The Three-Week Arrangement (Chase Brothers) Read Online Free Page A

more than she got from her own mother, who was still going on about the Von Adler DNA.
    “ Mo-ther .”
    The woman finally took a breath. “What is it, dear?”
    Ethan had walked to the window and stood with his back toher, staring at her non-existent back yard, probably to give her a semblance of privacy. Her mother would die if she knew there was a random guy standing half naked in Rue’s kitchen. Especially if… Inspired, she blurted, “I already have a date.”
    “I’m sorry?” Her mother nearly sputtered, but Rue barely heard her.
    Ethan had turned, gorgeous green eyes turbulent. He shook his head asif he’d just heard the worst kind of news. Like he wanted her to stop. But it was too late to heed that particular warning.
    “I have a date,” Rue repeated.
    Ethan abandoned the headshake and went straight for the basement. Clearly the man didn’t share her concerns about spiders.
    “Who?” Her mother sounded infinitely curious. She probably thought the only way Rue would turn downa Von Adler was if she had a Rockefeller in the wings.
    Think again. She had someone better.
    “Ethan,” she said, just as the basement door slammed shut behind the man in question. “Ethan Chase.”
    Who was currently fleeing.
    Rue stared after Ethan, stunned at his reaction. She’d hoped they’d share a grin over the idea and maybe even make it a thing. But instead he, a grown-assman, had fled .
    Her mother was still in her ear. Rue gave a noncommittal mmm and took off after Ethan, who was already dragging his stuff out of the dryer. Clearly, he wasn’t kidding.
    “…perhaps a more high-profile connection would be better suited—”
    “Gotta go, Mom.” Rue disconnected the call. Her mother had apparently known who Ethan was, which surprised Rue a little. Granted,they were on the committee together, but the Von Adler organization was big enough to have a national reach. For all Rue knew, there were a dozen committees, though they’d been talking about the gala. Great . She’d probably started something, and her mother would be on it like a dog with a bone. Which meant maybe she’d really screwed up. To Ethan, she asked, “What happened there?”
    “You crosseda line.”
    She watched, dumbstruck, as he stripped off the clown pajama pants. Right. In. Front. Of. Her. Good God, the man was gorgeous in a pair of boxer briefs.
    “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m not sure for what, but I’m sorry I upset you.”
    He yanked on his jeans. Not gently, either, other than to tuck left. When he fastened his top button, her gaze landed on the ridge of his abs,then worked their way up past the broad chest and rather impressive set of shoulders she’d admired since she’d first seen him. When he tugged his damp shirt over his head, causing all that muscle to ripple in new ways, she may have forgotten to breathe. At least until she saw his face.
    “I want to help you,” he said, his voice broken. “I really do. But my family is all about me moving on,and I’m not ready.”
    He made a beeline up the stairs, and she stepped back to let him pass. “Moving on from what?”
    “Like I told you, your mother hasn’t cornered the market on guilt. Thanks for the water,” he said without looking back. He let himself out through the front door, leaving her bewildered.
    She watched him until he was out of sight, her chest hollow at the sudden loss.It didn’t matter she’d known him less than an hour. He’d been on her side, and that warmed her head to toes. Or it had until she’d sent him almost literally running from her house.
    After shutting the door against the summer heat, she picked up her phone and Googled him. The search returned a thousand hits on his name, so she switched tactics and pulled up the list of committee members forthe Von Adler gala. Alice was the only Chase on that list, so Rue searched her name in tandem with Ethan’s.
    The first result was Fusion Air, a family-owned HVAC business serving New York City