AllFreeNovel
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Finding another woman in the bed that they had shared? No. She didn’t.
“No regrets. Water under the bridge.” Everything worked out the way it was supposed to. She never loved him. Nor him her. Two lost souls who had passed time together. She’d forgiven him ages ago for being disrespectful. It was ancient history now. “Hey, being right doesn’t mean I’m smarter.”
“I take a strange comfort in that,” he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. “I’ll call you when I have something. Keep the phone handy.”
The line disconnected.
She exhaled a slow breath of relief, shoved the phone in her duffel and faced Brian.
He took her hands in his, and she realized they were shaking.
“Thank you, for trusting me,” he said.
“Two-way street. Right?”
A smile tugged at his delicious mouth. God, he was gorgeous.
“Let’s get those scrapes cleaned up.”
“I think you were a medic in a previous life.”
He laughed and led her through the house to his bedroom. She hadn’t gotten a good look at it before.
The room was simple, understated, yet tasteful. A deep navy color on the walls. King size bed that took up most of the room. Chic curtains. The duvet looked like it belonged in a swanky hotel. A couple of nightstands with stylish lamps. A photograph of what she presumed was his parents on the dresser.
He sat her down on the bed. “Give me a second.” He ducked into the en suite. Came back carrying a large red case that had a white cross on it.
“You brought me in here to flaunt all your medical supplies, didn’t you?”
His smile deepened. He unzipped the kit and then she was really impressed. It was the best first-aid kit on the planet. He even the supplies to do sutures.Show-off.
He started with cleaning the bruise on her knee.
“Lucky me to have a once-upon-a-time Boy Scout tending to me again,” she said, appreciative of his gentle touch.
“Nice to hear that said with affection.” He blew on the scrape. Moved to her shoulder and did the same. His gaze raked over her. Not only like he wanted her, but as though she was precious. Valued. Appreciated in return.
Her fear. Her walls...her fences. All the time she’d spent protecting herself from getting too attached. From being hurt. None of it mattered.
Not in this sweet, safe space that she’d found here with him. She slid her hand into his hair and brought his mouth to hers. The kiss was soft and warm.
“I want to show you something,” he said, but hesitated.
“Go on.” She nudged him.
He opened a tiny little chest on the nightstand, designed to hold small knickknacks. He pulled something out and opened his palm.
Curious, Charlie stared down at the simple pearl in his hand. “What is that?”
“The night of charity gala for the women’s shelter in Cheyenne, you lost an earring.”
She’d never had her ears pierced and had worn clip-ons. “The clasp broke.” Her gaze dipped back down. “That’s the earring? You found it?”
“After you had abandoned me on the dance floor, I came across it. I’d intended to give it back to you. So you could have it fixed.”
She reached for it, but he closed his fingers around the pearl.
“My first lie to you.” He chuckled to himself. “And my last. I never intended to give it back.”
