“I don’t… Yeah, she is.”
He eyes the papers then glances back to me. “And she doesn’t want you involved with the club?”
“No, it’s not like that. She didn’t seem pissed off when I told her I own the place.”
His blue eyes widen in shock. Very few people know I own Stella.
“Owning the club is one thing. Fucking the members is another. Either way, I think it’s time.”
“I get where you’re coming from. I don’t necessarily understand it, but do you think this is a good time to do this? Maybe we should wait until everything else is settled?”
“No, we’re good. I made sure to keep this little adventure out of the hands of the wicked witch.”
Travis lifts his bottle to his mouth, thumbing through the papers. “O…kay. If you’re sure?”
“I am.”
“Then consider these signed.” His face finally lights up.
My phone vibrates again. Expecting it to be Delanie, I swipe my phone open only to be greeted by the witch herself.
Anna: I would have thought by now you would have learned not to underestimate me.
Balling my hand into a fist, I fight the urge to punch a hole in the wall. Forcing a smile,
I glance back at Travis, hoping like hell he’s not able to read the change in me. “Congratulations. I know she’s in good hands.”
Delanie
Seconds after I pull into the apartment parking lot, my phone rings with my dad’s name on the display.
“Hey, Dad.”
“I wasn’t sure when to call. Last I knew, I was only dealing with a two-hour time difference, but your mother just informed me you called your wedding off and moved to California?”
“Yeah…about that…”
“Sweetheart, I know we’re not all that close. I…” He nervously clears his throat. “That’s my fault. I’m… I should have been a better parent. I should have been more hands on. You deserved that. But I missed the memo on when I was cut out completely.”
“No, Dad, it wasn’t like that, I promise.” I drop my forehead onto the steering wheel, hating the fact that I’ve hurt his feelings. I love my dad. He’s always been there for me, without really being a part of my life. I spent a lot of summers and holidays with him, and in between, he sent both my mom and me money. He loves me in a ‘hands-off—I’ll happily parent from another time zone’ kind of way.
“You’re not cut out, but when…” I hate Carter Bosa and I refuse to shed another tear for him, but hearing the hurt in my Dad’s voice has my eyes watering. “Carter was having an affair with his receptionist. He actually knocked her up and all but demanded I raise their baby as my own.”
His tone instantly changes. “That…piece of shit.”
I’m nodding my head, even though he can’t see. “That about sums it up. He sat me down and told me about this woman and how she’s pregnant, then went on about how we were going to offer her a huge sum of money to adopt the baby and pretend it was our own. And…yeah. I left town. Mom is bat-shit crazy. She loves the Bosas and more or less told me I was overreacting. I didn’t know what to do so I accepted a job here, packed my bags, and left.”
“Delanie…” His voice cracks, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say it’s possible he’s crying.
“When your mother left, she convinced me you were better off with her and at the time, she wasn’t wrong. I didn’t have enough money to buy toilet paper to wipe my own ass, much less money to buy you the things you needed. And when I did have money, well, you always seemed so content. I didn’t want to be the one who messed that up.”
“I know. I don’t blame you for not being around when I was growing up. It was bad enough that I had to deal with mom.”
“No, Delanie… I thought you were happy,” he overstates the word happy. “If I had known, if I had done my job as your parent and paid attention, I would have taken her to court and fought for you. My world revolves because of you.”
My cheeks flood with tears and this time, I don’t fight them. I’m not crying for Carter; I’m crying for the life I lost with a man who loves me more than I realized.
“The past is behind us. Let’s just make the most of our future.”
“Oh, sweetheart. You don’t have to tell me twice.” I can hear him typing away on his keyboard. “Do you have plans this weekend?”
“Are you asking me to come to New York for a visit?”
“No. I’m asking if it’s okay if I come to you.”
I can’t remember the last time he came to visit me, it’s always the other way around.
“Um, yeah. I’d love that.”
“Then consider it done. I’ll call you later in the week, once I’ve made my flight arrangements.”
“Okay. I can’t wait to see you.”
“Likewise, little girl,” he replies, ending the call before I can say anything else. With my purse on my shoulder, I get out of my car and make my way inside. The apartment door barely clicks shut when Brenna screeches, “Whose ass do I need to kick now?”
“What are you talking about?”
Sitting in the chair in the living room, she rolls her eyes. “You’ve clearly been crying. What gives?”
“Those were happy tears. My dad called. He just found out I called off the wedding.”
With her face scrunched, she asks, “You never called him?”
“No, and now I feel horrible. But, in my defense, I don’t talk to him very often.”
“Did he yell at you? Is that why you’re crying?”
“No. Unlike my mom, he sounded upset at what Carter did.” I set my purse down and make my way around the couch, taking a seat. “My dad is the epitome of calm. I’ve never heard him upset about anything before.”
“But you’re his daughter.”
“And Carter spent a lot of time working on projects with my dad while he lived in New York.”
“That only adds to the betrayal he’s feeling on your behalf. He gave that rat bastard a job and treated him like family. He’s reacting the way a normal parent should and not like your mother.”
