“You still there?”
“Yeah.” He sounded as if he was smiling. “Who was that?”
“My roommate. Or should I say my soon-to-be-ex-roommate,” she said loudly, in case Harper was listening at the door. “I’m so sorry, they’ve only just let her go on day release. She’s pathologically crazy.”
“Harper the costume designer?” he asked. “The one you met in college?”
He remembered that? The day they’d visited the Chateau, Caitie had given him a brief rundown of her life in New York, but she didn’t figure he would’ve retained all she shared. Especially not about her roommate. “Yeah, that’s the one. Though it’s going to be hard for her to sew when all her fingers are broken.”
He laughed again. His chuckle warmed her from the inside out. “She sounds like quite a character.”
“Definitely. A real character.”
Breck cleared his throat. “So how did the date end up? Did he let you go without a protest?”
“Well he didn’t stalk me home. So I’d call that a win.”
“That’s a relief. I had images of you fighting him off. I didn’t fancy his chances with your chokehold.”
She sat down on her bed, swinging her legs around so she was laid down. “Why are you so interested anyway?”
“You’re Lucas’s little sister. I kind of owe it to him to make sure you’re okay. I know he’d do the same for me.”
“You don’t have a sister.”
“Yeah, but he’d look after Daniel if I asked him to. He did when we were kids, after all.”
“Yeah, I guess he would.” Her shoulders slumped. She didn’t know why she felt so disappointed by his reply. Of course he would look out for her the same way he always had. There was no ulterior motive, he was being protective, the same way Lucas’s friends always were.
“But you’re okay, right?” Breck asked her. “Not too upset about the date?”
“I’m fine.” She fought hard to keep the disappointment from her voice.
“That’s good.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“So, ah, I guess it’s getting late over there. I should let you go to bed or something.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty tired. But thanks for calling to check up on me. I appreciate it.”
“I almost forgot why I called,” Breck said, before she could disconnect. “I spoke to Daniel earlier. He was wondering if you’re coming to Angel Sands for Thanksgiving. He’s hoping to see you there. But asking is a bit of a moot point now, since my little chat with Harper.”
“Um, yeah, we’re coming. It will be good to see him. Tell him I’m looking forward to it.”
“Okay, I will.” He paused again. Caitie waited for him to say goodbye, to hang up, something, but instead all she could hear was his breathing. His breaths were low and regular. For some reason, she found their cadence reassuring, like a baby hearing its mother’s heartbeat. “You sure you’re okay?” he finally asked.
“I am. It’s just been a long day. I had to be up early to prepare a presentation for next week; then the date from hell really topped things off. I’ve never been happier to see my bed in all my life.”
“I’ll let you go, Cait. Hopefully we’ll see you at Thanksgiving.”
The way he said her name made her heart skip a beat. Cait. He was the only one who’d ever called her that. God, she really did need some sleep. “Good night, Breck.”
“Good night. Sweet dreams.”
With Harper sure to be outside the door, no doubt full of questions, she was pretty sure she wouldn’t be sleeping at all.
11