Page 42 of The Billionaire Who Saved My Cat From The Mafia

“She gave me the same spiel.Ready for a new challenge, yada, yada.But that can’t be the only reason for her visit.Did she say anything else to you?”

“She apologized.But I made sure she knows I’m not interested in apologies.”

Call pushes off from the doorframe and walks toward me.

“She wants you back.”

I laugh.“I don’t give a shit what she wants.”

“Think about it.If she leaves the Navy, she doesn’t have to worry about the possibility of somebody dredging up what happened between the two of you.”

“Again, don’t give a shit.”

Cal checks out the supplies I’ve loaded in my truck to take up to the Ridge.He pats the side rail of the utility trailer.“What’re you doing, K?What’s going on with the woman squatter?”

“Nothing.”

“It looks like you’re playing house with her.Only thing missing is a toaster.”

“I’m not much of a toast guy.”

Cal laughs but sobers up almost instantly.“What’s her story?”he asks.

I shrug.“No idea.Yet.”

“Hold up.”My big brother peers at me, trying to catch my eye.“You’re into this chick, aren’t you?Holy shit, K!I haven’t seen you into anyone since—”

“I don’t know her well enough to be into her.”

Cal gestures to the supplies.“Then why…?”

“Gotta go.”I double-check the hitch and climb into the Can-Am 700.

“How long will you be gone?”

“A few days.Tell the family whatever you want about where I am, but don’t tell them that I’m with her.”

“Damn, K.I never thought I’d live to see—”

I start up the engine, cutting him off.Quickly, I put some distance between me and Cal’s commentary.In the rearview mirror, I see him staring at me in shock.

It takes a bit longer than I expect to reach the cabin.The trailer’s heavy.But the trip gives me some time to let my mind settle.

In a way, I’m glad Harper showed up.Because now I know I’m over her.I know it without a doubt in my mind.There’s not a speck of attraction or interest left in me.No lingering “what-ifs” when it comes to our relationship.

All the questions that spun around in my head for years:What if I never got in trouble?What if she was willing to stand by me?What if I asked her to marry me and she said yes?

Gone.All of the questions.All of the doubt.

Dad raised me to be respectful of women, which is why I respect Harper for her dedication to national security and simply because she’s a fellow human being.

But she gets no more from me, ever again.Nothing more than any stranger on the street.

Yes, seeing her again gave me a flood of emotions: Nausea and anger, mostly.Looking at her again brought all the trauma back again, the endlessly hollow feeling that threatened to flatten me when I learned the truth.That she loved her job more than she ever loved me.

Ifshe ever loved me in the first place.

I’ll never forget the moment I learned who Harper Dunn-Spence really was.