Freeing Him: A Hart Brothers Novel, Book 2 by A.M. Hargrove

people at the corporation already. So that part’s done. You were the last piece of the puzzle.”
    “You think he used me?”
    “NO! That’s not what I meant. What I’m saying is he gave you the company so he can do what he needs to do. When he comes back, he knows it’ll be as good as it was when he left, or even better.”
    “I don’t think he’s coming back.”
    Case scowls. “What makes you say that?”
    “He added me to all his personal wealth. If he were coming back, he wouldn’t have done that.”
    Shaking his head, Case says, “I disagree. He loves you. He didn’t want to leave you without any funds. Plus, I think he’s sending you a message.”
    “A message? Saying what?”
    Case laughs. “Come on, girl. Use that psych brain of yours. He wants you to know that he’s out there taking good care of you.”
    “Bullshit. I want to know he’s right here, taking good care of me.”
    “Yeah. That’s a woman thinking. You have to think like a man. Listen to what I’m saying. If he left, like, really left you, he would’ve walked away and you wouldn’t have any money. He would’ve left you stranded. You know the game. That’s not his plan.”
    Case does make a strong point.
    “I just want to talk to him. To make sure he’s okay.”
    He pats my back. “I know, and I can’t blame you for that. I would too. I also think there’s a safety net for you in this corporation.”
    “What do you mean by that?”
    Case glances around the office and then back at me. “You know how they mentioned that poison pill thing? With you in here, Langston can’t get to anything, right?”
    “Yeah, but how is that a safety net?”
    “If anything happens to you, he’s screwed as far as HTS goes. Kolson set it up this way to protect you and the company. Besides, if you disappear too, all fingers would certainly point his way.”
    “I suppose that does make sense, but I wouldn’t trust anything as far as Langston goes.”
    “I don’t blame you for that. He doesn’t have the reputation of being the trustworthy sort.”
    “Change of subject, and I know I’m gonna sound really whiny here, but I miss him. How long does this crap take?”
    “A while. When you love someone, you don’t just up and forget them. It sort of eases some, but it takes a long time.”
    “Can I sleep with you tonight?”
    Case was raising his cup to take a drink and the contents slosh out. He frowns as he dabs up the spilled water. “Uh, Gabby, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “I don’t mean it like that.”
    “I still don’t think it’s a good idea.”
    “I can sleep on the couch. I don’t want to be alone. Please.”
    He doesn’t want me to, but I force the issue. My self-pity has made me bolder. But then I think that maybe he has someone special I don’t know about. So I quickly add, “Oh, forget it. I didn’t really mean it.”
    “No, it’s okay. Do you need to run home and grab some things?”
    “No, I have some of my stuff here.”
    “Why here?”
    “I’ve been spending the nights here some. It’s not a big deal.” I don’t want to look him in the eye because now I’m a little embarrassed.
    “You haven’t said anything.”
    My head falls forward, my hair curtaining my face. It’s an old habit from the Danny days. “Didn’t want to be a bother.”
    “Like that could ever happen. Let’s go.”
    But that’s not really true. When I think about it, I’ve been a huge bother to Case the last few weeks. Calling at all hours of the night, texting him for every little thing. No wonder he doesn’t want me at his place tonight.
    “You know what? I think I’ll just go home after all.”
    Did I just see his shoulders relax?
    “You sure? Because you know you’re always welcome.”
    Smiling, I say, “Nah. I think I want to sleep in my own bed. And I need to catch up on a little billing here first. It’s getting a bit out of control.”
    He puffs out his breath, and I think he’s going to call my