Out of Turn

CHAPTER FIVE

I stared at my reflection, suddenly consumed by second thoughts about the one clubbing outfit I’d purchased. The cost of clothes and shoes had been outlandish, so I’d limited my picks to one clubbing getup, a dress, a couple pairs of shorts, and the bikini.

The jeans I wore were practically painted on, they were so tight, and rested low on my hips. The top I’d bought was a champagne color that sparkled when I moved. It had spaghetti straps with a deep V of folded fabric between my breasts. It was nearly backless, the fabric draping down to my waist, exposing a lot of skin and a lot of cleavage. With my tan, it looked great. Not something I’d wear back home, but perfect for Vegas. I hoped.

I’d blown my hair dry and it lay in waves down my back, my makeup applied with a heavier and more dramatic hand than usual. I’d lightly brushed my skin with a glittery powder so I sparkled a bit, too.

The peep-toe four-inch sling-back heels that matched my top were the final touch.

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” I muttered to myself, suddenly inexplicably nervous, which was silly. It was a job with Kade, that’s all, no matter how much it felt like… a date.

I took a deep breath and emerged from my bedroom, and was immediately captivated by the view outside. I drifted to the windows to see more. The sight was amazing, with lights illuminating everything up and down the Strip.

“Beautiful.”

I turned around, realizing Kade stood behind me. I hadn’t even heard him approach. “I know, isn’t it?” I enthused. He just smiled.

“Want a drink?” he asked, walking to the bar and grabbing two glasses.

“Sure.” It was nice to have a drink as part of an evening out, rather than as an attempt to help me sleep, to forget, or both.

A moment later, Kade handed me a vodka tonic. I took a drink, covertly eyeing him. He looked… mouthwatering was the word that immediately came to mind. Expensive black slacks were paired with a black silk shirt that had one more button undone than what most men would have attempted—but most men weren’t Kade Dennon. A look that would seem silly on another man looked sexy as sin on Kade.

The skin of his neck and part of his chest was bared by the open V of the shirt and begged to be touched. His square jaw was smooth and freshly shaven. His black hair curled slightly over his collar, a thick lock falling over his forehead. Just looking at him made the breath catch in my chest.

“I picked this up for you,” Kade said, handing me a rectangular jewelry box.

My eyes widened at the Tiffany blue. I’d never in my life gotten something from Tiffany’s. I glanced up at Kade and our eyes met. I thought I glimpsed just a shade of uncertainty in his gaze.

“Open it,” he said, taking another drink.

I slowly pulled on the elaborate white bow tied around the box, trying to prolong the moment. I didn’t get gifts very often, and certainly not ones like this.

I gasped when I lifted the lid. A sparkling diamond bracelet lay inside, the diamonds fashioned into four-petal flowers. The bracelet was a silver metal that I fervently hoped was white gold but suspected was platinum.

“Kade, I don’t know what to say—” Why would he give me this? The bracelet was obviously very expensive. My chest tightened. Maybe I’d been wrong about the distance he was keeping between us. Maybe he still felt the way he had three months ago.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Kade replied, taking the bracelet from the box and fastening it on my wrist. “If you’re not wearing something outrageously expensive, it’ll look suspicious.”

I couldn’t breathe for a moment, the sharp disappointment I felt robbing me of breath. Then I immediately chastised myself. I’d been engaged to marry Kade’s brother mere months ago, had dismissed the feelings Kade had confessed to me, and been angry with him for even feeling that way. Why wouldn’t he have moved on? Why was I disappointed that he had?

“You’re not going to sell it later, are you?” he asked, and I winced at his tone.

I shook my head. “No.” I’d starve first before I sold anything else Kade gave me.

He finished fastening the bracelet and our eyes met. He was standing close enough for the scent of his cologne to tease my senses. His fingers lightly brushed my arm as our gazes locked.

“You ready?” he asked, breaking the spell.

I nodded. I needed to stop thinking about what might have been and just enjoy being here with my friend, someone who understood me more than I would have guessed—and who was giving me a really, really nice working vacation.

And it had been nice. I’d only thought about Blane about a dozen times today rather than the usual fifty or so.

“Good, because I’m starving.”

A short while later, we were being shown to a table in the fanciest restaurant I’d ever been in. I followed the maître d’ to a table in a private little alcove on the second floor. He graciously pulled a chair out for me.

“I’ll do that,” Kade said, taking the maître d’s place as I slid into the seat. He moved my chair forward slightly, then sat down next to me.

“What was that about?” I asked, opening the menu the man had left.

“Didn’t think he needed to see the view.”

