she was so much more at ease in Marcus Sullivan’s home than she had ever been at her ex’s expensive childhood home, or the homes of the “friends” they’d spent time with. Even in her own home while married to him, she had to admit to herself, she’d felt out of place, almost afraid to move too quickly for fear she’d break something “priceless” on a table or shelf.
Marcus was the consummate host, making sure everyone’s glasses were full and that the underage models stuck to juice and sparkling water even when they pouted and blinked their big, pretty eyes at him to try to get him to change his mind.
After she’d had her fill of the incredible spread and Jeremy had officially exhausted her gossip quota for one lifetime, Chase reappeared from the shadows.
“Are you having fun?”
She smiled at him as she said, “I am. Thank you so much for including me tonight.”
It should have been a relief when he’d moved away from her not long after arriving at the party, especially after their silent walk from the guesthouse. But even though she truly had been having a great time tonight, she’d missed being with him. Her gaze had strayed to him from across the room one too many times. And he’d almost always caught her looking…because he’d been looking for her, too.
“Can I get you anything else to eat or drink?”
She shook her head, putting her hand over her stomach. “I’m stuffed, thanks.” Feeling a little loose from the wine, she said, “There is something I’d love, though. I’ve been dying to see a family photo.”
“I can already tell you I’m the best-looking Sullivan,” he joked.
She laughed out loud, since Chase was one of the least egotistical men she’d ever met. Confident, but not cocky.
“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?”
He held out a hand, and she took it without remembering that it wasn’t a good idea to touch him. But, oh, it felt so nice to hold his hand—big and strong and warm—if only for a few short moments.
It occurred to her that she might be just a teensy bit tipsy as they walked into a room that she assumed was Marcus’s study, but it was so nice to feel relaxed again. She’d been so tense for so long. As long she could remember, actually.
Chase picked up a framed eight-by-ten photo from the bookshelf and handed it to her.
Chloe worked to keep the awe from her expression at what an incredible sight the Sullivans made together. Still, she couldn’t take her eyes off Chase. Even in a photo he commanded her attention.
He was standing next to his mother, nearly a foot taller, with his arm around her as she leaned her head on his shoulder. She looked happy and content, surrounded by her children.
Longing to be part of a family this close hit Chloe so hard, she almost dropped the glossy photo.
And then she saw something that had her mouth falling open.
“Oh, my God. You’re Smith Sullivan’s brother?”
* * *
Jealousy wasn’t something that Chase knew a lot about. So the sudden hard hit of it, right in the pit of his gut, stung pretty damn bad.
“I am.” He waited for her to ask if she could meet Smith, or to start peppering him with questions about his movie-star brother.
Instead, she simply turned and stared at him for a long moment. “I guess I should have seen the resemblance.” And then she said, “Tell me about everyone else.”
Seriously? She didn’t want to know more about Smith, who happened to be one of the biggest movie stars in the world?
This time he was the one giving her a funny look, and she shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, her free hand automatically coming up to cover her cheek. “Is something wrong?”
He quickly shook his head. “No. Not a thing.”
He wanted to move her hand from her cheek, wanted to tell her again that she didn’t need to hide any part of herself from him. But he’d made himself a promise to let her lead their dance.
He wasn’t a saint. Not even close. But he knew keeping that promise was the only way she’d ever really trust him.
Chase knew how to persuade a woman with kisses, with the touch of his fingertips across her skin. But he didn’t want to be the only one wanting.
He wanted Chloe to want, too, just as badly as he did.
Enough that she’d have to act on that want.
Enough that she’d have to push past fear and trust him.
Up on the hill at lunchtime, she’d asked him to be her friend. Chase couldn’t remember the last time he’d remained just friends with a woman he wanted. And yet, when he’d told her he’d be honored to be her friend, it hadn’t been a line. He’d meant it. There was something about Chloe that brought out his protective instincts and made him want to know her secrets. He was curious, of course. Anyone would be with the bruise she wore on her cheek and the way he’d found her on the side of the road. But he knew he had to be careful not to push her or she’d run. He had to tread delicately. And he hoped talking about his family would help ease her into becoming even more comfortable with him.
“Ryan is a year younger than me.” At her questioning sidelong glance, he added, “I’m thirty-two.” He turned back to the picture. “He plays pro baseball for the San Francisco Hawks.”
She murmured something about being impressed, but it was clear from her reaction that she wasn’t a baseball fan. He grinned, thinking about Chloe meeting Ryan and not fawning over him. His brother would be crushed. Smith would likely feel the same way. He couldn’t wait to introduce her to his two famous brothers.
