“Why haven’t I ever heard about him?”
“A girl doesn’t talk to her boyfriend about other guys,” I said, trying to be tactful. I didn’t want to lie, mainly because he’d see right through me, so I tried to tell the truth, choosing my words carefully.
“So you’re saying you two are together now?” Brendan asked, sounding shocked. “What the hell, Mace? We just broke up!”
“We broke up months ago,” I said gently. “I told you it was time for both of us to move on.”
“And I told you I didn’t want to move on.”
I inhaled deeply, trying to maintain my patience through a conversation we’d had a dozen times. “Well, I have moved on. With Kane. I’m sorry if that hurts you—that’s the last thing I want to do—but maybe now you’ll be able to find someone else too.”
“It’ll never last,” he scoffed. “You have nothing in common with that dude, Mace. You’re a musician. What the hell is he, a bouncer in some bar?”
I resented his implication that just because Kane was well-built, he had no depth. “Actually, he’s a cop. He leads a SWAT team.” Satisfied by his stunned expression, I added, “And this is definitely not a passing thing. We got married this weekend.”
“What?” His eyes zeroed in on the evidence as he staggered backward. “No! Hell, no!”
“Like I said, we have a lot of history.”
He stepped closer, looking more menacing than I’d ever seen him. “Were you cheating on me with this guy?”
I thought about the intimate conversations Kane and I had had during my last visit to Tampa. We’d never crossed any physical boundaries, but I’d shared things with him I’d never shared with anyone. Including Brendan. Was that considered cheating? “No, you know I would never do that.”
“I thought I knew you,” he said, thrusting his hand through his shaggy hair. “But the girl I knew and loved for six years wouldn’t run off to Vegas and marry some dude she barely knows.”
“I told you, I’ve known him a long time.”
“But you didn’t mention him once during the time we were together. Why?”
Just because I hadn’t talked about him didn’t mean I never thought about him. I wasn’t proud of that, but it was the truth. “I never talked to you about Brody’s other brothers either. Why would I, right? I didn’t see his family all that much.”
“Then when did you and this guy reconnect?”
I should have known this question would come up. “We saw each other when I was in Tampa, visiting my family.”
He gripped my arms. “Then you did break up with me for someone else! You little—”
“No!” I couldn’t allow this to escalate. If Kane returned to find Brendan manhandling me, he wouldn’t hesitate to lay Brendan out. “Take your hands off me. Now!” When he didn’t, I asked, “Do I need to remind you that my husband is a cop?”
His breathing was ragged when he finally stepped back, releasing me. “How could you do this to me?”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, feeling the force of his words like a punch in the stomach. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“Have you been seeing him all this time? Is that why you kept on me about finding someone else, to ease your own conscience?”
Kane and I had kept in touch, as friends, since I left Tampa, so I wasn’t lying when I said, “We’ve called and texted.”
“This still doesn’t make any sense,” he said, turning his back on me. “You’re not the kind of girl who would get married on a whim. How many times did I try to convince you that marriage was the next logical step for us, and every time you shot me down.”
I couldn’t explain why it had been so easy for me to say “I do” to Kane. It didn’t make sense to me either. “When you and I were together, I tried to put Kane out of my mind. But I’m not going to lie, before we got together, I had… feelings for him.” Technically, I’d describe it as a lust-induced crush, but not to Brendan.
“I don’t believe this,” he said, running his hands over his face. “You mean all the time we were together, you were hot for another guy?”
I rubbed my arms, trying to remove the sting from his harsh grip. “It wasn’t like that. It’s not like I was fantasizing about him.” Much. “It was just…” I didn’t know how to describe what I felt for Kane. Then or now.
To break the awkward silence, I slipped off my black cotton blazer and hung it on a vintage coat rack by the door.
“It’s just what? What exactly is it, ‘cause I’m having a hard time figuring this out.”
Kane walked in, looking from Brendan to me. He set the pizza box on the small table in the entrance before his gaze dropped to my bare arms. I was wearing a sleeveless tank under my blazer, and it hadn’t occurred to me the evidence of Brendan’s anger might be visible.
“Did you do this to her?” Kane asked, gesturing to me.
Brendan swallowed, looking justifiably nervous as he looked to me to save him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, man.”
“She has marks on her arms. Did you put them there?”
“Kane,” I said, stepping in front of him as I rested my hands on his chest. “Please, don’t—”
“Either you answer my question or he does,” he said, looking at me. “Did he put his hands on you? Yes or no?”
“Brendan, you need to go,” I said without looking over my shoulder.
“He’s not going anywhere until I get some answers,” Kane said, his voice low and menacing. “No one gets to put their hands on my wife.”
A shudder ripped through me at his unspoken warning. I set my hands on either side of his face, his scruff prickly against my palms. “Please, we can talk about this later. Just let him go.”
Brendan didn’t wait for a second invitation. He bolted from the apartment as if he’d been warned of a bomb.
“Why did you let him go?” Kane’s neck was corded, making it obvious he was trying hard to suppress his rage. “I wasn’t done with him.”
