by Morgan James
“I did,” I admitted. “I knew you wouldn’t come otherwise.”
She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “You don’t know that.”
One brow arched toward my hairline. “Would you have?”
Her gaze skittered away, and I could see her tongue sweep over her teeth as she contemplated lying to me. Finally, her conscience won out. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Fine.” She exhaled, long and slow. “Probably not.”
“I know,” I said softly. “That’s why I enlisted her help.”
She looked at me like I was stupid. “Why?”
“Because I need to apologize.”
She stared at me for a moment, then turned her attention to the table. “It’s fine.”
The two worst words in the English language, right behind the two I was about to say. “I’m sorry.”
So totally inadequate, they didn’t begin to conquer the hurt I’d caused her. She deserved so much better than the way I’d treated her. Stung by jealousy, I’d immediately turned my attention to the woman in the bar, hoping that Kate would see me with her and make her realize what she was missing. But that look of hurt in her eyes had only made me feel guilty. I’d made it seem as if Kate were replaceable, which was the furthest thing from the truth.
“I... lost my head when I saw you with him. Thompson and I go way back, and...” I trailed off, not wanting to dredge up drama from twenty years ago. Those pretty blue eyes met mine, but she remained silent. “Anyway, I was jealous, and I wanted to hurt you. It was stupid—I was stupid—and you didn’t deserve it.”
She nodded a little. “Thank you. And I... I could have handled it better myself.”
That wasn’t technically an absolution, but she hadn’t bolted for the door to escape me. We had a long way to go, but the fact that she remained seated across from me gave me hope. For a moment, we just stared at each other. Finally, I broke the silence. “I actually do want to give you something while you’re here.”
I slid the envelope across the table to her, and she stared at it. “Is this...?”
“It is.” I dipped my chin. “It’s over.”
She lifted a hand and tentatively touched it. “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
I gave her a couple moments to absorb the information, then— “You shouldn’t feel bad about what we did.”
I knew she did though, and her cheeks blazed pink at my words.
I pushed my chair back and rounded the table. Kate grasped the arms of the chair like she was about to leap forward and run out the door. I was quicker, though, and I knelt next to her. “Tell me something.”
“What?” She regarded me warily, and I gathered my words.
“I’ve thought about our night together a thousand times.” I watched her swallow hard, her gaze dropping away from mine and fixing on my chest instead. “Something’s been killing me, and I need to know—was I the only one who felt something?”
Her tongue darted out to wet her lips, and she took almost a full minute to respond. Her answer came on a breathy whisper, low and sexy as she shook her head jerkily. “It wasn’t just you.”
Thank God. “Kate...” I reached out and gently took her hands in mine. “I’ll take this as slowly as you want. Just let me in. Just give me a chance to prove this is right.”
“I... I don’t know...”
It wasn’t an outright refusal. “I know you’re still hurting. But we’re friends, right?”
Her brows drew together in confusion, and she finally met my eyes. “Yes?”
I bit back a smile. “Good.”
She looked completely off-balance as I stood and pulled her to her feet. “Gavin...?”
“I know you’re not ready for more—yet,” I said as I walked her to the door. “But I’m going to be here when you are. We’ll take it one step at a time, as slow as you need.”
She turned to face me just before we reached the door. “Why are you doing this?”
I brushed a thumb over her cheek. “You don’t know, red?” She shook her head, and I grinned. “Baby steps.”
A tiny sigh of protest fell from her lips as I opened the door and guided her out of the conference room. I had her exactly where I wanted her; slightly off-balance, yet curious. I wasn’t about to scare her off by telling her my plans. I’d spent the last six months dreaming about her. When she was ready, she’d come to me.
I opened the door and held it wide, then stepped into the hallway behind her—and almost right into Shannon.
“Oh! Sorry about that.” Shannon put her hand on my arm. “I’ve been looking for you.”
