What had she meant? I’d seen her in the morning. Most mornings. Some mornings. I woke earlier than her to work out and get to the office. On the weekends, she… I was at the home office a lot. But I’d seen her in boots covered in mud and cow manure and with dirt on her face. Though then she’d rushed through the bathroom first while I hung out with my brothers.

I scowled and picked up my phone. I could knock out that survey quickly.

I didn’t know how much time had gone by when Kate slid in across from me.

“This’ll just be a minute,” I said.

The server arrived. Kate ordered her spring rolls and I sensed their attention on me.

“Do you mind?” I asked Kate.

She ordered my pad thai. Another page on the survey popped up. Goddammit. Couldn’t I get one night to myself?

I could’ve carved out tonight if I hadn’t taken a week off for my meltdown. Kate took out her phone and tapped at the screen. I wished she’d talk. I could multitask, but she’d said nothing to me since she’d returned.

She’d taken her hat off and finger-combed her hair. The section that had been pressed down by the hat was still flattened, giving her a sexy, rumpled look. A fresh-out-of-bed look that I longed to see again. I kept the phone centered so she outlined everything else in my line of sight. Just sitting near her soothed the flurry in my mind. Kate was the calm in my storm. Without her, I was only pretending to keep my shit together.

My food cooled, but this damn survey… They’d surveyed oil companies all over the northern US and Canada. If I was the only CFO who didn’t respond, it wouldn’t look good as to what King Oil took seriously as future concentrations. I could just see our name called out on the report sent out to investors. But the questions required more of an essay for an answer than a short response and Kate was almost done eating.

I had to apologize. “I’m really—”

“Oh, that’s my ride.” She laid a twenty on the table by her plate.

The survey was forgotten and the apology froze on my tongue. “What ride?” Why was she paying?

“You’re busy.” She slipped out and grabbed her winter coat.

She was heading to the door before I’d gotten up and left my untouched meal behind.

“Kate.”

She was out the door.

The twenty wasn’t enough to cover our meal and tip, but I’d make it right after I talked her into staying. “Kate. Don’t leave.”

She paused with her hand on the door. “Aiden.” My name came out in tired exasperation. Like she was physically exhausted because of me. “You need to find a reason.”