“He didn’t hurt me,” I said, trying to help him forget my ex and focus on me instead. I brushed my lips across his. “I love you for being so concerned, but I can take care of myself.” Oh God, did I just say I loved him? Heat swept up my chest, flooding my cheeks. “I didn’t mean that. I just…”
He gripped my elbow gently, turning my arm so he had a better view of the marks Brendan had left.
“I’m fair,” I said in Brendan’s defense. “I mark easily. They’ll be gone in no time.”
“Has he ever put his hands on you in anger before?”
“No, of course not. You think I would have stayed with him if he had?”
“I’ve answered too many domestic violence calls, Macy. I’ve seen too many women make excuses for dirtbags who continue to hurt them, because they’re too scared to tell someone the truth.”
“I won’t deny he’s said some ugly things to me, especially over the last year when he knew I wasn’t happy in the relationship. But I promise you he never laid a hand on me.”
“Until today.”
“Until today,” I conceded.
“If he ever touches you again, you have to promise you’ll tell me.”
Since I knew he wouldn’t be satisfied until I did promise, I said, “You have my word.” I grabbed the pizza box and led him to the couch. “Now that we’ve got that out of the way, can we eat? I’m starving.”
Kane waited for me to choose the first piece before he stilled my hand. “He said ugly things to you? Like what?”
I hadn’t told Kane that part before I broke up with Brendan because I didn’t want Kane to think I was pathetic for staying with him as long as I did. Like most relationships, the good outweighed the bad. But the arguments could get nasty, especially toward the end.
“He said that I needed him, that I couldn’t write good songs without him.” I took a bite of pizza, trying to pretend his claim hadn’t shaken my confidence. “He said he was the reason that we were finally gaining traction,
and that I’d never survive in this business without him.”
“That son of a bitch doesn’t know what he’s talking about, Mace. Don’t listen to him.”
I appreciated Kane’s faith in me, but Brendan knew music. He’d researched the market tirelessly, trying to make music that would strike a chord with country fans.
“Maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t,” I said, trying to play it off. “Only time will tell. Maybe he’ll want nothing more to do with me after this and we’ll have gotten married for nothing.”
Kane flinched, rearing back slightly. “What are you talking about?”
“We got married to save my career, right? So that I could maintain my working relationship with Brendan while sending him the message that our personal relationship was definitely over?”
“After meeting the guy, I’m not so sure it’s a good idea for you to go on working with him. I don’t trust him, and I don’t think you should either.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. I’d known Brendan almost seven years, but Kane had spent a few minutes with the man and thought he knew him better than I did. I didn’t know whether to be insulted that he thought I was a poor judge of character or flattered that he cared.
“Don’t laugh, Macy. I’m serious. I read people for a living, and I can usually tell within a few minutes whether someone’s up to no good.”
“Would it make you feel better if I promise to keep my guard up around him from now on?” That wouldn’t be difficult, especially after today.
He gripped my chin between his index finger and thumb, his gaze colliding with mine. “I meant what I said earlier. You’re my wife now. That means it’s my job to protect you.”
I would have reminded him it wasn’t a real marriage, but I lost the ability to speak when he looked at me like that.
Chapter Five
Kane
We’d removed the back cushions from the couch to make room for both of us. Lying behind Macy, my arms wrapped tightly around her with a blanket covering us, I watched her eyes drift closed as she fought hard to stay awake so she could see the last few minutes of her favorite show. My heart squeezed tight, as if someone had it in a vise. When I’d walked into her apartment and seen evidence that someone had been cruel to her, I almost snapped. It reminded me of my parents all over again.
My old man, the worthless drunk, yelling and screaming at my mother that she was a controlling, manipulative bitch who’d ruined his life. She’d tried to talk him down, to reason with him, but it never worked. I could still hear her heartbroken sobs when he left the apartment, looking for trouble.
I hated that he’d hurt her, emotionally if not physically. I hated seeing my mother in pain, and I’d vowed then and there I would never stand by while someone hurt a woman I loved. And that’s what it had felt like tonight when I saw those marks on Macy’s arms. It felt like someone had hurt the woman I loved.
It was crazy to think I could be falling in love with her. I’d known her for more than half of her life. I’d teased her mercilessly when she discovered boys, went for her driver’s license, and had her first kiss. I’d always thought of her as Riley’s little sister, nothing more. Until I saw her in Riley’s apartment and felt as if someone had rung my bell. I’d been stunned, dazed, and confused.
I still was, I realized, as I kissed her bare shoulder. I didn’t know where this was going or where I wanted it to go. She could wake up tomorrow, convinced her ex wouldn’t be a problem anymore, and ask me for a divorce. That thought made my gut clench, which told me I was getting in way too deep.
She sighed softly, rolling over into my arms. With her head resting under my chin, her legs wrapped around mine, I held her tight, not sure how I would let her go in just a few days when I had to return to Tampa.
I felt the steady beat of her heart against my chest as I closed my eyes, replaying the previous night in my head. Everything from the vows to her final climax played out, reminding me how long it had been since I’d felt pleasure like that. For a tiny thing, she had energy and stamina to spare, and I couldn’t help but wonder whether I could expect a repeat performance any time soon. She’d only been warm and affectionate since we made love, but I didn’t know if that meant she wanted to take things slow.