It took a moment before I got it, then glanced down and realized what “view” Kade was talking about. “Oh.”

Kade ordered us cocktails and a first course. I wasn’t sure what it was called, something with crab and avocado, but it was good.

“Where all have you traveled?” I asked him, reaching for another bite. I had the feeling Kade had been a lot of places.

“A little bit of everywhere,” he said.

“Tell me?” I asked.

He thought for a moment as he took another drink, then said, “I think you’d like Hawaii.”

“You’ve been to Hawaii?” It sounded incredibly exotic to me, and completely out of reach.

“A few times, yeah,” he said. He went on to describe what it was like, how the moment you step off the plane on Oahu, the warm breeze of the tropics hits you. The way the island was divided into the wet and dry sides, and how when it rained, you could drive over the mountains and see waterfalls.

I was captivated by his obvious love for the place and listened to him talk. He told me a funny story about a run-in he’d had with two huge Samoan guys and I laughed. Our food came, but I barely noticed, eating an occasional bite as I asked him questions and he answered. I didn’t know why he was feeling chatty or when it would stop, so I took advantage.

Dessert was something chocolaty that Kade insisted on ordering for us to share, even though I told him I was full. He took a bite, his eyes sliding closed, and I watched, smiling a little at his obvious pleasure. I’d forgotten what a sweet tooth he had.

“You’ve gotta try this,” he said, scooting his chair closer and holding the spoon to my mouth.

I obeyed, letting him feed me the bite. The decadent chocolate oozed over my tongue.

“Mmm,” I said. He was right. It was worth eating even though I was full. I licked my lips, getting the last of the chocolate, and realized Kade’s gaze was rapt on my mouth.

He scooped another bite and lifted the spoon to me again. My pulse sped up, but I didn’t say anything and neither did he. I opened my lips and he fed me.

I don’t know why he continued, but he did, slowly feeding me bite after bite until I’d eaten the entire thing. He watched my mouth with an intensity that made me acutely aware of his proximity. I self-consciously lifted my napkin, but his hand stilled mine.

Kade leaned closer and his fingers lightly brushed my chin, lifting my head, and his lips met mine.

The touch was electric, as though a shock had gone through me, and I didn’t move, afraid that if I did, he’d stop. His mouth moved gently over mine, his touch maddeningly slow as he lightly licked and sucked on my lips. His tongue was soft, warm velvet.

Only his fingers under my jaw and his lips touched me. The scent of the cologne he’d worn tonight drifted to me, its alluring aroma mixed with his own scent, creating an aphrodisiac that, combined with his kiss, had me clenching my hands into fists to keep from touching him.

When he lifted his head, his eyes finally met mine, their brilliant blue intense beneath long, dark lashes. His face was inches away and it took every ounce of willpower I had to not pull him back for a real kiss.

“Chocolate tastes even better on you,” he murmured.

My breath was shallow and quick, my pulse even more so. The effect Kade had on me was so profound and strong, and something I’d fought for so long. It seemed odd to think that I didn’t have to anymore.

Or did I?

I’d been with Blane, engaged to him, still had feelings for him that couldn’t be flipped off like a light switch, no matter how angry and bitter I was over how it had ended. Where did that leave anything I might feel for Kade?

I felt confused and unsure and excused myself to go to the ladies’ room. I touched up my makeup, reapplied my lip gloss, and tried to regain the peace of mind I’d had earlier. Kade had kissed me before. It didn’t have to mean anything more now than it had then. I was reading too much into it. Maybe because I was lonely, and hurting, and my ego could certainly use some stroking from a man like Kade.

I decided I wasn’t going to allow myself to ruin the night. I’d been having a good time and getting lost inside my own confusion hadn’t been part of the plan. I’d go back to Kade and just have fun doing whatever he had planned. I’d worry about my state of mind, and my life, later.

Kade had paid the bill by the time I returned, and when he ushered me outside it was into a waiting limousine.

“What’s the occasion?” I asked, as he slid in after me.

“To see the Strip, of course,” he said, moving to the seat across from the wet bar. “Champagne?”

I grinned, delighted at this turn of events. “Absolutely.” Sip champagne while riding up and down the Vegas Strip in a limo with a gorgeous man? Yes, please.

Kade popped the cork and poured two glasses.

“What should we toast to?” I asked as he handed me a flute of the golden liquid. “To the future? New beginnings? World peace?”

Kade smirked at my teasing. “How about to how incredibly sexy you look tonight?”

That made me feel as though I’d swallowed a ray of sunshine and its warm glow was spreading through my body, melting me from the inside out.

