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Blane stood. “If that’s what you want.”
A heavy lump appeared in her chest, heavy and tight. Anne desperately wished things were different. Ignorance really was bliss. But she knew the truth.
She made her lips move. “It’s what I want.”
He passed her on the way to her bedroom door. Guess he was going out the front. Anne forced herself to remain where she was. The heaviness in her chest was almost unbearable. Her eyes grew hot with unshed tears.
A few seconds later, she heard the front door open and close. Anne bowed her head and cried.
* * *
Blane closed the front door, glad that Kade had disarmed the alarm system for him. Anne had been right about one thing: the newspapers would have a field day learning he’d broken into Anne’s house.
Kade was waiting in a car by the curb. Blane pulled open the passenger door and got in.
“How’d it go?” Kade asked, pulling out into the empty street. “Did you explain to her?”
“She didn’t give me the chance.” Blane’s voice was flat. “Threw me out.”
Kade paused a moment. “Well, that sucks.”
Blane didn’t answer. There wasn’t anything more he could do. Anne thought the worst of him and didn’t want to see him. Maybe if he gave her some time…
Kade dropped him off at his house and Blane didn’t say anything as he got out. There was nothing he wanted to talk about right now. Kade drove off.
The house was dark and empty. Blane’s gut clenched. He’d been so close to not being alone.
His bed was just as empty and cold. He stripped and climbed in. Glancing at the empty space beside him, he could easily picture Anne there.
Blane stared at the ceiling, folding his arms behind his head. It was a long time before he fell asleep, thoughts of Anne spinning through his head.
* * *
Blane was in the office early the next morning. He pushed thoughts of Anne aside and focused on work. Compartmentalizing was a wonderful thing.
Linda came through the door of his office as he sat behind the desk, going through his email. She stopped in her tracks and gasped, her eyes wide.
“Oh my God.” She looked stunned. “You’re alive. But they said…”
“Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated,” he wryly quoted. “We should put out a press release that I’m back. Do you have your steno pad with you?”
“Um, no, I’ll get it.”
“And a cup of coffee.”
“Right away.” She practically ran out of the office.
When she returned, Blane dictated the press release he wanted, detailing that he’d survived the crash of the plane. He left out the part where it was a deliberate crash. Linda scribbled furiously.
“Sir, I’m so glad you are okay,” she said once they were done.
“Thank you. Me too, as it happens.” He leaned back in his chair. “Let’s meet in an hour to go over things.”
“Yes, sir.” She got up and left the office, closing the door behind her.
Blane’s cell rang. Kade. He answered.
“I’ve got a list of Smithson’s inner circle and visitors the day before the crash,” he said without preamble.
