“I meant emotionally,” she bit out. “I’m getting too close to your defenses, aren’t I?”
Luc sidled up to her and put his arm around her shoulder. “You’re right, sweetheart. He’s being an ass, and he’d better stop now.”
“Look you two, I’m being honest.” He turned to Luc. “Didn’t I tell you before she came that I was hot and heavy after Alyssa?”
“Of the two of us, Alyssa does not prefer you. And I have no desire for her.”
“With you out of the picture, she’ll have to look at me.” He tried to smile brightly.
Damn hard when Kimber looked crushed.
“I’ve heard she has a waxed pu**y. Sweet!”
She flinched, then tears glossed her eyes, gathering at the corners, threatening to spill. Yeah, he’d caused it, but he couldn’t bear to look anymore.
Making a great show of straightening the pillows on the sofa, he was unprepared when Kimber tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to her, and she smacked him across the face. Hard.
“If all this vile shit you’re saying is the truth, then you’re a first-class ass**le and I wish I hadn’t come here in the first place. If you’re saying it so you can leave your precious scarred heart wrapped in ice, then not only are you an ass**le, you’re a coward. Unless you get over the past, you’ll be alone for the rest of your life, because Luc will someday meet a great girl, get married, and leave you to rot alone.
Enjoy your misery; it’s well deserved.”
She spun and stormed away. Victory. And yet he’d never felt more wretched.
“Kimber…” Luc called after her departing figure, auburn hair curling around her back. “Sweetheart!”
She didn’t hesitate, much less stop. Instead, Kimber just marched out of the room, across the house to Luc’s room, then slammed the door.
Deke flinched at the angry sound of the door reverberating, shattering the tense quiet.
“You stupid son of a bitch,” Luc snarled. “I hope you’re happy.”
“No,” he said heavily. “But it’s for the best.”
“For who? Not me!” He pointed at his chest. “She was the best thing that happened to us, and you f**ked it up. Why? Because you wanted her, and you wouldn’t take a chance that she wasn’t like Heather. She’s right; you’re a coward.” Luc tore out of the room, his heavy footsteps tracking toward his room and Kimber.
Deke hung his head. He was a coward. And he hated it.
He’d taken missions all over the world, assassinating power hungry generals in third-world shit holes, extracting hostages from fanatical terrorists, diffusing bombs ticking away their last ten seconds.
Kimber frightened him much more.
“No, sweetheart. Please. Unpack and stay.” He heard Luc’s pleading words.
“Deke’s just being an ass. Stay with me. I want you. I’ll—”
“Luc, it won’t work. I—I need to go…”
The tears in her voice were shredding Deke’s guts when he heard her lift her car keys out of the dish in the foyer and open the front door. He walked to the corner and peeked around.
“Don’t leave.” Luc tried to soothe her with a soft touch.
“Tell me why he does this.” She swiped at the tears on her cheek. “Why he tries so hard to push me away? What’s eating at him?”
Deke tensed. Goddamnit, he wouldn’t put it past Luc to spill all his secrets to soothe Kimber and make her stay. And then she’d see him for the monster he was…
“That’s Deke’s secret to tell,” Luc said reluctantly.
“Then I can’t stay.” She marched for the door.