The minute they crossed the threshold, Caitlyn’s shoulders relaxed and she sighed, a deep smile on her face. “God, it’s good to be home.”
Rockley circled her, his tail whipping her knees as he nudged her hand. “I missed you too, buddy.” She crouched down to rub his face and neck. “You’re a good boy,” she murmured.
She belonged here with her dog,in this colorful little house, on this island, far away from the unpredictable weather and crowds and craziness of DC.
And he didn’t. His family, his friends, and his business were in Virginia.
Could he really ask her to give up this—her dream life—for him?
Leaving Caitlyn and Rockley to catch up, he gathered his toiletries and stuffed the clothes he’d unpacked into his carry-on. He didn’tneed to leave for the airport for another three hours, but what else did he have to do?
The faint scuff of a shoe on wood alerted him to Caitlyn’s presence, but he didn’t turn.
Her palms caressed his upper back, warm through the thin cotton of his T-shirt, and slid down and around his waist as she embraced him. She laid her head between his shoulder blades and he stilled, covering her handswith his own. “Thank you,” she said so softly he almost couldn’t hear.
“For what?” His voice was rusty and battered as a tin can left outside for years.
“For everything. For not turning me away when I showed up at your office, for putting yourself in harm’s way to help me. For saving me and Rose. For everything except jumping early. I will never thank you for that.” She sucked in a shaky breathand pressed her forehead against his spine.
Dammit. He turned in her arms and pulled her into his embrace, stroking her hair and kissing her brow, unable to stop himself from touching her now that she was here, smelling so fresh and sweet and crying over him.
“You’re the one who stopped Glenn and saved your sister from drowning,” he said. His chest tightened at how close they’d all come to dying.“I’m just so goddamned glad you survived.”
“I’d kill that bastard again in a heartbeat.”
Kurt cupped her face and caught her gaze. “Are you really doing okay with it?”
She focused on his mouth. “I’m fine. No regrets.”
“Really? If you ever need to talk…” Old argument. She already knew his offer was open.
Her eyes were green as a forest and softened when she smiled. “Truly. But if that changes,I promise I’ll find someone to talk to.”
Someone. He wanted it to be him, but better someone than no one.
“Honestly,” her palms slid under the hem of his shirt and up his back, “right now, talking is the last thing I’m in the mood for.”
Heat slithered through his veins. If she couldn’t love him, he should walk away. But he’d never been that strong. Not when it came to this woman.
“Are yousure you can’t stay?” she asked.
His pulse tripped. “For how long?”
Her expression faltered. “I…I don’t know. You’re the most incredible man I’ve ever known, and I love being with you. But I’m broken, Kurt. I’m not sure I can ever surrender myself to a relationship the way you deserve.” She stroked his brow. “I don’t want to lead you on, give you hope that I can change.”
His heart became ahard knot in his chest. “Get some help and I’ll wait for you to be ready. You’re worth it to me.”
She looked away. “That’s not… I can’t ask you to do that.”
Can’t or won’t? Maybe they were the same thing.
A few days ago he might have been tempted to take whatever she had to offer, but she was right. He deserved more than half a relationship. He wanted her all in—as invested as he was—or notat all.
And he needed to honor her wishes and quit pushing. Clearly her feelings weren’t on the same level as his. He loved her enough to respect her choice and let go.
It might be the right decision, but it still sucked ass.
“Then this is goodbye,” he said, his voice tight.
