Point of No Return

CHAPTER TWELVE

Branna launched herself at Kade, throwing her arms around his neck and planting her lips on his.

Blane and I watched as the kiss went on for entirely too long, in my opinion. Branna finally pulled back, then shocked me again by taking a step back and giving Kade a sound slap on his cheek.

“You’re such a bastard,” she groused in her lilting Irish accent. “You fall off the grid and don’t even tell me where you’re going. Bloody hell.”

Kade didn’t seem a bit surprised by her actions. “What the hell are you doing here?” he asked.

“That’s a fine way to greet me,” she retorted. “I’ve been worried sick and here you’ve been”—she glanced around, zeroing in on me sitting on the couch, and it didn’t take a psychic to see the utter contempt in her eyes—“screwing the bartender in the Middle-of-Nowhere, Fucking-Indiana.”

That got my dander up pretty darn quick. “Listen, you—”

“Yeah, we gotta talk,” Kade said, cutting me off. Grabbing Branna’s arm, he hauled her toward the kitchen and out of earshot.

Blane sat down next to me on the couch. “I take it you know her?” he asked.

I glanced at him, noticed his gaze was traveling from where I clutched the sheet to my naked breasts and down to where way too much of my thighs was showing. “Um, yeah. We’ve met,” I replied. My mom had always taught me: If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. So that’s where I left it.

“Nice shoes.”

Shit. This had turned from a good idea into a mortifying disaster. I stood, wanting to make a quick exit, but was caught up short by the rest of the sheet trapped underneath Blane.

“Um, you’re on my sheet,” I said, blushing furiously.

Blane looked singularly unrepentant. Grasping the fabric in one hand, he stood and slowly wrapped the sheet around me, getting way too close to do so and tucking the tail in the valley between my breasts.

“Looks like our arrival interrupted something,” he said softly. “Can’t say I’m sorry about that.”

I swallowed. Nice. Branna was kissing Kade while Blane was touching me way too intimately and bragging about cock-blocking Kade. Well, this had all turned to shit pretty damn fast. Yeah, let’s all three of us go on a road trip! Whose fucktastic idea had that been?

My ears were straining to listen to Branna and Kade in the kitchen, but I didn’t hear anything. Were they kissing again?

“I’d better go get some clothes on,” I said, avoiding Blane’s eyes. He didn’t try to stop me as I hurried down the hall, my ridiculous high heels click-clacking on the floor.

Once I got to my bedroom, I hurriedly dropped the sheet, then bent to undo the stilettos strapped to my feet.

“You forgot this.”

I let out a startled cry, spinning around to see Blane standing in the doorway, my black robe in his outstretched hand. His eyes burned a path down my body.

“Blane!” I cried, making a grab for the discarded sheet and holding it in front of me. “You could’ve knocked!”

“Then I’d have missed the view,” he said, a wicked gleam in his eyes and a tilt to his lips. Before I could retort, he was gone, closing the door behind him.

I sat heavily on the edge of the bed, wondering how things had gotten so complicated so fast.

Grabbing a pair of yoga pants, I pulled them on then yanked a T-shirt over my head. In moments, I was back down the hall and found all three of them together again in the living room.

Branna was glaring at me as though she wanted to slap me the way she had Kade, or even harder. I returned the sentiment.

“We all need to get some sleep before we leave in the morning,” Kade said.

“Wait,” I interrupted. “Who’s ‘we’?” If he so much as hinted that Branna was coming along—

“All four of us,” he replied evenly.

“Oh no,” I said, shaking my head. “She is definitely not coming along.”

“Afraid I’ll kick your ass again, sweetie?” Branna asked, venom coating her words.

My anger wasn’t far under the surface and it sprang to life, fueled in no small part by jealousy. I shot her a glare. “Just try it, you little Irish bitch,” I hissed.

“With pleasure, hillbilly whore.”

Branna came at me and I eagerly went for her, my fingers curling into claws. I couldn’t wait to inflict some damage on her perfect, sneering face . . .

“Whoa there!” Kade said.

Blane grabbed me just as Kade wrapped an arm around Branna, the two of them stopping us from tearing into each other. She twisted and struggled in Kade’s grip, as I did in Blane’s, but neither of us could break free, which just pissed me off even more.

