Page 113 of Blind Prophet

“That’s fair. When this dies down, can I take you on a date?”

“Are we really going to do this?”

Those blue eyes swim with unnecessary questions. I will win her back. I’ll earn her love.

“Yes.” I caress the soft curve of her cheek. “Please? I’m not above begging.”

“Okay, then.”

“Excellent.” I’ll get Jay to research restaurants.

She smiles. “I assume you’ll get the crash investigation results…”

She’s right. I need to oversee that. Ensure that we figure out what happened. “I’ll come out to my place in California as soon as I can. Montecito isn’t far from Santa Barbara. I’ll stay there. We can take our time.”

“What about your dad?”

“He’s got a full staff, the best neurologists money can buy. If he continues to decline, I’ll have the entire medical team relocated to California. We’re here because he prefers the mountains, but if he continues to decline, it won’t matter where he is.”

“Dorian, I don’t?—”

“I know. You don’t want a life in politics. Or the limelight.” I smile, remembering how she used to say that phrase over and over, and I chose not to hear her. “I don’t need it. I need you.”

“Dorian…” All of her hesitations come through the one utterance of my name.

“Give me a chance, Cara. We’ll take it slow.” That’s a lie. We won’t. She and I don’t do slow, but if that’s what she needs to hear, I’ll say it. “Letting you walk away was the single biggest mistake of my life.”

“I needed to leave.”

“I know, and I understand. Perhaps I should amend my statement. Making you feel less than or, to use your words, depriving you of oxygen, is my biggest regret. I won’t repeat my mistake. Please. Give me a second chance.”

The backseat passenger of the black Chevrolet SUV parked outside the gate exits and stares directly at our vehicle. He’s wearing reflective sunglasses, black slacks, and a black sweater. I’d peg him as security, but he’s probably an Arrow colleague.

She presses her lips to mine and exits the car. “Call me later.”

“You’ll answer?”

“Always. You’d know that if you ever picked up the phone before.”

A sting right to the chest. I bite back telling her I was advised to leave all communications to our lawyers. After all, it would be a childish lie. She’s my singular case study of refusing legal advice. I refused a lot of things back then.

I exit the car. This time, I won’t sit behind glass and passively watch her leave.

CHAPTER27

CAROLINE

Luke leans against the SUV with folded arms and a stern expression. If I didn’t know better, I’d interpret his stance as giving off jealous boyfriend vibes. But I do know better, and Mr. Alpha is fulfilling his protector role.

I don’t see a weapon on his waist, but he’s on guard.

I catch my reflection in his sunglasses as I approach the vehicle. Distorted in the reflection, I appear small and childlike, with flat blonde hair and an egg-shaped face.

Behind me, Dorian stands in front of the open gate. I wiggle three fingers in a stilted wave. Dorian stands straight, arms at his side, his expression unreadable, the elusive titan guarding his estate.

I don’t recognize the driver of the SUV. There’s an Uber sticker on the front windshield. Is it really an Uber, or is the flannel-wearing driver one of Arrow’s and the black Chevrolet Tahoe a clandestine façade?

Luke puts my luggage in the back and comes around to the open door. I expect him to close it, or say something, but he stands there with a blank expression.

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