I hated not knowing. Normally with women, I laid my cards on the table and asked them to do the same, but with Macy, I was afraid to do that. I didn’t want her to tell me it was over before it even got started.
“Why are you so tense?” Macy asked, tipping her head back to look me in the eye.
“I thought you were sleeping,” I said before kissing her forehead.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
I chuckled, tucking her head under my chin and hoping she would fall back to sleep instead of pressing the issue. “I’m not tense, baby. Just tired.”
“You’re lying to me. Why?”
Damn. If she could read me so well already, I didn’t stand a chance of keeping my feelings for her hidden much longer. “Fine, you want to know the truth? I was wondering what’s going to happen when I go back home.”
“What do you want to happen?” she asked, her lips pressed against my soft cotton T-shirt.
“I want to see where this could go, I guess.”
“You guess?” She turned her face to the side, her cheek resting against my chest. “You don’t sound very convinced.”
“I like being with you.” It had been a long time since I’d tried to open up to a woman. I’d never been very good at it, but it seemed I was worse now than I’d ever been. I wondered if I sounded as awkward to her as I did to my own ears.
She giggled, running her hand up under my T-shirt. “I like being with you too.”
Now she was making fun of me. Great. “Are you laughing at me?” I asked, cupping her ass.
“What if I am?”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
“Oh really? Why not?”
She squealed when I flipped her over so she was flat on her back beneath me.
Staring down at her, I whispered, “I warned you, didn’t I?”
“Now that you have me at your mercy, what’re you going to do with me?” she asked, her cheeks flushed and chest heaving.
“I can think of a few things I’d like to do to you,” I said, zeroing in on the rosy nipples saluting me from beneath her tight white tank top.
“Tell me.” She bit her lip, her eyes traveling over my chest before dipping lower to the drawstring on my athletic pants.
My hands were wrapped around her slim wrists, and I wanted to remind her that I was in charge, but we both knew that was a lie. She had me wrapped around her little finger and she knew it, especially with my hard shaft wedged between her legs and begging for some attention. I leaned in, kissing her until I felt her raise and pivot her hips—to tease or entice me, I wasn’t sure.
“I want you, Kane.”
Music to my ears. No matter how many times she said it, I’d never tire of hearing it. “Shall we take this into the bedroom?”
“Why wait?” she asked, smiling.
Never one to argue with a beautiful woman, I stood and peeled off my shirt, followed by my pants. I loved the way her eyes widened in response to my striptease, letting me know that even though she’d seen it all before, she was still impressed.
In hopeful expectation, I’d stuck a condom in the pocket of my pants earlier. I watched her watching me roll it on slowly. “You’re still wearing too many clothes. Let me help you with that.” I kissed her calves as I shed her shorts and tossed them over my shoulder. “Now for this…” I reached for the hem of her tank top.
She sat up, helping me help her, as though she couldn’t get naked fast enough. She surprised me by inching to the bottom of the couch, silently directing me to lay down first. Knowing I’d have to be crazy to refuse that invitation, I complied, waiting for her next move.
Macy stood over me, undoubtedly knowing how gorgeous she looked with her light-blond hair tousl
ed around her shoulders, and her bright blue eyes, rimmed in smoky shadow, skimming every inch of my body.
“What’re you waiting for?” I asked, reaching for her hand. “I couldn’t possibly be any more ready.”
Her lips quirked as her eyes zeroed in on the evidence of my statement. “Maybe I’m just taking it all in, enjoying the view.”
“You’ll have plenty of time for that later. Get over here,” I said, tugging her hand until her body was covering mine. Closing my arms around her and breathing in her feminine scent, I trailed my lips along her jaw. I felt her shudder before my mouth found her neck.
“I love the way you make me feel,” she whispered, gripping my shoulders. “The way you touch me, the way you kiss me…”
And I loved everything about her. From the tips of her cute little pink-painted toes to the roots of her natural blond hair, I wouldn’t change a single thing about this woman. It was both scary and gratifying that I’d finally found someone who seemed to fit me so well. If only she didn’t reside in another state.
“Take what you want, baby,” I whispered, wanting to watch her guide my shaft into her. “Show me.”
“Mmmm.” She sat back, her eyes locked on mine as she followed my instructions. Her breath caught as I filled her, her body tensing, then releasing as she got used to the intense sensation. “God, that feels good.”
I gripped her hips, torn between wanting it fast and hard and wanting it to last forever. Maybe, with a little bit of luck, I could have both. Forever with Macy would have seemed impossible a few months ago, when I realized I was developing feelings for her, but now, with her wearing my ring, it didn’t seem so unattainable.
Her movements were slow and calculated at first, her hands skimming her breasts. I heard her soft moans of pleasure as she hit just the right spot while tipping her head back. Her lush lips were moist and begging to be kissed again.
I was mesmerized. No woman had ever turned me on the way she did. She was comfortable in her own skin, giving and taking pleasure in equal measure with no regrets, and nothing had ever looked sexier.
Kane Page 5
