by P. L. Harris
“Then what was? Are you playing me?” He ran his shaking hand through his hair. “I don’t make a habit of one-night stands.”
“Neither do I,” she barked.
“Then tell me what the hell is going on,” he said in a commanding tone.
“Damn it,” she cursed, shoving her hands on her hips. “We were supposed to do business, not have sex, but that all changed when—”
“When what?”
“We danced, all right? It all changed when we danced.”
Danced? His body sprang to life at the reminder of their bodies locked together on the dance floor. He raised an eyebrow. “What business are you talking about?”
“I was there for Sinead,” she sighed. “She couldn’t go because she was ill, and she asked me to go in her place and talk to you about a deal for your property by the lake. But then I heard what you said to the guy at the door after we…you know…about not wanting to talk to anyone about business, and I knew that you would think I slept with you just to talk business.”
“And did you?”
Mortification filled her eyes. “No, of course not, but I knew I couldn’t stay.”
“Because if you did, we would have talked.”
“Yes, and you would have wanted to know all about me and my past. I just couldn’t get involved with someone else, especially a cop.”
Kayden couldn’t give a fuck about her past. His blood boiled. Time to end this now.
“Are you a criminal? Are you running from the law?” he blurted out.
“No, of course not.”
“Did you murder someone?”
“No.”
“So, you’re going to throw away what we shared because you’re worried about what I’ll think of you if I know your past?”
She paled and his head began to throb under the bombardment of useless questions. “Are you married? Is that it?”
****
Tash felt the blood drain from her face. She squeezed her hands together in a desperate effort to stop them trembling. “No…not anymore.”
“What do you mean ‘not anymore,’” he pried.
Her pulse sped up. The curiosity in his gaze pleaded with her. “Actually, I’m a widow. My husband was killed in a car accident three years ago.”
His expression darkened. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“I’m not,” she said, continuing to pack up her belongings.
“Damn it, Tash. What are you not telling me?” he asked, stilling her hands with his. “Why all the secrecy, and why hasn’t anyone else seen your tattoo?”
Tash’s heart almost stopped, tears welling in her eyes. She sighed, as if the last of her fight had left her body. “Because I got the tattoo when I was first married. I did a lot of regretful things when I was married, but most of all, I’ve regretted the fact that I didn’t even really know my husband.”
Kayden’s brow creased. “What do you mean?”
Tash sighed. “I suppose you’ll find out sooner or later.” Tash sat down, ready to let it all spill out. “I married Connor when I was very young, I was so in love, I did just about anything for him, including getting the tattoo. It wasn’t until he was killed in the accident that the depths of his deceit surfaced.” She paused, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “He was a gambling addict, in way over his head, and I had no idea. How pathetic is that?”
Kayden sat beside her and brushed a wisp of hair behind her ear. “No, not pathetic…trusting.”
She huffed. “Yeah, trusting. I suppose you could say that. I trusted him so much that when he died, he left me in so much debt that the only way to pay it off was to work for the damn loan sharks. I did it. It took me three long years, but I did it.”
“So, why all the secrecy?”
“Don’t you see,” she said, escaping to the other side of the room. “I spent the last three years surviving the worst kind of working conditions imaginable, and I refuse to throw it away on a man. This is about me starting over. When people see my tattoo, they’re quick to judge. I have to come first, be able to stand on my own two feet. I’m not ready for another relationship. The last thing I want is my mind clouded by feelings for you before I’m ready to take that next step. Surely you can understand?”
Tash’s stomach bottomed out as he edged his tense body toward her. “Yes, I can understand, but I understand that you are confusing me with your husband.”
“I—”
Kayden held her hands in his and ran his thumbs over her pulse point. “I am not Connor. What we shared last night, I have never shared with another woman, ever.”
Tash gulped and breathed a little faster.
“I know I’m a better man than Connor could ever be. All I’m asking for is a chance to prove to you that I can make you happy. I know we have chemistry. I’m honest, if nothing else.”
“That’s true,” Katie said from the kitchen doorway.
Both Kayden and Tash jumped at the soft tone of her voice.
“He’s one of the most honest men I know, except for Todd, my husband. I’m the best judge of character, and I placed my husband’s life in Kayden’s hands. So, Tash, if I can trust him, so can you.”
Exhaustion filled Tash’s limbs. I want to, I want to trust you so much.
As if reading her thoughts, he said, “I know you don’t trust easily, but all I’m asking for is time. Time to show you that I’m not Connor, time to show you that there are good men out in the world and I’m one of them.”
Tash’s chest burned. Could she trust again?
“So how about it, Tash?” Katie said, smiling from across the room.
“Tash, can you give me time?” Kayden whispered.
Jumbled thoughts filled her mind, but it was as if all the fog lifted and in one singular moment she knew the right answer.
“Yes.”
The End
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