Las Vegas Sidewinders: Karl (Book 3) (11 page)

“I can’t answer that
one,” he admitted. “Drake told me his new girlfriend’s friend was successful,
beautiful and single, because he knew I was tired of sleeping around. He showed
me a picture and I was immediately drawn to her. When we met, it was magnetic.
I couldn’t keep my hands off her and you know the rest.”

“She does whatever you
want in bed,” Erin said lightly. She held up a hand when he started to protest.
“I didn’t say you force her, I’m just saying best friends tell each other
everything and I know how far out of her comfort zone she’s gone for you. Maybe
that works for you because a lot of women, myself included, wouldn’t do that
shit.”

Karl narrowed his eyes.
“You think I have trouble finding women willing to let me tie them up?”

“I have no idea, but I
know that Kate never did any of that shit before you, and I know I don’t. So
maybe there’s a lot of us out there who won’t—and you’re fucking the fat chick
because she will.”

Karl gaped at her. “Are
you for real?”

“You tell me.”

“I don’t have to answer
that.” He narrowed his eyes.

“Then you don’t have to
see her again, either.” Erin took a step towards the hallway.

“Seriously?” Karl got
to his feet.

Erin glanced back at
him. “Convince me you love her or we’re done here. I’m sorry to have to be the
one to vet your story, but Kate is the only family I have other than Drake, and
I’m not going to let you humiliate her ever again.”

“I didn’t do those
things!” he ground out, his fists clenched at his sides. “I love her! I can’t
fucking
function
since she shut me out! And I won’t
let you keep her from me!” His voice broke and he could swear he felt tears
welling up in his eyes. He turned away from her in frustration, swiping at his
face in embarrassment. His heart was pounding in his chest and he felt sick, as
though he might lose his lunch any second now.

“Okay, Marine, I think
you got your answer.” Drake’s quiet voice broke the awkward silence.

Karl was startled to
feel Erin’s cool, dry hand close over his arm as she wrapped her other arm
around him. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes as well.
“But I had to know for sure that you love her. I owe her everything—I won’t let
anyone hurt her, ever.”

Karl managed to nod,
though he didn’t trust his voice enough yet to try to talk. He wrapped one arm
around Erin’s waist as her tears soaked into his shirt. He wasn’t sure why
she
was crying, but then he remembered she was pregnant and felt a moment of guilt.

“I love her,” he
finally whispered. “I would never humiliate her and I’ll do anything to win her
back.”

“You’d better!” she
sniffed.

Karl rubbed his eyes,
unable to look at Drake who was gaping at them in disbelief.

“I think we need
alcohol,” Drake muttered, heading to the kitchen.

“I’m not allowed to
drink,” Erin whispered to Karl.

He smiled wanly. “I’ll
drink one for you, okay? But you should stop crying,
‘cause
Drake’s freaking out.”

“I know.” She nodded
briskly, stepping away. “Okay, so do you have a plan?”

“For getting her back?”
Karl shook his head. “Groveling, jewelry, sex—whatever it takes.”

Erin nodded soberly.
“Might take all of that.”

Sitting in Dante’s
limousine, Kate couldn’t stop her hands from shaking. There was no way she
would miss Dave’s funeral, but she hadn’t seen anyone other than Erin since she
and Karl had left for New York back in April and she was nervous. There was no
doubt that they would be asking her questions and talking about Karl, and she
had the same sick feeling in her stomach that she got every time she thought
about him, every time she read his Twitter feed, and every time Dante asked her
if she was going to talk to him.

When the call came that
Dave had died, it was Dante who had comforted her, and Dante who had decided he
would attend the funeral with her. The Phillies were playing the Dodgers in Los
Angeles tomorrow, so the timing worked out well and Kate didn’t know if she was
more nervous about seeing her friends or the fact that they would see her with
Dante.

“You need to stop,”
Dante said, taking her hands between his. “You’re making yourself sick.”

“One of my friends
died, and everyone is going to be asking about…us.”

“There is no ‘us,’
right?” He looked completely serious. “You’re my publicist.”

“I’m also your good
luck charm, and who knows what else people have said about us.”

“Do you care?”

“You know I do.” She
lowered her eyes. “I don’t want anyone to think I slept with someone for my
success.”

“You think I never
slept with anyone?” He raised an eyebrow. “You think success comes without a
price?”

“I don’t know about
your world,” she said softly. “But I had a nice, profitable business that paid
the bills and was interesting. I didn’t sleep with anybody to get there. Now
I’ve reached another level of success, and I still haven’t. Or have I, just
metaphorically instead of physically?”

“Baby, being with me
means you don’t have to.” He sat back, his eyes suddenly hooded.

She wanted to ask him
more, but the limo slid to a stop in front of the funeral home and she wiped
her sweaty palms on her skirt. She’d texted Erin to let her know they were only
a few minutes away and spotted her immediately. As soon as the driver opened
the door, Kate was out of the car and running to her friend. They hugged
tightly.

