Page 107 of Unmasking Mr. Crown

“But then you turned out to be this really nice guy. These past few weeks with you have been wonderful, Dash. You've helped me remember that I'm allowed to go out and live and smile and have fun and bring new people into my life. Malcolm would want that for me. I want that for me. But if I'm being totally honest with myself, something is missing here." She motioned back and forth between them.

"You mean like real, honest-to-goodness chemistry?" he suggested.

Kate's eyes widened, his reply taking her by surprise, but she continued. "I've been trying to make this into something it's not, lying to you and myself and everyone else in the process. My dad and Nat are so happy for me that I played up our relationship to be way more than it is because I didn't want to disappoint them.”

Dash nodded and spun his metal beer cap on the countertop.

“Remember when I snapped at you at the barn? The thought of you becoming Natalie’s investor scared me. I thought it would complicate things even more. I've lied to everyone close to me. But worst of all, I've lied to you, Dash … and for that I am truly sorry."

They talked at length about the unbelievable course of events that brought them together. Dash told her his side of the Mr. Crown saga—from searching for Natalie's autumn eyes everywhere he went to the agonizing minutes inside her bedroom Sunday night.

Kate shared her love story with Malcolm, one which had come to a painful end much too soon. The look in her eyes as she spoke of her deceased husband conveyed way more than her words. She longed for a connection that would never exist between them. Friends? Yes. Good friends, in fact. But never anything more.

"We're both white-hot love people, Dash. We want the unexpected. Something that starts with a bang, not something we have to make work. You and Nat were white-hot from the word go, and if I know my sister, you still can be. Give her a little time for the dust to settle."

"I want you to know that after everything that happened with me and Natalie, I think the world of you and would never, ever, do anything to intentionally hurt you."

"And I want you to know something, Dash Benning." She reached out and took both his hands. "Even if we'd been going great guns, if Malcolm Fitzpatrick walked through that door and I knew I had one more chance to be with him, I'd take it, even if it meant hurting a guy as nice as you in the process—which is why you can't give up on Natalie."

The words had barely left her mouth when they heard a key in the front door.

"Hello?" a deep voice called out.

"In the kitchen," Dash called back.

"The infamous stepbrother, I presume?" Kate inquired, biting back a grin.

"He wasn't supposed to be back until tomorrow." Dash eyed his watch with a puzzled look. "Either the business meetings were a slam dunk or he got dusted."

A man sauntered into the kitchen, dressed in a dark suit that fit him like a glove, looking like he'd stepped off the cover of GQ. He had a bottle of Veuve Clicquot in one hand and two boxes from House of Pies balanced in the other.

"What the hell, Dash? Did you run out of gas or—" he asked, stopping short when he realized they had a guest.

Dash shot him a look. "Colt, I'd like to introduce you to someone. This is Kate."

"Oh, my apologies, ma'am." He gave a slight nod. "Nice to meet you."

Dash grinned and took the bottle from Colt's hand. "Are we celebrating?"

"We are. Had the deal signed before we finished our first drink. No need to drag it out on a golf course tomorrow, so I flew right back," Colt said.

"Colt is the best closer in the business," Dash announced with pride.

"And you can pay me back by moving your car. You left it smack in the middle of the driveway, and I can’t get mine in the garage."

"Pop the cork then. I'll be right back.”

Dash scooped up his keys from the counter and headed out, leaving Kate and Colt alone. He paused for a beat at the back door, straining to hear their conversation.

"I didn't mean to bust in here like that. If I'd known he’d had a date here, I—" Colt began.

"Oh, Dash and I aren't dating," Kate gently corrected. "But who knows … maybe one day we'll be in-laws."

Dash smiled. From your lips to God’s ears, woman.

Dash and Kate shared a long hug before she left. He waved, watching until he could no longer see the taillights of her car. He spent a few minutes outside, staring up at the sky while trying to clear his head.

Go talk to Colt. He’ll know what to do.