Page 34 of A Man After Midnight

Just then, a knock sounded on their door. Aldy opened it and then stepped back to let Wren in. He didn’t even say hi or acknowledge her, just barreled past her to scoop Caroline up in his arms.

She hugged him back.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

Aldy cleared her throat. “So, yeah, I’ll, uh, just be that way.”

Neither of them said goodbye as she made an exit. The door closed behind her with a firm click.

“I’m okay,” Caroline replied.

He pulled back to look her over. “I should’ve killed the mother fucker.”

“You fired him?”

“Of course I fucking fired him!” he snarled. “He isn’t the type of employee we want representing Troublemaker, not to mention the fact he’s a son-of-a-bitch. I can’t help but wonder how many other women said no to him and he didn’t take the hint.”

Caroline shuddered at her close call. “Thank you.”

“Fucking hell, Caroline! He could’ve killed you!”

She nodded. “I realize that. Believe me, I more than understand all that could’ve happened. But they gave me a Valium at the hospital. I’m feeling really great right now.”

A small smile cracked the hard line of his mouth. “Christ, Caroline. This isn’t how I wanted this day to go down.”

“I should hope not.” A vise grip squeezed her heart. Finally, the moment she had been dreading. “I suppose this is goodbye.”

He stiffened. “That’s it? Just goodbye?”

“What else do you want me to say?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Fuck,” he muttered. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a box. “I’d like for you to have this.”

Caroline’s breath caught in her throat. With shaky hands she took the box and eased open the lid. A gold necklace twinkled at her, the chain thin and delicate. A smiley face charm dangled on it.

“It’s to chase away the frown in your eyes,” he said softly. “Don’t let the frowns win, Caroline.”

Unexpected tears sprang into her eyes at the tender and thoughtful gift. It took her a moment of swallowing for the lump to disappear from her throat.

“Thank you,” she mumbled. “It’s perfect.” She took the necklace out of the box and held it out to him. “Could you put this on me?”

He nodded and she turned. The delicate brush of his fingers over the back of her neck brought goose bumps to her arms. Her heart thundered in her chest. Still, after all they had done to and with each other, her blood still heated like it had upon meeting him for the first time. Her body tingled to life. She closed her eyes as she leaned into his hands, savoring the feel of them one last time on her skin. Once the chain was hooked, he gripped her shoulders and leaned down, his nose coming to rest right behind her ear. She heard his ragged breathing, felt the quiver in his body, and realized he was experiencing the same quicksilver reaction as she. It was always like this between them. Intense and powerful.

“I’ll go with you to La Guardia,” he murmured against her skin.

Her heart sang, happy to have delayed her inevitable broken heart.

****

The taxi let Aldy off first since she was flying out on a different airline. She hugged Caroline tightly, tears shining in her dark eyes.

“You scared the shit out of me,” Aldy whispered in her ear.

“I know,” Caroline murmured. “But I’m okay.”

“I just can’t imagine life without you, my friend.”

“Same here.”

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