Thank you
Back to the case we’ve been working on for weeks now. After a couple of hours discussing a theory, we dump it and move on. It’s already midnight. I check my phone to see if Kendall texted me. She hasn’t.
Dane:
Home yet?
My eyes go cross-eyed. I need a few hours of sleep, and then I can stare at the board we created with much more clarity.
“I’m going to sleep on my couch for a couple of hours. What are you doing?” I say as I lift myself from the chair and start walking to the conference room door.
“Yeah, I’m not driving home either. I’m going to finish up and then crash in my office. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
My shoes scuff against the office floors as I drag myself to my office. Once I walk in, I close the door and turn on the lamp on the side table near my black leather couch, which has a couple of throw pillows. My decorator said they were a must, and now I’m glad I have them to sleep on. I look around and admire all the accomplishments that hang on the wall and bookcase. With no more energy, I throw myself on the couch, not even removing my shoes. My arm goes over my eyes, and my nose tickles with the faint smell of watermelon. It’s all I need to picture Kendall in my arms.
I’m running down the stairs. Where is she? We fell asleep together, but now she’s nowhere to be found. I’m out of my mind, yelling for her. The silence is deafening. And then I reach the back door slider, and I see her being dragged away by Jake. What the fuck? I’m supposed to be protectingher. How did I let this happen? Where the fuck is the security team? I sprint out the door, no shoes on, and reach her. She has blood all over her face and hands. Jake pulls a gun out and says, “One more step and I’ll kill you and her.” He waves the gun around. I see it in her eyes; she’s going to try to stop him. I stare at her, nodding slightly. And then, she grabs the gun, and I rush over. But I’m too late; he pulls the trigger and shoots her.
THIRTY-ONE
Kendall
Hanging out with my friends tonight is therapeutic; it’s great to share what’s happened.
“That’s a lot?” Faith drawls.
“Yes,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief, even though I’m the one who lived through it.
And of course, what they focus on is Dane…
“You’re head over heels for him! I can see it in your eyes and that smile.” Lane is observant, I’ll give her that. But she isn’t wrong, not even a little bit.
“Any time he’s near me, my body reacts to him. The crackling energy between us is incomprehensible, to be honest. I mean, we’re already butting heads. He hired security without asking me. Didn’t tell me about the Jake note. Why?”
“Oh my…it’s the end of the world because some hot attorney hired security for you, and he wants to protect you. Do you even hear yourself talking?” Addison jumps into the conversation. The reality of what she is saying hits me hard. I mean, she isn’t wrong.
“Seriously, Kendall, Addison has a point. I understand how you would see that move as a power play, but I see it as endearing and kinda sexy. I know you have a certain perspective on all of this, and I don’t want to dismiss that at all. I want you to think about it from all perspectives, that all,” Faith says, as she leans in closer. “But what we all really want to know is…how is it?”
They are clapping and hooting before one word leaves my mouth. To indulge them further, I say, “We are like a raging inferno. Two flames becoming one when we’re together; it’s like a bonfire. In all seriousness, when he holds me, I fit just right in his arms.” My body heats just talking about him.
“We’ve never seen you so starry-eyed over a guy before. But that right there,” Lane says as she points and makes circles in the air in front of me. “Are you falling for this guy? I mean, have you already fallen for him?”
I can’t deny it. I think back to the night we met. It was a natural attraction between the two of us. That first night together, the sex blew my mind. But it was the magnetism between us. Reality kicked in when we woke up in the morning. I thought I was just another notch in his belt. I’m better than that, so I tried to forget about him. That worked out well for me. It was like at every turn, there he was.
“When will you see him again?” Addison asks.
“I don’t know. I haven’t heard from him since he went to work, but we have another date on Saturday night. He also mentioned wanting to sleep in bed with me. So who knows, maybe that will happen this week.” I stare at my clasped hands, thinking about him snuggling up to me, stroking my back.
“I still can’t believe he left you to go to work on a Sunday,” Lane says.
I shrug and raise my hands. “It’s not a big deal. I suspect this happens often, since he told me his ex wasn’t thrilled with his work schedule.”
“You’re way more understanding than I would be,” Lane says.
She likes predictability, so that makes a ton of sense.
As if he were listening to my conversation, Dane texted me.
“Is that Dane?”
