Page 38 of A Man After Midnight

“I think I need just a little time to get over all of it.”

“Sounds like you had an exciting couple of days.”

Caroline gave a rueful little laugh. “I guess you could say that. Strangely enough, it was almost being stabbed that made me realize how short life is. I would really like to have a relationship again, but…”

“I get it,” he said. “And I’m not going anywhere. Okay?”

He winked and gave her an easy, lighthearted grin.

She let out a deep breath, the stress flowing from her shoulders causing them to droop a bit.

“Thank you, Grant.”

He stepped back and started buttoning up the two buttons she had managed to undo. She watched him, wishing with every fiber in her being that she found him as attractive as Wren. But she didn’t. After he finished, he moved toward the door.

“Oh,” he said at the threshold, turning to face her. “I’m having a birthday celebration next weekend at The Red Room in the French Quarter. I’d like for you to come.”

“I don’t know, Grant.”

“As just a friend,” he quickly explained. “I think you could use some friends, Caroline.”

“All right,” she agreed. “I’d like that.”

“See you at work.”

“Yeah, see you there.”

He gave her a wave and left, closing the door softly behind him.

Caroline rose, and locked it, before lying down on the couch to cry herself to sleep.

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