“Hi, Shane. Yeah, I told my boss it should wait until tomorrow, but he didn’t agree. I’m sorry about your dad.”
“Thanks.”
“I was just about to tell Jeremy I’d be happy to give him that interview now,” Kagan said. She put her palm on Shane’s chest and leaned into him. “The last thing your mom wants to do is talk about what happened, but Jeremy can’t go back without a story.” She looked over her shoulder, and Shane followed her line of vision. His mom was smiling at something Luke’s mom had said. Their fingers were intertwined like young girls and a sense of calm seemed to have settled over them.
“So I’ll see you tomorrow,” Kagan said. She kissed his cheek. “You ready, Jeremy? How about we do this over a burger and fries?”
“Kagan.” His heart was breaking and swelling at the same time. It killed him that she was walking away to do something she didn’t want to do, and that she was doing it for his family.
She ran the pad of her thumb across his cheek. “No worries. I’ve got this.”
“Kagan Donaldson,” Jeremy said. “You’ve got yourself a deal.” He lifted his elbow and put out his arm. Kagan took it and Shane watched them leave.
What she’d just done went beyond what he could comprehend at the moment. Something balmy filled his chest so fully he thought he might burst from the feel of it.
They rounded the corner and Shane knew. He knew his sister was right and he was in love with Kagan.
Chapter Twelve
What’s black and white and red all over?
The newspaper.
Oh my God, if that dumb joke ran through Kagan’s head one more time, she was going to get drunk so she’d pass out and forget it.
It really ticked her off that something so lightweight and made out of paper could have such a huge effect on her. She stared at the folded Cascade Gazette sitting on her dining table like it was a two-headed snake ready to strike.
Maybe no one even noticed the article about her.
Maybe Jeremy had written something nice and not twisted her words or let what he thought he knew about her cloud his opinions.
Pick up the paper and read it already!
And what an awful person she was to be so worried about a stupid newspaper article when Shane’s dad lay in a hospital bed recovering from serious burns.
Henry was going to be fine, but still. She’d visited him yesterday at the hospital and by all accounts he’d looked good. Shane, Sela, and Meg had barely left his side and once he’d been moved out of the burn unit, he’d had dozens of visitors. The second-degree burns on his torso were healing nicely. The third-degree wounds on his arm would take longer.
Shane’s rough and groggy voice when he’d called her late last night had tied her stomach in knots. She admired the love and devotion he had for both his parents. But jealousy reared its head a bit and she didn’t like that about herself. For the millionth time, she wished her mom were still here.
She wished for things to be different with her dad.
She wondered what it would be like to be included in Shane’s family for real.
She picked up the newspaper and flipped to the Life section. A picture of her and Shane from way back at the Fourth of July carnival accompanied the article. They were smiling—no, grinning like they’d just misbehaved—and without warning Kagan’s legs almost gave out. She sat at the table and remembered.
They’d run into each other at the strawberry shortcake stand, and for those few minutes in line she’d been happy. Really happy. Later that night when they’d bumped into each other again for the fireworks, sparks had ignited from the top of her head to the tips of her toes whenever he’d brushed her arm or focused his attention on her, paying no mind to the other women eyeing him like they wanted to gobble him up.
A lovesick sigh brought her back to the present. She shook her head, moved her gaze to the article, and started to read. She fully expected to stop after the first paragraph when Jeremy painted her just like all the other reporters—this time with ammunition in regards to her love life. Thank you Brett and Candace.
But Jeremy didn’t do that. He mentioned Brett, her father’s famous days as an actor before he gave up Hollywood for a career in business, Shane, but then focused solely on her, painting her in a totally different light. He credited her with living life on her own terms and settling in Cascade because it reminded her of happy times in her youth. Jeremy had listened, not judged, and emphasized her new jewelry venture and dedication to the Crown & Anchor. Her happy face and friendly disposition, Milt had been quoted as saying, had increased his business and pushed his Best of the Best ranking in the local restaurant newsletter back into the top three. Several other townspeople gave quotes too.