I clinked my glass against his. “Ditto,” I said, and drank.

Kade played tour guide and I was wide-eyed with amazement as he pointed out landmarks. We passed the MGM hotel and when I read who was performing there on the sign outside, I let out a squeal.

“Can we go?” I asked excitedly.

Kade shook his head. “Sorry, princess,” he said with a grimace. “I’m banned from MGM for life.”

I stared at him in surprise. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. Blane and I came here once a few years back,” he said, taking another drink of his champagne. “He’s banned, too.”

I was dying to ask more, but decided to let it go, especially when I saw the famous Las Vegas sign and hurried to snap a photo of it with my phone.

It seemed like barely any time had passed before I realized we’d finished the bottle of champagne and were pulling up to another hotel. Kade led me inside and we rode the elevator to the top floor. It opened into a nightclub that made me wish I had six pairs of eyes, there was so much to see. I abruptly decided that people watching could seriously be an Olympic sport in Vegas.

The club was rocking out to the DJ’s tunes and the dance floor was crowded. Kade found us a spot, and a cocktail waitress took our order and brought us drinks.

You couldn’t really talk, at least not if you wanted to be heard, so I just sipped my drink and watched the crowd. I could feel Kade’s arm around my waist, his hand resting lightly on my hip, and for a moment, it seemed surreal. If someone had told me nine months ago that I’d be having a fabulous time in Las Vegas with Kade Dennon, I’d have laughed myself silly. But now, it didn’t seem silly at all. It felt right somehow. I was the happiest I’d been in a long time, and I had Kade to thank for it.

“Dance with me,” Kade said loudly near my ear, taking the drink from my hand and setting it aside.

I didn’t resist as he took my hand and led me into the mash of people on the dance floor. It was hot, and crazy, and personal space was nonexistent, but I loved it. The music filled my ears and throbbed through my body. I closed my eyes and danced, moving to the rhythm of the pulse. All the alcohol I’d consumed had left me feeling pretty darn good, a little tipsy but not enough to make the room start spinning.

Kade’s hands settled on my waist and I opened my eyes, smiling up at him. I raised my arms, lifting the heavy mass of my hair off my neck. The heat was making the strands stick to my skin.

People pressed in close and no one seemed to notice or care who they touched. It was just a mass of bodies moving in time to the music. Kade was even closer, one leg insinuated between mine. He caressed the bare skin of my back above my jeans. His touch felt good. Really good.

I let my hair go and rested my hands on Kade’s silk-clad shoulders. The heat from his body soaked through the delicate fabric. The undone buttons exposed the skin that I’d admired earlier, only now it was right in front of me, glistening slightly with sweat. I didn’t think, I just leaned forward and fastened my mouth to a spot right under the tantalizing dip between his collarbones.

Hot. Salty. Soft. Hard. Sensations filtered through my brain as I pressed against Kade, my tongue licking the addictive flavor of him from his skin. His fingers dug into my rear, dragging me closer until I could feel his arousal against my abdomen. I took this as encouragement and continued on my path, undoing another button or two to give his body the attention it most certainly deserved. Kade’s hands slipped underneath my blouse, settling on my waist before sliding tantalizingly up my ribs. My breasts ached for his touch.

It felt good to be wanted.

The darkness of the club was punctuated by a swirl of lights that spun and sent rays of color over the dance floor, briefly illuminating Kade in shades of neon blue and yellow before plunging us back into the black. I closed my eyes, blocking out the mass of people surrounding us, many of whom were in similar clinches with their partner. Or partners.

The DJ switched tunes and I was abruptly jolted from my hypnotic reverie. I knew this song. It had played on the jukebox the night Blane had come to the bar for me, the night I’d met my three “fairy godfathers.” He’d walked through the door, put me in his car, and then we’d—

I jerked back, horrified. What was I doing? I’d already come between them once over a lie, was I now going to make it a truth? Was I just using Kade to make myself feel better?

“I-I need some air,” I stammered, pulling away from Kade.

The look of confusion on his face made more guilt swell inside me, and I hurriedly pushed through the crowd that now felt oppressive until I was outside.

A high fence barricaded the edges of the roof, but it was blessedly cooler out here and the music was muffled. Couples dotted the roof, though few appeared to be talking.

“What’s wrong?”

I turned. Kade had followed me.

“Nothing.” How could I possibly put into words how confused I was? How much I regretted that I’d come between him and Blane? How every moment I spent with him made it harder and harder to remember why I shouldn’t want him?

“Liar,” he said without heat. He advanced until my back was pressed against the fence, then took my hand in his. The wind blew my hair and he tenderly smoothed it away from my face. “Tell me.”

