Chapter 39
THIRTY-NINE
“THAT GUY’S A piece of work,” Bastian said after her recitation of the evening’s events.
In Bastian’s den, on his big, deep couch, the pressures of life and drama of the night seeped from her bones. Shoes off, feet tucked under her, she could finally be herself again.
“I want to say he’s hurting,” Harper said. They’d made love on this couch. Whoa, what? That memory came out of nowhere. “But I’m not sure he’s capable.”
“He’s scum and using you to excuse that.”
“Was Audine upset? I can call her and apologize if—”
“Audine’s nothing,” he said. “I didn’t want to come alone to your father’s event because it would’ve been too obvious.”
“Too obvious that what?”
“That I came to see you,” he said. She inhaled to respond but he carried on. “I’m not coming on to you. We won’t have sex. We’re friends and I’m here because you need support, that’s it…” Well, that was clear. “Though I guess if you really want to have sex, I could probably—”
She threw a cushion at his head. “Thank you for bailing me out. Again.”
“There’s no time limit on you staying here,” he said. “No pressure. We can be roommates until you get settled. Do you plan to go back to your father’s?”
She shook her head. “I’m tired of playing the same game and putting up with all the dramas that are never instigated by me. Adara and Carnell will be moving after they’re married. God knows what will happen with Damon and Charissa now. I don’t want any part of it.”
“It’s Sunday tomorrow,” he said. “Sleep in, then I’ll cook you breakfast.”
“I’ll pick up my things on Monday while they’re all at work. I should be able to find something temporary but I have back-to-back meetings Monday afternoon—”
“You’re staying here,” he said. “We can have your office transferred to my building too.”
“Transfer my office?”
“It’s an option.”
And an appealing one. Imagine a clean break. And no chance of Damon wandering in at will. The idea kind of sold itself.
Except… “I can’t monopolize your home and your business.”
“You’re at my home because you’re my friend. And I’ll lease you the office space, it’s business.”
“For what? Like a dollar?” His pure heart shone right on through. “You’re a good man, Bastian, but I won’t take advantage of you like that.”
“You can work from here, until you’re ready to agree to the lease. And I’ll take fifty cents.”
“You drive a hard bargain.” She wouldn’t do that, but this was a big house, there’d be room for an office, a temporary one at least. “Won’t I dent your social life?”
“Women?” he said. “I never bring women back here.”
“Why not?”
“This is my space,” he said. “It’s private.”
That was honest, yet, somehow, he missed the contradiction.
She smiled. “I’m here.”
“You’re my space too,” he said. “And just as private.”
“If I’m staying here, I’ll need a safe space as well.”
“From me?”
From her white knight? No.
“Not from you.” Bolster that honesty. “I’m leaving my parents because I want to move on. I want a quiet life. Only my own drama and no one else’s… This is me trying to find a nice way of saying ‘don’t let my family in here.’ Am I a horrible person?”
“No and done,” he said, standing up. “Pick a bedroom and I’ll get you something to wear. Some of your things are still here.”
“My body lotion,” she said, taking his hand when he offered to pull her from the couch.
“You’re not getting that,” he said. “That stays in my room. I’ve looked everywhere, you can’t buy that stuff—”
“I make it,” she said, following him through the house and up the stairs.
On the mezzanine, he stopped. “Do you want the master?”
He had no cause to be this generous. Being so altruistic, it was a wonder he had any money left. He’d swooped in and saved her at the engagement party, and done the same that night, offering his bed to his own detriment.
She touched his face, grazing her thumb across his dimple. Even that couldn’t convince her he was real.
“I’ll take next door.”
“Okay,” he said. “On the far side, my room before yours.”
She nodded. “It’s your house, roomie.”
He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Our house. Feel free to consider this place yours. You’ll be authorized for the house, the company, and the vehicles immediately.”
“Knight…” she said. “Stop trying so hard. You are always my knight in shining armor.”
He kept her hand when she tried to back away.
“I’ve lost you once,” he said, kissing her knuckles then releasing her.
What did that mean? She could never figure men out. In the shadow of this hallway, her skin quaked. Never in her life had she felt so safe with a person, or in a location. There, with him, was home. It felt good to be back.
“Thank you, Bastian, for everything.”
On her final word, she left him before she did something audacious, like follow him into the master. Was this out of the frying pan? The temperature was definitely rising.