Page 24 of Keeping Laryn
“Thanks for coming over,” she told him politely.
Casper nodded. “You’re welcome. Do you have an extra pillow I can use?”
She frowned. “What?”
“A pillow. I can use the blanket you’ve got on the back of the couch, but a pillow would be nice.”
“You aren’t staying here,” she said, almost sounding horrified.
“Yes, I am,” Casper said firmly.
“No, you aren’t,” she told him, sounding just as stern.
“Laryn, you just got off the phone with a man who threatened you. Said you’d regret turning down his offer. A man who, at best, has access to a lot of money if he’s responsible for hiring someone to outfit MH-60s, and at worst, connections at the highest levels of the Turkish government. There’s no way I’m leaving you alone.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can. You’re a grown adult. But you aren’t a trained soldier.”
“I actuallyama trained soldier. I went through the same basic training you did,” she countered. “Besides, you’re a pilot. And I don’t see any choppers hanging around my apartment.”
Damn, he admired her spunk. But he wasn’t going to be swayed.
“If I leave after hearing what you told me tonight, I’m not going to get any sleep. I’ll be worrying about you all night. Wondering if Osman has any contacts here in the States. If someone has broken into your apartment overnight and stolen you away. Tomorrow morning, I could wake up and you could be halfway across the ocean, headed to Turkey to be detained and forced to work on their newest acquisitions. And while you’d resist, because that’s who you are, they could torture you tomake you spill the secrets about the latest technology the US is putting into their choppers.”
“Oh my God, you’re such a drama queen,” Laryn protested.
Casper put on the most pathetic face he could muster and even pouted a little bit.
“I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this. Fine. But only for tonight.”
He wasn’t going to agree to that, so he simply smiled.
Laryn shook her head as she stood and headed to the kitchen to pour out the tea that she didn’t bother finishing. “I’m going to regret this,” she mumbled.
Casper frowned at that. He silently followed her into the kitchen. When she turned around from the sink, gasping in surprise to find him so close, he put his hands on the counter on either side of her and leaned in. Her hands flew up and landed on his chest, but she didn’t push him away. Simply rested them there.
“You aren’t going to regret it. I’m just here to make sure all is well,” he told her.
“Okay.”
“I mean it. No regrets, Laryn.”
“I…this…it’s such a change from how things used to be.”
“I know. I’ve been an idiot. I told you that. And I’m done. I’m standing up for a friend. For someone who’s had my back and made sure I’m as safe as I can be while I’m in the air. I’m doing the same thing for you, even though it’s a bit late.”
His words seemed to have a profound effect on her. Her shoulders relaxed and her fingers curled into his chest.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome. We’ll work on your ability to ask for help.”
At that, she rolled her eyes, and now shedidpush at him a little bit.
Casper grinned and stepped back, giving her some space.
“Don’t blame me when you sleep like shit. That couch is uncomfortable as hell.”
