Unsuitable (13 page)

“You said something about your brother last night…” he adds, letting his words hang.

So, apparently, he’s not
that
ignorant.

Sadness prickles my skin at his mention of Jesse.

But I’m also taken aback that he wants to talk to me about this.

I really need to keep my job, and if telling him about this stuff means I will have a job at the end of it, then so be it.

“I went to see him yesterday. It didn’t go well.”

“Why not?”

I blow out a breath. “He blames me for him being in foster care, and he’s right to. I was all he had left in the world, and when I went to prison, he got taken into care.”

“Where are your parents?”

“Our dad is dead. Our mother is…gone. When I was sixteen, she ran off with her drug-dealer boyfriend. I guess she didn’t want to be a mother anymore. Jesse was only six. I knew, if Social Services found out she was gone, they’d take him away.

“I’d been practically raising Jesse since he was a baby since our mother cared about drugs more than us. She’d always used drugs. She had somehow managed to stay clean while she was pregnant with Jesse; maybe she cared a little more back then. But, after our dad died, that seemed to tip her over the edge. I’d just finished doing my exams when she disappeared on us. So, I did what I had to. I got a job. It was hard in the beginning, but we managed. Things got easier when I got the job at the jewelry store, as I was earning more money.”

“The jewelry store you stole from?”

I let out a humorless laugh and say in a droll tone, “Yeah, the jewelry store that I stole from.”

“So, why did you do it? You had everything to lose. Why risk it?”

I stare into his face, weighing my options. Tell the truth or the truth that everyone believes.

I know he won’t believe me, but I decide to go with the truth.

“I didn’t risk anything. I loved that job. I didn’t steal from those people. What I did do was make a huge error by trusting someone.”

His expression hasn’t changed. It’s blank and unreadable, like always.

I wait, expecting him to tell me that he doesn’t believe me.

So, I’m surprised when he says, “Trusting whom?”

“A man.” I let out a bitter laugh. “Well, I wouldn’t call him a man because a man wouldn’t do what he did to me.” I wrap my hands around the cup again, needing its warmth. I stare down into the coffee as I continue to talk, “My boyfriend, Jason—well, now, ex-boyfriend. We’d been together for about four months. He seemed like a good guy. A decent guy. I wasn’t so keen on his family…especially his brother. I’d heard things about them…not so great things…but Jason was good to me. I’d never had someone be good to me before. And he was good with Jesse. So, I trusted him. And he stabbed me in the back. I don’t know for sure exactly how it happened…but I know I went to prison because of Jason and, if I’m guessing correctly, his brother, Damien.”

I see Kas’s body stiffen, and I feel a tension rise in the air, like static electricity covering my skin.

I lift my eyes to his, and I’m startled by the anger I see in them.

I’ve seen Kas angry, but this…this is a whole new level of anger that I’ve never seen before.

I flinch inside, unsure of whether that anger is directed at me or not.

I wonder if I should keep talking, but I figure I can’t make this any worse. I need this job, so I take a deep breath and continue on, “The night of the robbery, Jason was staying at my place. Jesse was staying the night at his friend’s house. I only ever let Jason stay over when Jesse was staying out.” I don’t know why I tell Kas that, but it feels important to me that he knows that I always put Jesse first.

“I think, while I was sleeping, that Jason gave my access key to Damien. You know, I said I’d heard things about him. Well, those things were that Damien was trouble, into bad shit—carjacking, robbery, and the like. I think he used my access key, let himself in, somehow disconnected the CCTV inside the shop, and robbed it.

“Then, he brought my key card back to Jason. He put it back in my bag. Damien also gave him a piece of the stolen jewelry, which Jason so conveniently planted in my apartment. And, when the police came searching my place, there it was.

“Jason also told the police that he wasn’t with me at all that night. That he spent the night playing cards with his brother and friends and hadn’t seen me. I couldn’t prove otherwise. I had no witnesses to prove he’d been with me all night, so I was screwed. Basically, I was set up.

