He totally disagreed with that statement, but was going to use it in his favor. “Then you should trust me when I tell you, you still need me now.”
“Connor, I…I…I’m too tired to even argue. So why don’t we compromise. How about I get a hotel in Boston tonight and I fly back in the morning?” Krista suggested.
“How about you spend the night with me?” he said. “I mean like you did last night. I have a spare room. Of course my apartment doesn’t look anything like the penthouse in New York.”
“Neither does mine. But Connor, you don’t have to do that. I can go to a hotel.”
“I know you can. But why would you? And besides, you had mentioned you have a patient in Boston. If you stay, it would give you a good reason to check up on her,” he said, knowing damn well how much she wanted to see Patty.
“I’m glad I never faced you in debate class. I’m not sure I would’ve come out the victor very often,” she said.
“I would’ve let you win…a few,” he teased. “So, what do you say? Let’s get off this chopper and get some rest.”
The helicopter was just landing on top of Henderson Corp and he still had no idea what she was thinking, never mind what her answer would be. Krista had a mind of her own. And from his firsthand experience, a voice, and not afraid to use it.
The pilot came around and opened the door. Connor asked, “Tired?”
“Exhausted,” she replied. “Okay. One more night away won’t do any harm.”
He stepped out of the chopper and then offered her his hand. Once she was out, he didn’t release it. Instead they walked across the helipad hand and hand.
“I don’t know how I’m ever going to pay you back for all this,” she said.
Connor leaned over and said, “I do.” She shot him a warning look and he gave her a smile. “How are you at making breakfast?”
Krista gave him a slap on his arm and said, “You might not want to eat anything I cook if you’re going to tease me like that.”
“It’s too late. You asked and now you need to pay up. By the way, I like my eggs over easy.”
“No problem. But you’re going to get them scrambled,” she replied.
“Why? Can’t do over easy?” he asked.
“I can. But that will cost you extra,” she said.
“And what exactly will that be?” he asked. He had a few thoughts run through his mind on things he wouldn’t mind. None of them were going to happen, but it didn’t stop him from thinking about it.
“You wouldn’t have any pajamas I can borrow would you? I mean, this was supposed to be a day trip. Not a few overnight stays.”
His body flinched with the thought of her wearing one of his t-shirts to bed. The only part of it that sucked, was she’d be in the spare room, and not in his.
“I have that and maybe even a change of clothes too.”
“Sorry, but I don’t think I’m going to fit in any of yours,” she said.
“No. Kollette had come by a few months ago and she forgot a few things. Can’t promise you’ll like anything in there, but at least they’re women’s.”
“Oh. Now we’re talking. Two over easy eggs it is,” she said.
“I was thinking more like four,” he replied.
“Sorry. I’m a doctor. Two is the limit. You’re not a kid anymore and you need to think about your cholesterol levels.”
“Hey, I’m not that old,” he said.
Krista chuckled. “And I was only teasing. But three it is.”
Connor had to be out of his mind. What was he thinking asking her to stay at his place? He was enjoying their little playful banter but they were alone at his apartment. Innocent could quickly change to something more. He wasn’t going to cross that line. He’d offered her a place to sleep, and that’s all that was happening tonight.
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. It was as though she had no clue how beautiful she was which only enhanced it even more. It was the first time he noticed, but she didn’t wear any make-up either. Then again, she didn’t need it. Her cheeks have a natural glow that he loved watching turn red hot when she blushed. And her eyes, blue like he’d never seen before. And shined like some gemstone. And those sassy lips of hers that had put him in his place more than once, probably were even sweeter than they looked.
The elevator arrived on the ground floor and the doors opened. The security guard greeted them. “Mr. Falciano, will you need the limo tonight?”
“No. I’m going home,” he replied and placed a hand on the curve of Krista’s back.
Connor noticed the guard give Krista a quick look before he turned and headed back to his desk.
That’s right. She’s with me.
He’d never had been jealous or possessive of anyone before, yet here he was making sure the guy knew Krista was with him. Kind of funny, because Krista was a strong, independent woman he had a feeling no one ever decided anything for her. Yet there he was, acting like there was something between them, when in fact there wasn’t. What the fuck is wrong with me? Nothing has been normal since the moment he met her. And if he wasn’t cautious and didn’t somehow kept his distance, it was possible that nothing would be normal again.
I better give her PJ bottoms to go with the t-shirt or I’m fucked, and not in a good way.
Krista wasn’t a child, and she could feel the sexual tension building between them. It would have been so easy for her to insist that she return to Vermont tonight, or to go stay at hotel. But neither of those things appealed to her. It wasn’t like she had been thinking about making love to him all day long. She had too many other things on her mind. But she was willing to admit, she wasn’t ready to say goodbye. And going back to Vermont right now would be doing that. There was no longer a reason for them to continue to see each other.
But even now as she changed into pajamas that he provided her, she questioned if this was a wise choice. When they had gone to New York, it was different. That penthouse wasn’t his. It had been like going to a hotel with an adjoining room. But this apartment really felt like Connor. It was laid-back, casual, and comfortable. The couch was large and overstuffed, and the chair beside it, didn’t match at all. Neither did the two end tables. But all the furniture in his apartment was functional. Not surprisingly, there was no clutter. It seemed as though everything was placed deliberately in a certain spot. That was the case throughout the house until she came to the kitchen. In there she found just about every spice one could imagine. But most of them not even opened. Maybe he was a collector of spices.
She had a feeling there was a story behind that, but she was too tired to ask. Her eyes were burning from lack of sleep and if she did not get to bed soon, she would probably drop where she was standing.
So Krista went back into the living room thinking that Connor might be there. But she was alone and his bedroom door was closed. Maybe he went to bed. She would’ve thought that he would come and check on her one last time, maybe wish her good night and some sweet dreams.
Or better yet, a kiss goodnight.
Thoughts like that definitely was not going to help her fall asleep. But maybe it was what she needed after these past few days. Just because she was a physician, didn’t mean she wasn’t haunted with images of what her patients were going through, or in this case, going to face. And knowing that she couldn’t be in New York, to actually care for Miss Twanda, wasn’t easy either. Yes Miss Twanda was going to have the best care, but Krista never found walking away to be easy.