I watched Kate’s eyes drop to where Shannon’s fingers curled into the fabric of my jacket, and she subtly stepped away. I shifted toward Kate, effectively shrugging away from Shannon’s touch. “As you can see, I was in a meeting with Dr. Winfield.”
Her lips curled downward in a frown. “I thought everything for that case was taken care of.”
Who the hell did she think she was? Partner’s daughter or not, I wouldn’t tolerate her insinuating herself in my business. I pinned her with a hard stare, and she cowered slightly under the scrutiny. I settled my hand on Kate’s lower back. “You’re correct. Dr. Winfield isn’t a client anymore, but she is always welcome in my office.”
Shannon’s cheeks blazed bright pink at the implication, and her chin dropped a fraction.
At that very moment, Larry stepped out of his office, a curious look on his face when he saw us congregated in the hallway. Jesus. What the hell was this, a fucking party? I wanted to get Kate the hell out of here before one of these idiots gave her a reason to never want to see me again.
Larry looked from Shannon to me, my arm still around Kate, whose entire body had gone rigid. His gaze lifted to her face, and he extended his hand, pasting on the smarmy lawyer smile I’d seen more than once. “Good afternoon.”
Kate tipped her head and returned his handshake. “Hello.”
Larry passed the file in his hand to Shannon. “Would you mind taking care of this for me?”
With a quick nod, she grabbed it from his hand and bolted. Thank God. One down. I turned my attention back to Larry, my fingers curling slightly into the soft flesh of Kate’s back. “Well, we were just—”
Larry’s inquisitive gaze landed back on Kate. “Have we met before?”
“In passing, maybe?” she said with a polite smile. “I’ve been here a few times, so I’m sure we’ve crossed paths.”
I didn’t like the way he watched her, his eyes assessing, searching. Maybe it was a good thing he’d seen me with Kate. Maybe he could finally get it through to Shannon that there would never be anything between us. Stepping even closer to her, I spoke. “I know you need to get going.”
My words seemed to jolt Larry from his reverie, and he flashed an insincere smile. “Enjoy your afternoon.”
I nodded, then let out a pent-up breath as I guided Kate from the office and out to her car. I waited as she used the fob to unlock it, then opened the door. Her hand rested on the top of the door, and she paused as she climbed in, then turned to me. “It’s not really my place to ask, but...”
She bit her lip, and I settled my hand over hers. “You can ask me anything, always.”
Her eyes darted to the side before meeting mine again. “That girl. Are you...?”
“Never.” I gave a quick shake of my head. “Not for lack of trying on her part. But there’s only one woman I’m interested in, and it’s not her. I think she finally figured that out today.”
Kate blushed, and her gaze dropped to where our hands were linked. She nodded slightly. “Okay.”
I wanted so badly to kiss her, but I forced myself to let her go. I had to remind myself that she’d agreed to being friends—nothing more. Yet. “Drive safe.”
“I will.” She slipped behind the wheel of the car, and I shut the door behind her. With a little wave, she drove off, and a smile curled my lips.
As I watched her turn out of the parking lot, I was already calculating just how long to wait before I called her again and when I could next see her. There wasn’t a chance in hell I was letting her slip away now, no matter what I had to do.
Chapter Nineteen
Kate
I shifted restlessly, trying to take the strain off my aching feet. I was already starting to seriously regret wearing the damn three-inch heels, but I wanted to look nice.
For Gavin? my brain whispered conspiratorially. I shook it away. I’d dressed up to look good for me and me alone. That’s what I told myself—but I knew I was lying. I wanted him to desire me even if I wasn’t quite sure what would happen between us, if anything.
Nerves battered my insides at the thought of seeing Gavin again. Though we’d texted and spoken on the phone several times over the past week, he’d never made any attempt at flirtation or tried to take things further.