“The police charged me with theft. I was put in prison until my trial. I was given a court-appointed lawyer because I had no money to pay for my own, and I’m pretty sure my lawyer had only just gotten his law degree. I didn’t stand a chance. I was found guilty and sent to prison for three years. I served eighteen months and was released on parole. And here I am.

“I lost everything…Jesse…my job, my home…my freedom…because of
him
.”

I lift my eyes back to Kas, not really sure what to expect.

But there’s nothing. His expression is blank, his eyes devoid of any emotion.

Disappointment slams into me.

That disappointment quickly turns to panic when he stands abruptly. My fearful eyes follow him up.

“Get your things,” he tells me. “I’ll take you home.”

I rise slowly, my heart banging against my rib cage. “Mr. Matis…please…I—”

“You still have your job, Daisy.” He walks past me, heading for the door. “And you can call me Kas from now on.”

His words from the first day I met him come back to me.
“My friends call me Kas.”

I guess he believes me.

I’m surprised at how much that matters to me. How much his opinion actually counts. To know that me just saying the words once to him was enough when a jury full of people didn’t believe me.

I blink back the tears threatening me and swallow back the Texas-sized lump in my throat. Then, I grab my shoes and bag and quickly follow after him.

Si
xteen

Kas.

I step off the platform and onto the walkway, exiting the station, surprised to see his car sitting there.

Is he waiting on me?

Surely not.

Unsure as to why he’s here, I make my way down the ramp.

Should I go over to his car or just pretend I haven’t seen him?

I don’t want to go over if he’s waiting here for someone else, and then I’ll have to walk away…looking like a loser.

And why is this such a big decision?

For God’s sake, Daisy, just go over and say hello. Then, walk away if he doesn’t offer you a ride—which, more than likely, he won’t.

I step off the walkway and onto the street. His car is parked right in front of me.

Our eyes meet through the passenger window.

I ignore the way my heart rate spikes from having his eyes on mine.

He rolls down the passenger window. I walk toward his car.

“Daisy,” he says my name low.

That’s it. He says my name, and a shiver of delight runs through me—which is ridiculous.

Totally ridiculous.

Just because he was kind to me yesterday and believed me when I told him that I was innocent, not the thief he’d thought I was, doesn’t mean anything’s changed.

Does it?

He’s still my boss. And he still doesn’t like me very much.

And I don’t like him.

Right?

“Hi, Kas.” It feels weird, saying his name. I nervously tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “What are you doing here? I mean…you’re here…and you’re not normally here, at the train station.”

Jesus…Daisy.

Kas laughs at my rambling.

His third laugh.

I made him laugh.

Yes, I’m glowing. And, yes, I’m counting his laughs.

It’s just so rare that I hear him laugh, and I like the way it makes me feel when he does, so I’m counting.

“I was nearby, running an errand,” he tells me. “I saw your train pull in. Thought I’d give you a ride. Save you from walking.”

Holy…wow.

The Kas of last week would never have thought to stop and give me a ride. Here is a guy who drove past me in the rain and splashed me with a puddle.

It’s a dry, sunny day, and he’s here, offering to drive me into work.

I might faint.

“Okay. Well, thank you. I appreciate it.”

He gives a gentle nod of his head in response, causing his hair to fall in his eyes. He brushes it back with his fingers, tucking his hair behind his ear. The sun catches on the strands, making it appear lighter than it is.

I wonder if his hair is as soft as it looks.

He’s sporting stubble today as well. It looks good on him. Makes him even more rugged and handsome.

God…he’s good-looking…

“Daisy?”

“Mmhmm?”

“Are you gonna get in the car, or are you just going to stand there, staring at me all day?”

And…there he is.

My face flushes bright red. “Oh, um…yeah, of course.” I fumble, reaching for the handle. I pull open the door and slide onto the leather seat.

I can’t believe I was staring at him.

For God’s sake, Daisy, stop mooning over him. Sure, he was nice yesterday and is being nice today, but it doesn’t mean anything.

Honestly, I’m starting to think that I prefer Kas-hole better. At least I knew where I stood with him. Kas-nice…confuses the crap out of me.

I put my bag in the footwell and put my seat belt on.

Kas starts the engine. Radiohead’s “Creep” comes on the stereo.