“Gabe is my youngest brother. He’s a firefighter.”
“Wow, a firefighter. That’s a really dangerous job.” She looked at Gabe’s picture again and then back at Chase. “Doesn’t your mother worry?”
“At this point, between the eight of us, I think she’s pretty much thrown in the towel on worrying.”
Chloe shook her head. “No,” she said softly, “she’s your mother. She still worries. About all of you. Because she loves you.”
In an instant, he was caught up in a perfectly clear vision of Chloe as a mother, how sweet and loving she’d be. His voice felt raw as he agreed. “That’s why we’ve tried to give her a little peace, now and again, as we get older. At least I have, anyway.”
Chloe smiled at him, and his chest clenched tight at her beauty, and the way just one small smile absolutely transformed her entire expression from pretty to radiant.
“Who’s this?” She pointed at one of his sisters.
“Nice.” When she gave him a confused look, he realized he’d used his sister’s nickname and corrected himself. “I mean Sophie.” He pointed to her twin. “That’s Lori, aka Naughty. They’re the youngest of all of us.”
She chuckled. “Why do I have a feeling your sisters don’t much care for those nicknames?”
“Sure they do,” he insisted, before admitting, “even though they’re always telling me they don’t.”
Chloe shook her head and muttered, “I can’t imagine dealing with one big brother like you, let alone six.” She arched a brow at him. “I’ll bet you know exactly what’s best for them, don’t you?”
He grinned at her unrepentantly. “Of course I do.”
She snorted, then looked at the picture again. “They’re both very pretty. I sure hope they got some good ones in on you and the rest of your brothers for being know-it-alls.”
Chase winced in memory. “More than once, you’ll be glad to hear.”
She laughed again, and if there was a sweeter sound in the world, Chase hadn’t heard it yet.
“What do they do? Lori looks really athletic.”
“She’s a dancer and choreographer. She started out working with cheerleaders and now she does a lot of the stuff you see on TV.” Damn, he loved those girls, and would always want to protect them. “Sophie is a librarian in San Francisco. She’s smart as a freaking whip, and always had her head in a book. Still does.”
“Wow, very impressive. A movie star. A winery owner. A pro baseball player. A firefighter. choreographer. And a librarian. No wonder you’re so proud of your brothers and sisters.”
Chase and his siblings didn’t always see eye to eye; fists were sometimes raised and thrown in the heat of anger. But he’d give up his left arm—hell, both of his arms—for any one of them.
“I already know about Smith. He’s a little older than you, right?”
“Thirty-four.”
“Your parents were certainly busy,” she said, before pointing at another of his brothers. “And who’s this?”
“Zach. He’s twenty-nine. He owns half of the auto shops in California,” he said, just barely exaggerating, considering his brother was a bona fide mogul with a wrench in his hand, “and he races cars in his spare time.”
Recognition lit in her eyes. “Are those Sullivan Auto ads I hear all the time on the radio his?”
Chase nodded. “He’s a business mastermind who’d rather spend his life under the hood of a vintage car.” Or in a woman’s bed. But Chloe didn’t need to know that. Especially given that Zach was a good-looking bastard. Quite possibly the best looking of them all. Including Smith, whose looks were integral to his profession.
“Marcus is the old man of the group at thirty-six.”
Laughing at just how off base it was for him to call Marcus an old man, she said, “So, there are eight of you between the ages of twenty-four and thirty-six.” She raised an eyebrow. “And none of you are married yet?” Her surprise was evident.
He shrugged. “Nope. We’re all expecting Marcus and his girlfriend to do the deed soon.” Although after what Chase saw at their mother’s birthday party, he wasn’t so sure anymore. Neither Marcus nor Jill had looked particularly happy. “Bets were placed a long time ago on who would be shackled with the ball and chain first.”
She laughed out loud at that. “See, now you’re talking like a normal guy. Using the words shackled and ball and chain in reference to getting married.”
Funny, he thought as he enjoyed her laughter, up until yesterday he’d been right there with the rest of his siblings on thinking marriage was a long way off. Hell, when he’d originally planned to come up to the winery, he’d even scheduled a one-night stand. But now, after meeting Chloe, he wasn’t so sure.
He knew it was crazy. Knew how hard it would be for anyone else to believe that it was possible to fall this fast, or this hard, this quickly.
He couldn’t explain it.
But he suddenly found that he didn’t need to.
