Page 117 of Nothing to Tell

“I need to get out of here and I can’t go home.”

Before she could slip any bills from his wallet, he snagged it back, replacing it with his valet ticket.

“Get the car, I’ll be right back.”

“But…” she said.

He brushed his fingertip through her hair, flashed his dimple, and disappeared back into the party.

Okay.So that was…

Despite being clueless, she didn’t have a whole lot of options, and it was Bastian.

Bastian!

She’d do as told.

THIRTY-NINE

“THAT GUY’S A piece of work,” Bastian said after her recitation of the evening’s events.

In Bastian’s den, on his big, deep couch, the pressures of life and drama of the night seeped from her bones.Shoes off, feet tucked under her, she could finally be herself again.

“I want to say he’s hurting,” Harper said.They’d made love on this couch.Whoa, what?That memory came out of nowhere.“But I’m not sure he’s capable.”

“He’s scum and using you to excuse that.”

“Was Audine upset?I can call her and apologize if—”

“Audine’s nothing,” he said.“I didn’t want to come alone to your father’s event because it would’ve been too obvious.”

“Too obvious that what?”

“That I came to see you,” he said.She inhaled to respond but he carried on.“I’m not coming on to you.We won’t have sex.We’re friends and I’m here because you need support, that’s it…” Well, that was clear.“Though I guess if you really want to have sex, I could probably—”

She threw a cushion at his head.“Thank you for bailing me out.Again.”

“There’s no time limit on you staying here,” he said.“No pressure.We can be roommates until you get settled.Do you plan to go back to your father’s?”

She shook her head.“I’m tired of playing the same game and putting up with all the dramas that are never instigated by me.Adara and Carnell will be moving after they’re married.God knows what will happen with Damon and Charissa now.I don’t want any part of it.”

“It’s Sunday tomorrow,” he said.“Sleep in, then I’ll cook you breakfast.”

“I’ll pick up my things on Monday while they’re all at work.I should be able to find something temporary but I have back-to-back meetings Monday afternoon—”

“You’re staying here,” he said.“We can have your office transferred to my building too.”

“Transfer my office?”

“It’s an option.”

And an appealing one.Imagine a clean break.And no chance of Damon wandering in at will.The idea kind of sold itself.

Except… “I can’t monopolize your home and your business.”

“You’re at my home because you’re my friend.And I’ll lease you the office space, it’s business.”

“For what?Like a dollar?”His pure heart shone right on through.“You’re a good man, Bastian, but I won’t take advantage of you like that.”