She wiped away the tears streaming down her face. The town knew who she was and they didn’t care.
Thoughts of her dad skittered through her mind. She wanted him to understand, to know her. It didn’t matter what Brett reported back anymore. The months away spent with people who valued family and community above all else had softened her heart toward her father, and she wanted to make him see. See that things could be different between them if he’d just show some self-restraint and trust she knew what was best.
Was this life she’d created in Cascade what was best for her? She’d spent time yesterday making bracelets, working on a website for Victoria’s Bloom, ordering more supplies and filing the paperwork for her business license…and she’d loved it all. For the first time ever she was in control of her own life, and the feelings of accomplishment and hope and pride had edged out the feelings of despair and unease and misery.
Her cell phone rang, startling her, and she blinked away her thoughts. She glanced at the screen. Brett. Her voice full of caution, she said, “Hello?” It unnerved her that he’d phoned just as she’d thought of him and her dad.
“Meet me in half an hour at Crem’s?” he said.
“Perfect.” She’d tell him to go home. That she’d follow when she was ready. She dropped one flake of food into Patrick’s bowl and left.
When she walked into the bakery, the smell of chocolate filled her senses and the tension in her neck calmed down. “Hi.” She took a seat across from Brett at a small round table.
He put a straw in what looked like an iced blended coffee. She’d never seen him drink one before. He slid it over to her. “For you. Mine should be up next.”
Her eyes widened, then narrowed.
“You can stop looking at me like I’m a foreign object,” he said. “I do have a few nice bones in my body.”
“Really?” She didn’t trust a word out of his mouth, or a gesture that included him putting a straw in her drink. What in the world?
A coffee order was called out and he rose to get it. After sitting back down he lifted his drink and said, “Truce.”
“What do you want?” She rubbed her thumb across the condensation on her cup. That’s as close as she was getting to it. And a truce? Yeah, right.
“I just told you.”
“After what you did, you think I’d meet you halfway on anything?”
“I’m leaving.”
“Good.”
“Your dad needs me for a meeting in the morning.” He leaned back. “He’s hoping you’ll be with me.”
Ah, there was his angle. Kagan gripped the seat of her chair. “You know that’s not happening.”
“Your father misses you, Kay. I’ve never heard him sound so…so sad before.”
“Don’t try to make me feel guilty. This is all on his shoulders, and he never should have sent you here knowing how I felt. My father should have flown here himself to see me.” She swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth, and it landed in her stomach with a painful squeeze. He’d sent a letter. He’d given what she’d given. Responded in kind. And she’d been afraid to read what he thought about her actions.
Brett rubbed his jaw. “I’m not so sure he won’t. He’s distraught, Kay.”
She bit the inside of her
cheek. “I’m not going back yet.” Maybe not ever.
He narrowed his eyes. “How about just for the weekend? Say your piece and then fly back? Your father does deserve further explanation.”
“I thought that’s why you were here.”
“I’m not going to speak for you, just about you.”
Kagan squirmed. “What are you going to tell him?”
“The truth.” Brett waited a beat and Kagan’s heart stopped. “That you’re happy here.” He took a sip of his drink. “For now.”
Air whooshed back into her lungs. “Why are you being nice all of a sudden?”
Brett shrugged. “Don’t think I’m doing you any favors here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I saw the article in the Gazette. You can bet the Associated Press is going to get wind of it, and it’s going to be national news by tomorrow. You don’t give interviews, Kagan. And now everyone knows you left New York. Left your father.” He leaned forward. “Your freedom just went bye-bye.”
She gulped. She hadn’t even thought of that. All at once, the room seemed to shrink and the heat shot up a notch. She wiped her sweaty palms down her skirt. “What do I do?” she muttered.
“Not much you can do.” He glanced at his silver watch. “I should get going. If you change your mind you know where to find me.”