His sweetness was my undoing, and I broke. “I don’t know, Kade. I don’t know what I’m doing or why. I feel guilty all the time for what happened with you and Blane—” My voice broke at the pain those words produced. “I came between you, you and your brother, and I never wanted that. Please believe me. I’m so, so sorry.”

“Shhh, it’s okay,” Kade whispered. His brows were drawn together in concern as his thumb brushed my wet cheeks. “It’s not your fault.”

“It is,” I insisted. “It really is. I never should have… have…”

“Been my friend? Is that what you regret?” Kade interrupted.

His eyes seemed to beg me to contradict him, to not deny what we’d built between us.

Did I regret it? If I hadn’t spent time with Kade, Blane never would have had reason to suspect we’d had an affair. We wouldn’t have broken up. We’d still be getting married. Kade and Blane would still be speaking to each other.

My hesitation was too long and Kade’s expression turned cold.

“That’s what I thought.”

“Kade, that’s not—”

“Turn it off, princess. Time to get back to work.”

He was looking to my right now and I looked, too. The guy Kade was supposed to target stood nearby with a small group of people.

“I need you to keep him occupied for the next thirty minutes,” Kade said. “Can you do that?”

I swallowed, nodding. “Where will you be?”

“Breaking into his room, of course.”

Alarm shot through me. “What if you get caught?”

“I won’t. After thirty minutes, excuse yourself to go to the bathroom and leave. Meet me back in the room. The key is in your back pocket.” I felt him slide the card into my jeans.

I chewed my lip in worry. I hated that I hadn’t gotten the chance to answer Kade’s question. “Kade, I—”

“Not now,” he interrupted. His tone was such that I immediately shut up. “Put it aside. We have work to do. Everything else will have to wait.”

I gave a reluctant nod. “All right.”

“Can you cry on demand?” he asked. “That would help.”

That was an easy one since I was already fighting back tears. I looked up at Kade and allowed the tears to leak out my eyes. For a moment he looked stricken before he schooled his features into a grim mask.

“I’m going to grab you, shake you,” he said. “Try to push me away as hard as you can. I’ll let you go and you head in his direction, but not directly for him. Understand?”

“Yeah.”

“You ready?” he asked, looking slightly skeptical.

“I’m fine,” I said. “Just do it already.”

Kade’s hands closed on my upper arms and he shook me. “Start fighting me,” he hissed. His face hard with anger. I tried to push him away, squirming, but he just held me tighter. “Try harder. He’s watching.” I put all I had into it, twisting to get away from where Kade had me pressed against the fence.

“Let me go!” I demanded, pushing at his chest. His arm was within reach, and I clamped my teeth around it and bit.

“Ow! You bitch!”

Kade released me and I wasted no time pushing past him toward the man, but was careful not to look at him. I hurried, glancing over my shoulder to see Kade was jogging after me. He reached out and I cringed away with a cry.

I was suddenly snagged around the waist and yanked toward someone. It was the guy. He’d grabbed me and had moved me behind him while he faced off with Kade.

“Get out of the way,” Kade ordered.

“I don’t think she wants to go with you,” the man said.

“I don’t give a shit what she wants,” Kade snarled. He pushed roughly past the man and grabbed my arm.

The guy threw a punch at Kade, which I knew he could have blocked, but he chose not to. The crunch of bone on bone made me flinch. When Kade looked back at me, his mouth was bloody.

I decided I didn’t like this job very much.

“Fine,” Kade said, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. “I was through with her anyway.”

He turned and stalked away, disappearing into the crowd.

“Are you all right?”

I swung my attention back to the guy.

“Yeah. I’m okay,” I said. “Thanks for helping me.”

He gave me a small smile and held out his hand. “I’m David, and you’re welcome.”

I shook his hand. “Kathleen.”

“Can I buy you a drink, Kathleen?”

I forced a smile. “Sure. I’d like that.”

David motioned to a nearby cocktail waitress and soon I was sipping a vodka tonic. Sipping because I certainly didn’t need more alcohol, not when I felt responsible for keeping Kade out of trouble.

David asked me what I did and I told him I was a bartender. He didn’t bat an eye at that. He didn’t wear a wedding ring, so I assumed that though he had a daughter he must be divorced. Now that he was talking more, I could hear the trace of a British accent.

When I asked him what he did for a living, his answer was vague.

“I run security for a firm in Switzerland,” he said.

“That sounds interesting,” I said. “What kind of firm?”

His smile was enigmatic. “The kind of firm for which people pay a lot of money to retain their anonymity.”

