Turn On A Dime - Kade's Turn (17 page)

And that had been the end of it. Blane had refrained from any lectures over the years, though Kade had certainly deserved them. What had remained was Kade’s task—getting Blane to a state of normalcy.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Kade spent the rest of the day digging up everything he could on every single person involved in the case Blane was defending. Kyle Waters was a decorated SEAL, as had been the men with whom he’d served on the ill-fated mission. The ex-wife was a piece of work, though Kade supposed she was entitled to a little bitterness after her miscarriage. The divorce had come swiftly after that, Kyle deployed for the entire proceedings.

He kept tabs on Kathleen and saw when she left her apartment—as he’d told her not to do—ending up at some hotel downtown where she stayed most of the day. Kade briefly entertained the thought of calling her to see what the hell she was doing, but then she’d know he had a tracker on her.

What was she doing at a hotel? Was she seeing someone else behind Blane’s back? The thought should have irritated him. Instead, a little voice inside his head said that if she wasn’t into Blane any longer, then maybe Kade had a shot…

Kade shoved the thought away as he surveyed himself in the mirror. Tuxes weren’t really his thing, but women seemed to like them. Would Kathleen think he looked good in a tux? He snorted at the thought. Like he should care what she thought. Grabbing the jacket and bowtie, he headed downstairs. He found Mona in the kitchen and handed her the tie.

“I’ve taught you how to do this a dozen times,” she said mildly, wrapping the length of silk around his neck.

“And I’ve told you, I don’t want to learn,” he replied.

Mona chuckled and shook her head. Kade’s lips lifted in a half-smile as she patiently tied the bowtie.

“There. Perfect,” she said. “Are you and Blane going to Kandi’s party?”

“Unfortunately,” Kade said.

“Is he taking Kathleen, too?” she asked.

Kade shook his head, snagging a meatball from the plate where Mona had set them and popping it into his mouth. “She’s gotta work,” he mumbled.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Mona automatically chastised. “That’s too bad. I’m sure she would have enjoyed it. The Millers’ Christmas parties are always nice.”

“They should be for how much she spends on them,” Kade said with a snort.

Just then, Blane entered the kitchen. Of course
his
bowtie was already perfectly done. Spying the meatballs, he grabbed one.

“Will you boys stop?” Mona said, slapping at Blane’s hand. “I just made those.”

“And we’re just eating them,” Kade said, sneaking another one while she was occupied with Blane.

Mona huffed, but wasn’t successful at hiding a smile.

“When will you be there?” Blane asked.

“Not until I absolutely have to,” Kade said. Blane gave him a look. “I’ve got to take Kathleen to work first, then I’ll show,” he said. The GPS had shown her returning to her apartment an hour ago. He waited to see if Blane would ask about Kathleen, but it seemed he didn’t want to open that particular can of worms again.

“Gotta go,” Kade said to Mona, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “See you later.” He snagged another meatball as he passed by.

“You boys have fun,” she called after him. “Kade, tell Kathleen I said hello.”

Kade didn’t bother knocking when he reached Kathleen’s, he just let himself in. He was nervous after last night. Would she look at him differently? Would he see the pity again in her eyes? He didn’t know if he could handle that.

He heard her in the bathroom. The door was open, so she must be doing her hair or putting on her makeup. Kade hoped she was doing her hair. He’d like to watch that. Maybe she wouldn’t think it was too weird.

Kade silently leaned against the doorjamb to the bathroom. Damn. She was already done with her hair. But she was wearing that cocktease Santa outfit again, so that was a definite plus.

“Nice night, princess,” he said. He couldn’t help a smile. It was strange, how he felt when he saw her. No one else made him feel that way. Anticipation and pleasure—and all he was doing was talking to her. Donovan’s words echoed in his head before he shoved them away.

She spun around in surprise and Kade caught a flash of relief cross her face. Why? Was she glad he was there? And if so, was it because she was afraid? Or maybe, just maybe, she’d wanted to see him, too?

“Hey,” she said. Her gaze dropped to the tux he wore and Kade was gratified to see a flicker of appreciation in her eyes. “Going somewhere?”