“How are you feeling?” he asks me, pulling away from the station.

He wants to know how I’m feeling?

“Much better. Thanks.” I glance at him. “I know I’ve said it already, but I just wanted to say again how sorry I am for what happened this weekend.”

“It’s fine, Daisy.”

I curl my fingers into my lap, listening to Thom Yorke’s haunting voice.

“I love this song,” I tell him.

He nods.

Okay…

“How was the rest of your weekend?” I ask, trying for something different.

“Okay.”

“What did you do?”

He glances at me. The look in his eyes is almost searching, and for some reason, it has me holding my breath.

He slides his eyes away from me and back to the road, and I suck in a much-needed breath.

“I went out for a ride.”

“On a horse?”

His lip twitches. “Yes, Daisy, on a horse.”

“I didn’t know you rode.”

“I do run a stable.”

“I know. I mean, I’ve not seen you ride. I just thought…I don’t know. I don’t ride. Cooper offered to teach me, but I don’t think I’d be any good.”

“Cooper offered to teach you?”

I feel Kas’s eyes burn through me. I bring my gaze to his. There’s something simmering in his eyes that I can’t quite decipher.

He yanks his stare away before I get a chance to try.

“Yes, he, um…said if I wanted to learn, he’d take me out. On my lunch hour, of course.”

“I’ll teach you to ride.”

What?

“What?”

“You want to learn to ride. I’ll teach you.”

Wow…um…

“What about Cooper?”

I see his hands tighten around the steering wheel.

His eyes slide to mine, and he pins me with a look that makes me want to turn invisible.

“What about Cooper?” His tone screams pissed off.

Welp…

“Just…” I clear my suddenly dry throat. “Cooper offered first, is all, and I, um…” I trail off, licking my dry lips.

Kas’s eyes flash to my mouth and then off me completely, going back to the road.

“Cooper can’t ride for shit.” His voice is low.

He seems angry. For the life of me, I don’t know why.

But then when does Kas ever need a reason?

“Isn’t he your stable manager?”

“My parents hired him, not me.” He frowns.

Okay then…

“Be ready at one, and I’ll take you for a good ride.”

I laugh. I can’t help it.

I’m sorry, but it sounded dirty.

Or maybe I just have a dirty mind.

Kas’s confused gaze swings to mine, his brow lifting in question.

“Nothing,” I mutter, fluttering my hands, as I feel heat rise in my cheeks.

Kas must replay his words in his mind because, a second later, I see a light go on in his eyes.

“
Horse
ride,” he clarifies.

I can hear a touch of humor in his voice, and it lifts my lips.

“I know. Sorry, it just sounded—”

“Pervy,” he finishes.

“I was gonna say
dirty
, but pervy works.”

I grin. His eyes come to mine, and he smiles.

Warmth erupts in my belly.

I really like it when he smiles at me. Every time he does, I feel like I’ve won something really special.

Jesus Christ, Daisy. Remember the last time you got all gooey-eyed over a man? It landed you in prison.

“There’s some spare riding gear in the utility room,” he tells me, his eyes back on the road. “It should fit you.”

“Okay, thanks. Should I come to your office, or—”

“Meet me at the stables. One p.m.,” he says.

“One p.m. Got it.”

Kas pulls up to the gates of the estate. He presses a button on the dash, and the gates start to open.

We ride the rest of the way to his house in silence.

My stupid stomach is doing cartwheels at the thought of going out riding with Kas. My head is suffering with severe confusion as to why my stomach is so happy about it. It must be the excitement about riding a horse for the first time. It can’t be anything else.

Right?

Also, I’m trying to figure out why he offered to take me riding. Why not just let Cooper take me?

I know Kas and I hit some sort of truce yesterday, but he still dislikes me.

And I still dislike him.

Right?

Se
venteen

Dressed in jodhpurs, a white Matis Estate polo shirt, and riding boots, I walk toward the stables.

Outside the stables, I see Kas with Butterscotch. He’s putting her saddle on.

He’s wearing a white polo shirt, similar to mine but without the logo, and these dark brown fitted trousers, not quite jodhpurs. They’re tucked into black riding boots.