“Oh my God, Kate, what
have you done to yourself?” Erin whispered, gazing at her friend in horror.

“What?” Kate looked
down in confusion.

“You’re so…skinny?”
Erin’s eyes were worried.

“I haven’t done
anything,” Kate protested.

“Hello, Erin.” Dante
approached, holding out his hand.

“Hello, Dante.” Erin
swallowed as she hugged him, knowing Drake had come up behind her and was
openly sizing up the baseball player. “Honey, this is Dante
Lamonte
.
Dante, my husband Drake Riser.”

“Nice to meet you.”
Dante shook his hand. “I’m sorry about the loss of your coach.”

“Thanks.” Drake nodded
briefly before reaching out to hug Kate. “How are you, sweetie?”

“I’m okay.” She
couldn’t conceal her shaking hands so she clasped them together in front of
her.

Drake looked at her for
a moment, and then at Dante. “I don’t know what your relationship is, but today
is about Tiff and Coach Dave. Karl is here—I don’t want any drama.”

“Kate is my friend,”
Dante spoke in his most polite tone of voice, the one Kate recognized as wary
and protective; the same way he spoke when someone in the media asked about
Larissa. “Karl and I have no beef unless he says something unkind.”

“He’s not going to say
anything unkind,” Drake said evenly. “I just want to make sure we’re all on the
same page.”

“Where’s Tiff?” Kate
interrupted, unable to stand the tension.

“Come on.” Erin took
her arm and glanced back at Dante before leading her away. “I’m going to kill
you!” Erin hissed once they were out of earshot.

“Why?!” Kate asked.

“Because you’re doing
something to yourself—are you taking amphetamines?!”

“No.” Kate shook her
head. “I’m not! I’m just…” She couldn’t remember what she was going to say as
they rounded a corner and walked right into Karl.

“Kate.” His heart
started to pound as he looked down at her, but his nervousness turned to
confusion as he studied her carefully. She was so thin her clothes were
practically falling off her. She had dark circles under her eyes despite her
makeup, and even her normally lustrous hair seemed somewhat dull and lifeless.

“Hello, Karl.” Kate
wasn’t sure how she found her voice but realized she was only able to whisper.
Just looking at his handsome face made her ache with missing him.

“It’s good to see you,”
he said after a moment. “I was hoping we could talk at some point.”

“I, uh, I don’t know.”
She looked down. “I’m not sure what there is to say.”

“I want to apologize
and—” He stopped abruptly as Tiff came around the corner and saw Kate.

“Kate!” She hugged her
tightly and soon both women were crying.

Erin took Karl’s arm
and pulled him a few feet away.

“What the
hell
?!”
he demanded in a harsh whisper. “How much weight has she lost?”

“I don’t know!” she
whispered back. “She didn’t look like this when I saw her last.”

“If he’s giving her
drugs…” Karl fought to keep control.

“She wouldn’t,” Erin
said. “And her eyes are clear. I would know if she was on something.”

“Then what has she
done?”

“It’s what
you
did,” she said softly. “Or what Therese did.”

He winced. “So she’s
starving herself to death because I supposedly told the whole world she was
fat.”

“That’s what I think.”

“What do I do?” he
whispered frantically.

“I don’t know yet,” she
squeezed his arm. “Let’s get through the service and I’ll think of something.”

“I’m so glad you’re
here,” Tiff was sniffling, holding Kate’s hands. “But what have you done to
yourself? Why are you so pale and drawn?”

“It’s been a crazy
time,” Kate said gently. “Don’t worry about me. Are you doing okay?”

“I may never be okay
again,” Tiff said, holding a tissue to her nose.

“I’m so sorry,” Kate
felt her own tears spilling down her cheeks. “I can’t quite believe it.”

“Me either.” Tiff
looked up as a tall Hispanic man with fascinating eyes came around the corner.

“I’m sorry.” Dante
paused. “Am I intruding?”

“Dante, this is Tiffany
Marcus. Tiff, this is Dante
Lamonte
.”

“I’m very sorry for
your loss,” Dante spoke quietly. “I met Dave at the ESPN Awards a few years
back. We sat at the bar for several hours talking hockey and baseball. I liked
him.”

Kate glanced at him,
wondering if that was true.

“Yes, he mentioned he
knew you when we heard Kate took you on as a client.” Tiff paused. “He was fond
of you as well.”

Dante inclined his
head. “If there’s anything I can do…”

“Thank you, I
appreciate that.” Tiff looked at Kate. “You’re staying a few days, right?
Please say yes.”

“Yes, of course.
Whatever you need.”

“I have to go deal with
Dave’s
other
children,” Tiff sighed, rubbing her temples.