“Let me go!”

“I don’t think so,” Blane replied. He sounded a bit surprised by my behavior, not that I cared. I was still fuming that the best-possible outlet for my pent-up fury had been suddenly derailed.

“You two, play nice,” Kade ordered.

“I. Hate. Her,” I seethed, glaring at the object of my intense dislike.

“The feeling is mutual,” Branna spat.

“Well, this should be fun,” Blane deadpanned, looking over at Kade.

“Enough!” Kade said. “I don’t care if you two aren’t going to be besties, but you have to get along.”

“Tell her that,” I gritted out. “She’s the one who has problems following directions, right, Branna?” She’d been supposed to “train” me in hand-to-hand combat, the only time Kade had asked for her assistance, but instead she had used the opportunity to beat me up. Kade had been pissed.

“I don’t like to piss away opportunities handed to me on a silver platter,” she retorted.

I’d stopped struggling against Blane, my temper temporarily under control, but his arms were still locked around me. “Let me go,” I said. “I’ll play nice if she will.” For now.

Blane slowly released me, as though he didn’t quite believe me and wanted to be able to grab me again should I launch myself at Branna. Kade similarly released Branna, who didn’t cease glaring at me.

I caught Blane and Kade glancing uneasily at each other and a slight embarrassment crept over me for my fit of temper, but I was still too consumed with dislike and jealousy to be really embarrassed.

“I only have two beds,” I said. “Mine, and the twin one upstairs. Branna will have to sleep on the floor.” I smiled coldly at her.

“She can have the bed,” Blane said. “I’ll take the floor.”

Of course. Blane’s chivalry would extend to Branna, I thought irritably.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll get you some blankets.”

I glared again at Branna as I passed, brushing my shoulder hard against her. She stumbled back, then took a step toward me, fire flashing in her eyes. But Kade grabbed her arm, stopping her. I smiled sweetly.

When I returned, I handed Blane some bedding and a pillow. Kade and Branna were gone, but I could hear them walking around upstairs. Kade must have taken her to the bedroom. Good thing, too, because if I had, she might’ve suffered an “accident” on the stairs.

“Sorry I don’t have a place for you to sleep,” I said. I felt bad that Blane would have to sleep on the cold, hard floor. “You and Kade can take my bed,” I offered. “I can sleep on the couch.”

“The day I take a pregnant woman’s bed and make her sleep on the couch is the day I give up my man card,” Blane joked.

“Not to mention that sleeping with another guy is just weird,” Kade added, stepping into the room. He was alone. “Even if we’re related.”

I smiled at that, Kade’s easy manner making the tension in my shoulders relax. Then I remembered Branna and stiffened again.

“So will you two tell me how Branna is in my house and why she’s coming with us?” I asked.

“She showed up at the house,” Blane said, turning to Kade. “Had a fine time kicking my ass before demanding to know where you were.”

“She attacked you?” I asked, anger rising again. My hands clenched into fists. Yet another reason to hate Branna, as if I didn’t have plenty already.

Blane seemed to read my mind, his eyes flashing to mine. “I’m fine, Kat,” he said.

“It’s not like she’s going to hurt him,” Kade interjected, scoffing.

I got in his face. “I don’t like her trying to hurt him,” I argued. “Any more than I like her kissing you.” I poked his chest for emphasis.

“She can help us,” Kade insisted. “So she’s coming along whether you like it or not.”

A little part inside me curled up into a pain-stricken ball at those words, but I kept my face carefully impassive.

“Have you told her who we are?” Blane asked. “You and me?”

Kade tore his gaze from mine to look at Blane. “No. I just told her to come to you if she ever needed me and couldn’t find me. That you’d know where I was. But she doesn’t know we’re brothers.”

“And who is she to you, exactly?” Blane persisted. “You’ve never mentioned her.”

Kade hesitated and I knew why. He and Branna had been in the same foster home as children for a short while. He’d saved her from being molested, enduring beatings and abuse for his interference. And I knew he wanted to tell Blane none of that.

“We met a long time ago,” Kade hedged. “We’ve done some work together. I’ve never mentioned her, the same way I never mention any of my work to you. You know I keep that shit separate.”

