“I’m going to take you to work,” he said.
I was quick to protest. “That’s not necessary.” Just thinking about being locked in a confined space with only me and Blane, no one else for a buffer, had my nerves on edge.
Blane’s jaw grew tight. “It is necessary. Kade would do it, but he has to go break in to James’s house tonight.”
“What? Why?”
“Need DNA,” Kade replied. “Blane’s lawyer came by to say that James is pushing hard for the cops to arrest Blane.”
“A friend of Robert’s, a judge here, is holding off on signing the warrant, but he can’t stall much longer,” Blane continued. “We need to tie James to the crime or they’re going to arrest me.”
And Blane’s entire career, maybe his life, would be destroyed. No one said it, but it hung in the air like a prophecy.
“Who’s going with you to James’s?” I asked.
Kade cocked an eyebrow. “I work alone, remember?”
How could I forget?
Kade walked toward me, and as he made to pass by, I grabbed his arm. Under my fingers, his skin was warm, the muscles hard. He paused.
“Be careful,” I said quietly.
His mouth lifted in an almost smile. “Kiss for good luck?”
I felt Blane’s stare like a weight pressing against my back, and Kade must have as well, because his eyes flicked from mine to look behind me at Blane. His smile turned cold.
“Maybe later,” he said. Then he was gone.
Great. Now I was going to be a nervous wreck, worrying all night.
“C’mon,” Blane said, taking my elbow. “Let’s go.”
His touch made me shiver, but we both ignored it. I sidled away from his hand and we walked in stiff silence to his car.
We’d only been on the road for a few minutes when Blane spoke.
“I want you to do something for me,” he said, glancing my way.
“What?”
“If I get arrested—”
“That’s not going to happen,” I interrupted. It just… couldn’t. Anxiety poured through me at the thought and I fidgeted in my seat, chewing on a nail until I tasted the tang of blood.
“Just hear me out,” Blane said quietly. “If I get arrested, and the worst should happen—if I go to prison—I want you to stay. In my home. For as long as you’d like.”
I stared at him, stunned. Finally, I found my voice. “Stop talking like that, Blane,” I said, not sure what else to say. “Everything’s going to be fine. You’ll see.”
“It’s better to prepare for the worst,” he said. “You know that. And I don’t want you to have to worry about where you’re going to live. My estate will take care of the house and grounds. Mona and Gerard will still be there, too.”
I swallowed hard. “I couldn’t do that, Blane,” I said, my voice thick. “I couldn’t live there, not without—”
The you got stuck and I broke off, turning to look out the window so he wouldn’t see the tears in my eyes. This nightmare had to end. Kade had to get that DNA so Blane could clear his name.
His hand gently grasped mine, which lay on the seat between us. Blane slotted our fingers, pressing our palms together. I didn’t look at him, but I held tightly to his hand.
A few minutes later, we pulled up at The Drop. Blane had driven around to the back door, where the employees entered. He let go of my hand to turn off the car and we sat there in a silence that wasn’t uncomfortable.
I didn’t want to get out of the car, didn’t want to let him out of my sight. What if they came and took Blane away when I wasn’t there?
“If I get out of this,” Blane said roughly, “if I still have a name worth giving to you, please tell me you’ll give us another chance.”
Our eyes met, blue to gray. Regret and guilt were twin knives tearing me apart from the inside out. I’d put the final nail in the coffin of Blane’s and my relationship the moment I’d decided to sleep with Kade. I couldn’t take that back, and neither could I form the words to tell Blane. I couldn’t bear to see the look in his eyes turn to one of loathing and disgust.
I shook my head. “We—we can’t,” I stammered. “I—Vegas… It’s too late.” I couldn’t manage any more, my throat had closed up. I jumped out of the car before I broke down completely.
“Kat, wait!” Blane called, but I ignored him, hurrying for the entrance. He followed me and was quicker, slamming the door closed just as I started to pull it open. He spun me around until my back was against the metal door, his hands closing on my upper arms to hold me in place.
“Listen to me,” he said, his voice low and intense. “I don’t give a damn about what happened in Vegas. I know you still love me. Don’t give up on us because of Kade,” he implored. “Let me back in. Let me prove to you that I’ve changed, that I still love you. I can offer you more than Kade ever can or will. Please, Kat.”
His desperation leaked into me. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.
Then he kissed me.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Blane’s lips were warm and soft, his hands moving up from my arms to cradle my jaw. His mouth moved over mine, not demanding a response but close. The scent of his cologne teased me, invoking too many memories. The feel of his body against mine made my knees weak and butterflies quivered in my stomach.
Thoughts of resisting faded away as my lips parted beneath his, our tongues entwining. My arms slid around his waist to pull him closer. Blane groaned, his kisses growing more heated.
“Don’t go into work,” he whispered against my lips. “Come home with me.”
It was tempting, God, it was so tempting, but I pulled back. His lips glided smoothly down my neck.
“I can’t,” I said, breathless. “It’s not that simple.”
“I love you. You love me. What could be more simple?”
If only he’d believed that three months ago, instead of the lies about us. Yes, I’d forgiven him, but my heart wasn’t healed. Not yet.
And then there was Kade. As the fog of desire lifted from my brain, I thought of him, abruptly remembering that he and I had stood in this exact spot a few months ago and put on a “show” for the madman stalking me.
“I-I need to get to work,” I stammered, pushing against Blane. He seemed reluctant to release me but did so.
“I’ll come back for you,” he said.
I nodded, glancing away from him. “I’ll see you later.” I hurried inside, the compulsion to look back nearly overwhelming.
Tish was working tonight and I waved to her as I stuffed my purse under the bar. It was really crowded and Scott, also bartending, was glad to see me. I dived in, grateful not to have to think about all Blane had just said.
I couldn’t keep my thoughts at bay for long, though.
I had no idea what to do. I felt torn, almost literally, in two.
I still loved Blane, that was true. I loved him, was attracted to him. When we were together, I felt like it was how we were supposed to be, that fate had determined our destiny. He was my first love, my first real lover.
Then there was Kade. Even though we couldn’t be together, that it was wrong on so many levels for me to want him, I couldn’t stop. When I was with him, I felt alive. He challenged me, brought out more than I thought I had in me. And although he pushed me away with one hand, he still clung to me with the other, needing me, wanting me. Kade was a drug I couldn’t seem to give up. An addiction that had me craving more.
Where did all that leave me? Confused and so anxious, I was nearly sick with worry, fear, and guilt. What would become of the three of us? Blane said he didn’t care about what had happened in Vegas, but could that really be true? And Kade didn’t even know we’d made love. Would his feelings for me be different if he did?