Page 21 of Keeping Laryn
“Who the hell is that?”
Another sigh, another pause. “You aren’t really coming over here, are you?”
Casper couldn’t tell if she was hoping he was or hoping he wasn’t. “I am. I’ll be at your door in about two minutes. Who is Altan Osman and what did he say to upset you?”
“You’re kind of annoying, you know that?”
“Yes. Pyro tells me all the time. Who’s Altan Osman?” he repeated.
“He’s in charge of the MH-60 project in the Turkish Gendarmerie. They’ve recently acquired a couple, and he’s been in contact with me about coming to work for them and helping them get the choppers combat-ready.”
“Wait, Turkey uses the TAI T129 ATAK attack helicopter mostly, right?”
“Yes. Which is a very good choice. But they want to upgrade.”
“And this Osman character wants you to retrofit them for their military?”
“Yes.”
“How’d he get your name?”
“I don’t know.”
“How’d he get your number?”
“I don’tknow.”
“And he called you tonight and freaked you out?”
A pause. Then Laryn said softly, “Yes.”
“I’m pulling into your parking lot now. Meet me at your door,” Casper ordered.
“Tate, I’m fine. There’s no need for?—”
“Thirty seconds, Laryn. Open the door for me when I get there.”
She huffed out a breath. “You aresoannoying.”
“You already said that. I’m coming up.”
Casper took the stairs two at a time as he ran toward the second floor. He didn’t run down the hall toward her door, but he was definitely moving at a fast clip. He raised his hand to knock, but the door opened before his knuckles could make contact with the wood.
Laryn was wearing another pair of sweats, but tonight she had on a tank top, which made Casper’s mouth water immediatelyupon seeing her. Her breasts…they were full and lush, and desire hit him so hard, thinking about what they’d feel like under his hands, in his mouth…what they’d look like as she sat astride him and rode him.
The thought was inappropriate as hell, and he was ashamed at the lust that coursed through his body, but he couldn’t help it. Laryn standing up to him, going toe-to-toe, talking about the mechanical aspects of the MH-60, rolling her eyes at him, not taking his shit…all of that was hot. He’d recently come to his senses and realized helikedsparring with her.Likedtheir banter. That she was a much more complicated woman than he’d ever realized.
ButthisLaryn? Out of her coveralls with her hair around her shoulders, fire shooting out of her eyes at the audacity of him showing up at her door unannounced,again, shoulders bare, hands on her hips, irritation—and a hint of relief—in her eyes at him being there?
He couldn’t resist her. Didn’t want to resist her.
He’d been an idiot for not seeing what was under his nose for so long. But now that he had, he was going to do everything in his power to convince this woman that he had her best interests at heart and she was safe with him. That she could trust him…with her thoughts, her fears, her body.
“I’m fine,” she told him firmly.
“I know,” Casper said, taking a chance and pushing past her into her small apartment. Seeing it reminded him yet again of his own…kind of bare bones. But for some reason, just being here made him feel a hundred percent as if he were coming home.
He heard her shut the door, and bolt it and slide the security chain on, before she followed him. Turning, he leaned against the bar-height counter that separated the galley kitchen from the living area. “Tell me what Osman said to freak you out.”