“Except when that shit turns up on my doorstep and I have no fucking clue what’s going on,” Blane said. “And why am I not surprised that a ‘friend’ of yours would be deadly? Not to mention that I really don’t like that at some point you let her beat up Kathleen.”

Kade winced at that. “That may have been a slight error in judgment,” he admitted. “But she can still help us.”

“You really think that’s a good idea?” Blane asked, tipping his head ever so slightly toward me.

Kade’s eyes met mine. “You know Branna and I have a history,” he said.

I wondered just what that history included. I’d known for a while that Branna was in love with him. Had they slept together? Were they lovers? Maybe friends with benefits? Kade had never said and I hadn’t asked. I wasn’t about to humiliate myself by doing so now.

“Yeah, I know you have a history,” I said stiffly. “I was wondering more about the present.”

I turned away and headed back to my bedroom. I hadn’t forgotten how Kade had said us getting together had been a mistake. Now, with Branna by his side for the immediate future, I wondered if my chances to convince him otherwise had just gone up in smoke.

The now usual morning routine of retching before my shower had me feeling more depressed and tired than usual. I wandered into the kitchen once I was dressed, trying to think of something that sounded good despite my temperamental tummy.

Blane was already in there, leaning against the counter and sipping a cup of coffee.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

I opened the refrigerator, morosely eyeing the contents. “Tired,” I said glumly. “Where’s Kade?” I’d noticed his absence when I’d passed by the living room. Maybe he’d decided to share Branna’s bed, I thought bitchily.

“He went to pick up some supplies for the trip,” Blane replied. “Branna went with him.”

Of course she had. I closed the refrigerator door, any desire to try and eat something now completely gone.

“I like your house,” Blane said, changing the subject. He handed me a cup of coffee. “It’s very . . . you.”

That made me smile a little. “Thanks.” The coffee smelled good and I took a cautious sip. I wanted to sit outside, craving the peaceful feeling it gave me. “Want to sit on the porch with me?”

Blane smiled. “Sure.”

He followed me outside and sat down next to me on the wicker couch. The blanket I’d left was still there and he tucked it around me against the early morning chill. We sat in companionable silence and I let out a deep sigh.

“I’m worried about you,” Blane said after a while.

I had finished the last of my coffee and was setting aside the mug when he spoke. I glanced up at him, frowning. “Why? I’m fine.”

“I’m really proud of you, that you moved back home, bought this house, and seem bound and determined to have this baby alone,” he said. “But I know you need more than money and a house.” His brushed my hair back with his hand. “You need Kade.”

I looked away, unsure what to say.

“I was so pissed at him,” Blane continued. “When he came by the house, told me he was leaving. I was still reeling and wasn’t thinking straight, or I’d have known right away he was full of shit, the things he said.”

“What did he say?” I asked.

But Blane shook his head. “You don’t want to know. Robert has played me for a fool before and I should’ve realized he’d have found another way, through Kade.”

“Kade said Keaston’s worried I’m going to come out of the woodwork in ten years with your love child or something,” I said. “And even when I asked him why he didn’t just tell him the baby’s not yours, he said it had been a mistake, me and him.” Repeating Kade’s words made my stomach twist.

Blane sighed. “He needs you, whether he wants to admit it or not.” He lifted my chin in his hand and our eyes met. “If you don’t fight for him, if you just let him go, then he won’t survive. I saw it in his eyes. He came back to Indy to say goodbye to me, to you, and I’m sure whatever job he took next, it would have been his last.”

I stared at Blane in shock. “I—I . . . he told me he wanted to say goodbye,” I stammered, “but I didn’t think he meant . . .” I couldn’t finish the sentence.

“I think Kade is hanging by a very thin thread,” Blane continued. “We’ll go to DC. I’ll have it out with my uncle. And you have to convince Kade you need him more than he hates himself.”

I swallowed. This had to be hard for Blane. “I’m sorry,” I said, “about you and me—”

“This isn’t about me or the past,” he interrupted gently. “This is about you, Kade, and the baby. I’ll be fine.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I want my brother alive, Kat. And you’re the only one who can convince him he’s worth saving. Not even I can do that.”

Tears swam in my eyes. I didn’t deserve how nice Blane was being to me, didn’t deserve him still caring about me after all we’d been through. But I was grateful for it.

