Possession (The Plus One Chronicles) (13 page)

“Nope. However, most people are intimidated by him. But what makes you different is you really don’t want him paying.”

A wave of sadness settled over her chest. She knew exactly what Sherry meant. Sloane made sex and relationships a business deal. Those who knew Sloane probably thought he was that cold and callous. They didn’t understand. Deep inside, he didn’t believe a woman could love him long term. So he made it a deal to protect himself, buying temporary, meaningless connections. It hurt her to think of him going through life like that.

She refocused on Sherry. “What Sloane has given me? Money can’t buy.” It was a gift, one that she could keep forever even when what they had between them ended. And it would. She had his interest now. Most likely for the reasons Sherry pointed out, she was different from his other plus-ones. But long term? She wouldn’t be able to hold the interest of Sloane Michaels permanently. But maybe she help him heal from his emotional wounds because Kat didn’t believe what they had was meaningless. And then he’d find someone—

Her chest clenched. Yeah, it was best not to finish that thought.

“What has he given you?”

How did she explain it? The way he supported her struggles to grow into the woman she aspired to be? Really, there was only one way. “Me. He gave me the confidence to just be me.”

Sherry sucked in a breath. “Drake was right about you.”

Kat couldn’t follow that sudden left turn in the conversation. “Sloane’s friend Drake?”

“He likes you. Said you’re good for Sloane. Care about him. He wants me to bring you over for dinner tonight.”

More left turns. She was getting dizzy. “Dinner at Sloane’s house, with Drake? But Sloane’s not there. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Drake’s living there too. He can invite anyone he wants. I’m cooking, it’ll be fun.”

She shook her head. “Thank you, and tell Drake thank you. But I can’t do that.” They had boundaries…sort of. And Kat instigating herself in his friends’ lives was out of line. She knew that. It was one thing to hire Sherry to teach her self-defense—that was business. But having dinner with his friends, in his home and he had no say in it? No. “Thank you for the invitation though. I really appreciate it.” She’d send Drake some muffins or something for thinking of her.

As they walked out to their cars, Sherry said, “You’re sure I can’t change your mind?”

Damn it, she wanted to go. Really wanted to. Even though she and Kellen planned to hang out tonight. So was that it, now? She was going to abandon her real friends? She liked Sherry and Drake, but they were Sloane’s friends, not hers. “I’m sure. You guys have fun.”

Kat hadn’t gotten very far from the gym when her phone rang. Checking the screen, she was surprised. Answering through her Bluetooth, she said, “Sloane. Hey. I’m in my car, can you hear me?”

“Yes. Sherry called me.”

The high from working out faded into low-grade tension. “Just now?” Damn that woman was fast. What was she doing, reporting on Kat’s progress or something?

“Kat, if you want to have dinner with Drake and Sherry, go. If Sherry breaks out margaritas, then you sleep there in my bed.”

Shivers ran over her skin. “I can’t sleep there without you.” It wasn’t right.

“Didn’t you tell me I could sleep in at your house after you left for work?” His voice pitched low.

“I…” She had done exactly that. “You didn’t stay.”

“Would you have minded if I had?”

Trap. She could see it but not how to evade it. “No.”

“I don’t mind either. Do you want to go hang out with Sherry and Drake?”

Turning down the street where her complex was, Kat took a breath. “Diego’s doing clinic duty tonight. Kel and I are going to order in and watch a movie.”

“Take Kellen with you.”

He made it all sound so simple. She wove around to her unit and pulled into the garage. “Why are you pushing this? You’re not even here and…” She remembered how excited Drake had been about the muffins. And the desolation in Sloane’s eyes watching the older man. “This is about Drake, right?” Okay, she understood that. “I’ll figure it out and go. What does Drake like? What’s his favorite dessert?” With all Sloane had done for her, she’d be happy to do this. Kellen would understand. Or once she got back they could—

Knocking on the driver’s side window made her jump. She craned her head around, assuming Kellen had heard the garage open and—
Oh crap.
“David.”