I didn’t know what to think about this meeting today. A coffee break at three o’clock was too late to be a friendly lunch, yet too early for an intimate dinner date. He’d thrown me for a loop, and I didn’t like it at all. I felt so much better knowing exactly where I stood with someone. I despised trying to read between the lines, as I had for so many years with my ex. Gavin had seemed so intent just a few weeks ago on dating seriously, yet he hadn’t brought it up again. It was frustrating, and I hated myself for worrying over it. I was the one who’d told him it would never happen, and here I was, disappointed at the prospect that he wanted to just be friends.
I let out a disgusted little sound as I kicked at the sidewalk, scuffing the toe of the expensive stiletto. Scowling at the torn leather, I leaned against the rough brick building and let out a little growl. What the hell was wrong with me? I already knew the answer to that. I wanted Gavin, way more than I’d ever admit out loud.
I pulled my phone from my bag and checked the time again. He’d called half an hour ago to let me know he was running late, but it was already a quarter after three. My stomach twisted into a tight knot. I should be relieved. I should turn around, get in my car, and head home—alone.
But for some stupid reason, all I could think about was Gavin. He’d promised friendship because that was all I was willing to offer. Why was I so disappointed about that? I’d been divorced for barely more than a week. I couldn’t even contemplate the idea of letting another man into my life yet, even one as sweet as Gavin.
As if my thoughts conjured him, I glanced up to see him round the corner of the building. I sank my teeth into my lower lip as my gaze swept over him from head to toe. Dressed in dark charcoal slacks and a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, he looked sexier than any man deserved to. He’d removed his jacket and tie, and the collar of his shirt had been unbuttoned, giving me a peek at the deeply tanned skin at the base of his neck.
My heart thudded against my ribs as my gaze moved upward and caught the sexy curl of his lips. God, that smile literally made my knees weak, and I swayed slightly as he approached, thankful for the hard wall behind me, holding me up. His head turned, his attention moving toward the street, and the smile slipped from his face. “Down!”
Confused at his reaction, I followed his gaze to the car. The passenger side window had been rolled down, and the driver came into view as he pulled almost even with me. My eyes swept over the man behind the wheel. He was nothing more than a black blob, the hooded sweatshirt out of place in the sweltering heat of the summer afternoon. His face was obscured by a ball cap and sunglasses, and I trailed my gaze lower, over his arm extended outward—toward me. Sunlight glinted off the black object in his hand, and my heart stopped.
He has a gun.
“Get down!”
I jumped at Gavin’s harsh command, and I sucked in a breath as a loud pop splintered the quiet afternoon. Pain ripped through me as Gavin tackled me around the waist, taking me to the ground and stealing the breath from my lungs. It felt like a brick wall had slammed into my body, and a wave of fire shot down my arm.
“Fuck!”
Gavin’s terse expletive cut through my delirium, and I blinked against the spots dancing before my eyes, unable to comprehend exactly what had happened. I flailed uncomprehendingly but was restrained by Gavin’s heavy weight still on top of me. Suddenly, a second crack split the air and shattered glass rained down around us.
“Stay down!”
Gavin pushed my head back down, tucking me further into the protection of his large body, and I struggled to draw in a breath.
“C-can’t—”
I bucked upward, and he lifted his chest from mine and stared down at me, a question in his eyes. Relieved of the weight, I dragged in a deep breath and tried to sit up. My left arm refused to cooperate, and I struggled against him for a moment before falling to my back. Cries of fear and outrage rose around me, but I tuned them out as I stared up at Gavin, his face twisted into an expression of intense concentration.
“Just stay where you are,” he commanded, flicking a glance around our surroundings once more. “The car’s gone, but there’s glass all over the damn place.”
I nodded and licked my lips as blinding pain radiated down my arm. “Gavin...”
Not sparing me a glance, he pulled his cell from his back pocket and started to tap away at the screen. “Yeah?”
“My arm,” I panted out. “It hurts.”
Dark brown eyes laced with anger flitted over me as he sat back on his heels and rolled me slightly to the side. The phone fell from his fingers as he seized my left arm, his features twisting into a grimace. “Jesus!”
