One to Leave (One to Hold 5)

The jacket was still slung over his arm, the backpack still in place on his shoulder. One hand was in his pocket. He could’ve been a fucking model, he was so perfect.

Managing a little smile, I nodded. “Good. You?”

He shrugged. “Same.”

I tried to think of something more to say. When he left, he’d said he couldn?

?t take sitting in an office all the time. He was born for combat. He missed the desert.

“I was surprised when Derek said you were coming back. How long do you think you’ll stay?”

“Haven’t decided.”

Silence again.

It was always how it was with Stuart, thousands of words left unsaid. His pack rolled around, and he lifted it in one easy sweep off the conveyer. My lip caught in my teeth as his biceps flexed, stretching his shirtsleeves. What I wouldn’t give to see that body naked again.

“Ready?” I managed to ask.

“Lead the way.”

I’d dressed for just such an order. The jeans I wore hugged my ass tight, and my top ended just high enough to give him a good view. A pair of stack heels did the rest of the work for me. Eat your heart out, Mr. Knight.

No comment.

We got to my car, and he walked around to the back to toss his stuff in the trunk. I waited inside until he joined me. Before we backed out, I handed him an envelope containing a set of keys, a door card, and the passcode for the building.

He only glanced inside. “Is Derek’s place still the penthouse he had back in the day?”

“One and the same, and he rented you a Lexus until you’ve had a chance to buy or lease something. It’s parked in his space in the garage.”

Stuart exhaled a laugh. “I never could tell if he was showing off with all that shit or if he was really that soft.”

“You could afford the same or more if you wanted.”

Family money combined with his years of active duty, being single, and what he made in private security had left Stuart with quite the net worth. In the millions the last time I’d snooped, which was three years ago.

“I don’t give a shit about glamour.”

His lips pressed into a frown, and I let it go. It wasn’t much of a conversation anyway. I tried to catch as many red lights as possible on my way into the downtown area, but at this time of night, most of the signals were blinking yellow. We reached our destination far too soon.

“Let me out at the front.” He leaned forward to retrieve his jacket, and my brow fell.

“Wouldn’t you like me to walk you up? Give you the tour?”

I slowed to a stop at the entrance to the luxury apartment building. A doorman waited inside the glass entrance.

“I’m pretty sure I remember my way around the place.”

I couldn’t think of a thing to make him invite me inside, but my expression must have told him how I felt. He paused before getting out and leaned toward me.

“Thanks again, Nik. I’ll see you tomorrow.” A pat on my shoulder, and he was gone, headed to the back of the car to retrieve his bags before disappearing through the glass entrance.

A long exhale escaped my lips, and I started to cry.

* * *

Stuart