It was almost four in the morning when they got to Luke’s Buckhead condo. Cara was cold and exhausted, and she was seriously worried whether her feet would ever be the same after standing in her heels for so long.
Luke threw a pillow and blanket on his leather couch. “He sleeps here. Cara, you know where the guest bedroom is.”
“Thanks.” Wes’s eyes looked bruised as he set their suitcases in Luke’s spacious living room.
“We’ll talk about this in the morning.” Luke eyed her. “What time is your flight?”
“Three o’clock.” Wes answered, and Luke’s gaze swung to him, before falling to the luggage, as if the existence of two suitcases had just registered with him.
“You’re going to Corinne’s wedding?” Luke ground out.
Cara didn’t like the looks that were being exchanged between the two men. “I invited him.”
Luke grunted and then crossed his arms across his broad chest. “In that case, I guess you should get some sleep.” He flicked his eyes down the hall to where the guest bedroom was located.
Cara widened her eyes at her brother, silently urging him to leave them alone. Luke’s narrowed in response and didn’t budge. If anything, his face grew stonier.
“Goodnight, Cara.”
Cara scowled, but picked up her suitcase, muttering about annoying brothers.
She needed to talk to Wes. Discuss what had happened, not just at the house but between them! It was clear Luke had no intention of leaving them alone.
When they reached the airport after only a few hours of sleep, they still hadn’t discussed anything.
CHAPTERFORTY
Wes and Caraboarded their flight early, and Cara let out a happy sigh when she saw he had purchased Business Class tickets.
“It was the least I could do. Besides, this is a long flight, and I wasn’t going to spend it folded up like a pretzel.”
“I don’t care what your reasons were. I’m just glad you did!” She took the glass of prosecco the flight attendant offered.
Wes cocked his head at her. “You seem calmer than I thought you’d be today.”
“I think the concept of being on the other side of the planet from this creep has put me in a better mood.”
Wes was skeptical, and it must have shown because she continued, keeping her voice low so the other passengers didn’t hear her. “I know we’ve solved nothing, and he’s still out there… But after last night, I think I’m resigned to the fact that he will leak those pictures—”
“I told you we won’t let that happen.”
She gave him a little smile. “I know you and your friends will do your best, but odds are someone will see them. I might be numb, or maybe I’m more pissed off than I was before, but I didn’t feel frightened this morning. I probably should have. He was in our house, but—” A wrinkle developed between her eyes. “I’ve decided to forget about it for a few days. It’s going to be enough dealing with my mom. At least, I won’t have to worry about the stalker while I’m there. There’s nothing he can do but release the pictures.”
Wes had his doubts, but if Cara wanted to live in denial for a few days, who was he to argue? “I thought you got along with your mom?”
“I do. It’s just not a normal mother-daughter relationship, and she can be a bit… much.”
The flight attendant came around to collect their glasses, and soon they were in the air. Cara yawned and reclined her seat. She arranged the blanket over both their legs. Wes leaned back himself, and lifted the armrest dividing their seats, pulling her closer so that she could rest her pillow against him. Cara snuggled into him, and before long, he could feel her breath even out and knew she was asleep.
Wes’s throat tightened, and he briefly laid his cheek on the top of her head. Cara might feel better, but his brain wouldn’t stop churning through all the scenarios that could play out over the next few days.
Everything had changed between them.
Last night, she consumed him—he’d never felt anything close to that before. He’d held off examining his feelings for so long, but the connection between them was undeniable—this level of emotion, of caring— scared him.
The life he’d imagined for him and Melody had been safe and uncomplicated—a happy family, some kids, maybe a dog. Nowhere in his mind did he envision a love that had the potential to break him. Lately, when he indulged in a daydream about his future, the woman with a toddler on her hip was Cara.
He smiled, imagining all of her potions and concoctions on the kitchen counter of the kind of house he wanted to buy. Cara told him she didn’t want to be married, didn’t believe in a love that would last. What would happen if he gave up his shot with Melody and told Cara how he felt? What happened if she said no?
