Page 29 of See How They Hide

“And that’s it. I told you, Kara and I are taking this one day at a time. Her family isn’t like mine or yours. She doesn’t expect anything to last.”

“Then introducing her to your happily married brother and sister-in-law will show her there’s another way.”

“I’m not going to push her. She’s buying a house, so she’s putting down roots. She needs her space and privacy. I’m okay with that.”

Chris didn’t say anything.

“I am.” Mostly, but he didn’t say that.

He loved Kara and would have been ecstatic if she’d moved in with him. But, she valued her own space and it was a big step for her to sell her condo in California and buy a house here. She probably would have been content living in the dorms at Quantico indefinitely.

“Okay.”

“What’s with the third degree?” But he knew, and didn’t wait for Chris to answer. “Catherine. You know Catherine has problems with Kara. It’s an off-limits subject with her now, and I can make it off-limits with you, too.”

He didn’t know why this conversation irritated him, but it did.

“Catherine recognizes that her feelings toward Kara are partly because of your past relationship with Beth,” Chris said. “She’s working on that. And I don’t hold the same views about Kara’s abilities—I trust your judgment there. You wouldn’t have her on your team if she wasn’t among the best at her job.”

“Thank you,” Matt said, lifting his glass in a mock toast. “I appreciate your approval.”

“But,” Chris said, ignoring his sarcasm, “while your job has always been important to you, so is family. Kara doesn’t seem to have the same foundation, or desire to make one. I don’t want you giving up those dreams.”

“I haven’t.”

“Matt—you’re one of my closest friends, and I’ve never seen you committed to one woman before. I’m glad you found someone, but I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Matt didn’t know how this conversation became so personal, and he was about to completely change the subject when his phone vibrated. It was Kara. He bit back a smile and said to Chris, “I have to take this.”

“Feel free to use my office.”

Matt answered the phone as he walked down the hall to Chris’s home office. “Hey,” he said, then closed the door. “What’s up?”

“Michael says we have to get a good night’s sleep because we have to be up atthree thirtyin the morning. It’s seven here. I can’t sleep at seven.”

He smiled. “Nothing good on television?”

“I wouldn’t know. I might go down the street to the pub—we had an amazing dinner there.”

“What did you have?”

“Steak smothered in mushrooms so perfectly cooked it was orgasmic.”

“Wish I were there.”

“Me, too,” she said. His heartstrings tugged. “How was your dinner with Catherine and family?”

That she said it without sarcasm was a feat. “Good. I’m still here. Chris and I were having a glass of whiskey.”

“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“You didn’t. I miss you. I’m glad you called.”

She didn’t say anything for a beat.

“Kara?” he prompted.

“I just heard back from my Realtor,” she said.

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