Nailed - Opal Carew Page 0,73
series of incidents.” She took his hand and squeezed. “And I understand doing something to help attain a dream.”
Like marrying Kane. But for the wrong reasons.
As much as she wanted to build a successful nail polish company, deep in her heart she knew she had a dream that was far more important to her.
To have a real marriage with Kane. Based on love.
Her heart ached as she realized that dream would probably never come true.
Will gazed into her eyes, shaking his head. “I can totally understand why Kane fell for you so hard. If you weren’t his wife I’d…”
“You’d what?”
He grasped her shoulders, his eyes flashing with need. She was mesmerized as he seemed to battle with himself, but then he pulled her close and his lips found hers. The kiss was gentle and coaxing. His mouth warm and persuasive. She opened to him and allowed herself to be carried away, not letting herself think about where this was going.
His strong arms slid around her and drew her closer. Some sanity caused her to stiffen.
He drew back. “Aw, fuck, what the hell am I doing?” He stood up. “I’m going to go.”
She stood and raced after him. “Wait. Please don’t.”
He twirled around. “River, we almost—”
“Almost is the key word. But neither one of us would betray Kane. We’ve just proven that.” She gazed at him, willing him to understand. “If you leave now, things will just become awkward between us. You’ll start avoiding me.” The thought of losing him as an ally and confidant knotted her stomach. She’d feel even more alone than she did now. “I don’t want that to happen. I like to think you’re my friend, and I really need a friend right now. Especially one who understands the situation like you do.”
He raked his hand through his hair. “What do you want from me, River?”
“Just stay a little longer. We can watch a movie, or just talk. Anything. Just so we can prove to ourselves that what happened doesn’t have to be an issue.”
Uncertainty flickered across his hazel eyes, but he finally nodded.
“Okay. Let’s make it an adventure film,” he said.
* * *
Kane barely noticed the bright sunshine and happy twitter of the birds as he left the house on Sunday morning. All he could think about was how he’d blown it big time with River. She’d caught him kissing Francoise and, although Francoise had initiated it, he had to admit, at least to himself, that River was right. It would never have happened if there hadn’t been a part of him that wanted it to happen.
And why was that?
He sighed as he started the car and pulled out of the driveway.
He hated to admit that it was because he’d needed to feel wanted. Francoise’s desire for him might be shallow and lust-based, but at least she wanted him enough to go after him. River would never do that. If she wasn’t in this marriage he’d manipulated her into, she would happily continue her life without a second thought about him.
While he’d never been able to stop thinking of her.
He wanted her to want him so badly. And he wanted her to know how much he loved her. But he was afraid she would reject that love. He’d already felt her pulling back since he’d made that stupid comment about her hair.
By the time he parked his car in the underground garage and strode up the stairs to the lobby, suitcase in tow, he’d decided that he would do his best to work past that. That today, he would talk to her and find out how she really felt about him. Even if she didn’t love him, if he admitted his feelings, maybe they could work together to build a happy, loving relationship.
As he rode the elevator up to his apartment, he began to feel better about the situation. He just had to convince River to listen to him.
The elevator doors opened and he pushed off his shoes and strode to the living room. She might still be asleep and—
He stopped cold at the sight of River nestled in Will’s arms, her head resting against his chest, the two of them asleep on the couch. Kane’s jaw twitched as his gaze fell on Will’s hand, resting on her ribs right beneath her breast. As she breathed, her breast brushed against his thumb and finger. As if he’d been cupping it before they’d fallen asleep.
Anger blazed through him.
* * *
River started awake, feeling as if someone was