I took a drink to hide my dismay. I’d heard about the big, prestigious banks in Switzerland in movies and such. That was what Kade was trying to hack into? I broke out in a cold sweat.

“It’s been lovely meeting you, Kathleen,” David said. “But I have an early meeting tomorrow. Do take care and perhaps choose your company more wisely in the future.” He turned to go.

I panicked. It hadn’t been thirty minutes yet.

“Wait!” I said, latching on to his arm. He looked back questioningly. “I mean, we were just getting to know each other.” I smiled and threw in a come-hither look for good measure. “Surely you can stay a little while longer?”

David paused, a slight frown crossing his face. “You seem awfully self-destructive, Kathleen. First you’re with a man who mistreats you in a quite brutal fashion, and now you’re flirting with a complete stranger.”

Okay, well that was brutal honesty for you. And he didn’t know the half of it.

“I’m sorry,” I said, “I’m just… alone. And I don’t know what to do now.” I shrugged. That sentence was actually true.

David studied me. “Come with me, Kathleen,” he said.

I followed him. Maybe I should tell him I was hungry, so he could get me something to eat? That should stall him long enough for Kade to finish up and get out of his room.

Two big men followed at a distance, then rode down in the elevator with us. I could tell they were some type of security detail for David. They had telltale bulges under their jackets and their eyes never stopped scanning in all directions.

A limousine was waiting downstairs and David motioned me inside. It was just the two of us then, the bodyguards riding in another car.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“My hotel.”

Shit. “I’m really hungry,” I said, hoping he’d catch the hint.

“I’ll order you something there.”

Great. Kade had given me one job and I couldn’t even manage it. We were going right where he’d asked me not to go. He was so going to fire me.

The bodyguards left us at the door to his suite when David dismissed them, which made me nervous. Why had he brought me back here? Hotel rooms with strange men hadn’t worked out so well for me in the past.

“Where are you from, Kathleen?” David asked, gesturing for me to precede him into the suite, which was even nicer than the one Kade and I were staying in. I headed for the windows to take in the view. I figured if Kade was in here, the farther I could get David away from the door, the better the odds for Kade to get out. And moving across the room also put me out of David’s immediate reach.

“The Midwest,” I said vaguely.

“Runaway?”

“Orphan.”

He poured two glasses of wine from the bar and handed me one. I took a sip.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

I shrugged and asked to use the bathroom. Maybe Kade was hiding. But when I went through the bedroom, it was dark and empty. I gave a sigh of relief. Perhaps Kade had made it out early. Going into the bathroom, I shut the door and flipped on the light, then immediately had to stifle a scream.

“Did you forget how to tell time?”

I spun around. “Jesus, Kade! You scared me to death!” I hissed. “What are you still doing here?”

“I said I needed thirty minutes,” he reminded me. “Has it been thirty minutes?”

I immediately felt guilty. “I’m sorry. He wanted to come back here and I couldn’t stop him.”

“So you came along,” Kade said. “Why?” His irritation was obvious. He reached behind me to turn on the water.

“I don’t know. I thought maybe if you were still here, I could distract him or something, so you could get out.”

“And how did you plan on getting out?”

I didn’t have an answer. I hadn’t thought that far.

Kade snorted. “That’s what I thought.”

I bristled. “Listen, I’m just a girl he brought back from the club. I’m not suspicious. But a strange man walking out of his bathroom is.”

Kade’s lips pressed into a thin line and I had a brief moment of satisfaction that he knew I was right.

“Did you get what you needed?” I asked.

“Do you even have to ask?”

How Kade could make arrogant sarcasm sexy was beyond me.

“Okay then. So, there are two bedrooms here. I’ll get him into the other one and you get out. I’ll meet you back in our room.”

“I don’t like that plan,” he said.

“I’ll be fine.” And I really hoped that was the truth. I reached over and turned off the water. “See you soon.”

I switched off the light as I left the bathroom, taking a deep breath before stepping back into the living room. David was still sipping his wine by the windows.

I picked up my wineglass and headed back over to him, walking slowly and putting enough sway in my hips to get his attention. “So, David,” I said after taking a healthy swallow, “I didn’t get a chance to thank you properly for your help tonight.” Yeah, I was the same age as his daughter—oh well. Men were great at rationalizing inconvenient facts like that. And I noticed his eyes had dropped to my cleavage.

David cleared his throat. “Thanks aren’t necessary,” he said.

My palms were sweaty and my heart was jackknifing in my chest, but I tried to ignore all that. I needed to distract him enough for Kade to get out. The more time that passed, the greater the chance of discovery. I remembered the amount Kade had whispered in my ear. A cut of that would be very nice.

