Somehow, I made it home. I was fumbling with my keys to unlock my door when Alisha’s door flew open.

“Kathleen! I’ve been so worried!” She launched herself at me, wrapping me in a huge hug.

“I’m sorry,” I said, hugging her back. “I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

Letting me go, Alisha stepped back, scrutinizing me. “What else happened?” she asked.

I shook my head. “I’ve laid enough on you lately,” I said. “I’m sure you’re sick of hearing about it.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said with a snort, grabbing my arm and hauling me into her apartment. “Sit down and tell me all about it.”

So I sat, and I told her what had happened. How I’d told Kade everything and how at first he’d reacted so great, but then he’d flipped out, or so I guessed, and left town. That Blane had taken me back to his place once they’d found me in Kade’s apartment, ending with what Blane had offered tonight.

“But I can’t do that,” I finished with a sigh. “Marry Blane and have another man’s child? That’s insane.”

Alisha didn’t say anything, just kind of squirmed.

“Right?” I persisted.

“Well . . .” she hedged.

“You’ve got to be joking. You can’t stand Blane. Now you think I should marry him?”

“It’s just that he was so worried about you,” she said plaintively. “He came by, told me how upset you were, and wanted me to go check on you in the morning. Then you didn’t answer your door, or your phone, and finally, I didn’t know what to do but call him. I think he was in court, because his secretary had to go to the courthouse to get him.”

Oh no. Blane had left court because of my drama? Now I had guilt as well as embarrassment.

“He was frantic, Kathleen,” she continued. “I know I haven’t been Blane’s biggest fan, but I thought he was going to tear this town apart, looking for you.”

I didn’t know what to say, which didn’t matter because Alisha kept talking, now going on a rant about Kade.

“. . . can’t believe he’d be such a shit about it,” she said, irritated. Getting up from the couch, she grabbed a cloth and started furiously dusting her already immaculate furniture. “Did he even have the decency to tell you to your face?”

I shook my head. “No.”

Her rag moved faster. “Of course not! Men are such assholes,” she groused. “I mean, don’t you think that was a total asshole thing to do? And since when is he such a coward?”

I couldn’t disagree.

“So what are you going to do?” she asked.

I folded my arms across my stomach. It was still hard for me to imagine, to wrap my head around that I was going to have a baby. I’d have someone of my very own to love and take care of. Would the baby be a girl with my color hair? Or a boy with eyes like his father’s?

And it suddenly struck me: I wouldn’t be alone anymore. I’d have a family.

And I knew what I had to do.

I was packed and loading my car by the time dawn rolled around. Alisha carried down Tigger in his pet carrier. He was none too happy, meowing pitifully the entire way. Bits followed her, whining as he tried to jump up on his little legs to help his friend.

“That’s all of it,” she said, setting Tigger in the passenger seat of my car. She closed the door on his complaining. “Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked.

We’d talked for hours last night, once I’d decided that I’d be leaving Indy. Alisha had thrown every argument she could think of at me, but in the end, she hadn’t been able to dissuade me. We hovered at the door to my Toyota Corolla.

“I am,” I said. “It’s barely thirty miles from here. You can come see me anytime, and I’ll come visit, too.”

“What about your job?”

“I worked ten days straight. I’m off for the next four. Romeo should be able to find a replacement by then.”

“And what are you going to do about money?” she persisted.

“I have the money Kade gave me for that job in Vegas,” I said, pushing aside the thought of the millions he’d left for me in Grand Cayman as well. I wasn’t touching that, not unless it was absolutely necessary. “And I’ll get another job.”

Alisha still looked worried, so I hugged her. “Thank you for being such a good friend,” I said. Both of us were teary when I let go.

“I’ll be back in a few weeks to get the rest of my things,” I reminded her. “The lease on my apartment isn’t up for another two months. I’ll see you again soon.” I slid behind the wheel and shut the door.

Alisha leaned through the open window. “And you’re sure you don’t want to tell Blane about this?”

My gut clenched at the mere mention of his name. I shook my head. “Not right now. I just need some time. Some space. If he asks, don’t tell him where I’ve gone, okay? I’ll get in touch with him at some point. The baby’s related to him, after all.”

Alisha didn’t look happy, but she nodded in agreement. “I won’t tell him.”

We hugged through the open window one more time, then I started the car and backed up. Smiling, I waved at Alisha as I pulled out of the lot.

I heaved a sigh that felt like it came all the way from my toes as I drove down the highway. I was heading home.

KADE

CHAPTER SEVEN

The flight attendant handed Kade the vodka tonic he’d requested, a double, and moved on down the aisle to the rest of the customers in first class. Kade stared out the window, morosely drinking the cold liquor.

The seat beside him was empty, which suited him. He didn’t want to talk, and if someone had tried to make chitchat with him, he’d have been hard-pressed not to strangle them.

And with Kade Dennon, the threat wasn’t an idle one.

It had been almost a month since he’d last seen her.

He closed his eyes, Kathleen’s face immediately coming into focus in his mind. If he tried really hard, he could smell her scent, taste the salt of the sweat on her skin when he was buried inside her, feel the marks her nails left on his shoulders, hear her whimper and moan when he made her come.

And he’d almost made it happen. He’d almost gotten to keep her.

Almost.

The plan had seemed like a dream come true. He’d take Kathleen with him and they’d leave Indy, leave old memories behind and go make new ones. But a sense of foreboding had crept over Kade the moment Kathleen had left his apartment that fateful day—the day he’d had to give up everything he’d ever wanted.

He’d wanted to think it was just his cynicism overreacting, but listening to his gut had saved his life too many times for him to ignore the warning. Which was why he hadn’t been surprised when his cell had rung only minutes after Kathleen had left to tell Blane the news. The call was from a blocked number.

“Yeah,” he answered.

“Dennon,” a male voice greeted him. “You’re still alive.”

“So it would seem,” Kade replied. “Who’s this?”

“Meet me tonight, under the Davidson Street bridge,” the man said, ignoring Kade’s question. “Nine o’clock.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Do you think we don’t know about the girl?” A pause. “See you tonight, Dennon.”

The line went dead.

Kade slowly slid the phone back into the pocket of his jeans. He gazed out the window without seeing anything.

Kathleen.

He’d failed miserably at protecting her, saving her life several times by mere luck and chance. Kade put her into more danger just by being around her. And now she was having a baby. His baby.

The complete shock and happiness that knowledge had brought him earlier faded in light of reality. Who was he kidding? His past wasn’t going away and the phone call was a reminder of that. Only months ago, Kade had killed a man who knew about Kathleen, wanted to use her as leverage on him. How much more would they target her now? And next time, he might be too late.