Off Limits(114)

“Y—yeah, we’re here, Dad,” Kade said, taking his arm from around me to lean forward, his elbows resting on his thighs. “Just that’s a hell of a bomb to drop into a conversation. I mean, I’m happy for you guys, but holy shit. Talk about unexpected.”

“You should have listened to the conversation your father and I had when I found out,” Layla said. “I know it’s going to be difficult, but we’re going to get the best prenatal care.”

I shook my head and chastised myself. Mom wasn’t looking for acceptance, she was looking for support and love from the daughter who hadn’t given her enough of either in a very long time. I leaned forward, next to Kade, and took his hand. “Mom, I’m so happy for you two, and I know that you and Derek are going to make great parents. You both did a great job with the two of us, okay? Together, you’re going to turn out a child that’s going to blow the two of us away. Just, you have to give me a second to wrap my head around all the consequences. So are you hoping for a girl or a boy?”

“Well, that’s where Derek and I are in disagreement,” Mom said. “He wants a girl, since he had a boy. I’m wanting a boy since I already have the perfect daughter.”

Tears prickled the corners of my eyes at Mom’s compliment, and I blinked hard to prevent them from spilling down my cheeks. “I’m not perfect, Mom. I screwed up too much of the past sixteen years for me to be perfect. But I hope I can be a good daughter, and I guess a good older sister.”

“I know she will,” Kade said next to me. “And I know we both are looking forward to coming down and celebrating with you both. Send me the details, guys, and we’ll be there.”

The rest of the phone call wrapped up quickly, and afterwards Kade and I sat back, both of us still shocked. I looked at him, and I swore his face probably wore the same slightly dazed expression I knew I had. “Uhm . . . wow.”

Kade nodded. “That about sums it up.”

“As if that doesn’t make our family situation weirder,” I said, sitting back and laughing. “Step-siblings, with a shared half sibling now. Holy hell.”

Kade grew quiet, sitting forward again with his hands dangling between his knees. “Is it too much for you?”

I grew serious, and knew there was only one answer that I needed to give. Getting off the couch, I slid in front of Kade on my knees, taking his hands and kissing them. “No, Kade, My Kade.”

He studied me for a minute, then reached up and stroked a lock of my hair out of my face. “You scare me, Alix. You know that?”

“Why?” I asked, staying where I was. Kneeling before him filled me with a sense of purpose, of calm and of peace. Where else would I want to be?

“Because you’re challenging the control I’ve built of myself. These feelings are coming on so fast, I feel like I’m completely out of control.”

I knelt there, holding his hands, looking into the tortured eyes of the man I loved. I understood what Rita had told me, there was untapped, unspoken of power and danger inside his soul, caused by what I didn’t know, but I knew one thing. “I’ll be here for you, Kade. I’ll be strong enough to soothe the demon inside you. I’ll be your strength if you need it.”

“And I’ll be yours,” Kade said, looking into my eyes. “My Princess.”

We stayed there, holding each other’s hands, until the pins and needles in my calves became too much to bear. Kade saw the pain in my eyes as I shifted slightly, and shook his head. Placing his hands under my armpits, he carefully lifted me in his arms and set me on the sofa. “Come on, let’s get some circulation back in those legs, and then we have shopping to do. Then we’ve got evening plans.”

“May I ask what?” I said, sighing as warmth crept back down my legs and I wiggled my toes. “You seem excited about it.”

“OMSI’s IMAX screen is doing a special tonight, Phantom of the Opera. It’s a program they do called Broadway on Screen, full surround sound. I’ve always wanted to go, now I’ve got a perfectly good reason to.”

“Sounds wonderful.”





Chapter 20





Kade





The Delta 737 banked and aligned itself with the runway, touching down exactly five minutes late for our arrival. Next to me in her first class seat, Alix looked both anxious and excited to be back in Southern California.

“You okay?”

Alix shrugged, then looked down, where we were holding hands. The first class cabin was nearly totally empty on the early flight, and I’d deemed it an acceptable risk. “It’ll be the first time I’ve seen Mom since the apology.”

“I know,” I said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “But on the other hand, you’ll have plenty to distract you. You have to sign the papers to have the agent put your place up for rent, get your keys for someone to drive your car up to Portland, all of that.”

“And pack some more,” Alix replied. She leaned in and whispered in my ear. “I’ve got a few outfits I’d love to show you. It pays to be a model, you know.”

I smirked and sat back. “Ah, it’s good to be the King.”

We let go of our hands as the plane stopped and a stewardess came around. She gave me a look I’ve been familiar with for years, and it was funny to see Alix’s contained yet still defensive reaction.