I set my glass down, my hands shaking. Making myself put one foot in front of the other when I desperately wanted to run in the other direction, I got close enough to David for him to get a whiff of my perfume.

“But,” I said quietly, taking the wineglass from his hand, “I like to pay my debts.” My voice was steady and calm, thank God.

It seemed any thoughts of maybe saving the lost and abused orphan were long gone, because he swallowed heavily. Turning, I headed for the bedroom and he followed closely behind. “I mean, this is what you intended, bringing me back here, right?”

“Perhaps,” he admitted.

That I was right didn’t surprise me in the slightest. Gathering my courage, I gave him a little push and he sat down on the bed. Being in a bedroom with a complete stranger who obviously expected sex was unnerving. I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

David seemed willing to let me take charge, which was unexpected given his earlier behavior but gave me an idea. Opening his closet, I spied what I needed. Dragging a tie from the rack, I turned to face David.

“I like to play games. Do you like to play games?” I gave him what I hoped was a wicked smile.

“I… could be persuaded,” he said, his gaze raking down my body.

Although I strained my ears, I didn’t hear the door to the suite open or close. But then again, Kade was always as silent as a ghost.

I climbed onto the bed, straddling David and forcing him backward until I could stretch his arms over his head. My top gaped and his eyes were locked on my breasts, which was fine with me, as I was able to tie his hands to the headboard with no fuss at all. I made sure the knots in the silk were tight.

It felt strange, and more empowering than I wanted to admit, to be the one in full control of a sexual situation. I remembered the harrowing attack by Stephen Avery months ago and how powerless I’d felt. I’d learned a lot about my own sexuality since then, learned it could be one of the most useful weapons I had—though using it as such still left me feeling scared and uneasy.

Sitting back on my haunches, I could feel proof that David was way into this. I unbuttoned his shirt and had the brief, wayward thought that it was too bad this wasn’t real—he was a good-looking guy who obviously took good care of his body. I guessed him to be in his late forties.

“I’m afraid I have to be going now,” I said, climbing off him. He was tied up. He couldn’t get me now. Relief flooded my bones. Please, God, let Kade have gotten away.

“Wait—what? You’re leaving?”

“I did what I came here to do. Time to go.”

“It was a setup,” David said, his voice no longer friendly.

“Afraid so,” I confirmed, more cheerful now that I felt safer.

“Who do you work for?” he asked.

“In a roundabout way… you.” I smiled at his confusion and a bit of pride made me say, “When you hire the best to do a job, you should expect the unexpected. And Kade Dennon is the very best of the best.”

Understanding lit his eyes. “So that’s what this is about.”

I nodded. “I’m guessing he’s hacking your company even as we speak. Which reminds me, I’d better get going. Thanks for the drink. The maid will find you in the morning.”

“Tell Dennon he can try all he wants, but he’ll never hack into my system.”

Gone was the affable British gentleman. David was heading toward seriously pissed.

I shrugged. “I guess you’ll find out soon enough.”

“Find out what?”

“Kade never fails.”

With that parting shot, I left the bedroom, only to be grabbed and hauled against a man’s chest.

“So I’m the best of the best, huh?” Kade’s eyes glittered with an emotion I shied away from identifying. The breath caught in my chest.

“This is new information to you?” I asked, twitching an eyebrow upward.

“It is that you think so.”

My stomach twisted, surprised and glad that Kade cared what I thought about his competence. “I’m not wrong, am I?”

His smirk made heat curl low in my belly and I was acutely aware of our bodies pressed together.

“Not about this, you’re not.”

I wondered what he did think I was wrong about.

He released me and took my hand. “Let’s get out of here before he gets loose.”

“He’s not going to get loose,” I insisted. “I tied him well.”

Kade snorted. “Of course he’s going to get loose,” then he headed out of the room before I could retort.

Ten minutes later we were back in our room, and I was watching over Kade’s shoulder as he typed on his laptop. It was gibberish to me, but it amazed me what he could do. His fingers flew over the keyboard.

“So what did you need from his room?” I asked.

“His fingerprints.”

Kade did something with a little device attached to his computer, and more lines of text appeared on the screen.

“Aren’t you tired?” I asked. It was getting late and the time change was catching up to me. “Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow they’ll have changed the algorithm,” he said. “Besides, I don’t quit when I’m tired. I quit when I’m done.” He said this matter-of-factly and I knew he’d work all night if he had to, which actually made me admire him even more.