Her body shook. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t think. Would more journalists seek her out? And if that happened, what would it mean for Shane? His family? She’d wanted to help Shane’s parents by giving Jeremy an interview, but instead she needed to warn them. Now there was a good chance they’d have outside press asking them questions.
Erin scooted into Brett’s vacated chair. “Why do you look like your dog just died?”
Kagan blinked back tears.
“Hey.” Erin put her hand on Kagan’s arm. “What’s up? If it’s Shane, I’m going to kick his ass.”
She gave Erin a weak smile. “It’s not Shane. It’s… it’s not something…” Staring into Erin’s sympathetic eyes, Kagan realized she had a friend. “It’s my father.”
“Oh, you mean, famous Hollywood actor who starred in my favorite movie of all time?” she said super fast, then slowing down added, “Yeah. I’ve read some things about him lately.” Erin smiled. “Nice interview in the paper this morning. You rocked the whole billionaire’s daughter to small town girl angle. And,” she let go of Kagan’s arm. “You are excellent at keeping a secret. But don’t worry. I still love you.”
“You’re not mad?”
“Who’s gonna be mad? You didn’t hurt anybody, and this town loves a good story. I could totally do something crazy right now and no one would notice.”
Kagan laughed. “Make it really crazy, would you? I hate being in the limelight.”
“There’s more to the story, though, isn’t there?”
“There always is, right?” She couldn’t bring herself to spill the truth about her and Shane.
“I won’t tell anyone.” Erin settled into her seat like she was ready for a long, juicy story.
“Maybe sometime, but not today, okay? I’m worried about the attention Cascade might get now. Not to mention Shane and his family.”
“Has Shane always known who you are?”
“Since… Since we’ve been together, yes.” Her stomach did a little backflip at that. Shane knew everything, and he’d stuck by her. If the media pursued him and his family, though, would he still? Would the truth come out about their relationship?
Erin’s gaze moved somewhere across the bakery. Kagan turned. Troy and another paramedic were sitting at a table. Troy noticed them and got up. “Hey, Erin. Kagan. I’m glad I ran into you.”
“You are?” Erin asked, a little hitch in her voice.
“I am. How’s your hand?”
Erin lifted her arm and showed Troy her palm. “Almost good as new.”
Troy held her wrist and ran his thumb over the scar. Kagan could swear she saw Erin shiver. “You’re right. You heal nicely.” He let go.
“Thanks.” Erin slid her gaze down Troy’s tall, uniformed body, then back up.
“I was at the hospital earlier and stopped in to say hello to Captain Sullivan. He’s in good spirits,” Troy said.
Kagan looked up into Troy’s caring eyes. “Yeah. I think he’s going home tomorrow.”
“He mentioned stopping by the station on Saturday, and he seemed pretty anxious to get out of there, so I’m sure it will happen.” He turned his attention to Erin. “Will you ladies be at the Crown & Anchor later?”
“I won’t. Shane and I are headed into Portland for a concert. I’ll be back on shift tomorrow, though. I’m sorry I’m going to miss the soft opening tonight. The place looks really good.”
“I’ll be there,” Erin said. “My baby sister Teague’s dragging me out with her.”
“Dragging?” Troy said.
“I’ve got a group of zip-liners at the crack of dawn tomorrow, which means I need to get my ass out of bed at four-thirty, which means no drinking and staying out past my bedtime. So yeah, I’m going reluctantly.”
“How about I buy you a pineapple juice then?”
“How about you buy a drink for Teague? She’s all over guys in uniforms.”
“And you’re not?” Troy teased.
“Troy,” the other paramedic shouted from across the room. “We’ve got a call.”
“I need to go. Catch you later.” He had a dazzling smile, and it was directed solely at Erin.
“I think he likes you,” Kagan said after he’d left.
Erin watched his retreat and if Kagan had to guess, her friend liked him back. “Not even, but I’ve sworn off men. They’re all just big jerks hoping to score before they move on to the next girl.”
