I thought I'd lost everything until I began playing Eternal Combat. And then I found love, but I didn't find you until the expo. Every woman has bad days. Trust me, because I've had a few. The thing is that it's easier to take it when you have a shoulder to lean on, and I'm going to make sure you do."
"I just stood up to help with your speech," Rhaven mumbled.
Kate nodded. "And you had no idea what shit I was going through at that moment. You are the one person who always seems to understand me, and you don't care when I have a tirade about something stupid. You listen and are there for me. I'm just paying it all back, ok? And if I have to call hotel security to take you to the hospital before you can hurt yourself, I swear I will. I can be a real honey badger, you know."
That made a weak laugh burst from Rhaven's mouth. "Yeah, you can."
"And you can do this," Kate told her. "Talk to your dad, or brother, or whichever calls next. Call them back. And then you can - "
A pounding at the door cut her off. This wasn't a knock. It was a heavy thumping, sounding as if the person on the other side was adamant that they wouldn't be ignored. Rhaven jumped in place, but Kate just rubbed her shoulder, and then headed to look through the peephole.
The pounding came again, but Kate didn't flick the lock. Instead, she grabbed the knob and opened the door, pulling it wide enough to show the person on the other side. At first, all Rhaven saw was a pair of jeans and a dark t-shirt on some man, but then the size gave him away. The phone in her hand was immediately forgotten because her next regret was now standing before her.
It was Braden, and he didn't wait to be invited in. The man simply marched across the threshold, his eyes locked on Rhaven. "I heard," he breathed.
"I didn't mean to dump you," Rhaven whimpered.
Braden's lips curled on one side. "You didn't dump me. You just ghosted me, but sounds like you had a lot to deal with."
"You're not mad?" Rhaven asked.
Braden kept walking until he was right before her. His hand found the side of her face and he leaned in. "I have been so fucking worried about you, yet here you are, looking amazing."
And then, with Kate standing right behind him, the man kissed her. Not a peck. Not something subtle. His mouth took hers, his tongue explored her mouth, and he leaned in until she had to cling to him to stay on her feet.
Chapter 28
When he began pounding on the door, Braden was convinced Rhaven wouldn't open it. The second time he'd knocked, he'd been sure of it, only to have Kate immediately let him in. Ok, maybe it was more that she didn't stop him from coming in, but the sight of Rhaven standing there, looking half-terrified, was just more than he could take.
In just a few days, she'd changed - and for the better. Her hairstyle was new. Her nails were painted. She had on makeup, but none of that was what looked so good. It was simply the fact that she wasn't trying to pretend she was a guy. Before he knew what was happening, he was kissing her, and she wasn't stopping him.
Her arms came around his back. Her fingers slid into his short hair. She bent, melting into his arms, and he loved it. This was his woman, damn it. His, and if anyone thought they'd hurt her like this, he'd make them all pay. Somehow, and he wasn't sure how, but he'd do it.
"God, I missed you," he finally breathed. "I kept trying to figure out why you wouldn't reply to my texts, and now I kinda know."
"I thought I'd chased you off," she whispered, her eyes darting between his.
"Because I pushed too hard?" He shook his head. "You told me to back off, Rhaven. I backed off. I also hated that I couldn't kiss you, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about you sleeping beside me." The sound of Kate smothering a giggle made him look back. "Sorry. TMI, right?"
"Nope," Kate said, jerking her thumb at the door. "I'm going to go see if they have my suite cleaned yet and check in. You two just keep on talking."
"I wasn't trying to run you out," Braden