Her body went alert before her mind could catch up. She stared at the screen as it vibrated again.
Caroline drew a slow breath and answered. “Hello?"
“Caroline."
His voice was a warm line through the dark.
She closed her eyes for a beat, relieved. “Thorne."
“It's me," he said. A pause, then—quietly—“Are you alone?"
Caroline looked at the empty couch, the unopened blinds. “Yes."
“I really want to see you."
Those words hit her with more force than she expected.
God, she wanted to see him too. Desperately.
“Me too," she said honestly.
Thorne let out a low exhale. “Good. Because I'm already downstairs."
Caroline blinked. “What?"
“I didn't want to pressure you," he explained. “So I came first. If you said no, I would've left without making you feel it."
Something tight in her ches
