Harlequin Intrigue February 2024--Box Set 2 of 2 by Carla Cassidy

Author:Carla Cassidy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2024-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Just like that, Kristin was sent home. When she went back to FLIR Tech, she would have a lot of explaining to do. She’d already had enough without being handed her hat for one of the tech business’s best partnerships.

They made the drive back to her place in silence, which she appreciated. She didn’t bother to ask him if he wanted to stay with her and he didn’t bring it up. Him sleeping alone in some hotel wasn’t an option. They both needed company tonight.

She wasn’t anticipating sex, no. What she really wanted, and needed, was to know that there was another soul in this world who desired her, who wanted to be close. That’s it. If she wasn’t needed and living for others, she was without purpose. Though it wasn’t healthy to see life like this, she didn’t care right now—self-pity needed to happen. Or, was it self-care in taking as long as it took to look into herself and accept attention, and perhaps affection, from someone who cared for her?

If he left in the morning and went back to Big Sky, it called into question whether bringing him to her home was really the best idea. If they ended up in bed together, it was arguably self-sabotage. Yes, it would feel great to have him for the night, but it would only leave her more broken in the morning.

Before pulling down her street, she considered turning left and running back toward the city center and the DoubleTree.

She tapped her hands on the steering wheel like some attempt at Morse code to the universe, begging for it to answer. Instead of the universe, Casper reached over and took her hand, lacing their fingers together in solidarity.

“It’s been a long day. Don’t overthink this.” He smiled and his eyes looked as tired as her heart. “You are safe with me.”

In those simple words, she felt the truth, and it was freeing.

He truly was an incredible man.

“You don’t know how much I needed to hear you say that.” She pressed their hands to her face and he gently stroked her cheek before they dropped their hands down to the console and let the silence take over once again.

She parked in her garage, and the place was nearly empty except for a few plastic bins, some normal maintenance tools and an unplugged extra fridge the former owner had left behind. It was strange, but she’d never really paid attention to how devoid her garage was of her personality—or maybe it personified it.

She released an audible groan.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, looking almost afraid that she was going to say something that would hurt him, making her realize he was feeling just as vulnerable.

“Oh, don’t worry. I was just thinking about how pathetic my place is. It’s pretty minimalist.”

“All I need is a blanket and a spot for the pup, and even the blanket is negotiable.”

“Isn’t everything?” she teased.

“Truth,” he said with a little smile.

“I can do better than a blanket. If Grover

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