Fifteen minutes later, feeling somewhat refreshed, she scrounged through Brandon’s cupboards and started a pot of oatmeal and, more importantly, a pot of coffee.
Kurt joined her soon after, back to full height. Had he waited for her to leave the roomthis morning so he wouldn’t have to walk on his residual limbs in front of her? He’d done it last night, but it had been dark then, and he’d thought she was in danger.
As much as she rejected the idea of being a damsel in distress who needed a man, the memory of him rushing into her room ready to fight for her sent a ripple of pleasure through her chest.
“I’ll pick up some groceries later ifI can find anything open,” he said, breaking into her reverie.
“Good idea. I hate raiding this guy’s cupboards, and there’s not much here anyway.”
While the oats simmered, Kurt switched on the enormous flat-screen TV that hung on the wall across from the sectional sofa. A local morning news show talked about another tropical storm developing to the southeast. This year, the Atlantic had alreadyseen more than its fair share of hurricanes, with multiple storms devastating Puerto Rico and the Leeward Islands, along with Mexico, Texas, and Florida.
Barbados and St. Isidore had been spared this time around, but everyone was on edge about it. St. Iz was only now starting to recover from a hurricane followed by a series of earthquakes three years ago.
When the coffee finished, Caitlyn pouredherself a cup and added a smidge of powdered creamer and sugar. “How do you like your caffeine?” she asked Kurt.
“Strong and hot, one sugar, no cream.”
She prepared his cup and brought it to him where he stood in front of the television looking sinfully handsome with damp hair and dark stubble. He even smelled good.
“Thanks.” He lifted the mug in a little salute. “Unfortunately, I may not beable to get any of my guys here for a few days. There’s a tropical storm sitting off the mid-Atlantic, and airports up and down the coast are shut down due to high winds.”
“You were planning to bring your team here? For what?” They hadn’t even talked about it.
He glanced at her, eyebrows darting up as he took a sip of coffee. “To increase security around this house. And so they could be readyto help when we figure out where Rose is.”
Caitlyn sighed. She had fought so hard for control over her life that it was hard to step back and let him take charge, even though they needed all the help they could get. But she didn’t need to antagonize him. He was, as always, trying to help.
“I’d appreciate it if you could keep me in the loop.”
“No problem. I didn’t mean to cut you out, I’m justused to—”
“Being in charge.”
His self-deprecating smile softened her more than she liked. “Yeah. I’ve gotten used to being the boss.”
She scoffed. “No, you’ve gotten used to being the savior.”
He didn’t even balk at her characterization, he just smiled. “PJ training only made me more insufferable. But then I lost my legs.” He huffed out a laugh. “That’ll teach you who’s really in charge.”
Any remaining irritation leached out of her. Based on his faraway expression, he hadn’t said it to garner sympathy or pity or even to sway her. He was merely musing.
“I was at the mercy of the hospital staff and my injuries for so long… I hoarded every piece of my world that I could control. How hard I worked in physical therapy, how much I practiced with my prosthetics, what I ate, what I read,what I watched, my attitude. Starting Steele Security let me take charge again. Not just of my team, but of my life.”
And couldn’t she understand that? Caitlyn cringed inwardly. Kurt’s injuries had made him more vulnerable than she could imagine, especially looking at him now, standing tall and strong. He had to hate it. He’d always been the protector, the one who swooped in to save others whenthey were weak and helpless. There was nothing in the world worse than being knocked down, defenseless against the vultures, ripe for others to take advantage.
Which was why she so carefully guarded her own independence. “And it proves just how uncreative you are at naming things,” she said with a straight face.
He laughed and seemed to snap back to the present. “You mean like Brevard Charters?”
She smiled against her will. He had her there. “Touché.”
Their gazes met and she melted. How bad would it be to kiss him for no good reason? Just being near him made her breathless. She couldn’t run from it, but maybe she could make him feel just as helpless and vulnerable and out of control.
She took a step back, forced herself to lean away, and broke eye contact. The fake engagement was irrelevant.They no longer had a reason to play the happy couple. And yet…
She didn’t want to desire him. She didn’t want to need anyone. But her body and her heart—no, not her heart, never that—hadn’t gotten the message.
Kurt frowned and something flickered in his dark eyes. Disappointment?