“You’re probably right.” Ready to change to subject away from my family, I say, “Today was my first day working alone. I actually have my own list of clients.”
“Congratulations. I never doubted for a second that you’d pass that test.” She jumps to her feet with a huge smile. “I think this calls for a celebration. Grab your purse. We’re going out!”
We walked to Zookie’s Bar and Grill, which is only two blocks from our apartment. When we stepped past the door, it was clear everyone knows Brenna.
Our waiter, who informed us his name is Kip and looks barely old enough to serve us drinks, has been drooling over Brenna from the second he walked up to our table. Of course, she batted her eyelashes and made sure to up her appeal. Once we’ve ordered and have a glass of wine, she turns the conversation to Kase.
“I can’t believe he took you to a vineyard for the weekend.” Her mouth turns down. “You scored the better of the two friends, that’s for sure.”
“What’s going on with you and Roan?” She picks up her wine glass, giving it a twirl, her eyes avoid mine. “I don’t know. I thought it was just sex at first, then it felt like more and now…” She sighs. “Now, I don’t know. He hasn’t answered a call or returned a text in five days.”
“Maybe he’s busy?”
“We made plans for Saturday night. He didn’t even bother to call and tell me he’d changed his mind.” Her lips are pressed tightly together while a cloud of disappointment shines in her eyes.
“That sucks. I’m sorry.”
She waves my comment off. “Nah, I knew better. He told me he wasn’t looking for a commitment, in addition to being married, and I still managed to drop my guard long enough to fall for the guy.”
“I wouldn’t write him off. I was with Carter for years, and my heart was never involved. If you felt something for this guy, I would find out why he stopped taking
your calls before you completely toss in the towel.”
My phone buzzes with a text.
Kase: I was hoping to come over tonight. Are you going to be home?”
Me: I’m having dinner with Brenna. I’ll be home in about an hour. Is that too late?”
Kase: Not if means I get to see you
I set my phone down, looking back at Brenna. Her face is stretched into a huge smile. “Oh, Jeez. You, my friend, are a complete goner for this guy.”
“I’m nervous. Everything has happened so fast.”
Our conversation is interrupted when Kip brings us our dinner. Brenna orders us both another glass of wine, and as he turns to walk off, her eyes lock on his ass.
“If you go there, you could be officially entering a cougar status.”
“What?” she says rolling her eyes. “Kip has a baby face but he’s is twenty-three.”
“How do you know that?”
She stabs a piece of chicken ignoring my comment. “My advice--don’t be nervous. The ride might end with a crash and burn, but until it does, I’d ride that sucker out enjoying every second.”
“You’re probably right. I can’t seem to make myself walk away from him, and worrying is only stressing me out.”
She picks up her wine glass. “You’ve stressed enough over the years. Now it’s time to sit back and relax.”
I tap my glass with hers. “Thank you, Brenna. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You don’t need to thank me. I’ll always have your back.”
Chapter Sixteen
Kase
We spent the entire weekend together. I told myself to go home and give her some space but less than an hour later, I was standing outside her apartment door. It’s fucking crazy how much I crave this woman. She’s penetrated my heart and imprinted herself on my soul. Going home to an empty house didn’t feel like an option.
When I knocked on her door almost an hour ago and she didn’t answer, panic set in. This neighborhood is questionable at best, and she’s always answering the door without checking to see who’s on the other side. When she answered my text, I walked back to my car and drove around with my mind in overdrive.
I grew up in a hostile environment. Watching my dad choke my mom until she passed out happened often enough it felt normal. My mom wasn’t much better. When her anger spiked, she was known to throw the closest object she could find at my dad’s head and over the years, she perfected her aim.
By the time I was a teenager, my dad’s anger was equally directed at me. All I had to do to piss him off was get out of bed. He never put his hands on me, but that had a lot to do with the fact that I was bigger than him by the time I was fifteen.
Things with my mom were different. She was not your typical abused wife. She picked fights with dad the second he walked through the door, usually after hours of drinking. And she joked so often about poisoning his food that dad rarely ate at home. The difference between them was how they treated me. Mom’s eyes always gleamed with love when she looked at me. The anger she directed toward my dad was nowhere to be seen when it was just the two of us.
As a kid, I didn’t know their relationship wasn’t normal, all I knew was I never wanted to get married. Women only held one appeal. It wasn’t until I met Anna that I realized the power I held over my dad by dating someone—at least someone he didn’t approve of.
Over the years, every what-if has played through my mind, the biggest one being I wonder if my parents would still be alive if I had never met her. My parents were a ticking time bomb that was bound to go off at some point, but if I hadn’t left town that weekend, maybe my mom would still be alive.
Once the sun finally sets, I drive back to Delanie’s apartment, spotting her and her roommate arm in arm, giggling about something walking down the sidewalk. Once I’ve parked my car, I inhale a deep breath, white knuckling the steering wheel, fighting the urge to go off on them. Her friend has lived here long enough to know walking in this area, alone at night, is a recipe for disaster.
