“It’ll get worse,” he said. “He’ll get desperate enough to steal from you. You can’t let him in your apartment anymore. Keep the doors locked at all times.”

“But he’s my brother.”

“He would’ve taken whatever cash you’ve got in your purse if I wasn’t here. You saw him.”

The tears finally spilled over. I wiped them away quickly, embarrassed by the turn of events.

“Well, our date’s going great, isn’t it?”

He put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me against him. “Sure it is, Viv. I’m glad I was here when he came.”

“He owes you six thousand dollars?” I asked, feeling sick.

“Yeah.”

“What’s going to happen? I’ll get it from my parents somehow if something bad’s going to happen to him.”

I felt Kane’s deep sigh. “I’m not gonna kill him or anything if that’s what you mean. I ‘ve got no idea how deep he’s in with dealers, though.”

I squeezed my eyes shut against the new tears threatening to spill. The thought of Grayson on drugs and in debt to bad people made me feel physically ill.

“Hey,” Kane said, wrapping his other arm around me. “It’s okay. I’ll write off his debt to the club. And I’ll keep my ear to the ground about who else he owes.”

I hugged him around his chest, his solid presence the only thing keeping me grounded right now.

“I’m scared for him,” I said.

“I know. But some holes we’ve gotta dig ourselves out of. He’s not ready for help yet.”

He leaned back on the couch and took me with him. I pressed my cheek to his chest, curled my legs up in between his and let the rhythm of his breathing soothe me.

“How much money does he owe you?” Kane asked softly.

“Five hundred.”

“You need some money? For yourself, I mean? Did giving him that money cut you short?”

“No. But thanks. I have the money but I could tell something was off so I told him I didn’t. It’s so unlike Grayson to grab my purse and go through it like that.”

“He’s not himself, Viv. Try not to take it personal.”

“You know someone with a drug problem?”

He exhaled deeply, my cheek sinking down slightly as his chest fell. “Yeah. Used to, anyway. Me.”

I wanted to know more, but I wasn’t going to probe about something so personal. And I needed to process things with Grayson.

“I’m sorry about this,” I said. “I can’t go back to . . . you know . . . how things were in the kitchen.”

“It’s not your fault. Don’t be sorry.”

“I understand if you’d rather go than be around me right now. I won’t be much fun tonight.”

He smoothed a hand over my hair. “I should stay the night in case Grayson comes back. I’ll take the couch.”

I closed my eyes, a new wave of nausea rolling through my stomach at the thought of needing protection from my brother.

“We could watch a movie,” I suggested.

“Sounds good.”

I passed him the remote and told him to find one, and then I curled back up in my spot on his chest. All thoughts of sex had vanished. Now all I wanted was Kane’s closeness and comfort. And he delivered, wrapping his arms around me and laying with me in silence as I wondered just how much trouble Grayson was in.

Kane

My stiff neck wouldn’t allow me to sleep anymore. I opened my eyes and squinted at the unfamiliar surroundings. Dark purple chair with a white blanket folded over the back. White bookcase full of framed photos and paperbacks. Warm, sweet-smelling woman laying on my chest.

I was in Viv’s living room. We’d apparently fallen asleep on her couch together. The TV was still on and the first rays of morning sunlight were filtering in through the curtains.

Cringing, I twisted my neck just enough to dull the ache. I’d been awkwardly wedged up against the end of the couch all night, but I’d still slept soundly until a few minutes ago.

Viv stirred on my chest and raised her head to look at me.

“Hey,” she said in a groggy tone. “We slept here all night?”

“Yeah. Must’ve been tired.”

Her hair was messy and she had dark shadows of eye makeup under her eyes. The intimacy of waking up with her had my cock twitching to attention. If I got hard now, she’d feel it. And from the way her brows were drawn together with worry, I could see she wasn’t in the mood for sex.

“Maybe Grayson texted,” she said, picking up her phone from the coffee table. She swiped the screen and her face fell. “No. Nothing. I hope he’s okay.”

“I’m sure he’s fine,” I said, shifting to relieve the pressure on my neck.

Viv slid off me and stood up. “You want coffee?” she asked, combing her hands through her messy waves of hair.

“No, I need to get going. I was planning to stop by the club when I left here last night and make sure things were going okay. I need to go count the deposits and make sure no one fucked ‘em up.”

I used her bathroom, put my boots on and slid into my leather jacket. She was sitting on the couch, elbows on her knees, looking lost in thought.

“I’m sorry about last night,” she said. “I was hoping we’d be waking up together this morning, but not like this.”

Her sheepish smile tugged at me, and I walked over and sat down next to her. “Hey. Don’t apologize. Shit happens.”

“When do I get to see you again?”

I was taken aback by the hope in her eyes. She wanted to see me again soon. Really wanted to. And not like most women, who looked at me this way after I’d fucked them senseless. There was something about the most boring, average parts of me that Viv liked. It blew my fucking mind every time I realized it.

“How ‘bout Sunday night?” I said. “Or is that a bad night since you have to work Monday?”

“No, Sunday’s good.”

“I’d say tonight, but I can’t miss a Friday night and a Saturday night at work back to back.”

She kissed my cheek just above the line of my beard, her soft lips brushing over my skin with just a touch of wetness. “Sunday’s good, Kane.”

I stood. “I’ll call you. And uh . . . if you feel like stopping in at the club tonight for a drink, you know . . . you can.”

I sounded gruff, though I didn’t mean to. It was damn hard, this dating thing. Or whatever it was called. I wasn’t a nose-rubbing, can’t wait to see you again, pookie type of guy.

“Okay,” she said as I turned for the door. “Thanks for staying last night.”

I turned back to face her. “If Grayson comes back, don’t let him in. Don’t give him money. Call me if you need help.”

“I’ll be okay. Don’t worry.”

I walked to the door and reached for the handle. “I’d kiss you, but my breath probably reeks right now.”

“It’s okay.” She grinned at me. “Mine’s probably not great, either.”

“See you later.”

“Bye, Kane.”

I left, heaving out an exhale after I’d closed the door. Normally I was out the door once the sex was over, but this thing with Viv was new territory for me. We hadn’t even slept together and I’d stayed the night. My sore as shit neck would be reminding me of it all day. And truthfully, I liked where things were with Viv. Though if she was ready for more Sunday night and her deadbeat asshole of a brother didn’t get in the way again, I aimed to please her.

I couldn’t keep my eyes off the front door of the club for more than a minute at a time. Every time I tried to focus on something else, I ended up looking up front to see if Viv had walked in. I had a good vantage point from the balcony of one of the sky suites.

A deep roar, followed by the sound of breaking glass, pulled my attention to the suite behind me.

“You fuckin’ prick!” Gary Kelso bellowed. “No one’s that lucky.”

I came in from the balcony and closed the door behind me, sealing out the sounds of thumping music from below.

Gary was pissed as fuck. A vein in his neck bulged as he pointed at the man across from him, who held his hands up in mock surrender.