Chapter 24
Lochlan
It’s been a whole week since Yuri tried to kidnap Callie and now that things have settled down, Slate is calling me back to New York. He has more work for me.
We lie in her bed and Callie’s on her side, twisting my chest hairs. “This has been the best week of my life. Which is weird, when you think about it.”
I’ve been dying to ask her to marry me but haven’t been able to get up the courage. What if she says no? Every time I start to broach the subject, we end up making love.
With only a couple hours left before I leave for the airport, I need to step up. When my hand covers her naked breast, she places hers on top. “I wish you could stay.”
“Me too, luv, but Boston isn’t exactly my cup of tea.” I hold my breath, wondering if she’ll help me out.
“MIT has offered me a position here in the fall.”
With my fucking heart in pieces, I slip out of bed and hide my face in the bathroom. “That’s a great opportunity, for sure.”
I’m a fucking idiot. Now that she has a doctorate, she’s too bloody high and mighty for me.
“What’s wrong?” She stirs and when the bedsprings creak, I splash water on my face before she can see what she’s done to me.
When she stands in the doorway, I toss her a fake smile. “Nothing’s wrong. I just need to go.”
It’s best I get out of town before I say something I’ll regret forever.
A sheila like her doesn’t need anotherfriendhanging onto her every word. I’m never going to be the guy who understands her work. If we meet again, and she’s not married, I’ll make love to her. Hopefully, our paths will never cross again because I don’t think I could survive another sad farewell.
“No, I can tell when you’re angry.” She walks closer and touches my cheek.
“Never better.” When I pull her wrist away, her mouth turns down. I don’t want to hurt her but she’s killing me.
“Lochlan, we need to talk.”
Oh fook. Here it comes. “You don’t have to say anything. It’s been fun, hasn’t it?”
“That’s it, then? You’re just going to go?” Tears drip down her face and when I reach to my face, it’s wet too.
I take her hand and sit her on the bed, but not too close. “Isn’t that what you want?”
“Do you?”
“Do I what?”
“Dammit, Lochlan. Do you want what we have to end or not?”
The damn of emotions I was holding back breaks. “No, luv. I don’t. Okay? I’ve never met anyone like you, never felt like this, and probably never will again.” Shit. It hurts like hell to say it out loud and it pisses me off that she made me say it.
She starts to sob while smiling which confuses the fook out of me. With my arm around her shoulder, I tell my cock to stand down.
Of course, he doesn’t listen.
Wiping a sleeve over my face, I give her a sad grin. “Don’t cry over me, luv. I’ll bounce back.”
Her fist punches into my upper arm. Eyes wide, she glances down at her knuckles and runs into the kitchen and puts her hand under running water.
“You are a bloody idiot.”
I grab some ice, put it in a towel, and wrap it around the damage. “I’ll go, as soon as–”