I leaned into him, wrapping my arms around his waist in a hug. He hugged me back and I felt his lips brush the top of my head.

Kade suddenly stepped outside. When he saw me in Blane’s arms, his eyes turned cold and hard. “So sorry to interrupt a tender moment, but we need to get going.”

“You’re right,” Blane said, releasing me and getting to his feet. “Kathleen’s been sick and hasn’t eaten, but we can just grab her something on the road, right?”

I frowned. That didn’t sound like Blane, but he was already heading inside.

Kade’s head swiveled back, his gaze pinning me. “You were sick again today?”

“I’m sick every day,” I corrected him. “The nausea wears off after a while, then I can eat.”

Kade frowned. “But you can drink coffee?”

I shrugged. “I didn’t say it made sense.”

“I don’t want to leave until you get something to eat,” he said. “What sounds good? I’ll go get it.”

I was taken aback by Kade’s concern, then abruptly realized what Blane had done. Kade had always taken care of me when I’d needed someone to, so Blane was playing off that now.

“Gosh, I don’t know,” I said. I stood, then faked a little stumble. Kade was there instantly, an arm around my waist. “Wow, I guess I didn’t realize my blood sugar was so low,” I said. Good gravy, I really sucked at this, but Kade seemed to buy it. I leaned on him, wrapping an arm around his neck. He’d showered and smelled really good.

“You didn’t eat anything but fries and pickles last night—no wonder you’re weak,” he groused, but concern laced his words. “Come on. Sit inside where it’s warm and I’ll make you some eggs.”

“Eggs sound good. And bacon,” I said, smiling a little to myself. I let him help me inside and he sat me at the kitchen table. I watched while he scrambled some eggs and cooked them, openly admiring the way his body moved. Dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, his gun stuffed in the small of his back, it was an incongruous sight to see—an admitted assassin making me breakfast in my country kitchen filled with rooster decor and homespun appliance cozies.

“Here you go,” he said, sliding some eggs and bacon onto a plate in front of me. Just then, Branna walked in.

“I thought we were going,” she said.

“We are,” Kade said. “Getting something to eat first.”

Branna frowned. “But we already ate.”

Oh, they had, had they? The eggs suddenly didn’t taste as good.

“Kathleen hasn’t,” Kade said, a note of warning in his voice.

“Well, she might want to skip a meal or two,” Branna said breezily. “These jeans I borrowed are about to fall off me, they’re so big.”

And that’s when I noticed she was wearing my clothes. My fork clattered to the plate and I shoved back my chair as I stood, the legs scraping against the wooden floor.

“Why are you wearing my clothes?” I asked, my supposed low blood sugar forgotten as my temper began to heat up.

“I needed something to wear,” she said, sending me a you’re-an-idiot look.

“And who said you could steal my clothes?” I bit out.

“Borrow,” she corrected me. “Trust me, I’d rather burn them than keep them.”

“Branna, dial back the bitchy,” Kade interrupted, his brows furrowed in irritation.

“I don’t think she can,” I sneered. “It just comes too natural.” I spun around and hurried down the hall. I could feel tears threatening and the last thing I wanted was for Branna to see me cry.

Damn! These stupid hormones! I slammed my bedroom door behind me and blinked back the tears, taking deep breaths. I was so sick of crying at the drop of a hat.

Okay, I had to pack. I pulled my little suitcase out of my closet and started throwing things in, Branna’s words echoing in my head. I had no idea what we’d be doing in DC, but I wasn’t going to look like a country bumpkin next to her.

I tossed in the flimsiest underwear and bras I had, then added the evening gown I’d bought in Vegas but never worn. After a moment’s hesitation, I tucked my peacock-blue stilettos in as well, then added more sensible things like jeans and shorts. A couple of summer dresses, my Vegas bikini, makeup, and I was set.

I was wearing yoga pants and a T-shirt, mainly because the pants were nice and stretchy and felt good on my slightly expanded tummy. Branna’s bitchy comment about my jeans being too big for her had me digging through my closet for my skinny jeans. I shucked the yoga pants, then thought twice and tossed them into the suitcase before pulling on the jeans.