This should be interesting. “Kandi’s Christmas party is tonight,” he said. He noticed her mouth was swollen and hope flared briefly. She’d been kissing someone else today—she
was
having an affair.

“Is Blane going?” she asked with forced nonchalance that didn’t fool Kade for a second. She brushed past him on her way to the living room. He caught a whiff of her perfume.

“It would seem so,” Kade said, taking her coat from her and holding it so she could slide her arms into the sleeves. It was an excuse to touch her. Now that he was close, he could see that yes, her mouth was swollen, but it was cut, too, which meant someone had hit her. Someone who’d just put themselves on Kade’s shit list. People on that list had a nasty habit of dying, usually in a painful, drawn-out kind of way.

“What happened today?” he asked, sliding his hands under her hair to lift it from underneath the collar. The strands were so soft, his fingers lingered longer than they should have.

“What do you mean?”

Kade lightly grasped her chin, forcing her to look at him. His thumb touched her abused lip, and she winced. “This is what I mean,” he said. How the hell had this happened? “I told you to stay put today. I see you did your usual bang-up job of not listening.”

“It’s nothing,” she said, pulling away from him. “And you gave me a promotion, remember? I had a job to do.”

Yeah, he was already regretting that promotion.

“Aren’t you going to be late for the party?” she asked.

“Wanted to take you to work first,” Kade said. “Make sure you arrive alive.” His eyes narrowed as he tried to think of how he could figure out who’d hit her.

“Great, let’s go,” she said.

Although Kade had already checked outside and knew there were no lurking threats, he didn’t tell Kathleen that. Instead, using it as an excuse to wrap an arm around her and pull her close, shielding her with his body as they walked to her car. It seemed she’d come to accept it, and didn’t protest.

Following in his car, Kade walked her into The Drop and settled at the bar while she clocked in and stashed her purse. She set a cup of coffee in front of him while his gaze roamed down to her thighs, covered in thin nylon that would feel like silk against his hand.

“You don’t have to stay, you know,” she said. “I can take care of myself.”

There was nothing Kade could say to that ridiculous assertion that wouldn’t piss her off, so he just looked at her over the rim of the coffee mug. She had no trouble reading his unspoken thought.

“I ran into some trouble today,” she said defensively, “but I’m fine. So go. Have a good time tonight.” Her smile was fake, but hey, at least she made the effort.

It was better to leave now. She was safe here and he could go put in his appearance at the party and leave in plenty of time to take her home. “I’ll be back by closing,” he said, taking one last sip of the coffee. Sliding off the stool, he headed for the door.

Kandi’s father’s house was overflowing with people, as Kade had known it would be. Kade’s perfectly done bowtie lasted exactly thirty minutes. By that time, he’d undone it and the top button on his shirt. He hated the constriction of a tie around his throat.

Drink in hand, he clung to the outer edges of the ballroom, avoiding people if at all possible. He didn’t have to try very hard. Most had enough sense to stay away from the man with the cold and deadly look in his eyes.

Kade watched Blane dancing with Kandi. They made a striking couple. She was clinging to him like a vine, and it didn’t seem Blane minded. When the strains of music faded, Kade saw Kandi take Blane’s hand and lead him out of the ballroom through one of the side doors.

Kade finished the rest of his drink in one swallow. He’d never before cared what Blane did in his love life, who he screwed or how many hearts he broke. Until now. Now there was an angry ball of bitterness in the pit of his stomach.

Kade wanted to follow him to wherever Kandi had led them for what he was sure would be a private room for fucking. Then he wanted to kick Blane’s ass for cheating on Kathleen as well as thank him, because if he was cheating on her, then Kade could move in.

But he didn’t follow them, because as much as he wanted Kathleen to be available, it scared him, too. Was it just because he hadn’t slept with her? Was that why he couldn’t get her out of his head? What if Donovan was right? What if it was something…more?

“You seem awfully lonely, over here by yourself.”

Kade turned from where he’d been staring at the door through which Kandi and Blane had disappeared and saw a woman had approached him. She was pretty, with dark hair and dark eyes, and perhaps older than him, but very well-preserved. A divorcee, maybe, or a rich, bored housewife.

“Being alone doesn’t make me lonely,” Kade said, handing his empty glass to a passing waiter.