“I haven’t met them,”
Kate murmured.

“You’re better off,”
Tiff murmured.

“Tiff, you want me to
come with you?” Drake had joined them.

“No, thanks.” She stood
up straight and made sure her skirt wasn’t crooked. “I have to deal with them
eventually, so I might as well do it now.”

“We’re here for you,”
Erin whispered.

“I know.” Tiff nodded
and moved away.

“Is Molly here?” Kate
asked, not wanting to wait for an awkward silence.

“Not yet,” Erin said.
“They’re on the way.”

“We should go sit
down,” Drake said, taking Erin’s hand in his.

They moved into the
main room together. Kate was aware of Karl’s gaze on them as Dante guided her
with his hand at the small of her back. She also knew everyone was staring at
them. She was hoping the floor would come alive and swallow her up until she
saw the casket at the front of the room. A picture of Dave’s smiling face and
mischievous eyes stood on an easel beside his body, and Kate couldn’t stop the
tears from flowing again. She’d never known anyone who wasn’t really old that
had died.

Dante automatically
handed her a tissue and she wiped her eyes, following Drake and Erin into a row
of seats. Karl sat in the row behind them and Kate could see Suze and Cody with
him. She wiggled her fingers at Suze, who was a week past her due date and
ready to give birth any day now; she looked cuter than anyone who was that
pregnant should.

“Who’s that?” Dante
whispered, thinking the blond woman was absolutely stunning, even in this late
stage of her pregnancy. He wondered if Larissa would look like that, or if she
was even capable of having so much inner beauty that it seeped through her skin
and permeated the room around her, because that’s what this woman had.

“The team captain, Cody
Armstrong, and his wife, Suzanne.”

He nodded, making
mental notes about all the people in this room. Tiffany, in particular, left
him a little speechless. How the stunning, much younger woman had married the
older gentleman he’d met several years before was a mystery to him, but her
grief appeared real. Frankly, these people were nothing like the people he
played baseball with; he was almost envious of the bond they shared and
wondered if it was like this with all NHL teams, or just this one in
particular. Or if, for whatever reason, it was his own lifestyle that kept
these kinds of people away from him. For the first time in his life, Dante
Lamonte
wondered what it would be like to be someone else.

When the service was
over, people mingled. They had the entire funeral home rented, and Kate
couldn’t wait to escape the room where Dave’s body seemed to be taking up so
much more space than it really was. Or maybe it was Karl who was taking up all the
space. She was acutely aware of his presence and the memories were flooding
back faster than she could handle them. Just breathing the same air as him was
making it hard for her to concentrate and she made her way to the far end of
the funeral home when Dante excused himself to the restroom. She desperately
needed air, but it was like she couldn’t breathe deep enough to get it.

“Kate?” Karl’s voice
was low and well-
modulated,
the same voice he’d used
when he’d told her he loved her.

“Hi.” She turned slowly,
her eyes meeting his reluctantly; the urge to touch him was almost
overwhelming.

“You’re shaking,” he
said, tenderly reaching out to steady her hands with his.

She looked down at
where their hands were now linked and felt a rush of pain so acute she almost
doubled over. “You broke me,” she whispered raggedly. “I told you if you left
me—” Tears splashed onto her cheeks and she couldn’t resist when he pulled her
into his arms; she’d never felt so raw.

“I’m sorry,” he
whispered in a desperate voice. “I didn’t write those terrible things and
nothing happened with Therese—she and my sister set me up! God, Kate, you have
to believe me!” His arms tightened possessively.

“I don’t know if I
can,” she sobbed into his chest.

“Baby, I never stopped
loving you. I never cheated on you, and so help me God, I never wrote that post
on my feed.”

She only cried harder,
her makeup running and staining his expensive shirt. Her body shook against
his, and he stroked her hair, wondering if he would ever be able to make things
right again. He didn’t know what had happened to the beautiful, vibrant woman
he’d been with two months ago, but he was going to make this up to her if it
killed him.

“Please give me a
chance,” he whispered.

“Kate?” Dante stood a few
feet away, his jaw working in irritation.

She started, not
wanting him to see her this way and Karl discreetly handed her a handkerchief.
She wiped her face and took a breath.

“I’m fine, Dante. I
just, Karl and I need a minute, please.”

“Of course.” He turned,
walking back the way he came.

“Are you together now?”
Karl asked, steeling himself for the answer.

She shook her head.
“How can you ask me that? I just told you that you destroyed me—you really
think I’m the type of woman who would jump from your bed to his in less than
two months?!”

“No, but you’ve been
all over the media with him…”

“He’s a client—a big
client—and after you made me a social media laughingstock, he became my friend.
He helped me through it by changing the focus from me being dumped for being
too fat to being the new girl in Dante
Lamonte’s
life. I don’t know if I would have survived if he hadn’t done that.”