Oh. Wow. Okay, this was going to be difficult. I jumped several times, finally managing to hoist them up over my hips and ass, but then I couldn’t zip them.

I muttered curses as I tried to get the zipper up but couldn’t. Finally, I lay down flat on the bed, sucked in my tummy, and held my breath. When I did that, I could get them zipped and buttoned, but only just.

Standing up, I winced. Yeah, this should be okay, so long as I didn’t sit. Or breathe. No problem.

I grabbed a different shirt from my closet, yanking off the T-shirt I was wearing and putting on the new top. Made of a thin, pale pink material, it was sleeveless and buttoned up the front. I left three buttons undone. My ass might be too big, but my boobs weren’t, even though they’d gotten a little fuller in the past couple of weeks. Hopefully the ample cleavage on display would distract someone from noticing that my jeans were too tight. And by someone I meant Kade.

I slipped on a pair of flat sandals and rolled my suitcase down the hall. Kade was waiting for me.

“Did you get enough to eat?” he asked. “You didn’t finish your eggs.”

My cheeks burned. I didn’t want to discuss food with him, not when I’d been so embarrassed by the things Branna had said. I didn’t think I was the kind of woman who obsessed over my weight, but what would Kade think in three months when I would be six months pregnant? Would he be disgusted, think I was fat? I refused to consider the possibility that he wouldn’t be around in three months.

I avoided Kade’s eyes, fussing with my suitcase instead. “Yeah, I’m fine. Ready to go.”

He took the suitcase from me, moving in to stand close.

“Hey,” he said, making me look up at him. “I’m sorry about Branna. She’s always been . . .” He hesitated.

“A bitch?” I offered, making him smile slightly.

“Possessive,” he countered.

I stiffened. “I didn’t realize you and she were . . . involved.” My heart sank. I’d been hoping Kade hadn’t had that kind of relationship with Branna.

“It was a long time ago and very short-lived,” Kade explained. “We’re friends now, colleagues, nothing more.”

“Does she know that?” I said bitterly.

Kade regarded me seriously. “I told her then that she and I weren’t going to happen again, but I don’t know if she ever really believed me.”

“She’s in love with you,” I said, my voice flat. Kade winced. “If you aren’t in love with her, too, then you’re being cruel not to tell her.” And I could’ve been speaking for myself as well as Branna.

Kade’s eyes searched mine, then he gave a curt nod.

“Let’s go,” he said, and I followed him out the door, locking the house up tight behind me.

Branna and Blane were standing outside, talking, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Kade put my suitcase in the trunk of his Mercedes. I really, really hoped we were taking two cars, because if I had to be in the same car with Branna for nine hours, I just might kill her. To my relief, both Blane and Kade had their keys out.

I stepped up to Kade’s passenger door at the same time Branna did.

“Excuse me, but I believe you have the wrong car,” Branna said, her eyes challenging me.

There was one thing I absolutely would not do, and that was lower myself to fighting over a man. I hated Branna for how she treated me, and yes, I was jealous, too. But I would not stand there and bicker over who got to ride with Kade like we were two sixteen-year-old twits.

“Fine,” I said with a thin-lipped smile. I turned away.

“Kathleen rides with me,” Kade said, stopping me in my tracks. “Branna, you ride with Blane.”

Branna’s fair skin turned pink, but she didn’t say anything, brushing by me to get in the front seat of Blane’s Jaguar. Kade got into his car and I slid into the front seat as well.

The miles flew by and Kade turned on satellite radio. I was really regretting the jeans choice. It felt like I was being cut in two and my stomach was aching. Clearly, vanity had gotten in the way of my common sense.

Being locked in a car with Kade for nine-plus hours, though, was a prime opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. After debating several different openings, I at last picked one and cleared my throat.

“So . . .” I said brightly, glancing over at him. His sunglasses concealed his eyes from me. “I was thinking I really like the name Miranda. Or maybe Luke, if it’s a boy. What do you think?” Nothing like jumping right off that conversational cliff.

Kade’s hands tightly gripped the wheel, but he didn’t say anything. I tried again.

“Or maybe, if it’s a girl, we could name her after your mother,” I said. “What was her name?”

This time I waited, letting the silence between us get thick and uncomfortable. Eventually, Kade answered.

“Shouldn’t you be naming it after a famous Turner?” he asked briskly.

