Belinda held Chaseâs gaze. âBut youâre not even willing to make a promise. What should I believe in that youâre serious about me now?â
Chase didnât avoid her gaze. âYouâve known me for a while now. You should know I used to be a smooth-talker around women, no holds barred. To me, vows and promises are a dime a dozen, but thatâs exactly why I donât want to dupe you with cheap promises now. Iâll let my actions speak for themselves.â
Belinda blinked. She was almost convinced. âYou⦠would really marry me?â
Chase grinned. âAs long as you accept, Iâm more than willing. Do you accept?â
Belinda clenched her fists. âI⦠I accept!â
Chase got up from his armchair and moved next to her. âSo when should we get married?â
His sudden closeness made Belinda nervous, but she didnât want to back down anymore. She frowned.
âTomorrow morning. You have a whole mind.â
Chase glanced at his watch. âIf the Marriage License Office wasnât closed at this hour, Iâd make you understand I donât need a whole night.â
Belinda turned her head away. âWeâll see about that tomorrow morning after weâve got the marriage license.â
night to change your Deep down, Belinda still doubted that Chase would actually go through with the marriage. She had seen Chaseâs wild side and knew how much he loved his freedom.
How could such a man, who loved freedom and hated being tied down, allow himself to be trapped by marriage?
He was just talking big.
Chase didnât say anything more. He just smiled. âBy the way, Ida just called. She and Ellinor are taking the kids for dinner. She asked if we wanted to join them.â
Belinda was taken aback. âYou told Ms. Gipson we were together?â
Chase thought for a moment. âWell⦠something like that.â
Belinda frowned. âWhere are they? Iâd like to see Ellinor.â
Chase nodded. âOkay. After we have dinner here, weâll go find them.â
Belinda looked confused. âI thought we were going out for dinner? Why do we need to eat here first?
Canât we just go?â
Chase shook his head. âIt wouldnât be nice to leave directly. Mom and Dad worked hard to cook dinner for us; theyâd be disappointed if we just left without eating.â
Belinda fell silent.
Mom and Dad? He was already calling them that?
After picking up the kids, Ellinor led them to a cozy little restaurant.
Ellinor, Ida, and Byran each held a child as they walked into the restaurant, with Bartlett trailing behind them, empty-handed. He wanted to hold a child too, but didnât get the chance.
Ellinor took the lead in all matters, whether it was seating or ordering. She seemed rather impatient, as if she wanted to get this dinner over with quickly.
She knew what Ida liked and ordered for her as well.
As for Byran, whatever Ida liked was good enough for him. The kid didnât have the privilege to be picky here.
After ordering, Ellinor passed the menu to Bartlett. âOrder whatever you want. Itâs on me tonight.â
Bartlett happily accepted the menu. âWell, thatâs generous! I wonât hold back then!â
And so, he added a few more dishes to the order before passing the menu back to the waiter, signaling that they were ready for the kitchen to get started.