Chloe had unexpectedly come into his life, and now that she had, he didn’t want her to leave it. Or to leave him.
So even though it was crazy, and even though the rest of the world might not understand him or his choices, Chase realized that he didn’t mind being led straight to the edge of the cliff. Not as long as Chloe was standing there, too.
And they were falling together.
Turning back to the picture, she said, “Your mother is beautiful.”
“She is. She’s great.”
“She looks so happy to be with all of you.” Chloe’s eyes were big and full of concern as she asked, “What happened to your father?”
When he hesitated before answering, she bit her lower lip. “That was really rude. I’m sorry, you don’t have to answer.”
“No, don’t be sorry, Chloe. You can ask me anything.”
Her gaze flew to his again. “But we just met last night. We don’t know each other that well,” she protested, and it was as if she’d just been privy to his thoughts about how crazy this all was between them. How sudden. How powerful.
Crazy, sudden, unexpected: None of those things bothered Chase. Hopefully, soon, they wouldn’t matter to Chloe, either.
“I was ten when my father died,” he told her, the pang right behind his breastbone reminding him how much he still missed his father…and how much he wished he’d at least been able to say goodbye. “He went to work that morning and he had an aneurysm. One of his employees found him in his office on the floor.”
“Oh, Chase, I’m sorry.”
She put her hand on his arm, and even though he thought he hadn’t truly needed to grieve for his father in nearly two decades, her touch gave him comfort.
She looked back at the picture, and he could see her studying his mother’s face with fresh emotion. “Did she remarry?”
He shook his head. “No. She never dated, either.”
“No doubt she must have been too busy to have a social life for herself,” Chloe murmured. “I can’t imagine how she managed with eight kids all by herself.”
Beyond glad that she hadn’t shied away from what she wanted to know, he said, “It wasn’t easy. Especially not at first. We all helped out. At least, the big kids did.” He gave her a small smile. “I make a mean mac and cheese.”
“Yum,” she said in a soft, not altogether convincing voice.
“Want to hear my secret?”
“Uh…okay.”
He leaned in a little closer, close enough that he could breathe in her sweet scent, along with the heady aroma of red wine on her lips. “You’ve got to watch the pot carefully and know just when to stir.”
Attraction flared between them again at his teasing words, both of them knowing that what he was really doing was gauging her reaction to him.
Because he wanted her.
And he knew she wanted him, too.
* * *
Marcus found them in his study and glanced down at the family photo in her hands. “Whatever he’s saying about us, Chloe,” he teased, “it’s all lies.”
Chase watched her grin up at his brother, glad to see that she was so comfortable with his family. “So I guess that means you’re not a superhero, after all?”
Marcus laughed, clearly pleased with her comeback. “Everyone left to go dancing in town. To be nineteen again,” he said with a shake of his head. “How about I open up a bottle of the good stuff for the three of us?”
“The wine you’ve served so far tonight has been amazing. You have better stuff?” Chloe asked, incredulous.
“Prepare to have your mind blown,” Marcus replied.
Despite the fact that his brother was clearly enjoying being around Chloe, Chase couldn’t shake the sense that something wasn’t right with Marcus. As the oldest Sullivan, he’d always carried more of the burden of making sure everyone in the family was okay. But tonight he seemed edgier than normal. Wound just a little too tight, even after changing out of his suit and tie.
Before meeting his girlfriend, Jill, Marcus had been just as much a dog as the rest of the Sullivan boys, a veritable connoisseur of beautiful women. But in the past two years, he’d straightened up to the point where Chase almost didn’t recognize him. Where was the brother who knew how to have fun? How to laugh at stupid jokes? How to kick up his feet and enjoy the present instead of always preparing for the future?
Chase missed getting up to no good with the oldest of the Sullivan clan, but since he’d assumed his brother was preparing to marry Jill and settle down to have a bunch of kids, he’d figured it wasn’t his place to pry. Only, after what he’d seen between them at his mother’s birthday party, he suddenly wondered if he’d figured wrong.
“Is Jill going to be coming up to Napa this weekend?”
Marcus tensed. “She’s got a lot of work to catch up on with some high-profile projects.”
“It isn’t work she can take care of from here?” Chase asked, knowing Jill spent most of her time online and on the phone versus having to be on-site in meeting rooms all day.
Chloe looked between Chase and Marcus, clearly sensing the tension in their conversation.
“It’s easier for her to get it done in the city,” Marcus explained as he led them into the living room, which looked out over the moonlit vines and pool patio. And as he uncorked a dusty cabernet bottle that still smelled of the caves, Chase understood that their conversation about Jill was over. At least for the time being.