I didn’t bank on Delanie living with Brenna. Roan had already expressed interest in her friend before the move. I didn’t have the heart to ask him to back off. Right now, his life is a total shit show, one that rivals mine, but I doubt he’d be any happier to learn they’re putting themselves at risk by walking through this neighborhood at dark, and drunk no less.
I pop off a text to Roan, telling him we need to talk, then I make my way to her apartment. Delanie is leaning against the wall while her friend fumbles to unlock their door.
“Good evening, ladies.”
Delanie flings herself toward me, wrapping her arms around my neck. She’s in a knee-length black skirt with an emerald green sleeveless shirt with her hair pulled up on the top her head. My mouth waters when I notice the top two buttons of her shirt are unbuttoned, exposing the swells of her breasts.
“Someone is happy to see me.”
Her eyes close when her lips find mine. My dick perks to life when she grinds her body against mine.
Her friend’s voice suddenly feels like a bucket of cold water when she says, “Jeez, at least wait until you get in your room to maul him.”
Delanie releases her hold on me, giggling, “Sorry.” Grabbing my hand, she practically yanks me inside after Brenna unlocks the door.
Once we’re inside, she turns and says, “We went out to celebrate my first real day at work.”
“Where did you go?”
“To a place a couple of blocks from here. The wine was okay, but their boneless wings are amazing.”
Brenna announces, “I’m going to bed,” leaving the two of us alone in the living room.
Delanie watches her friend walk away then her eyes return to mine. “Did you have a good day?”
“My day is a lot better now that I’m with you.”
“Come on.” She tugs on my hand until I follow her down the hallway. Like normal, her little room is impeccably clean. The bed is perfectly made. The floor is clean of any clutter. The only thing different from the last time I was here is a stack of brochures sitting on the desk next to her laptop.
“My dad called tonight.”
“Oh, yeah? Why do you sound surprised?”
With a long sigh, she drops onto the bed. Her head hits the pillows as she uses her feet to kick off her heels. “I’ve never been that close to my dad.”
The bed squeaks when I sit down next to her. “I can relate.”
“I didn’t hate him,” she quickly defends. “It’s just… Growing up, he was never around.” She rolls to her side and tucks her hand under her face. “I think I hurt his feelings. I never told him I called off the wedding.”
I lie down next to her, hating the thought that she was seconds away from marrying someone else. “You’ve been in California for weeks, and he just now called? I wouldn’t place all the blame on yourself.”
She cups the side of my face. “I knew he loved me, but tonight, it was the first time I felt it.”
I grip her waist, pulling her body tight against mine. Her fretful eyes dart around the room then back to me.
“It’s never too late for a second chance. I’m glad you and your dad found that.”
She studies me for a second before adding, “He’s coming to see me this weekend. I was hoping to introduce him to you.”
I know almost every detail regarding her father, from how he orders his steak to the type of women he invites to his bed. Brock Charles has been an intricate part of a complicated puzzle, one I’ve spent a lot of time piecing together. As a businessman, I respect him. He turned half a million dollars into half of billion in ten years. He’s charming and friendly, and people seem to flock to him.
As the man sleeping with his daughter, I’m hesitant to trust him. He’s financially embedded with Carter Bosa. He not only trusted his daughter—his only child—to a callous man who’s never had her best interest at heart but he’s offered the bastard millions in start-up capital.
&
nbsp; “I’d love to meet your dad.”
Even though it’s only a little after eight o’clock, her eyes are heavy and laced with sleep. “Why don’t you get cleaned up for bed?”
Her mouth turns down with a frown. “No. I don’t want you to leave yet.”
“Who said anything about leaving?”
She climbs out of bed, grabs a red silk nightie out of the top drawer of her dresser, and makes her way to the hallway bathroom.
I jump to my feet with the intention of undressing when my line of sight moves to the handful of brochures sitting next to her laptop. Picking them up, I learn there’s more than a dozen of them and they’re all for apartment complexes in various parts of the city. I should be happy because most of them appear to be in better neighborhoods than she’s currently in. But the thought of her moving and not in with me doesn’t sit right.
“Sorry, I’m not much fun tonight. I think I had just enough wine to knock me out.” She walks back in with her hair down, hanging around her face, and tosses her clothing into the hamper, then her eyes lock on the brochures in my hand.
“I haven’t mentioned anything to Brenna yet but I think it’s time I find my own place.”
“I didn’t realize your arrangement was only temporary.”
Her shoulders sag as she sits on the edge of the bed. “Of course it is. I called Brenna out of the blue for the first time in years and days later, I’m crashing in her extra room. I’ve tried to pay her rent, but she won’t accept it.”
I yank my shirt over my head and toss it on the back of her chair. “I can see why you’d like your own place, but promise me before you sign a lease to let me check the place out.” I sit down long enough to take my shoes off then I slide my jeans down my legs. With only my boxers on, I lie on the bed next to her.
There’s not a doubt in my mind that I could climb into bed next to this woman every night—something I never in a million years imagined myself doing, much less wanting.
“My entire life, I’ve been dependent on someone else. I think it’s time I stand on my own two feet. I need to learn how to trust myself.”
Kase Of Deception Page 12
