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use her college education and creativity productively. All that was missing was a man who could light up her life with his intellect and humor, not to mention his skills in the bedroom. When would she find that man?
    Paula’s mind drifted to Chase, wondering if the sparks she was starting to feel between them were only her imagination or could possibly be something much more tangible.
     
    Chase worked out of his home office while his great room was being refurbished. He tried to focus on ordering gems for the stores. Aside from diamonds, the company did well with emeralds, opals, pearls, sapphires and tanzanites. It would soon be the holiday season, which was normally their busiest time of the year.
    Chase mused about modernizing part of his house as second thoughts crept in. Maybe he should have kept things as Rochelle had created. Would making some drastic changes mean he was erasing memories of her? The last thing he wanted was to negate what they had built together. He quickly rejected the idea, knowing that this wasn’t about tearing down barriers to the past, but rather building bridges toward the future. It was time he quit making excuses for living in yesteryear and got on with his life. Giving the great room a new look was a step in the right direction. Whatever came next in his redecorating scheme, if anything, he was prepared to take it head-on.

    “I think maybe we should add some onyx and jade,” Monica suggested over the phone.
    “Uh, yeah, that’s a good idea,” Chase mumbled.
    “You’re sure? You sound distracted,” Monica said.
    Chase stopped musing and gave her his full attention. “Yes, we’re both on the same page,” he said. “You always make sound business decisions, Monica.”
    “I try my best. If it’s good for the company, I say let’s go for it.”
    Chase leaned back in his chair. “Agreed.”
    “So how’s the great-room project going?” Monica asked.
    “Good, I think. I’ve kind of buried myself in the office so I wouldn’t be in the way.” Or maybe it was that he couldn’t bear to witness them taking away little pieces of him in the process, in spite of his better side recognizing it was a sound decision.
    “You know Rochelle would be the first one to say you probably should’ve done this a long time ago, right?”
    “Yeah, I could see that,” Chase acknowledged, knowing she hadn’t been one to dwell on things out of her control.
    “Then don’t stress out about it.”
    “I’m not,” Chase said unconvincingly.
    “Remember, I know you better than most,” Monica said. “I’m sure you’re reminiscing and wondering if everything in that house should remain untouched for all time as a tribute to your life with Rochelle.”
    Chase sighed. “So maybe I am a little. Can you blame me?”
    “No, but it doesn’t do you any good to hold on to something that only exists in your heart.”
    “Is that a bad thing?” he questioned.
    “Of course not,” Monica told him. “Keeping a special place for Rochelle is important. It’s equally important to move past that place when you still have the better part of your life ahead of you. And that includes laying out a new course on your house.”
    “You’ve made your point,” Chase conceded.
    She smiled. “That’s why I hang around, to keep you grounded,” she joked.

    “And you do your job well,” Chase acknowledged. The one thing he could count on from Monica was straight talk, which he greatly appreciated to help put his life in a proper perspective. In fact, he had already begun to come to terms with letting go of the past and focusing more on what possibilities the future held over and beyond remodeling his personal space.
    After hanging up, Chase watched Paula walk into the office. She was sharply dressed in a black sweater and gray plaid skirt with slingback flats. He couldn’t help but admire her as a striking woman, stirring a fire deep within his soul.
    “Hi,” she said. “We’ve wrapped up your great