“Troy doesn’t strike me as that kind of guy.”
“That makes him even worse.” Erin moved to the edge of her chair. “I’m going to get a muffin. Want anything?”
“No, thanks. I’m good.”
Kagan swiped at some more condensation on her cup. Something must have happened to Erin to make her so weary of guys, and she wished she knew the right words to say. But the truth was, she was involved with exactly the type Erin had described.
She and Shane could stop pretending now that Brett was leaving town. Only she didn’t want to—at least for tonight. She wanted one more day with him before he moved on to the next girl.
Because she loved him.
…
Half-naked women filled The Wind Jammer, but Shane only had eyes for Kagan. Her short white skirt showed off her mile-long tanned legs and her loose, multi-colored blouse kept sliding off one shoulder. Shane wanted to lick the smooth curve every damn time. And her shoes? Holy crap. He couldn’t remember the fancy name of the designer, but she was keeping those heels on when he had his way with her later tonight.
They’d danced during the concert with the standing room only crowd and now music from the house band poured through the speakers. Standing near the bar, Shane watched the zigzagging light bouncing off antique chandeliers and casting Kagan in an angelic glow that made him want to do very dirty things to her.
The way she moved, the way her body swayed to the music, he could watch her forever.
“You’re staring,” she said above the beat.
“You’re beautiful. I can’t help it.”
She leaned in. “It’s pretty hard to keep my eyes off you, too.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist and tugged her close. He kissed the side of her neck and then moved to her jawline. She shivered, put a hand on his chest, and melted against him. The way she molded to his body like she trusted him implicitly, made him suck in his breath.
“You ready to get out of here?” he whispered.
“I’m ready for anything,” she said, her voice low, sexy.
He took that to suggest she was his, and tonight he planned to show her how much she meant to him. His hand slid to the curve of her ass. She lifted her head
and under thick, black eyelashes took in his eyes, his mouth.
A simple clutch had never been this hot, this good. Her heated gaze settled back on his, and their eyes continued to meet while the music thumped through his body and he swayed with her. She moved with him in perfect sync and everything around him faded to nothing.
That’s when he kissed her, capturing her mouth with hungry urgency. He slid his tongue between her parted lips and made sweeping, swirling motions that she met with equal passion.
“Ahem. You two planning to conceive your first child here?”
They broke apart. Kagan’s lips were beautifully swollen, and he wanted to smash the guy’s face who had interrupted them.
“Sorry,” she said, her cheeks reddening.
Shane turned to find his college buddy Sebastian looking like the cat that ate the canary. “Don’t be sorry, just thought to remind you there are other people here.”
“A good friend would’ve roped off the area,” Shane said.
Bash threw his head back and laughed. Kagan pushed him in the shoulder. “Shane!” she said.
“What?” He rubbed his shoulder. She had some strength in that arm of hers.
“Come on,” Bash said. “Thanks for waiting around.” He led them to a booth in a private area of the club. The second they all sat down, a waitress was there to take their drink order.
One drink, Shane thought, then he and Kagan were gone. He appreciated Bash’s generosity tonight, and it was great to see him, but he had plans for Kagan and couldn’t wait much longer to get to them.
“You look damn happy, man.” Bash relaxed against the black leather seat. “Never thought I’d see the day a girl caught you.”
Shane chuckled and glanced at Kagan. She beamed and said, “He’s putty in my hands.”
“She’s got that right. So, Bash, how’s the security biz?” Business talk ought to keep his mind off the sexy woman beside him for a minute.
“It’s great. Keeping me busy and out of trouble.”
Shane turned to Kagan. “Trouble means women.”
“The company’s grown. I’ve got three other guys working for me now. Between here, Seattle and L.A., we’re booked well into next year.”
Her Accidental Boyfriend: A Secret Wishes Novel (Entangled Bliss) Page 15