I decided he probably didn’t need me hanging over him, so I retreated to the bathroom and showered. After wrapping myself in one of the hotel’s satin bathrobes, I went back to the couch and lay down. Kade was still working.

He hadn’t turned on any lights other than the little floodlight above the minibar and I didn’t, either. It was easier to see the neon skyline this way, with the room darkened.

A while later—I must have dozed off—Kade woke me with a “Done.” Yawning, I pushed myself up. “You got the money?” I asked.

“And sent your cut to your bank,” Kade replied, coming to sit next to me on the couch.

I snorted, bending my knees so he could sit. “I hope it wasn’t much. I didn’t do anything but screw up.”

Kade unfolded my legs to rest them on his lap. “You kept him occupied, kept him from calling his security down on our heads. Dead bodies left in my wake are bad for business.”

I laughed. “I can’t imagine why that would be,” I teased.

His mouth curved in a half smile as he leaned back against the couch with a sigh. His eyes slipped shut and I knew he must be tired. It was really late. And yet…

“Kade,” I said softly. “About earlier, I’m really sorry.”

“Sorry for what, for telling the truth?” He didn’t open his eyes.

“I don’t regret anything, Kade,” I said. “And most certainly I don’t regret us being friends. But I hate it, more than anything, that you’ve lost Blane because of me. And if there were a way I could turn back the clock and change that, I would. In a heartbeat. He’s all you have. You need each other.”

Kade finally opened his eyes, their penetrating blue pinning me in place. “What do you know about what I need?”

I swallowed, wanting to look away, but I didn’t dare. “I’m not trying to say that I do…,” I backtracked.

Kade closed his eyes, so I shut up. After a moment, he spoke.

“All I need is right here.”

A lump grew in my throat and Kade’s form blurred in my vision. Reaching down to where his hands rested on my bare knees, I took one hand in mine and laced my fingers through his. He opened his eyes again and lifted his head from the cushion.

“You’re all shiny, you know,” he said quietly.

I gave a little smile, chagrined. “Stupid glitter wouldn’t wash off,” I replied, my voice as soft as his.

“I like it. You sparkle like an angel on Christmas morning.”

His words rendered me speechless, but he didn’t seem to mind. With another soft sigh, he turned and lay down between my legs, resting on his side and nestling his head on my stomach. His hands rested on the curve of my waist in a loose grip as I leaned back against the arm of the couch. I was reminded of that night in the crappy motel room in Chicago, so long ago, when Kade had assumed a similar posture.

I wasn’t wearing much underneath the robe—but Kade seemed to be behaving himself. My fingers combed through his hair, the dark strands as soft as silk. I didn’t know if he was sleeping or just looking out the window at the lights. I did know it was quiet and peaceful, a moment to be savored, and made all the more special for its rarity.

Kade—letting down his guard.

“Do you want to know why I started this new business?” he asked after a while.

“Hmmm?” I was still idly combing through his hair.

“I did it for you.”

My fingers stopped, my brows drawing together in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“When you and Blane broke up, again, I had this stupid, idiotic hope that if I changed, if I could make a life someone could share with me, that maybe… you would.”

I was stunned. “Kade, I—I don’t know what to say.”

He shifted, turning so he could look up at me. “Don’t say anything,” he said. “Not yet. Just think about it. We’re good together. We have fun, make a good team.”

All that was true.

“You wouldn’t have to worry about money anymore,” Kade continued. “We could travel. I can find jobs anywhere and everywhere. You want to see the world, princess? I can give it to you.”

“We’re friends,” I said. “You don’t have to give me anything.”

“I need you,” Kade said. “I’ve never needed anyone the way I need you. You and I have something, and if this is the only chance I’m going to get to convince you of that, then I’m going to take it.”

“Kade—”

“Just… think about it. We could be good, really good, together. And we could be way more than friends.”

I went quiet as he settled back on my stomach, my mind spinning with what Kade was offering. Then I inhaled sharply. Kade had turned his head more and was now pushing between my legs, sliding aside the satin fabric of the robe.

“Don’t—” I began, squirming backward. I didn’t get far, though. His hands tightened on my hips, holding me in place.

Kade’s mouth fastened to my inner thigh. His tongue traced warm, wet circles over my skin. Taking my legs, he hooked them over his shoulders and nuzzled the silk triangle at the apex of my thighs.

He groaned even as I let out a gasp, heat flooding the core of me.

More heat as he pressed his tongue flat against the thin fabric. My legs trembled in reaction, every sense acutely aware of the brush of his jaw, the warmth of his breath.

He nuzzled me again, inhaling deeply, and I felt my face grow hot.

