That was the hell of it all. He had no idea what she had turned into. Or what she would become. What they would become. All this time, he’d assumed that if she just gave them a chance, they’d automatically see how well they fit together.

But his brilliant blackmail plan was biting him in the ass, because now he was messing with something he might not be able to get out of: a commitment to staying.

I can commit to a woman, but not a place…

That little gem of truth his buddy had laid down on him earlier was now pulsing harder than ever in his brain.

“Word around is the head of the Carolina Search and Rescue core retired and they’re looking to replace him. Rumor is they even offered this job to a specific person and still haven’t heard if said person is going to take this job.” East eyed Gage. “Hmmm, I wonder what this mysterious person will choose…” He tapped his beer and grinned at Gage.

Gage nearly knocked his friend flat on his ass. “So it was you who told the boss it should be me in the training position.”

East shrugged. “All I said was we should look for the right person.”

“This person is probably thinking training instead of searching is bullshit.”

“It’s a job, dude,” East said. “A good one. One you enjoy and you’re good at. This isn’t a hard choice.”

“I enjoy my job now. This new gig would be less fieldwork and more overseeing, scheduling, planning, and training.”

“Which you’re good at since you’re a tight-ass who always has a plan.”

Gage hit his friend with a hard look, and East held up his hands. “Don’t get your panties in a wad. I’m just telling you what I see. But I’d hate to offend your delicate feelers and get on your shit list.”

“My shit list is color-coded, asshole. And yeah, you’re officially on it now.”

East laughed. “Of course it is. Well then, in the spirit of friendly advice, maybe put down the spreadsheet and think about what you really want.”

“That’s what I’ve been doing.” Gage glanced back at Chloe. But it wasn’t as simple as what he wanted, because what he wanted conflicted with how he operated. He was a man on the move all the time.

“Any epiphanies?” East asked.

Gage shook his head. “No.” What he wanted hadn’t changed, but the way to go about it had. Maybe he needed more time. Staying wasn’t an option, but coming back regularly was. Keeping with his current routine was best. He got to come into town and be with Chloe. Hopefully more often, assuming he could convince her dating wasn’t so bad.

Either way, he could have Chloe, right?

For the first time, he wasn’t sure. This wasn’t a weekend in and out. This was more time, which was creating more of an attachment. It’d be so much more difficult to leave now, and yet staying terrified him.

“There’s a lot I have to consider,” Gage said. “I don’t have enough data yet.”

East shook his head. “So you’re going to continue pursuing Chloe until you gather your data?”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing. I like her, so either way—”

“Either way, this could end badly,” East said.

“Since when do you know about pursuing relationships?”

“I openly admit I know nothing about relationships, and I’m good with that. But I know a lot about the pursuit. And trust me when I say you’re doing it wrong.”

Gage sighed. He wasn’t doing it wrong; he was being smart. Diligent. He was trying not to think with his dick, otherwise he wouldn’t have been blackmailing Chloe the way he was. So what the hell was East talking about?

“You going to tell her about the possibility of staying?” he asked.

“No, because I’m not going to be a trainer. And I don’t want to put that kind of pressure on Chloe.”

She already hated the notion of commitment longer than a weekend. If Gage moved here full time? He wasn’t prepared to see the terror on her face with that admission. No, he’d stick to his mission of getting her into a long-distance relationship. If she didn’t tell him to fuck off first…

And we’re back at square one.

“Still something to think about,” East said.

He drank and looked at Chloe again. He could get a grip. Find a balance and deal with this situation. If he used this time wisely, really slaked his need for her, at the end of this stay it’d be easier to leave for both of them. Hopefully she’d want him to come back. Hopefully she’d wait for him.

Or maybe he was insane.

“More data,” Gage repeated. It was all he could cling to. Getting lost in Chloe for a week or two was a hell of a good way to spend his time—and it’d clear things up in the process. At the end of his time here, he’d have a good idea of what Chloe wanted…and whether he could provide it.

Or maybe he’d hit the road for the next mission, and this time, she wouldn’t wait for him to come back.

And if that was the case, could he really blame her? He wanted Chloe to want and miss him, but he couldn’t stay. Which made him a special kind of asshole.

No…you’ve been honest. Haven’t over-committed to anything.

He wanted her for the time he was there to see where it went. But now the follow-through was getting slippery. He’d gotten a glimpse of the real Chloe the other night. And yet…

“Look, I don’t know what your deal is, but staying isn’t so bad,” East said. “Having some roots and a nice girl to come home to sounds great to me.”

Gage snorted. “Says the town playboy.”

“Why do you think I stay? There’re a lot of pretty women around these parts.” He winked. But Gage didn’t miss the way East shot a glance to the chatting brunette in glasses across the bonfire.

Despite his best intentions, Gage knew one thing still to be true: he was capable of committing to a woman, but not a place. But between their sexy mock search and rescue and her inviting him to her restaurant, he had to hope he was gaining ground.

Chloe finally tossed him a smile, then quickly glanced away. So he was in her mind. He was in her thoughts. And if the way she’d begun to open up to him was any indication, he was close to being in her heart.

That was enough to work with.

There had to be a way to have Chloe and freedom.

“Hottie McSearchy keeps staring at you,” Natalie said to Chloe.

Michelle leaned into the huddle they had going on and peered over the fire. “Which one is he?”

“He’s the one in the black T-shirt with the black hair and black eyes,” Natalie said. “Basically, he’s the tall, dark and buff one.”

“Thanks, Nat,” Chloe mumbled and sipped her beer.

East’s summer bonfires were casual and frequent, and Chloe hadn’t expected to see Gage. But…she was kind of happy to see him. The last couple of days since their date had left her thinking about a lot of things she shouldn’t. She was trying to focus on preparing for the anniversary event, yet her mind always drifted back to Gage.

How he made her feel safe whenever he held her. How he mastered the art of being intense and casual all at the same time. How he made her think…made her want. Yeah, Gage made her want a whole hell of a lot. Like more. Not that she’d ever really admit that to him, or herself even.

“And who is that?” Michelle pointed at the guy next to him.

“Easton Ambrose,” Natalie said with a huff. “He’s annoying.”

“And handsome,” Michelle said.

Natalie’s head snapped up, almost like she cared. Interesting. It was no secret East had a reputation with the ladies, and Natalie had…her cupcakes.

“Well now that we’ve addressed everyone’s staring problem…” Chloe nudged Natalie’s shoulder.

“Hey, as far as I can tell, the guy drooling at you from the other side of that inferno is the one with the problem,” Natalie said.

Yeah, Chloe was aware of that problem, because she was having some herself. Like thinking too much about him. Which needed to stop. Though the other night had been more real than any she’d ever spent with another man, and her dress had stayed on the whole time. Their date hadn’t been a fantasy. It’d been…normal. Like a relationship. And she’d actually liked his company.