“And not being alone doesn’t ensure you’re not,” she shot back.

Kade’s lips lifted in a smirk. She had sass. He liked that.

“So you came over to talk to me?” he asked, his sarcasm thick. “Keep me company?” His gaze traveled deliberately down her body and back up, lingering on the lush amount of cleavage on display. He’d seen better—Kathleen’s immediately sprang to mind—but this one would do. Maybe she’d help rid him of this fixation he had.

“Talking wasn’t the first thing on my mind, no,” she replied.

Her bluntness was appreciated, and not something Kade usually saw in the women who approached him.

“Good, because I’m shitty at small talk.” Taking her hand he led her swiftly from the room, finding an empty place as close as possible, which happened to be a bathroom.

Her dress was unzipped and on the floor before she’d managed to undo his fly. She stretched up to try and kiss him, but Kade evaded her, turning her around and fastening his mouth to her shoulder. She wore no bra and his hands cupped her breasts, making her moan.

If he closed his eyes, he could pretend it wasn’t some nameless woman who didn’t give a shit about him. He could pretend it was a girl with blonde hair kissed by the sun and blue eyes so pure they could see right through him.

Slipping a condom from his pocket—never leave home without one—Kade rolled it over his erection as the woman shimmied out of her panties. Using his knee to spread her thighs, he pushed her down, bending her over the counter, then sheathed himself inside her.

He pumped hard and fast, his eyes tightly shut and the image of Kathleen behind his lids. He felt the woman come before him, which was good because he didn’t care enough to make sure she came once he was finished.

Discarding the condom in the trash, Kade rearranged his clothes. The woman was panting, still bent over the counter. Placing his hands on her waist, he slid them up her sides, pulling her back until she stood upright, her back to his chest. Kade focused on their reflection in the mirror. She was naked, he fully dressed. Her eyes were sated as she gazed back at him.

Lifting his hands, he cupped her breasts, his thumbs flicking lightly over her erect nipples. Bending, he placed a kiss to her shoulder, trailing his lips up her neck to her ear. She smelled nice.

“Thanks for keeping me company,” he whispered. She shivered at the touch of his breath, her eyes slipping closed, then Kade was out the door and gone.

He felt better, but it hadn’t helped that he’d pictured Kathleen during that. If he wanted to get her out of his head, thinking of her while having sex with someone else probably wasn’t the best way to go about it.

As if his thoughts had conjured her out of thin air, a door across the ballroom burst open and in walked Kathleen.

Well, not walked. She was speed-walking, almost running. What was she doing here? He’d left her at work a few hours ago and she’d obviously just come from there, because she still wore the Santa outfit.

People scurried to get out of her way and now Kade saw Blane enter the ballroom in hot pursuit of Kathleen. Kade frowned, wondering what the hell was going on, then he spotted Kandi. She stood next to Senator Keaston and seemed unsurprised at the scene playing out in her ballroom.

Several people followed Blane and Kathleen, including Kade, who pushed his way to the front of the crowd in time to see Blane grab Kathleen’s arm when she reached the front door. She swung around, her fist nailing him right in the jaw.

That had to hurt—her, of course, not Blane—but it was her face that held Kade’s attention. She was paler than he’d ever seen her, and tears coursed down her cheeks.

Everyone seemed to stop breathing for a moment, including Kathleen, who looked horrified that she’d hit Blane. There was no doubt in Kade’s mind that whatever Blane had done, he probably deserved it. Then she was out the door and everyone began talking at once. Kade went up to Blane, who still stood by the door.

“What the fuck did you do?” Kade hissed, his temper raging. He felt a consuming need to protect Kathleen and to hurt whoever had hurt her.

“Not now,” Blane said in a low, tight voice. The look he shot Kade told him something was going on, but damned if Kade gave a shit right now. This hadn’t looked like the scene at the bar the other night, where Kathleen had known Blane was setting her up. This had looked pretty fucking real.

“She ran out of here, crying like you just shot her fucking cat, and you tell me ‘not now’?” Kade retorted. He got in Blane’s face. “You told me to protect her. Am I protecting her from a psycho who wants to kill her? Or a sociopath who wants to rip her fucking heart out?”