At that moment, Kane knew, he’d probably ache for the rest of his life. But not Kayla. She’d get over this, get over him. Not a thought he wanted to entertain now.
He paused only to remove the last articles of clothing that separated them, then swung one leg over her already parted legs. His touch found her damp and wet, waiting only for him. Bracing his hands on her outer thighs, Kane drove himself home.
* * *
Her skin was still tingling from where the ice had touched her flesh. Her heart was still beating in overtime from the intensity she’d found in his arms. Kane had done everything she’d dreamed of, and some things she hadn’t.
He’d lost control. Ceded a part of himself to her in passion. How ironic that in the giving, Kayla knew she’d lost him.
They dressed in silence, like the two strangers they’d once been, not the friends and lovers they’d become. But she’d made a promise, and she intended to hold herself to it. I don’t expect anything from you. When this is over, you can walk away without looking back. I won’t stop you. Time to respect her own words…even if her heart was breaking.
He pulled his shirt over his head and tucked it into his jeans. The rasp of the zipper echoed in the awkward silence.
He turned toward her. “If the ankle swells, you’ll call…”
“I’ll call a doctor,” she reassured him. If he was going to leave, the least he could do was get out quick.
He nodded. “Good. You can use ice tonight…” His voice trailed off. Just the mention of the everyday item caused ripples of sensual awareness to prickle over her skin. Kayla rubbed her hands up and down her arms, but the chill remained. She supposed she’d have to get used to the feeling.
She rose from the couch, careful to keep the pressure off her injured foot. She wanted to face Kane for the last time standing and poised, not hobbling like an invalid. He was great at caring for the needy. The last thing she wanted was to be the victim who needed his protection once more.
The many facets of Kane McDermott made sense to her now. Not that the knowledge could change things.
In Kane’s mind, each case brought the chance to redeem himself for failing his mother, for failing himself. Remain in control, don’t lose focus—those were his mottos. And most especially, don’t give anything up emotionally…because if he did, he risked repeating the past. If he loved, he risked losing again. Kane had been closed up for too long to take that kind of risk now.
Kayla knew it from firsthand experience. Each time he opened up, the old fear gripped him and he shut down again. She glanced at the rigid set of his jaw. He’d already done it now.
She couldn’t fight the past for him. She’d just come through fighting her own. As a result, she had no choice but to let him go.
“Don’t forget to come down tomorrow and make your statement.”
She sucked in a harsh breath. She’d forgotten she wasn’t through dealing with Kane on all levels yet.
His expression softened. “I’ll be making mine tonight, and I’ll be off all next week. Reid will take good care of you.”
Obviously, he’d read her mind. She shrugged. “Whatever. If you’re finished taking care of me, would you mind just…” She gestured to the door, an excuse to swallow the lump in her throat. “Just go, Kane. It won’t get any easier.”
His curt nod was abrupt, his features schooled into that damned unreadable mask he’d perfected over the years. If only she hadn’t seen him laughing…or in the throes of passion…she might not hurt so badly right now.
He stood beside her. His hand reached out to touch her cheek. “If you need anything…”
She drew a deep breath. His unique scent enveloped her, making her feel warm and cherished. An illusion, she reminded herself. “I won’t.”
He nodded and withdrew his hand. His gaze met hers once more before he turned and headed for the door. The bleakness she glimpsed in his eyes betrayed him, but she knew better than to think he’d act on his feelings.
“Bye, Kane.”
The door closed behind him. A silent goodbye. She had to admit, the man was good. Too good, she thought and turned to clean up the remnants of living with Kane McDermott.
* * *
“It’s been a week since we swept the underworld,” Reid said. The older man rounded Kane’s desk and took a seat across the way. “And what a week it’s been.” He kicked his feet on top of the aging, dented metal and exhaled a grunt of satisfaction.
“You always were modest, boss.” But in this case, Reid’s pride was understandable. For all Kane’s concern over Kayla’s welfare, not once had he considered the possibility that Charmed! had been tied to organized crime. No one had. The signs weren’t there.
But Kayla’s uncle had been a small-time operator looking to make it with the big boys. He’d taken all the risk and cut them in on a huge profit in the hopes of proving his loyalty. He hadn’t counted on his wife, Kayla’s aunt, getting cold feet. She’d threatened to turn over the books she’d been keeping as insurance to the police. As a result, they’d both been killed. The remaining key players in the scheme had counted on the very thing Kayla despised. They figured the bimbo niece in need of cash would play ball, and business would continue as usual.
She’d been in more danger than anyone understood at the time. The realization still had the power to churn Kane’s gut and turn him ice-cold. The thought of Kayla haunted him twenty-four hours a day. Erotic dreams caused tossing and turning at night, and softer memories left him unfocused during the
