down at the ground, pushing a hand through his hair in an action that was fast turning into a nervous habit, because he was more than aware that he wasn’t going to be able to keep this from India for much longer. Even though he really didn’t want to involve her. The memories it could bring back would be just too painful for her. And the situation far too dangerous. ‘There’s nothing going on, India…’
‘Jesus, Kenny…’
‘She’s just got a lot on. Believe me, baby, I’m not lying to you.’ Wasn’t he? Charley did have a lot going on, it was just that India didn’t need to know what, exactly. She didn’t need to know.
‘Because Vince thinks there is. Are you aware of that?’
‘Yes…’
‘Then sort it out. For Christ’s sake, Kenny… if you and her…’
‘It’s nothing like that, India. Nothing like that.’ And it wasn’t, not really. What he and Charley had done, well, it had been once. One time. A chance for both of them to have that moment of escape, those few minutes to forget everything that was killing them both inside. Two very separate reasons, but both he and Charley had demons they needed to push aside, just for a little while. However, the last time he and Charley had done something once, just one time, look what had happened. But it wouldn’t be like that again. Not this time. Nobody’s relationship would be ruined, nobody would get hurt. History wasn’t going to repeat itself; Kenny would make sure of that.
India looked at him, right into eyes that she honestly thought she could trust, but she just couldn’t read him tonight. ‘Shit! Do you know what? Forget it. I haven’t got time for this. If she doesn’t want to talk to me then that’s up to her. I can’t force her. But if she’s hurting Vince…’
‘She isn’t hurting Vince.’
‘You know that for sure, do you?’
He looked down at the floor for a second, shoving his hands in his pockets. ‘Yes, I do.’ He looked back up at India. ‘I promise you, India, I’m not lying to you. I would never lie to you. She isn’t hurting Vince.’
India just stared at him. She was tired now, and this obviously wasn’t getting her anywhere. She wasn’t finding anything out here, except the knowledge that whatever Kenny was telling her, it wasn’t the whole truth. She believed him when he told her he wasn’t lying to her, but that only meant that he wasn’t telling her everything. ‘And if you can’t talk to me either…’
‘India… Jesus, just trust me, okay? Please?’
He held out his arms and she stepped into them, letting him hold her tight, hugging him like the best friend that he was. She needed this man, she always would, but tonight he was making her feel as though they’d lost that closeness, that he was putting up a barrier, something to stop her from getting too close. And it was a feeling she hated, but one she knew he was all too familiar with because she’d given him plenty of opportunities in the past to feel just how she was feeling right now.
She pulled back slightly and looked at him, up into those deep, dark eyes, still holding onto his waist. ‘Don’t shut me out, Kenny. Don’t do that.’
He stroked the hair from her eyes, absent-mindedly letting his fingers fall down to her shoulders, running them over her skin, all the time looking at her. The woman he’d never stopped caring about. ‘Trust me, baby. Please. That’s all I ask.’
She leant into him again, falling against him, suddenly just wanting to feel his body against hers, that familiarity that always – always – made her feel safe. A few seconds of remembering how it used to be. Then she pulled back again and hit his arm, hard enough for him to wince in pain.
‘Jesus, India! That fucking hurt!’
‘It was meant to. Whatever’s going on, sort it out, Kenny. I mean it. Because I’ve got enough to worry about, okay?’
He gave her a mock salute and she had to smile, leaning over to kiss him on the mouth.
‘And we both need some “together” time. Soon. You got that?’
He smiled back, relieved she was backing off from the questioning, and ridiculously happy that she was acknowledging the fact they needed to spend some time together. Because they just didn’t get the chance to do that so much these days, and he missed it. He missed her. More than he cared to