many things. I am lost in the power of this man, but that is also why I read the edge to him, the simmer of something dark, beneath his surface.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Alexander is what’s wrong.”
My pulse leaps. “He didn’t tell me anything.”
“You didn’t tell me either.”
“Savage walked me to my meeting. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.” The wind gusts and my teeth chatter. “It’s freezing.”
He reacts, linking our arms and we hurry toward the entrance of Riptide, all the while my mind races, not sure where this is going. The doorman opens the double glass doors for us, and warm heat welcomes us as we enter the glitzy lobby. The doorman offers to take out coats, but Kace waves him off. “We’re leaving again,” he says, without a pause. On a mission for privacy, we keep walking, and clearly, Kace is well-vetted here because no one stops our progress.
Once we’re inside an office, Kace shuts us inside, and then I’m against the door, and his hands planted on either side of me. “Alexander—”
“—is trouble. I know.”
“He’s dangerous, Aria. I need you to understand that this isn’t some cockfight between two men.”
His jaw tics. His energy ping pongs in the room. He’s not touching me so I touch him. I press my hand to his chest. “I don’t know what this is—”
“Dangerous,” he repeats, his hand covering mine. “This isn’t jealousy. This isn’t a game.”
“What do you think I did?”
His lashes lower and then lift. “I don’t think you did anything.”
“You’re angry.”
“Not at you. I’m pissed at myself. I didn’t warn you. I didn’t say the word ‘dangerous’ because I don’t want to talk about this but that means that I didn’t protect you. I brought you to his doorstep.”
“Wait.” I search his face. “Do you regret me being there?”
He snags my hips and walks me to him. “No. Hell no. I regret him being here.”
My fingers curl on his chest. “You’re confusing me.”
“I know.”
“That’s all? I know?”
He releases me and leans back on the chair behind him, hands on the leather, withdrawing even before he says, “For now.”
I know he has secrets. I know he knows we can’t hide from them forever. And so I repeat, “For now,” making sure he’s clear that for now, is not forever. “I have another situation.”
“With Alexander?”
“No. With Ed, my client. He looked at my ring and said he wanted something one of a kind like it. Am I being paranoid? How would he know it’s one of a kind? And he’s never mentioned it before. I mean, the timing just feels odd.”
“I agree,” he says, “but he did buy a piece of jewelry. Referencing another piece of jewelry is logical. It’s probably nothing to worry about, but we’ll talk to Blake and Savage. And then,” he adds, twining his fingers with mine and walking me to him. “We’ll go celebrate your success, you and me, and a bottle of wine.”
His voice is soft now, his mood with it and I press my palm to his face. “After I do some more work. Gio was a major source of income for me. I need to turn this sale into more.”
He covers my hand with his and brings my fingers to his lips. “You know you’re not alone anymore, right?”
“I know that. I do, but I still have responsibilities.”
“Let me help.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“Don’t say please. Please no.”
“Yes.” He stands up, and still holding my hand, steps toward the door. “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“To the bank. We’re going to make sure you’re taken care of.”
“No.” I shove on his chest. “No. No. No.” I place myself between him and the door again. “I swear I will go back to my place, Kace if you try to do this. Don’t do this. I do not want to feel like I’m your charity case. I can’t be that.”
He cups my head and presses my forehead to his. “Baby, you matter to me. I care about you.” His eyes find mine. “I need you to let me help and there’s more I’d say about that if we weren’t here at Riptide right now.”
“You are helping. You’re paying for Walker.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“I don’t need other help—”
“Aria—”
“Yet, Kace. Not yet. Maybe I won’t now that I have Riptide.”
“And how will I know when you do? I need you to promise me you’ll tell me.”
“I will.”
“You promise?”
“Yes.” I concede. “I promise. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“I don’t want your thanks. You know that.”
“You have it