My stomach dropped. He meant that I’d have no choice but to use my last name, because he wouldn’t be offering his. I should look on the bright side—at least it seemed he’d acknowledged that I wasn’t going back to Blane. While that should have been consoling, it wasn’t, and I turned to stare sightlessly out the window.

Nausea began curdling inside my stomach about an hour later, and I leaned my forehead against the cool glass of the window. If I took deep breaths and focused, maybe I wouldn’t get sick. Between not eating enough earlier when I was hungry and the tension between Kade and me, plus the jeans from hell, I wasn’t doing so great.

A few bumps in the road later, and I knew I wasn’t going to make it much longer.

“Can we stop somewhere for a minute?” I asked, my voice weak. I didn’t turn my head, too focused on not puking to look at Kade.

“Yeah, sure.”

To my relief, we were near an exit and minutes later he was pulling into a gas station. I barely waited for the car to stop before I was out and hurrying inside. And not a moment too soon. I’d barely locked the bathroom door before I was heaving.

When it was over, I washed out my mouth and splashed some water on my face. I thought the nausea had gotten better, but my body didn’t seem to like my empty stomach or riding in a car. Even a Mercedes. The thought of food made me want to retch again, so I didn’t buy anything to eat before heading back outside.

Kade was leaning against his Mercedes, waiting for me. When I emerged, he pushed himself away from the car and approached me.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

I nodded, giving him a wan smile. “Fine.” So much for trying to look sexy. Knowing I’d just thrown up in a gas station bathroom was enough to put any man off.

It seemed everything I tried to say or do to bring Kade closer to me was backfiring. All the misguided effort was depressing and demoralizing. And if I thought the day couldn’t get any worse, I was way wrong.

Even though I had nothing in my stomach, I had to ask Kade to stop four more times before we finally hit the outskirts of DC. We’d gone through a drive-thru somewhere in Ohio around midday, but the smell of grease had been enough to send me hurtling from the car. Fortunately, Kade had made short work of his meal by the time I returned. He’d tried to get me to eat, but just the thought of trying to get something down had turned my stomach.

I was miserable and weak by the time Kade pulled into a motel parking lot. It was one of those places I always teased him about, though that was the last thing I felt like doing at the moment. I just wanted to lie down on something stationary, like a bed, and take off the damn jeans, which I’d decided I would burn at the earliest opportunity.

I waited in the car for Kade to rent a room, my head lolling against the headrest. I dozed, jerking awake when he opened the car door. He drove across the lot to one of the rooms and parked again. I saw Blane park a space or two down from us.

Kade got out of the car, then met Blane and handed him a key. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Kade was there at the car door as I opened it. I slung my purse over my shoulder. My hands were shaking and it took a lot of effort just to stand. But I was highly motivated. A bed was mere yards away. I just had to make it inside, then I could collapse.

I took a step, only to have Kade sweep me up in his arms.

“I’ve got you,” he said softly, and I was too tired to argue. I rested my head against his shoulder as he walked to the motel room door, which Blane was holding open. A moment later, Kade deposited me on one of the two beds. Slipping its strap from my shoulder, he set my purse aside, then took off my sandals.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t realize I’d get carsick.”

“Don’t apologize,” he said, his fingers brushing my cheek. “Blane went to get some things for you. Just rest.”

I closed my eyes, his touch comforting me, and soon I was asleep.

When I woke, night had fallen, and I felt a little better, albeit weak and thirsty. I sat up, glancing around.

Kade stood from where he’d been lying on the other bed and sat down next to me.

“Feel any better?” he asked.

I nodded. “What time is it?”

“Elevenish,” he replied. He grabbed a bottled sports drink from the table between the two beds and twisted the cap off. “Here. Can you drink this?”

I nodded, taking it from him. It tasted good and I emptied the bottle in a few big gulps. The gnawing pit in my stomach eased a bit.

“Where are Blane and Branna?” I asked.

“Next door.”

I wondered how that was going.

“I’ve got to get out of these jeans,” I muttered. I lay back on the bed and undid the button and zipper. My stomach immediately felt ten times better. Okay, lesson learned.

I peeled the denim down over my hips and slid the fabric lower, off my legs, then kicked the hated jeans onto the floor.

