Can You Stay With Me Tonight?

Kira didn't stop running until she was all the way down the street.

She stopped to catch her breath and look back over her shoulders.

Liam wasn't barrelling down the street after her.

She breathed out

She should really stay away from him from now onwards.

Liam Cane had shed all pretence and was getting more aggressive and impertiment each time they met.

It was hard to believe that Kira ever thought of him as a gentleman.

The Good Samaritan who helped her chase down a mugger and stayed with her at the hospital was long gone,

She had always been grateful to Lium for his help.

Even after learning he was Austyn's brother and had approached her with an ulterior motive, Kira had only kept her distance but she did not hate the

000

But his unwanted advances were getting on her nerves.

It was best if they never saw each other again.

na

Kira hopped on a bus,

She'd checked on her phone

Sanglade Condo was twenty stops away.

Deborah took in the fully furnished apartment decorated in a modern Art Deco style and nodded in satisfaction.

'It's nice. I like it here.!

'I'm glad you do.' Austyn set down a suitcase.

Deborah had nothing on her when he and Luca found her.

Kal had spent the last two hours shopping and filled the suitcase with what he thought a woman would need.

'If there's anything you want, just give Kal a call. I saved his number in your phone.'

Deborah sighed wistfully. "You are always so considerate. How can I ever give up on someone like you?! Austyn looked away.

He didn't know how to respond to her insistence.

He would have humed her down, but what if that set off another asthma attack?

"Do you own this place?' Deborah admired the open letchen.

"Yes. This and several others!

The house was clean, but Deborah got the sense that it had been lived in.

"Was there someone else here before me? she ventured a question.

She had left Austyn for seven years.

He must have had other women in his life.

"Kayleigh Woods, Finley's sister, used to stay here."

Deborah tried to recall the name. 'Finley, be was in the army with you, right? He died in service?!

'I didn't know he had a sister!

'A younger sister, Austyn didn't want to elaborate.

Deborah sensed his reticence and changed the subject. "What about you? Do you also stay here?

"No. My place is at Ardmore Park!

"Oh." Deborah couldn't hide the disappointment in her voice. I thought it would be nice if you were staying here. I could cook for you. You know, like old times. You always enjoyed my cooking" Her asthma kept her indoors most of the time,

Deborah took up cooking as a hobby

She cooled for Austyn whoever he came home from the army.

Austyn had some pretty strange habits when it came to food.

In the army, he could woll down anything-bland MREs, hard tack, unripe fruits plucked from the trees in the wild.

But back home, he was a picky eater,

He didn't to eat at unfamiliar restaurants,

He didn't trust their hygiene standards.

Elsie taught Deborah how to cook for Austyn.

He would clean the plate, whatever was on it, as long as it was brought out by Deborah.

It had been a particular point of pride for her.

Austyn smiled. 'Actually, there's something I never told you.

"What is it?"

'Your cooking skills were, ahem, rather average. Sometimes the food was undercooked.

"What?" Deborah's eyes widened. "But you always said you liked it.'

'I only said that because you put in so much effort.'

'But you cleaned the plate. If it was undercooked..."

'I don't like to waste food.'

Deborah slapped a palm to her forehead. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I always thought I must have a talent for cooling. Elsie said I was a natural. She looked embarrassed. Her eyes were lowered

Her lashes trembled.

Her cheeks were a little flushed

She bit her bottom lip

It was the same look when she came up to him and said she loved him

Looking at Deborah like this, Austyn found it hard to believe that she would later betray him.

But she did.

She had an affair with Liam.

The memory brought a cold glint to Austyn's eyes.

The smile vanished from his face.

Deborah caught the change in his mood.

She had an inkling of the reason.

She walked up to him and tried to touch his hand. 'Austyn...".

He stepped back

His face was impassive. 'It's getting late. I'll let you get settled in

He turned around and headed for the door.

w with

"Austyn!" Deborah ran after him and hugged him from behind. "This place is new to me. I don't know anyone here. I'm a little scared. Could you stay me tonight?" Austyn looked down at her arms wrapped around his waist.

"I know this is asking a lot. I know how busy you must be. But I'm really scared, Part of me is afraid that I'll wake up to find your father's men standing in the living room.' "That's not going to happen."

"I know that, but my mind just can't help going t

there.

Please, C

can you stay?"

She pressed her cheek against his back. "If you're worried your wife might misunderstand, you can use the guest room while I stay in the bedroom. I just don't want to be in the house all by myself." They had not seen each other for so long.

Austyn must have a lot of questions for Iver.

Can You Stay With Me Tonight?Text content © .

She was sure he would stay.

She could tell he still had feelings for her.

Like, he didn't push her away when she hugged him.

And he got all flustered when she had the asthma attack.