Derek grasped Kendall’s shoulders gently. “Kendall, it’s not you we’re all worried about, it’s that snake. Why give him the opportunity to get close to you again?”
Kendall closed her eyes and sighed. “I’m just tired of everyone else fighting my battles.”
He nodded in understanding. “I get it. But Kade considers you family, and he’s protecting you the only way he knows how.”
Cassie was taken in by Derek’s gentle side, his delicate way of handling Kendall. Whatever the story behind Kendall’s issues—I’m not sick… I’m stronger now…—Derek clearly understood how to make her feel empowered while diffusing the situation.
Lexie looked from her husband to her sister, obviously torn between them.
Cassie could help. “Kendall, do you want to get some breathing room?” she asked the other woman, because her date seemed utterly dazed and useless.
Kendall glanced across the room, where Lucas was talking to Julian, and a brief look of longing crossed her features before she turned back to Cassie. “Sure. I could use some freshening up.”
Cassie turned to Derek. “I’ll be back.”
“Go,” he said with a grateful smile. “I’ll deal with things here and catch up with you soon.”
Cassie and Kendall walked out a side door, nowhere near where Lucas and Julian stood. They entered the ladies’ room, where they were luckily alone.
Kendall fell into the soft ottoman in front of the mirror and sighed. “I hate that one mistake keeps coming back to haunt me.”
“You … and Julian?” Cassie guessed.
Kendall nodded. “I’m bipolar. I was having issues and Julian took advantage. I had no idea he was using me to get to Kade. To help him get a part of Blink.” Her lashes fluttered and a tear dripped from her eyes. She grabbed a tissue and blotted her face.
“You fell for him, didn’t you?”
She swallowed hard. “We had a lot in common, or so he led me to believe. But he didn’t know I was sick. And I wasn’t ready to confide in him. I found out he was using me…” She shook her head. “I hate him.”
Cassie wasn’t so sure. Although he sounded like a class-A asshole, a part of Kendall clearly still had a soft spot for the man she thought he’d been.
“Let’s change the subject,” Kendall said. “What’s going on with you and Derek?”
Cassie laughed at the other woman’s blunt honesty. “I’m not really sure.”
“What about you? It doesn’t look like you’re thrilled with your blind date.”
Kendall tipped her head back and laughed. “Now that is an understatement. We couldn’t be more different. Looks like I’m in for a long night.” She straightened her shoulders. “Might as well get back to it.”
And since Cassie wanted to return to Derek, she agreed.
Chapter Nine
While Derek watched for Cassie’s return, he hung with Lucas near the bar. Maxie had excused herself to take a phone call. He wasn’t sure where Kade and Lexie had disappeared to, but Lexie was probably calming her husband down. Kade and the mere mention of Julian was an explosive combination.
Derek appreciated that Cassie had removed Kendall from the situation without knowing all the details. But now that Julian had left the event, everyone could get back to enjoying the evening. And he intended to do just that with Cassie when she returned.
“What happened with Julian?” Derek asked Lucas.
“What always happens with Julian. I read him the riot act, warned him to stay away from Kendall. He swore he didn’t know she’d be here.” Lucas shrugged. “I know we always come to the gala, but she doesn’t. So he could be telling the truth. But he couldn’t take his gaze off Kendall either.”
Derek groaned. “How’s he doing?”
“He’s mellower. Something’s changed with him, though I can’t put my finger on what. And since we’ll never be tight again … I probably never will.”
Derek let out a slow breath. “Got it. And agree. Listen, since I have you alone, I need a favor. Remember you hired a PI to look into Julian? I need the name of the company you used.”
“Why? What’s going on?”