Because if Jill didn’t like coming up to Napa to stay with Marcus at least part of the time, it seemed that his brother and his brother’s girlfriend were going to have some pretty major problems going forward. After all, the wine country was at the heart of not only Marcus’s business, but this land was where his heart was. As far as Chase was concerned, any women Marcus married needed to love it, too. And who in their right mind wouldn’t?
As Marcus handed Chloe the glass of wine, Chloe said, “I really shouldn’t have any more, but how can I resist?”
The three of them sat down, and Chase loved how easy she was with his brother. Just knowing Chloe was near, just being able to see her smile, to hear her laugh, made everything so much better. And his life had been pretty damn good before she came into it, so that was really saying something.
“Everyone was saying what a great help you were at the magazine shoot today,” Marcus told her.
Chase could see how pleased she was at his compliment. “I had fun.”
“She completely saved the day, actually,” Chase put in.
Chloe rolled her eyes. “That is so not true. I simply sewed up one dress that had a small tear in it.”
It was a tear that could have cost them a very important shot, but before he could tell them that, Chloe took a sip from her glass and said, “Oh. My. God. This wine is so good it should be illegal.”
Marcus smiled. “I’m glad you like it. This is the cabernet that put Sullivan Winery on the map.”
She inhaled from the rim of her glass before taking another sip. On a near-moan, she said, “No wonder everyone started talking about your winery after tasting this. What I’m feeling isn’t even close to like. It’s love all the way.”
In an instant, Chase’s desire for her skyrocketed. All it took was hearing her moan…and say one little four-letter word.
A word that he hadn’t even been searching for. Because he hadn’t realized it was missing from his life.
Until now.
Until Chloe.
“So,” Marcus said, “where are you from, Chloe?”
She instantly snapped to attention, sitting up so fast in her seat that the wine sloshed almost to the rim of her glass and over. Her face was flushed as she said, “I’m in the process of moving, actually.”
She took a big, nervous gulp of wine, and Chase tried to use Sullivan telepathy to tell his brother to shut up.
It didn’t work.
“Where to?” Marcus asked.
Chloe took another gulp and swallowed hard before replying. “I’m still looking at my options.”
After Marcus leaned over to refill her empty glass, she shot up out of her seat. “I’ve got to go visit the powder room. Excuse me.”
Chase waited until she’d left the room to tell his brother, “You upset her with your questions.”
Marcus frowned. “Sorry about that. I didn’t realize it until it was too late.” He shot Chase a serious look. “What the hell is going on? She’s got that bruise pretty well covered up tonight, but how’d she get it in the first place? Did that happen when she drove off the side of the road? Or is there another story behind what happened to her?”
Every time Chase thought about how she’d gotten the bruise—it wasn’t more than an educated guess at this point, but he was pretty sure some guy had hit her—he wanted to hammer his fist into something.
No, not something. Straight into the face of the guy who had hurt her.
“I don’t know for sure. She hasn’t trusted me enough yet to say.” He gave his brother a warning look. “Don’t push her anymore. On anything. I’m getting closer, but I don’t want her to run from me like she just ran from you.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow. “You like her.”
“It’s way beyond like,” he said, echoing Chloe’s comment. Only he was talking about something a hell of a lot more important than an expensive drink. Talking more to himself than his brother at this point, he said, “I just need her to stay a few more days. And then maybe she’ll give me a chance to see where she and I could take this.”
His brother was silent for several long moments before finally commenting, “I’ve never seen you like this before.”
Chase had known other people would find his instant connection with Chloe to be crazy, even his own siblings. And the truth was that even though he’d already decided he wanted it—and her—it was crazy enough for him to shake his head and admit, “And here I thought I was coming here for nothing more than a photo shoot and a few days of meaningless sex with—”
Marcus cut him off, assuming, “With one of your models?”
Chase snorted. “No. No way. I stopped sleeping with models years ago.” He knew his brother was going to be pissed off when he told him about Ellen, but it was probably better if they talked about it now over an expensive bottle of wine, rather than somewhere fists could be raised. “I was planning to hook up with Ellen.”
Marcus narrowed his eyes. “My employee, Ellen?”
Now that it hadn’t happened, Chase could see the foolishness of his earlier plan. “That’s the one.”
“Goddamn it, Chase,” Marcus said in a heated voice, “you can’t screw around with someone who works for me. All I need is for her to get a broken heart on account of you or Zach or Gabe and then have her take it out on my winery.”
