To Have A Heart (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 7)

Mallory blinked at him. Colour flooded her cheeks.

“I couldn’t stay with you either.”

“And why not?” he demanded, his brows aloft.

Mallory shook her head. Inwardly she quaked at the thought that he was being serious. But honesty was in the steadiness of the gaze he levelled on her. He meant every word.

“Because I would ruin your reputation,” she burst out only to mentally wince at how that sounded.

Callum grinned. “I am a big boy. I am sure my reputation can survive a little bit of scandal.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Mallory countered somewhat breathlessly. “That wasn’t what I meant at all.”

“I promise not to ruin your reputation,” he began.

Much.

Callum mentally blocked out the contrary voice that left him in no doubt he was going to set himself up with a whole load of trouble should he encourage her to stay at his home, but he couldn’t rescind the invitation. He wouldn’t. He wanted her to stay with him.

“But people will know and talk about it.”

“Not many will,” Callum countered.

“How can you be sure?” Mallory demanded.

“They don’t know you.”

Mallory scowled.

“I know you were swept out of your life and thrown into a life of turmoil and confusion. I know that you have had your life stolen and need some time to be able to regain the confidence of knowing you are safe going about your business. However, I also know that you need help to get your life back together. Part of your healing process is being able to pick up the pieces of your life and carry on.”

For the first time in a very long time, Callum began to feel nervous. He was an investigator for the Star Elite. Someone who faced challenges and life or death decisions every day, but they never shook him as much as this conversation did.

“Do you have any idea where you want to live when this is all over?” he asked when Mallory stared thoughtfully at his chest, and seemingly forgot he was waiting for her to talk to him.

“No. What I do know is that I cannot go back to the life I used to live in. I don’t think I would ever feel safe walking down those streets again,” Mallory whispered. “Of course, I know I am not safe walking down any street, but in that village, and after everything that happened-”

She shook her head. Words couldn’t convey the depth of fear that she knew would accompany her should she ever go back to that village, to that stretch of road.

“One day, you might find the strength to return there. For now, it is best if you start afresh, don’t you think? In a new county, in a different part of the country?”

Mallory’s lips twitched. “Like Cornwall?”

“It’s nice there. The moors are inland but if you would prefer to live by the sea there is a nice, sprawling house that isn’t too large that you can rattle around in if you would like?”

Mallory squinted at him. “Are you asking me to live in your house with you?”

Again, she felt wildly thrilled yet at the same time incredibly anxious at what was hidden beneath his apparent determination to get her to stay at his home.

“My future isn’t part of your job, you know. Your mission ended the day I was delivered to the safe house, or didn’t Sir Hugo tell you that?” Mallory asked.

Callum suspected that Mallory and Sir Hugo had been talking while they had been in the carriage together.

“Yes, he told me, but I am a man, and it is sometimes difficult to separate work from life. They go together.”

Mallory’s anticipation faded. “I don’t want you to feel that you should keep looking after me. I know I said that I didn’t think it was right to stay with Sir Hugo, but I am sure there are other places I could stay. You don’t have to feel obliged to provide for me, you know.”

“I don’t feel obliged to do anything I don’t want to do,” Callum assured her.