I closed my eyes against the fiery sensation, and a tiny whimper fell from my lips. Glass tinkled and crunched as Gavin shifted into a crouch beside me. I assumed a shard had sliced into my arm, causing the acute pain shooting through my triceps.
“Why didn’t you tell me your arm was hurt?” Without bothering to unbutton his shirt, he ripped it open and stripped it off. For a second, my attention was splintered. In my peripheral vision I could see him ripping off the sleeve to wrap around my arm to stop the bleeding, but I couldn’t drag my gaze away from the sculpted muscles of his biceps and forearms exposed by the tight white tee shirt beneath. They rippled as he leaned forward and gently wove the fabric around my injured arm and tied it off.
I sucked in a breath at the sudden pressure, then forced a little laugh as I forced myself to focus on his question. “My entire body hurts.”
“Yeah, well, getting shot will do that.” He gave a brief shake of his head, and I twisted my head toward my left arm.
Getting shot? “What?”
He was too busy inspecting my arm to reply, so I slapped my palm against his chest and shoved to get his attention.
His gaze snapped to mine. “It’s just a graze.”
“Just a graze?” My voice rose several octaves, fueled by indignation and bewilderment. He said it like it was no big deal, like it happened every day, and it served only to infuriate me more as the panic and fear leached away. “Are you kidding me?”
I struggled against him, intent on sitting up and assessing the damage for myself.
“Hold on, hold on.” Gavin slid a hand beneath my back and levered me to a sitting position, taking extra care with my arm before placing it gently in my lap. The world spun for a moment, and I fought the nausea that roiled in my stomach. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders for support and cupped my face in one huge hand. “You good?”
I nodded shakily as everything righted itself and returned to normal—as normal as this situation could get. “I’m fine.”
Gavin turned my chin toward him and searched my gaze for a long moment. Whatever he saw there must have assured him, because he gave a little nod, then picked up his phone. I rested my head on his shoulder and listened as he spoke with the 911 dispatcher, giving our location and details. When he hung up, he turned his head, and his chin brushed my hair. “Still hanging in there?”
I nodded against his chest, suddenly to
o exhausted to respond as the adrenaline wore off and my body began to crash.
Chapter Twenty
Gavin
I cursed myself once more as I studied Kate where she sat on the bed of the small emergency room, feet crossed at the ankles, her face pale and drawn. I couldn’t fucking believe I left my piece in the car. The one damn time I should have had it, I’d forgotten to put it back on. I hadn’t been able to take it with me to court this morning, and I was in so much of a hurry to see Kate that I had parked beside the coffee shop and practically jumped from the car.
I couldn’t get the sight of her ragged, torn flesh out of my mind. It replayed on loop over and over, serving only to increase my fury. Thank God she’d taken a step to the side when she had. Just a few inches to the right, and the bullet would’ve pierced her heart instead of her arm.
Unbidden, my hands curled into fists at my side. The neighborhood the coffee shop was in was a decent one, but I wasn’t a fool; I knew bad things happened everywhere. However, there was one detail that stuck out in my mind. As I’d lain there on the pavement, my body covering Kate’s, I managed to glimpse the back of the car between the bumpers of two vehicles parked along the curb, and what I’d seen, or lack thereof, turned my blood to ice. The car’s license plate had been removed.
Over the past couple of hours since the incident, I played several possibilities through my mind. It could’ve been a random drive-by shooting, but I didn’t think gangbangers would be so cautious as to remove their license plate. The bullet could’ve been intended for someone else, except for the fact that, though there were several other people milling around on the sidewalk, no one else was even remotely close to her when the shot was fired. I had to admit that it was possible the driver was shooting at the coffee shop itself, or someone inside, but the glare of sunlight on the glass more than likely would’ve obscured the driver’s vision. It would have to be difficult to mark a target inside the building while in motion driving past. I didn’t like the last remaining option, that Kate was, in fact, the intended victim. You didn’t shoot that close to someone just to scare them.