Chase held up his hands. “Look, the hookup didn’t happen, okay? So don’t get all bent out of shape about it. I met Chloe before Ellen and I could get into any trouble. And you’ll be glad to hear that Ellen not only seemed fine with being let down, but also clearly agreed it was a bad idea.” Ignoring his brother’s glare, he gave in to the need to confide his feelings to someone, and admitted, “I’ve never been like this before, never felt like this with anyone but Chloe. And I haven’t even touched her yet.”
Damn it, he was saying too much. Marcus didn’t need to know what he and Chloe had—or hadn’t—done. No one needed to know that but the two of them.
Chase refilled their glasses before turning the tables on his brother and asking, “Are you sure everything is all right with you and Jill?”
“She’s fine.” The muscle that had started jumping in Marcus’s jaw when Chase mentioned his employee was now pulsing fast and furious as he stood. “I’m going to head to bed for the night. Got a busy day tomorrow.”
Chase stood up, too. This time around the Sullivan telepathy was working perfectly. Something was up with Jill and Marcus—and his brother had no intention of talking about it with him.
Chase wished like hell he knew how to bring the old Marcus back. As the eldest of the Sullivan siblings, after their father died, Marcus had immediately stepped into his place. Chase had memories of his brother changing diapers and wiping noses. Making sure everyone got to school on time with their homework in their backpacks. Fortunately, in their twenties, as everyone grew up and needed him less, he’d been able to break out of that responsible shell and cut loose for a while.
Once upon a time, Marcus had been the biggest player of them all—almost as if he was making up for lost time. Women would throw themselves at him, and he’d catch each and every one of them.
But now, ever since he’d been with ice princess Jill, he’d changed again. Receded back into that too-responsible, too-mature shell.
Funny, Chase realized with a start, that while he was thinking his brother needed to shake off the chains and get back out there into the playing field, here he was looking at doing the exact opposite.
But the truth was, Chase had burned through more than enough women.
People could call him crazy for falling so fast, but he wouldn’t care. Because he was ready for that special one…and something deep down in his gut was telling him that he’d found her.
“I should check on Chloe,” Chase told his brother. “I’ve got to make sure she didn’t get lost in your palace on the hill.” But before he left, he put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Thanks for the party tonight, and for letting us use the winery for our shoot. This place is going to look great in pictures.”
For a moment he thought his brother might have heard what he didn’t say: I’m here if you need to talk. Anytime. About anything. But then, Marcus was saying, “It’s my pleasure,” before heading out of the living room and up the stairs to his bedroom.
A couple of minutes of searching later, Chase found Chloe standing out on the back deck, her glass empty again. For a long moment, Chase stopped and just stared.
She was stunning.
Not because of the moonlight. Not because of the dress.
It was all Chloe.
No other woman had ever taken his breath away like this. And he doubted any other ever would.
* * *
“There you are.”
She turned her face to his, and it was full of so much emotion—and longing—that it was all he could do not to reach for her.
They were completely alone out on the back porch. His brother was in bed, everyone else was gone. And he could tell just from looking at her that the wine had blurred some of her edges.
Unable to keep away, he moved behind her, putting his hands on either side of the rail. “Some moon tonight, isn’t it?”
He expected her to push away from him, but strangely, she did the exact opposite by turning slowly in the circle of his arms so that she was looking straight at him with those big, beautiful eyes that mucked up his insides.
“Chase.”
Jesus, he was teetering on a thin edge, so close to her and yet so damn far.
Honor. Why had he decided that honor mattered? Everything would be so much easier if he simply took what he wanted…and worried about the consequences later.
But even though she wasn’t drunk, he knew she wasn’t sober, either. And that he needed to take her back to the guesthouse and put her to bed.
Alone.
Only, he obviously wasn’t strong enough to do any of that. All he could do was say her name. And want her more than he’d ever wanted anyone or anything in his whole life.
“Chloe.”
Her full lips parted slightly at the sound of her name. For the first time, she wasn’t trying to hide her desire from him.
“It’s inevitable, isn’t it?” she asked him in a soft voice that reverberated all the way through him.
Hell, yes, it was. But he couldn’t put words in her mouth. Not now when every word, every look, every touch, was so damned important.
“What’s inevitable?” His words were raw. Full of the need he couldn’t hide.
Her eyes dropped to his mouth.
“This kiss.”
Thanks for reading and keep an eye out for Chapter 9!
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