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Cold sweat slicks down my spine and I nod, at a loss of what else to say. I grab a breakfast bar from the cupboard and toss it over to him before snagging one for myself.
“I have to head in to work, so I have no time to make breakfast. Make yourself at home, as you now know, the spare key stays hidden under the empty bird bath out back. Just make sure youreplace it if you need to leave to get more clothes or to do… whatever it is detectives do every day.”
I leave without glancing at Caspian, but I can feel his gaze burning into my back as I walk to the bedroom to get dressed and do my hair.
I put on a pair of dress pants that cover my ankles, a long sleeve blouse, with a blazer on top before grabbing my purse and heading to the door to put my heels on. Glancing to the empty front room, my chest falls.
Why the hell am I disappointed? I shouldn’t want him to stay here.
Even my own thoughts aren’t convincing enough.
Grabbing my keys and phone with a frustrated sigh, I step out of the house and lock up.
Pulling into my reserved spot fills my veins with relief as a sense of normalcy returns. My heels click with each step toward Candace’s desk and the moment I see her, her eyes light up and widen with shock.
She promptly hangs up the phone and scurries over to me, throwing herself into my arms while squealing.
“Don’t you ever scare us like that!” She chides and squeezes me tighter.
“Sorry Candace, wasn’t intentional, by any means.”
She sighs dramatically, and I feel her head nod against my shoulder.
Footsteps near to the hall before I hear Henry’s voice, “About time you showed up. We thought we may need to pack up or send a rescue team out.”
I wince at the mental image of a rescue team discovering me in the state I was in when Caspian and Dan found me.
My voice comes out slightly strangled as I respond, “Yeah, that forest is no joke.”
“Did you get the samples still or did you have to eat them for sustenance?” His tone is light as if he’s joking, but there’s a seriousness to it that can’t be avoided.
“I actually lost my pack early on, so I’ll have to go get more samples… Wild blueberries were snacked on instead” I winked at him and release Candace to give him a quick hug.
“I’ll head out tomorrow and get more samples. Today, I’ll catch up on some analytics on some of the initial data from the samples you took.”
Henry nods and moves to the side as I pass him to go to my office.
“Lara, Claire made an appointment for next week on Monday. I gave her five PM again. Can we go for dinner again after?”
“Sure thing, Candace,” I shout as I push the door to my office open and throw myself into work.
The day passes quickly, and it’s five in the afternoon before I know it. A knock at my door sounds and Candace’s voice calls out my name softly. I frown because this is unlike her, normally she walks right in.
“Come in.”
My door opens and reveals Candace standing awkwardly next to a fully clothed Caspian and my jaw goes slack.
Fuck. He’s even taller than I remember.
“What are you doing here?” I wince at the edge in my voice but keep myself composed.
“Sorry Lara, I tried to say you were busy but he insisted.” Candace fidgets nervously as she looks between myself and Caspian.
Holding his right hand up, which has a bag of takeout held in it, he laughs and raises a brow. “You’re telling me that you’ve eatenlunch and/or dinner already today and you don’t want Chinese takeout? Shame.” The playful edge to his voice and the temptation of my favorite food is undeniable.
I’m such a sucker.
Caspian turns to leave and I curse myself internally, “Wait!” I shout reluctantly and his lips twitch as he glances at me with pure amusement.
