Page 37 of Cowboy's Healing Heart

My heart skips a beat at that last word. "And what are you thinking about us?"

Krystal's quiet for a long moment. "I'm not sure," she finally says. "This is... complicated."

I nod, understanding all too well. "Yeah, it is."

She twists in her seat, her eyes searching my face. "Tell me something about you, Shane."

"Like a secret?" I ask, my grip tightening on the steering wheel.

She shakes her head. "No. Something that made you the man you are."

I take a deep breath, weighing my words carefully. "My parents are still married, living in New York. I have a younger brother."

It's all true, but I'm intentionally vague, avoiding details that might reveal too much.

Krystal's not satisfied. She asks more questions, probing deeper. I find myself telling her about joining the military, how it felt like an escape from expectations I wasn't ready to face.

"I was 18," I say, keeping my eyes on the road. "Fresh out of high school. Everyone expected me to follow a certain path, but I needed something different."

Krystal nods, encouraging me to continue. I hesitate, then tell her about my first mission. The memory of that day still haunts me, the weight of split-second decisions that cost lives.

"We were clearing a compound," I explain, my voice low. "I hesitated. A teammate died because of it." The words hang in the air between us, heavy with unspoken guilt.

Krystal reaches out, her hand resting lightly on my arm. The touch is unexpected and comforting in a way I'm unprepared for. I clear my throat, eager to shift the focus.

"What about you?" I ask. "What made Krystal Duncan the woman she is?"

She smiles, but there's a sadness in her eyes. "I'm from Atlanta originally. My mom's still there. We talk every Sunday over coffee."

"That sounds nice," I say, meaning it. My own relationship with my parents is far more complicated.

Krystal nods. "It is. But I left home a few years back. Needed a fresh start after a bad relationship." She doesn't elaborate, and I don't push.

We all have our secrets.

As we pull up to the hotel, I realize we've shared more in this short drive than we have in all our time at the ranch. It should make me uncomfortable, this growing closeness. Instead, I find myself wanting more.

I park the truck and turn to Krystal. Her face is softened by the glow of the dashboard lights, and for a moment, I let myself imagine a different life. One where I'm not hiding who I am, where I could be the man she deserves.

But as I step out of the truck. I'm not that man. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Because I can't be this Shane and lead Innoventis, something about being there takes away all of my options and leaves only a son who's obligated to uphold the family name and business.

When we arrive at the hotel, Krystal's eyes widen. "Shane, this is... wow."

I grin, enjoying her reaction. "Only the best for you."

She raises an eyebrow. "Careful, Kennedy. I might start thinking you're some kind of trust fund baby."

My stomach drops, but I force a laugh. "Nah, just a retired man who saved well."

Krystal joins me, her bag slung over her shoulder. "This place is fancy," she says, eyeing the hotel's gleaming facade.

I shrug, trying to play it off. "Thought we deserved a nice weekend."

She raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment further. I'm acutely aware of the distance between us as we walk into the lobby. Not physical - we're close enough that her arm occasionally brushes mine - but emotional.

The check-in process is quick, and soon, we're in the elevator, heading up to our room. Our silence is charged, filled with unspoken questions and growing tension.

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