Caitlyn bit her lip and ducked her chin, swallowing around a lump in her throat. It didn't seem fair that a dead girl had the unwavering devotion and love of someone as vibrantly alive as Kellen Jamison.
"I shouldn't have asked. I apologize. And … " She looked up to find him staring off into space. Why did she hurt so badly for him? She didn't even know him, but she could practically feel the devastation seeping from his pores. "I'm truly sorry for your loss."
He nodded curtly, avoiding her eyes. She couldn't possibly ask him if he had any feelings for Owen. Not with him so obviously hurting over a woman. She sat awkwardly beside him trying to think of something, anything, to say.
"I lost my sister a couple of years ago."
"Cancer?" he murmured.
"No. There was an accident at work. She was training to be an astronaut and … " She couldn't continue. Morgan's loss was like a fresh wound every time Caitlyn had to tell someone what had happened to her. "The safety harness failed. They say she didn't suffer." Which is more than could be said about anyone who battled cancer.
"It hurts most when you speak of them, doesn't it?"
She nodded, drawing deep breaths through her nose to keep threatening tears at bay.
"So you find yourself avoiding talking about it," he said. "To anyone. Because it reminds you that it happened. It wasn't just a nightmare. It's reality."
She wasn't sure if he was really talking to her. He wasn't looking at her.
"Don't break his heart, Caitlyn," Kellen said unexpectedly. "He likes to pretend he's a player, but he's very sensitive when it comes to love. He's nice. Too nice at times. He only sees the good in people. So when you shred his heart, be it tonight, tomorrow, or years from now, take it easy on him. He doesn't take rejection well."
Kellen turned to her then, and she couldn't speak. Could only stare into his dark eyes. It was as if she were under some sort of spell. After a long moment, he looked away and she found her tongue.
"It's a bit soon to be talking about love," she said.
Kellen laughed softly. "I knew I would love Sara for the rest of my life the first time she smiled at me."
And what in the hell was she supposed to say to that?
Before she could think of a response, Owen slipped into the car beside Kellen. Relief flooded her. She wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because Owen was all light and wonder, while Kellen was all dark and practicality. Caitlyn needed Owen, because she was more like Kellen than she cared to admit. As soon as the door closed behind Owen, he climbed over his friend's lap and wriggled until he slipped between Kellen and Caitlyn's hips.
"You could have asked me to move," Kellen said, scooting closer to the door to give Owen breathing room.
"I wasn't expecting you to be sitting on top of her," Owen said.
"I wasn't."
"Not that I blame you," he said. "Are there any decent sandwich shops around here that are open this late?" he asked Caitlyn.
"I wouldn't know."
"Don't you live close by?"
She shook her head. "I'm from Houston. I'm just here visiting a friend." She smirked. "And enjoying the nightlife San Antonio has to offer."
"You know what?" Owen said. "Tony has a club in Houston. I'll take you sometime. We can try out some of your other kinky fantasies."
"As tempting as that sounds, I don't think I'll be visiting another of Tony's clubs," she said. "Not that I didn't enjoy my time there tonight, I did, but my curiosity is sated now. Maybe I'll try Internet dating next." Or maybe she'd take for herself. To get over Charles. She hated him, yes, but she still wasn't over him. She wasn't ready to love again. Hot sex with Owen? Yeah, she'd been ready for that, had needed that. She was ready for hot sex with Owen again, truth be told. But if he was one of those guys who believed in love at first smile, like his excessively intense friend, then she should probably take her leave as soon as possible. Before she shredded his heart or something equally appalling.
"I'll see if I can find a place that's open," Kellen said as he tugged a cellphone out of his pocket. "What are you hungry for? Wait, I get one guess. Pastrami on rye?"
Caitlyn chuckled. "How did he know that?"
Kellen grinned as he tapped a search into his phone with one finger. "Owen always craves pastrami after sex."
"Not always," Owen said.
"Owen usually craves pastrami after sex," Kellen amended.
"Only when I sweat a lot," Owen said. "And Caitlyn definitely made me sweat a lot."
She stared up into his grinning face, fighting the urge to kiss him. Just looking at him made her feel good about herself. Made her happy. She didn't understand why, but didn't care overmuch at the moment. She wasn't supposed to like him this much. The attraction was supposed to fade after their tumble in bed. She was supposed to have sated her lust and lost interest-that's the way it worked. But she hadn't lost interest. She was more intrigued than ever.