“Christ, Kathleen!” Kade exclaimed, pushing me onto my back and yanking up my shirt.

I glanced down and winced. Yeah, the jeans had left red marks and indentations. Nice.

“What the fuck did you wear those for if they’re too tight?” Kade asked. “Is that why you’ve been puking all day?”

Face flaming, I pushed his hands away and let my shirt drop, covering my abdomen. “She said I was fat, okay?” I retorted. Yes, I knew I’d been stupid. I didn’t need Kade to point it out. “And she’s right, because my shorts didn’t fit yesterday and I used to be able to zip these jeans, but now I just want my stretchy pants . . .” Suddenly, I was bawling.

Kade looked at me like I was crazy, which didn’t help. I turned away from him, but he reached out and rolled me back.

“You’re insane,” he said, brushing tears from my cheeks, “and if I’d known those ridiculous jeans were doing this to you all day, I’d have taken them off you myself.”

My tears dried up as quickly as they’d come. God, the mood swings were killing me. But we were in a motel, just me and Kade, and maybe I could work this to my advantage.

“I’d love to brush my teeth and have a shower,” I said hopefully.

Kade took the bait immediately. “I can help with that,” he said. He gathered some things from my suitcase and helped me into the bathroom.

I brushed my teeth and hair, stripped, and stepped under the hot spray of water. After washing, I called out for Kade, who was instantly at the door.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

I poked my wet head out from behind the limp shower curtain. “I’m feeling really weak,” I said, which wasn’t too far from the truth. “Will you help me? I don’t want to fall.”

Kade’s eyes narrowed, but I just gazed innocently back at him. Finally, he took three steps forward until he was right there in front of me.

Steam from the shower billowed around us. Feeling brave, I pushed the curtain aside. Kade’s gaze immediately dropped, skating down my body.

“You’ll get your clothes wet,” I said, tugging his shirt free of his jeans and pulling it off over his head. My hands settled on his chest, reaching up to curl around his shoulders. To my instant gratification, his palms lifted to cup my breasts, the calloused pads of his thumbs brushing the tips.

“You really think I don’t know what you’re doing?” his voice rasped gently in my ear.

I was working on his belt and since my brain had decided it could really only concentrate on one thing at a time, my “Hmm?” reply was a bit lackluster. His hands felt amazing on me, my breasts hypersensitive to the slightest touch.

Kade’s lips grazed my neck and I gasped, a moan clawing its way up my throat.

“Having sex isn’t going to convince me to stick around, princess,” Kade said against my skin. “I’m like poison to you. A death trap.”

“Not true,” I managed, burying my fingers in his inky-black hair. His mouth closed over a nipple and I promptly lost my train of thought. Kade was my fallen angel, had always been. My protector. My dark knight in black armor. I just had to convince him.

“I need you,” I breathed. “Don’t you see that?”

A loud knock on the motel door startled me. It seemed that answering it was the last thing Kade wanted to do, and whoever it was had to knock hard again before he reluctantly pulled away from me. His hair and chest were damp from my hands and the shower mist, and he didn’t bother putting his shirt back on as he left the bathroom.

I hurriedly turned off the water and grabbed one of the thin towels, wrapping it around me before cracking the bathroom door and peeking through.

Blane and Branna stood in the room. Peachy. All three glanced my way.

“Blane and I need to go check out George’s residence,” Kade said, buttoning a fresh shirt he’d put on. “Branna’s going to stay with you.”

“No way,” I said. “I’m going, too. You are not leaving me here with her like some sort of babysitter.” I didn’t even bother looking Branna’s way.

“Afraid, sweetie?” Branna piped in. The three of us ignored her.

Kade considered me for a moment, then gave a little nod. “Fine. Get dressed.”

All three went out the door and I set a new record for how fast I got dressed. My hair was wet, so I left it loose, hoping it would dry on the way to dead George’s former home. Soon, I was outside, too.

“Let’s go,” Kade said, leading me to his car. He got in the front seat while Blane held the passenger seat forward for Branna to slide into the backseat. Blane looked at me and I took the hint, stepping past him to climb in the back next to Branna, leaving the front passenger seat for Blane. As soon as the door shut, Kade pulled out of the lot.