there was no denying it.
The band had started playing again, something slow and sultry. Ken extended his hand.
“May I have this dance?”
She licked her lips. She wanted to say no…or maybe she wanted to say yes…but she should say no… Then again, she needed to be polite because he was her boss…
She was taking too long to answer, and that must have been enough for Ken because he pulled her onto the dance floor. She started to tense, but then his arms were around her, and gosh darn it if that didn’t feel like the most natural thing in the world.
He drew her to him and she melted. The colors around them swirled together, the music taking on a heavenly tone. Ken’s palm pressed against her lower back, his pristine blue eyes boring into hers as they danced.
“Words will never be able to express how grateful I am,” he said.
She was torn between smiling and frowning. “It does look good, doesn’t it?”
He spun her, sending her flying and back into his arms with no effort from her. He had all the control, while she had none.
“You left so quickly this morning,” he said.
“I did.” The words felt sticky in her mouth. She could offer the same excuse she had that morning, but that would feel like digging a deeper hole.
“What’s wrong, Adison?”
She looked into his eyes—really looked into them. Where should she start?
“First of all,” she said, “I want to enjoy tonight. I don’t want to make a scene or take away from the fun.”
His brows knit together. “Okay.”
“But I also can’t go too long without talking to you.” She drew a deep breath.
Ken shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
“You are? For what?”
His throat rolled with a swallow. “For last night.”
A chill went through her. “Oh.”
“Not for kissing you,” he rushed to say. “For telling you about my…past. I don’t often share that with people, and I suppose it was too soon. You seemed so uncomfortable this morning.”
That’s why he thought she’d rushed out that morning? Because she couldn’t handle that he was a human being who had pain and made mistakes?
“N-no,” she stuttered. “It isn’t that at all. I’m glad you shared that with me…as long as it’s true,” she added carefully.
“What? Why wouldn’t it be true?”
The song ended, and everyone burst into applause. The two of them broke apart and clapped, but Ken’s attention was still fully on her.
“Because,” she started to say.
But Simon Styles approached and clapped Ken on the back. “Great job, man. Thea’s real happy. I can tell.”
It felt like Adison had been struck by lightning. She stiffened, her back going ramrod straight.
Simon offered Adison his hand. “You did a wonderful job.”
She shook his hand but couldn’t get any words out. Simon worked above her at the Montoya Foundation, and they’d only spoken a few times briefly, but she knew he and Ken were close. She’d seen them going off to lunch together a few times, and Jazzie had informed her that the two of them had been tight for years.
So it made sense that if Ken were interested in a woman, Simon would be the person he’d share that info with.
“Thank you,” Adison said.
Ken glanced at Adison, and she could see how nervous he suddenly was.
“I’ll leave you two to it.” Simon saluted them. “I’m off to grab a drink.”
Adison hadn’t realized she’d folded her arms until she felt pain from her nails digging into her skin. Up until Simon walked up, she’d been holding onto the slight possibility that she was wrong about everything, that Ken really did want her and had nothing going on with Thea or any other woman.
Well, so much for that.
“Ken.” She worked to keep her voice even and controlled. “Why did you want to have a Christmas party? Was it really because you wanted to break your cycle and spread some cheer?”
There was a slight pause before he answered. “No. I did it because I needed to impress Thea.”
The room spun. Adison closed her eyes, momentarily losing herself to the vertigo. She wanted to yell at Ken, to scream and beat his chest. She wanted to get even with him, to show him she was everything without him, like she’d done with Danny.
But none of that would make a difference. Her heart would still be broken by him. The only way she could take control and reclaim her power was by walking away.
And so she did.
Chapter 25
Ken
“Adison.” He reached out for her, but she slipped into the crowd.
What had