“You’re exaggerating.”
Catherine grinned. “Yeah. But I made you smile for the first time all week—since that lousy son of a bitch betrayed my faith in him and walked out.”
“He did what he had to do.” Kane hadn’t gotten past losing his mother or his supposed role in her death. Kayla had spent much of the last week on the Internet researching psychology books on suicide, the people who remained, and guilt complexes. Many of the articles she’d read described Kane’s withdrawal and resulting pain perfectly.
The knowledge didn’t take away her regret or loneliness, but it did help her to understand the man she’d loved and lost. Kane had never let go of his guilt, anger, and fear. He probably never would.
“You’re too forgiving.” Catherine picked up the letter opener on the desk. “Personally I’d like to slit his throat…or that other part of his anatomy. The only part he was thinking with when he…”
“Enough. He doesn’t deserve it. I’m dealing without Kane just fine.”
“Say that enough times and maybe I’ll believe it. Better yet, maybe you’ll believe it. He hurt you, and you have to acknowledge that. At the very least, vent and you’ll feel better.”
“Is that why you’re twirling a letter opener in your hand and issuing empty threats against Kane? To get me in touch with my feelings?”
Catherine grinned. “Whatever works.”
The bells over the shop door tinkled, distracting her attention. Sunlight gleamed through the doorway and the front windows, blinding in its intensity.
“Afternoon, ladies.”
Kayla shut her eyes against the harsh glare…and the sound of the deep, familiar voice. She was dreaming again, just as she had been last night, awakening with her clothing damp with sweat, her thighs tingling from an erotic, sexy dream starring…
“Isn’t someone going to speak?” Kane asked.
“You’d better be here to grovel because I’m not about to let you hurt her again.”
“Good to see you, too, Catherine.”
At the sound of their bickering, Kayla opened her eyes.
Kane stood inside, leaning against the bookshelves on the side wall, out of the sun’s glare. He’d entered, but his wary expression told her he was by no means sure of his welcome. He might be uncertain, but he wasn’t unsure. Power and sexuality oozed from every delectable inch of him.
His penetrating stare shifted from Catherine to Kayla. “Do you want me to leave?” he asked in a controlled voice.
Her heart squeezed tight in her chest. Of course, she didn’t want him to leave. Yet how could she subject herself to any more pain? Whether she heard what he had to say now, or asked him to leave later, the result would be the same. He’d pick up and go. His intentions had always been clear. She’d just been too stubborn to heed them.
Kayla exhaled, knowing she had no choice. She loved him enough to hear him out, even if it was just department business that brought him. The thought nearly suffocated her.
She turned to her sister. “Catherine, I think you should go.”
Catherine shrugged and headed for the desk chair where she’d deposited her coat. “Your choice. I just hope he proves himself worth it.”
Kane glanced over her sister’s head to meet Kayla’s gaze. “Is she going to be this tough for the rest of my life?” he asked, a grin edging his mouth.
She wanted to kiss him. She wanted him to leave before he could hurt her even more. Her hands squeezed into fists at her sides. “Probably.”
Catherine grabbed her shoulder bag. She shot a glance at Kayla before zeroing in on Kane. “You think this is tough, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
“Goodbye, Catherine.” Kayla urged her sister out with her tone of voice.
“I’m going. But you do realize this is getting to be a habit. Him showing up, you kicking me out, him showing up…” Despite Catherine’s warning, laughter tinged her voice. Even the tougher Luck sister had a soft spot for Kane McDermott. It didn’t bode well for Kayla.
Catherine eased past Kane, slipping beneath his arm and out the door, still muttering aloud the entire time.
“She means well,” Kayla said.
“I know. Do you stick up for me the same way when I’m out of earshot?” he asked.
She licked her dry lips, barely able to speak now that they were alone. “A bad habit of mine.”
“What is?”
“Sticking up for people I lo…” No. She couldn’t lay her heart out for him to trample once more. “What do you want from me, Kane? I made my statement, the captain’s filled me in on all I need to know, and we said our goodbyes.” She nearly choked on the word.
“Well, that’s the thing. We didn’t—say our goodbyes, that is.”
“I don’t like games.”
“Believe me, sweetheart, this is no game. Think back. You said goodbye; I didn’t.”
“Is that why you came back? To make sure I knew the score? I’m not stupid, Detective.”
His gaze darkened. “I never thought you were.”
She knew that. Kane, of all people, had given her intelligence due respect. Lashing out was the only way she knew to protect herself from what was to come. She just wished she knew exactly what that was.
“I just don’t need the word spelled out to know you aren’t coming back, that I shouldn’t expect anything from you in the future.” Her breath caught in her throat, and she had to pause for air until the ability to speak without showcasing her emotions returned. She’d never felt more fragile. “We already covered everything important.”
“Not quite everything.” He stepped toward her, determined, sexy, and sure. Just as he had been the first time, when her life had changed forever.
He grasped her hand and held on tight. He might as well have gripped her heart in his fist. “Did you ever think I didn’t say goodbye because I didn’t mean it?” he asked.
Frustration filled her. She’d had enough of double-talk, word games, and drawing out the inevitable pain. “Just like you didn’t say I love you because you don’t?” She regretted the impulsive, straight-talking words the minute they
