Chase's first instinct was to leap out the window, to shift and head for the scene at full speed. Nonetheless, he hesitated, glancing at Connie's closed bedroom door. He could hear the shower running in the bathroom.
*Go,* Killian sent to him, obviously having overheard the conversation thanks to his sharp shifter senses. *You're needed. Don't worry about Connie. I'll tell her where you've gone. And if there's any sign of danger, I'll get her to safety.*
Chase made up his mind. Though it tore at him to leave, there was a life at risk. Connie would understand.
“I'm on my way,” he said into the phone.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Where's Chase?” Connie asked as she came back into the living room.
Killian was on his phone again, thumbing in a text message. “He said he had to dash off,” he said, slipping it back into his pocket. “He just jumped out the window and flew away.”
“Oh.
” Connie opened the fridge to look for the second bottle of champagne, hiding her expression.
He probably got some ridiculous idea and had to act on it immediately, she told herself, trying to overcome the sinking feeling of disappointment in her stomach. He's so impulsive. No doubt he couldn't wait for even a minute.
…Not even to tell me why he was leaving?
“Did he say when he'd be back?” Connie said, trying to keep her voice light.
“No.” Killian touched her arm, making her jump. She hadn't heard him coming up behind her. “Connie, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” She handed him the champagne, and started hunting for wine glasses. “What's on your mind? You've been kind of quiet ever since the race.”
Killian turned the bottle in his strong, long-fingered hands, so similar to Chase's. It was strange how two people so physically alike could be so different. “Are you intending to stay with my cousin?”
Connie paused in opening a cupboard.
The race is over. My plane is safe.
I could go anywhere.
“I mean, you won the bet,” Killian said, when she didn't say anything. “You don't need him anymore. I love him dearly, but even I have to admit that he's a challenging person to handle. He's reckless, and ridiculous, and just generally…” Killian trailed off, apparently searching for the right adjective.
“Infuriating?” Connie suggested.
“Right.” Killian shot her a wry grimace of shared pain. “And God knows, he's hurt you enough in the past. Any sensible person would never want anything to do with him, ever again.”
“Yes,” Connie said slowly, leaning back against the work surface next to him. She couldn't deny the truth in anything Killian had said. “I guess a sensible person wouldn't.”
Killian gestured at her with the wine bottle. “I think you're the most sensible person I've ever met, Connie. You're basically his complete opposite. To be frank, I still can't believe you two are actually meant to be mates. So are you going to stay with him? Despite everything?”
Am I?
Connie searched the clear-eyed, wary, innermost heart of her soul… and knew the answer.
“You know,” she said softly. “Ever since my mother died, I've always had to be the sensible one. I had to learn to be cautious, to balance my dad. He could afford to be wild and bold, because I would always be there to fix things if it all went wrong. But if I was reckless, and it didn't work out… there would be no one to catch me.”
“But you were reckless today,” Killian said.
“Because I knew I could trust Chase to be there if I fell.” A slow smile spread across her face. “And I think I'm finally ready to take another risk.”
Killian looked at her, his expression unreadable. “So you'll stay with him.”
“Yes.” Connie patted his tense arm. “Don't worry, Killian. You won't be picking up the pieces of his broken heart this time.”