“I thought you didn’t want to be the rebound guy,” I managed to say.

“I changed my mind,” he growled. “I’ll take whatever you’ll let me.”

There was the sound of fabric tearing, and then I was bare to him. Frantically, I reached down to cover myself, but he caught my wrists. Then his mouth was on me, his tongue inside me. My eyes slammed shut as rational thought flew out the window.

I felt like one of Kade’s Moon Pies—no part of me was left untouched by the warm invasion of his lips and tongue. Fire licked at my veins the way Kade licked my body. Blood thundered in my ears as he teased me, my heart racing. My hands clenched into fists and Kade released my wrists, but instead of pushing him away, I buried my fingers in his hair.

He lifted his head, then slid a finger inside me. I gasped and choked at the new sensation, prying open my eyes.

Kade’s head was shockingly dark against my thighs. His mouth was wet, his lips red—his eyes were the bluest I’d ever seen them, and he was watching me.

Holding my gaze, he lowered his head again between my legs. I was transfixed by the sight of him. His eyes never left mine as he kissed me in the most intimate way.

My conscience was screaming and part of me was aghast at what was happening. The other part of me, the part that had been frozen in ice the past three months, felt alive.

“Oh God, oh God, Kade…” I wasn’t even aware of what I was saying—I just knew that despite my conscience I didn’t want him to stop. My body tensed and I could no longer keep my eyes open as I shattered into a million pieces, a cry ripping from my throat. Gentle swipes of Kade’s tongue prolonged my pleasure until it was too much. I pulled on his hair and he climbed up my body to take my mouth with his.

I could taste myself on his tongue. His kiss was deep and languid. I’d forgotten how well he could kiss. Kade didn’t rush through kissing, he savored it like an alcoholic with the last drop of bourbon. My whole body trembled in the aftermath of what he’d done to me and my eyes were wet. Kade gentled me with his kisses until my heart rate had slowed and I breathed more easily. When he lifted his head, our eyes met.

“I could get addicted to you,” he said.

He stood and lifted me in his arms, which was a good thing, as my legs were too unsteady to support me. I tentatively rested my head against his shoulder as he carried me into his bedroom.

After settling me on the bed, he stripped down to a pair of charcoal-gray briefs that clung to him and weren’t of enough adequate material to hide how he was really feeling. Lust slammed hard into me and I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

“Keep looking at me like that and I’ll forget my resolve to take it slow,” he said roughly.

Sliding into bed next to me, he turned and arranged us spoon style, my bottom nestled against his pelvis and his arm curved around my waist. My hands curled into fists as I fought not to turn around.

It was a long time before I fell asleep.

I don’t know what woke me. I was just suddenly awake. The glowing clock on the nightstand said it was still the middle of the night, though it was pushing dawn back home. Maybe my internal clock hadn’t yet adjusted.

Kade was sound asleep next to me, his breathing deep and even. I turned my head to look at him. Stretched out on his stomach, the sheet fallen to his waist, he looked like he was posing for a magazine’s photo shoot. His face was smooth and peaceful in sleep, his dark hair tousled over his forehead, and I had to restrain the urge to comb my fingers through it.

I couldn’t fall back to sleep, my mind beginning to spin as I looked at Kade. The words he had said, the offer he’d made, what he’d done—all of it replayed inside my head. He wanted to be with me but hadn’t said anything about love, just that he needed me, wanted me. Could I do that—build a life with someone I didn’t love, who didn’t love me—and close the door forever on Blane and me? I hadn’t realized until this moment how I’d still been hoping, in a tiny corner of my heart, that Blane and I weren’t over.

Choosing to be with either one of them at this point would ruin their relationship forever, wouldn’t it?

My stomach rolled and I couldn’t breathe. I climbed out of bed, grabbed my robe, and stumbled from the room, hoping I didn’t wake Kade. I couldn’t face him yet. Not while my heart was in such turmoil over the tangled mess that ensnared all three of us.

What had I done?

I made it into the other bedroom, then just stood there. I didn’t know what to think or how to feel. What would it do to Kade and Blane if I took Kade up on his offer? Kade had said he needed me, only me, but I knew that wasn’t true. He needed Blane, too, even if he was currently pissed off and in denial about that.

I sank to the floor and wrapped my arms around my knees, pulling my legs to my chest and trying to ease the churning in my stomach. I rocked back and forth, staring unseeing out the windows. I was drowning… drowning in regret and confusion.

The muffled ring of my cell phone penetrated my cocoon. My purse lay on the floor by the bed. I reached for it without thinking, dug out my cell, and froze.

Blane was calling me.