Chasing Beautiful (Chasing Series #1) Read online

  I hastily changed into black stretchy-skinny jeans and a black fitted shirt and black wedge heels. I pulled my wet hair in a bun and rummaged through my closet and my essential toiletries. I jammed them all in the luggage without a care. I didn’t even bother with make-up and settled for sheer lip gloss instead. Kyle should be here in five minutes. I had better get moving so I can meet him downstairs.

  I found Luce in the kitchen drinking her morning coffee. Poor thing, she looked like hell from lack of sleep. Blake was so inconsiderate to bother Lucy in the middle of the night like a psycho. I knew he was worried but Luce needed her sleep. Her school was taking up a lot of her time as it was. I hated Blake even more when I got a glimpse of her dark circles. We said our quick goodbyes and I left for downstairs.

  Dragging my luggage out of the elevator and straight out of the main door, I didn’t see the person waiting for me.

  “Sienna—please talk to me. I’ve been out of my wits with worry since last night when you didn’t come home.” His eyes found my luggage. “Going on a trip?”

  “Yes, in fact. Kyle should be here any second. He’s going back home for awhile and I invited myself along.”

  “Why would you do that? You know how I feel about him. He’s in love with you! He’s going to take this opportunity and turn it in his favor.”

  “That would certainly be up to me, don’t you think? Stop wasting your time.”

  “No—we can figure it out. I don’t want to be with anyone else. I love you, Sienna—with everything that I am—I love you.” Liar, if he did…he would’ve ended his engagement before I even found out, but he didn’t.

  He raked a hand through his hair. Dammit, he looks beautiful and sexy as hell.

  “Stop lying to yourself—and to me. Game over, so you should drop the act.” He swiftly captured my lips and I reeled from the impact of his kiss. After a few times of trying to coax my lips into submission, I gave in to my lecherous body.

  God, kissing him feels perfect…it feels like home.

  I love him so much, it hurts. My tears fell freely and we both tasted them—but he didn’t stop. With a deep heavy guttural growl, he pulled my lips away and cradled my cheeks with his hands. “Did that feel like a game to you?” I lowered my eyes and stared at his chest. “Damn you! That kiss felt more real than anything else in this world. You love me! That kiss just proved that you do. I love you too, Sienna—I can’t live without you—will you marry me?”

  I gasped and stared at him like a deer caught in the headlights as he got on a bended knee. He produced a ginormous rock. It was certainly past fifteen carats. The princess-cut canary diamond surrounded with smaller diamonds. The ring was designed in a halo pattern with diamonds surrounding the entire band—the eternity band.

  “The color of the rock reminds me of the color of your eyes when they get caught with the sun—like liquid gold. I commissioned this ring to be made the day after I left for New York. That night—I knew you were it for me. I don’t want anyone else. I know everything’s been unfolding so quickly, but I wanted—needed you to know how much you mean to me. I love you—wholeheartedly. Will you please let me be the happiest man in all of England and say yes?”

  I stared wide-eyed at the ring, back to his face and back to the ring again. Shocked—doesn’t even justify my reaction.

  “Blake—I’m sorry—I can’t.”

  He abruptly stood up and grabbed my face with a fierce scowl. “What do you mean you can’t? How hard it is to say yes?”

  “I can’t—I’m sorry.” I stammered through my tears.

  “I see. I guess I imagined that you felt the same way—but I suppose that’s all it was—an imagination.”

  He heaved and faced me with a stony face. “You’ll regret this—because I’ve only ever loved you—and when you see me happy with another woman—you’ll regret it even more. Your thoughts will be haunted by me—the one that got away. Goodbye, Sienna.” He stood there for a few seconds before sliding in the Aston Martin, gunning the engine and rapidly vanishing through the traffic.

  I wiped away my tears and exhaled a long sigh. I did the right thing, I know I did. He lied—I can’t trust him!

  Kyle’s cologne penetrated the air, letting me know that he was close to me. “Did you see all of that?”

  “I did. Sienna…you love him. And it hurts for me to say this—but what if you’re making a mistake? Don’t you think you should give it another shot?”

  What good would it be without trust? It was worthless without trust.

  How can one be happy with a liar? One who keeps secrets such as having a fucking fiancée? Even if I did give him another chance, I would be permanently living in a state of paranoia. I couldn’t do that to myself.

  I did the right thing—the best thing. It might not feel like it now, but it will be in the long run.

  “No—let’s leave it at that. We have to get going. I don’t want to miss the flight.”

  I didn’t let my thoughts wander to Blake’s proposal until I was seated. I ached while I watched the fluffy white clouds through the airplane window as I listened to Lovesong by Adele from my iPod.

  What happened today was life changing for me. I didn’t know if I would be able to get over it. The hurt and pain was rooted deeply inside of me.

  I didn’t doubt that I would see him again—we do have common friends. It was simply inevitable.

  I may be broken right now—but the next time I set foot in London, I will be a different woman. A much stronger one, I hoped.

  One that men didn’t trample on.

  The Chasing Series:

  Chasing Imperfection

  Chasing Series Book #2

  Out Now

  Chasing Paradise

  Chasing Series Book #3

  Out on April 30, 2013

  OTHER BOOKS BY PAMELA ANN:

  The Torn Series: Scornfully Yours, Frayed

  Lily’s Mistake

  Acknowledgements:

  I just want to say thanks to my family and friends who have pushed me to write and for being there to support me through it all. THANK YOU!

  To my mom, thank you for being a constant rock through my ups and downs and always encouraging me to follow my dreams. You’re the best! And I’m lucky to have a mom like you.

  To all the readers, thank you for all the love and support. I greatly appreciate it!!!!

  Much love,

  Pamela Ann xo

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