Chapter 37
37:
Collin’s tone shifted slightly, a quiet amusement threading through his words. She could almost picture the subtle lift of his brow.
“Just asking? Are you sure you’re only casually asking where I am?” The sound of his voice—calm, rich, and effortlessly teasing—unraveled her thoughts, and before she could stop herself, the truth slipped past her lips. “I just… didn’t want you disappearing for days again like before. I wouldn’t even know where you were.”
A low chuckle rumbled from the other end. It was unhurried, deep, and laced with a husky quality that left her momentarily speechless.
“What are you laughing at?” The question slipped out before she could think better of it.
Still amused, Collin replied, “Linsey, are you saying you can’t bear to be apart from me? I had no idea I was this irresistible to you—that you’d be so worried about me.”
His tone dipped into something almost intimate, a teasing edge curling at the end.
Or maybe it was just her imagination running away with her. His playful remark sent a rush of heat to her face. Why had she blurted that out?
It wasn’t like she meant anything more by it.
Flustered, she pressed the cool back of her hand to her burning cheeks. “That’s not what I meant,” she huffed, scrambling to defend herself.
Before she could get another word out, Collin cut her off, his voice warm and steady. “Don’t worry. For the next few days, I’ll be home, waiting for you to come back from work.”
The unexpected promise caught her off guard. A gentle pull tightened around her heart, the fleeting emotion quickly giving way to unrestrained joy.
A quiet warmth spread through her chest. She couldn’t hold back the happiness swelling inside her.
For the first time in years, someone had said those words to her. So, she really did have a home—somewhere she was expected, somewhere someone was waiting for her.
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“Alright. You said it yourself,” she murmured, biting her lip lightly.
Collin’s voice held an easy, almost lazy charm. “I wouldn’t go out of my way to lie about something like that just to mess with you.”
After the call ended, Linsey sat still for a moment, clutching her phone. The warmth of his words lingered, wrapping around her like a gentle embrace.
If Collin said he would be home waiting for her, then he would be.
Her thoughts drifted to him—he spent most of his time in the study, relying on his wheelchair to get around.
By now, the image of the man she had seen in the CEO’s conference room had faded to the back of her mind. She must have been mistaken. Smiling, she slipped her phone into her bag, already thinking about what she could get Collin as a small gift after work.
Even though he had sounded relaxed during their call, she still wanted to bring him something—maybe something to brighten his mood after his earlier irritation that morning.
Once work ended, she headed straight to a nearby mall.
She hadn’t settled on what to buy yet and was aimlessly wandering through the stores when a cheerful voice called out.
“Ma’am, care to take a look inside? We just got a fresh batch of new arrivals!”
“Sure,” Linsey said, stepping toward the store. She didn’t have anything particular in mind, so it wouldn’t hurt to browse.
Linsey stepped inside and immediately began browsing through the men’s clothing on display, her eyes scanning each piece with quiet deliberation.
The sales assistant, ever perceptive, addressed her with a friendly smile. “Ma’am, are you shopping for a gift today?”
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