Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
A low chuckle got loose before I swallowed it down and warned, “Be sure to watch the tailpipe when you hop off.”
I took one of her hands to help her, and a heavy breath left her as she disentangled herself from me.
She swung off wide.
So wide that she stumbled backward, nearly falling onto her ass.
Thankfully, I still had hold of one of her hands, and I hauled her upright in the same second that I jumped off. Grabbing onto her elbows to steady her, dragging her too close as I murmured, “Whoa. You okay?”
Tears suddenly blurred those eyes, horror in their depths, and she glumly shook her head. “No. I’m not okay.”
I wanted to demand that she tell me what that meant right there.
Pry her secrets from her so I could hold them.
But I forced some patience when I offered, “Why don’t we go inside so you can tell me what that means?”
She gave a jolting nod, and she turned to head for the front entrance. I was right at her side, settling my palm on the sweet spot at the small of her back.
At the bare contact, a ragged breath left her, and she seemed to shake herself out of whatever had tied her tongue, her voice thready when she asked, “You own this place?”
“Yeah. Kane’s. It’s a nightclub. Super clever name, I know.” I laughed at my own expense.
“Kane.” She whispered it like it was a secret.
“That’s right.”
A current of trepidation vibrated through me as my mind tossed through the memories of last night. Realizing I hadn’t given her my name and she’d still wound up at my door.
I didn’t have time to fully contemplate it before she rushed through a rasp, “Then why were you at that other bar last night?”
Unease rumbled through me as we walked along the exterior wall and around to the steps that led to the ornate double doors. I paused in front of them.
Unsure of what to tell her. Knowing the truth would send her running and knowing I couldn’t give it to her, anyway.
No one could hold that except for my family.
Which was why whatever the hell I thought I was doing right then was so reckless.
I gave her the only explanation I could offer. “Because I own that one, too, along with two others in town.”
I had no idea where the contemptuous sound came from that ripped up her throat as she looked away for a beat. Like she was angry with me about it.
“You didn’t tell me your name last night.” It sounded like an accusation.
A frown curved my brow, and I framed my response carefully. “You didn’t ask.”
Her laugh was shallow and hard, and she sniffled as she tipped that gorgeous face back up toward me. “No. You’re right. I didn’t ask.”
Confusion bound me, and I angled my head, trying to understand where she was coming from. Why disgust was suddenly radiating from her as she looked at me as if I were guilty of something.
Without a doubt, I was.
Guilty of so many fuckin’ things that if she even had a hunch of them she’d bolt so fast I’d never be able to catch up to her.
But there was no chance she had a clue of that.
Eyes still pinned to hers, I reached behind me and pushed down on the latch to open the door. “Let’s go inside so we can talk about whatever is troubling you.”
A howl of energy roared around her, and for a moment, she was rooted, unwilling to budge. My nerves flared beneath it.
Something unsettled tickled at the edge of my consciousness.
Awareness coming on that I was off base.
A different kind of dread dripping into my veins.
Inhaling a breath, she stepped around me and into the old church that I’d converted into my club.
The edges of the cavernous space were darkened, shadows playing along the obscured walls, though rays of afternoon light slanted in through the vertical stained-glass windows that sat up high on the cathedral ceiling.
It sent shimmery color glittering through the drab atmosphere, lighting up the rambling open space at the foot of the stage. Come ten o’clock tonight, that area would be packed with a ton of people out letting go of the cares of this world as they danced the night away.
A long bar ran nearly the entire length of the left wall, and secluded booths took up the rest of the wall space.
None of my employees were out front, so I assumed everyone was back in the kitchen.
“This way,” I told her.
Emery inhaled a shaky breath and followed along a foot behind me, the soles of our shoes squeaking against the worn hardwood floors as I led her to a booth on the right that was concealed in the corner.
“Here we go.” I gestured to one side, and she warily slipped into the booth. She peeked up at me with those tumultuous eyes as I stood over her.