Loving the Chase (Heart of the Storm #1) Read Online Free

“This project—if we do it—doesn’t involve her,” he continued.
    Maddi glanced at Brown, who looked questioningly at Woodbriar. Who was sitting there like a giant unfeeling boulder.
    “If that’s not the case, I’d appreciate knowing right now,” Zach said.
    “Nothing in the file mentions Mrs. Chase whatsoever,” Brown said, tapping it in front of Maddi. Woodbriar’s gaze never moved, locking in on Zach’s. “Outside of her monetary contributions, that is. I don’t know of any correspondence with her.”
    “There you go,” Woodbriar said. “What’s the story with your younger brother, Levi?
    Zach’s eyebrow shot up. “Story?”
    “Why is he the only one not in the family business?” Woodbriar asked.
    “He was,” Zach said. “Till he didn’t want to be. He moved,” Zach said with a smile Maddi knew was forced. “Kids do move away.”
    “Guess they do,” Woodbriar said.
    Zach traced the wood grain in the table, his forefinger moving along the line. A clock ticked somewhere nearby, and the air was so thick Maddi could feel it moving around them.
    “So—we’d like to talk to you now about the new show,” Brown said, taking his pause as acceptance. “Or, I guess Miss Hayes will, since she’s here on her boss’s behalf.”
    Shit, Brown, nothing like whiplash. It was a horrible way to introduce the project, to attack him and then court him, and she forced a grimace-like smile and plowed forward, opening the file in front of her.
    “A reality show following you and your crew,” she said. “Just as Miss Brian suggested to you on the phone.”
    “If we do this,” Brown interjected, “it’ll be for a pilot and three episodes to start. To see how well it’s accepted.”
    “It’s been done before,” Zach said.
    “Yes, but not with a family,” Maddi said. “That will bring a whole new dynamic to it.”
    Zach blinked and met Woodbriar’s gaze again. “My brother-the-scientist will want assurance that our data isn’t compromised, and my sister-the-photographer will have serious heart palpitations if the cameras get in her way.”
    Maddi felt her left eye twitch at the way Zach purposely spoke away from her, but she went with it, looking to Woodbriar, who grinned, clearly amused by Zach’s vitriol.
    “I’m sure they’ll work it all out,” he said.
    “What about insurance?” Zach asked.
    “Insurance?” Brown asked.
    “Yes, insurance.”
    “Like medical?” Brown pursued, holding his hands up in question with a slightly condescending laugh. “Life? Car?”
    “Yes—all of it. What we do is dangerous.” Zach rocked in his chair, meeting Maddi’s gaze head-on that time and sending fire from her scalp to the soles of her feet. Dangerous. “You can be sure that Elijah will point that out repeatedly . We can’t be held liable for anything that happens to you on these runs.”
    Maddi averted her eyes, the memory of what could happen flooding her brain.
    “All that gets worked out with Legal,” Brown said, shrugging and leaning forward on the table like they were two guys just having a beer. “So what do you say, Mr. Chase?”
    Maddi looked up into the eyes she once thought she’d spend the rest of her life with. Eyes that once loved her without boundaries. Belonging to a man she had loved beyond reason. Doing this project with him would put her right smack back in his aura. Either strengthening her resolve or unraveling every knot she’d tied for herself when she secured herself a life outside of destruction and danger. And at that one second, she had no idea what she wanted the answer to be.

Chapter Three
    M addi hadn’t changed.
    She still looked fucking amazing, and now knew how to show it. Her hair was a little shorter than it used to be, but still swung dark and shiny around her shoulders. Her eyes still did that thing—going so dark when she was irritated, that the blue appeared nearly black.
    Clearly, she was irritated.
    Which was okay. Because it gave Zach what