Chase would only be able to keep up the lies for so long. Amber would eventually start seeing through the cracks.

    “You won’t win her because you lie to her,” I said. I knew personally how much secrets hurt her. “She will see through you.”

    b“/bNot with my charm,” Chase said.

    I shook my head. “She might put up with you. She might even like you, as a friend. But she will never fall in love with you, not the way you expect. She’s going to be the one you can’t seduce.”

    “Impossible,” Chase grumbled.

    It took all of my willpower not to smirk. By turning the insults around and questioning Chase’s charm, I had sessfully turned the tables and put him on the back foot.

    He wasn’t used to being challenged like this, that much was clear, from the way he stumbled through his words, trying to dispute me.

    “You don’t know what you are talking about,” Chase snapped, getting angry now, his perfectly cool and charismatic fa?ade cracking down the middle. “Amber will pick me, and there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it but watch. I’m going to take what you love, Alpha, and I’m going to make it all mine.”

    “You are going to tryb,/b” I countered. “But you aren’t going to seed.”

    Amber didn’t care about winning or losing. She had a big heartb, /bshe cared about people, and she would do what was best to protect her child.

    Since Chase only wanted her for the game of it, he was in for a wake–up call.

    I had to be confident that Amber was going to see through him. That she wasn’t going to tolerate his flitting presence in the life of her or our daughter.

    If I started to doubt, then the jealousy would take over…

    The bell on the door chimes, and Chase and I both look to see Ca and several other clinic employees enter the restaurant. Still there was no sign of Amber.

    I wanted to see her, to mend things, but with Chase here, I’d almost be happier if she just stood him up.

    “Julian! You made it!” Ca said, smiling wide. She’d really dolled herself up tonight, with a shy cocktail dress and a lot of eye makeup. She batted her eyshes at Chase. “Thank you so much for all of this, Chase. You are such a good guy.

    “Yes, well…” He was still angry for a moment, but after closing his eyes and reopening them, his true feelings were buried under a thering of charm. “It’s my pleasure of course. Not only do we have cause

    to celebrate, but now I get to spend the evening with so many beautiful women.”

    Ca blushed deep red. She and several other women of the party started to giggle. Even the men seemed impressed with his charms.

    One of the men said, “He’s smooth as hell. Do you think I could pull of a line like that?”

    One of the women helpfully told him, “Not a chance.”

    As the group mingled, the murmur growing into a steady roar of chatter, the bell on the door chimed

    again.

    This time, to my great dread, Olivia walked in.

    Gods, what the hell was she doing here? Had she followed me?

    “Oh, what a coincidence!” Olivia said brightly, she stepped closer. “I didn’t expect to see you here, Julian. I hope I’m not intruding.”

    “Actually…” I started to say.

    “A friend of Julian is a friend of ours!” Ca said. “I’m sure Chase won’t mind.” She looked at him.

    I did too, when he didn’t immediately answer.

    With Ca, he’d always turned on the charm. Even annoyed, he should have recovered already.

    Yet looking at him, he seemed utterly lost for a moment…

    He was staring at Olivia, confused.

    Did they know each other?