“There? Now? Where are you?”

Sloane’s rapid-fire words helped her calm. “In my garage, I didn’t close the door.”

“Stay in the car, doors locked,” Sloane ordered.

“Katie, open the door.” David tapped again. “I have the flash drive.”

She lowered the window down a couple inches. “What flash drive?”

“The one you asked your parents for. The pictures of you in the hospital. What do you want these for?”

Kat tried to keep up. She had asked her dad for the pictures. Ana wanted one or two for the video, although Kat wasn’t sure that was a good idea. But right now, she needed to get rid of David. “Fine. Hand it over and leave.”

He hesitated, his forehead wrinkling above his glasses. “Why now? You never asked to look at the pictures before.”

True. But she wasn’t discussing this with him. She’d tried to get him to tell her the truth about that night, and he’d refused. Every time she thought of that, it made her angrier. She’d needed him to fill in the blanks in her head that were causing her massive anxiety. “David, give me the flash drive and leave.”

“You heard her,” Kellen said, striding out of the garage door.

David slipped the flash drive through the two-inch space of the window. Sadness filled his eyes. “You don’t need Kellen glaring at me. I’ll leave in a minute. But I asked your parents if I could bring this to you. I wanted to apologize. When I saw you at your bakery that morning, I was stressed and tired. Those men who attacked us were never caught, and it feels like you’re stirring up trouble. It’s best to leave this alone.”

“It feels like I’m stirring up trouble?” So done with this, Kat ripped off her seat belt and shoved open the car door.

David stumbled back, hitting the wall of her garage. “Geez, Katie. What’s with you?”

Her roommate stepped in front of her. “You’re pissing her off, genius. Kat doesn’t want you here. Leave.”

Kellen’s T-shirt did nothing to hide his bunched muscles. Hot protectiveness surged in her. Kellen was still recovering from a knife wound. Time for her to fight her own battle.

Kat stepped around him to face David.

Her ex-fiancé’s green eyes widened, and his left one twitched. Once that tick had only surfaced when he worked too long and got overtired. When had it become chronic?

David took a deep breath, the bones in his shoulders stark beneath his dress shirt. “Katie, please just be careful. Those pictures on that flash drive?” He pointed at her fist closed around it. “I don’t ever want to see you hurt like that again.” He closed his eyes. “You were so young and beautiful, so sweet, and they broke you.”

Broke her.
That was what her parents and David believed. And for a long time, Kat had too. “They broke my arm and shattered my leg and left me with a concussion. That’s what they did to my body.”

David opened his eyes.

“But they didn’t break me, David. They broke the shell keeping me caged.”

He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “I was worried about you seeing those pictures. But now, I think you should look at them.” Retuning his glasses to his face, he said, “See what we went through, and leave it alone. Forget it. It was a random mugging, they got your engagement ring, and it’s time to move on. Use some common sense unless you want to end up attacked again.”

Kellen shoved in front of her. “Get out.”

Kat put her hand on Kellen’s arm. His muscles bunched with fury. She knew he was right on the edge, but then so was she. “You’re threatening me?”

David rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. “I’m not—” The roar of an engine cut him off. A truck skidded to a stop, and John Moreno spilled out.

“Kat, are you okay?”

John wore a white T-shirt, jeans and a don’t-fuck-with-me expression. His sudden appearance confused her. “Yes, but how did you…? Oh. Sloane called you.” Probably the second he learned David was in Kat’s garage. “How’d you get here so fast?”

“I was in the gym office.”

That made as much as sense as anything else happening to her since she’d met Sloane. The gym was close to Kat’s condo.

He kept his glare on David. “This would be Dr. Dickhead?”

Sloane’s nickname for David was spreading. “Yes, Dr. David Burke. He’s just leaving.”

David whipped his head back and forth. “Katie, who is this?”

