I knew Haven’s pregnancy meant change. We’d talked about it, but honestly, I did my best to push those thoughts from my mind. When she moved back to Colorado after her breakup with Jared, that was the worst. I knew it was in her best interests, so I supported it. Now I had to do it again. Only this time, it would be permanent. She could never come back.
She had no intentions of revealing the baby to Latch. With him out of the picture as the father, I knew she had to go. He had the means to make her life miserable, and he’d put her through enough. I knew Keenan had given him an ultimatum along with a major beating. Gotta love those British knights in shining armor. It would be easier to keep Haven’s secret if she left. I’d spoken to Keenan several times on the phone and told him our future dating (ugh!) would have to be put on pause so I could spend time with her. He understood since no one knew better what she’d endured.
We left two weeks later. I drove her back home, hung out, then flew back. I had houses that needed showing and others ready to put up for sale. I was sad though, lonely. We’d been apart before, but I knew this time was different. I planned to fly out when the baby was due, then every other month to visit. I hated not having my bestie here. Our home was an echoing cavern without her.
I did spend time with Keenan. And I did allow him to take me to several events as his date. The older woman. Our affair was now being compared to Latch and Haven’s. The difference was we weren’t having an affair; we were building a friendship.
I liked him. I’d never had a male friend before. He was clever, overdramatic, and indulged in excessively drinking tea. He was British. What could I say?
During the next month, he went to New York several times to do promotional work for Blood Vestige. I found out he was no longer doing runway shows. Evidently, because he was about to turn thirty, he was no longer in high demand. The newer models were at least ten to fifteen years younger. It didn’t appear to bother him. He still did dozens of print ads, and he was the entity of Jake Coy. As long as Latch kept creating newer versions of Blood Vestige, Jake would live forever. The royalties from Blood Vestige alone made Keenan Stone a multimillionaire. Money didn’t matter to me, probably because I was already wealthy, and it appeared irrelevant to him.
The paparazzi drove me crazy. Fucking pissed me off. Every time Blood Vestige was mentioned, so were Keenan and me. We were now a package item. Those asshats even came up with a name for us: Kiwi. Men with cameras lurked outside my home and work, making it extremely hard to do my job. Many of my clients valued their privacy, so being stalked daily by the paps sucked. There were times I thought I should just retire, because working—it was something I did for fun. If I were honest, I did it to pass the time. Haven had moved away, and Keenan was traveling. Yeah, after a few months, he was growing on me like a rash.
Haven was due any day now, so I decided to go spend time with her. I hadn’t heard from her in a while, so I wanted to let her know I was coming. But I never got the chance because of the Skype call. I mean, seriously. I thought I was hallucinating. There was Latch McKay sitting next to her, looking deliciously perfect. There was something in his face I’d never seen before. A clarity. He was clean and sober, and he loved my girl. Haven rambled on about how he just showed up, not knowing she was pregnant. Then Latch spoke about rehab and writing his journals. She had really moved on. He was with her now. He would be there to support her at the birth. And he should. He was the father.
“Oh, Weezie, how are you and Keenan doing?” Haven asked as Latch smirked next to her.
“How? What? Umm…”
“You do know we get the rag mags even in this small town. What are the paps calling you two now? Oh yeah, Kiwi?” Latch said, laughing.
“Well, don’t believe everything you read. It’s not what you think. And by the way, Latch, your bro sucks, and not in a puff chore way. It’s like dating Mother Teresa in drag,” I replied as I rolled my eyes.
“Hey, don’t blame me. I tried to show him the way many times.” He snorted. “He must really like you, for reasons I have yet to fathom.” He laughed.
“Blow me, McKay.”
Latch and Haven laughed. It was friendly banter, but I was still troubled. He had hurt her both emotionally and physically. For now, he looked sober, and I prayed his rehab stuck. I’d read too many instances of the rich and famous falling off the wagon. I didn’t want my bestie and her baby to be a casualty. Still, I was optimistic he was there for the long haul.
Keenan had known about this. He was Latch’s best friend, like brothers. He had deliberately kept all of this from me. When he returned from the East Coast a few days later, I was miffed. True, I’d spent the last few days building up my anger. Not only about finding out Latch and Haven had gotten back together, but also everything else. I was sexually deprived. Basically starving for affection. Fuck my life.
He came over that night. He knew I was pissed. The British were nothing if not astute.
“You blatantly kept everything from me,” I said as I pierced him with a cold look.
“It wasn’t my tale to tell, and by the by, you didn’t say a word to me about a baby either.”
“That’s totally different. It was for safety reasons, and you know it. I wasn’t going to announce Haven was carrying Latch’s child after he just assaulted her.” My voice had definitely gotten louder. Oh shit. This was our first fight. Fuck me. We were a couple.
Keenan grabbed me gently by the elbow. “He would never hurt her.” He spoke softly as he swept his hand through his pale hair. “Latch has changed; he’s a much different man now. They belong together. You could have trusted me. I would have kept your secret, you know.”
God, he was beautiful. His eyes softened as he spoke to me, melting every part of my body. If he didn’t stop, I’d be a puddle on my floor. “It doesn’t matter now. They’re together. All I care about is Haven’s happiness and if he’s really changed. I will kill him, you know, if he hurts her again. There will be no place he can hide.”
“I know, Weezie. You are a potent force. Now say you forgive me.”
He was very close. I could feel his breath on my skin as he spoke, warm and inviting. My entire body prickled with excitement; my heart fluttered in anticipation. I had no doubt I could forgive this man for anything. He made my body come alive with sensations I’d never felt. He made me want things I’d never considered. He scared the shit out of me emotionally. In that area, I considered myself barren. I’d built the walls so high no one could get over them, but he could.
Keenan placed one of his hands on each side of my face and bent his head low. Our eyes locked in what became a defining moment. His lips brushed mine ever so softly, his teeth gently nipping my bottom lip. Then his tongue teased the corners of my mouth as he pushed forward. I wanted to be in control of this kiss. But he’d caught me off guard, and now our tongues embraced in a duel for ownership. I heard moans from both of us as he drew me into his chest. My breasts crushed into him as we embraced. The way he kissed was refined yet possessive. My body became alive as he held me tighter. All my senses became aware as my core became aroused, and I wanted nothing more than to take this to the next level.
But he wasn’t excited, not really. I felt something, but nothing to inspire me. He could kiss me like this, and I gave him zero, zip in the pants department. Seriously. What. The. Fuck? I pulled away and stood back. I felt drunk with need, but I needed to grab my bearings.