His Hush-Hush Baby - Holly Rayner Page 0,20

the trip, and the twelve-seater felt incredibly empty.

It would have been wonderful to have Diane along for the trip, but perhaps absence did make the heart grow fonder. Or at least it made his desire stronger. He couldn’t wait to get her in his arms again.

They hadn’t made concrete plans for the evening, but he hoped she would allow him to cook her dinner at home. He would take her anywhere she wanted, of course, but the intimacy of staying in felt right.

At last the plane landed, and once it had taxied to a stop Kai exited to find his New York driver waiting for him on the tarmac. Grabbing his suitcase, he hopped into the car and immediately called Diane.

The phone rang several times, then went to voicemail. Which was to be expected, he supposed. It was early evening. Usually, if she wasn’t still working at this time, she was over at her parents’ house helping with dinner and the nighttime routine.

He still hadn’t met Ruby, but after everything he’d heard about Diane’s mom, that was an event he really looked forward to.

As the car entered Manhattan and full dark blanketed the city, he tried Diane’s phone again.

“Hey,” she answered.

“Hi.” The mere sound of her voice brought a smile to his face. “How are you doing?”

“I’m okay.”

Her voice seemed to be strained. Or was he imagining it? It was hard to tell after only a few words on the phone.

“What are the chances of me getting to make you dinner tonight?” he asked.

There was the slightest pause. “At your place?”

“Yes,” he said. “Or we can do it at your place, if you like.”

“Hold on a second.” There was the sound of a door shutting, which confirmed his suspicion that she was at her parents’. “Can we meet somewhere halfway? That would be better for me.”

“Sure. Where would you like to go?”

“I already ate with my parents. How about we meet at that coffee shop on 57th and 3rd?”

The spot she had in mind wasn’t exactly halfway. It was closer to his apartment than hers. They might as well just meet at his place and get it over with.

A hard lump formed in his stomach.

“Diane.” He swallowed. “Is everything okay?”

She sighed in the slightest way, so slight he almost missed it. “I’m okay. What time can we meet?”

“I can be there in forty-five. How is that?”

“Good. See you then.” She hung up before he had the chance to say goodbye.

Kai slowly put the phone away, his head reeling. Diane could use any words she chose; something clearly was wrong.

He almost didn’t want to go home, but directly to the coffee shop instead. He had a little bit of time to kill, though, and desperately needed a shower. Asking his driver to wait downstairs, he ran up to his apartment and quickly rinsed off.

As he dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, he tried to compile a list of things that could be bugging Diane. Ten minutes later, he had no real answer.

He’d only been gone a week, and she’d seemed happy when they spoke on the phone the other day. Had something happened with her mother?

The thought made him feel sick. That also didn’t seem likely, though. If her mother were in need, Diane wouldn’t be asking to meet Kai at a coffee shop; she’d be home with her parents.

The closer he got to the coffee shop, the worse he felt. By the time he reached its front doors, he thought he might actually be sick.

Since Diane wasn’t there yet, he ordered them both tea and took a seat in an armchair by the window. A young couple walked by on the sidewalk, laughing. Jealousy reared its ugly head.

A week ago, that was him and Diane.

He needed to be positive. Whatever was bothering her, it could be fixed. Even if it had nothing to do with him, he was there and willing to help.

Finally, the door opened and she walked in. Dressed in jeans and combat boots, she wore her hair in a messy bun and there were bags under her eyes. Not only that, but red rimmed them, like she’d been crying.

Kai stiffened as if he’d been struck. The paralysis only lasted a second, though, before he was up and putting his arms around her.

There was a long moment where she hesitated, and then she put her arms around him as well. He breathed deep, inhaling her familiar scent. Though her head was dropped against his chest, she was tense