“Not your business. Go home.” Her garage was filling with men. Kat wondered who would show up next if she didn’t get her ex-fiancé out of here.

David reached toward her. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“No. Don’t touch me.” Kat jumped back. Her knee started to buckle. She floundered, throwing her arms out.

Kellen caught her waist, stabilizing her balance.

Her heart pounded against her ribs. She blinked, trying to clear the residual panic.

“Try touching her again and you’ll lose that hand. I’m not repeating myself, Burke. Get the fuck out of here, and stay away from Kat.”

John’s cold voice dragged her free of her panic. He’d stepped in front of her, his arms and neck bulging with a clear threat.

David walked out of her garage, his shoulders bowed. His shirt hung on him, illustrating the weight he’d recently lost. Nostalgia twisted in her chest. All her romantic feelings for him had died off, but there was still a thread of caring there. She hated seeing the self-made, proud scientist she had so looked up to once, reduced to a man in some kind of trouble.

But the ache in her leg reminded her that whatever the problem was, he’d brought it to her. Even that Kat might have forgiven, but the lying about it later when she’d needed him to tell her the truth…that had killed any love she’d had for him.

Kellen wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “You okay, Kit Kat?”

“Yeah.” She dragged her gaze from David’s retreating form.

John lightly touched her shoulder. “Hey, Kat, you need to call Sloane, like five minutes ago. Before SWAT shows up.”

“I’ll get your phone.” Kellen went to her car and returned, holding out her phone.

Absently taking the phone, she considered John. “Thank you. I appreciate you dropping everything to rush over here.” With his hand on her, she got a good look at the tattoo of an intricate shield on his forearm.

He flashed a grin. “No thanks necessary. Makes me feel important rescuing damsels in distress.” He nodded toward Kellen. “Although looks like you already had backup.” He stepped around Kat and held out his hand. “I’m John Monroe.”

“Kellen Reynolds.”

“You’re the physical therapist Sloane mentioned. Says you’ve specialized in sports injuries?”

Kat found Sloane’s number and hit send on her phone. But her attention riveted on John. “Sloane told you that?”

The big man nodded and turned to Kellen. “I’d like to talk to you about your experience. I train mixed martial arts fighters, and I’m looking for a highly trained physical therapist to work with. Something you’d be interested in?”

“Very.” Kellen’s dimples carved into his face.

“Got time for a beer tonight? I’m on kid duty, but if you want to come by—”

Sloane’s voice cut in. “Kat. You’re okay? John’s there?”

“I’m fine. Yes, he’s here. Talking to Kellen now. You told him Kellen’s specialty?”

“Yes. What happened? Did David hurt you?”

“No. Just bringing me a flash drive. He was calmer, not acting so edgy like last time.” Kat gave Sloane the quick version of the encounter. She glanced at the two men talking. “What did you tell John about Kellen?”

“That after the work he did with you and your leg, we need to look at him for SLAM. Kellen told me he specialized in sports injuries. All I did was tell John my opinion, the rest is between them.”

Watching the two men talk made her throat ache with tenderness for Sloane. She walked into her condo and leaned against the wall in her small laundry room. “You’re giving Kellen a chance of a lifetime. Thank you.” She smiled at his silence, guessing at his thoughts. “I know you didn’t do it for me. It was a business decision. That’s what makes it so awesome. Kellen earned this through his work with me.” Pushing off the wall, she headed into her kitchen. “Kel’s going to be busy tonight now, so what can I make for Drake?” She hadn’t forgotten.

“To pay me back for Kellen’s job opportunity?”

Sloane’s too-soft voice froze her to the spot next to her granite island. “Uh, no.” She tried to grasp his anger. “I’m, uh… You asked me to do it so—”

“The hell I did.”

The hairs on her arms lifted.

“You came up with that creative bullshit all by yourself. All I asked you to do was to go hang out with Sherry and Drake if you wanted to. Oh, and you know, if you drank and had fun, then sleep there. That’s what I asked you to do.”