Down to My Soul (Soul Series Book 2)(51)

“You mean in Berlin?” I fight a smile, but it might come through just a little. Smugness is so classless, but I can’t help it. “Or in Kai’s room? I’m thinking neither is any of your business.”

Dub visibly stiffens, and I know if he could, he’d wrap those ham-sized hands around my throat.

“Look, I don’t mean to be an * about this . . .” I lean against the doorjamb.

“You don’t mean to? Oh, it just comes naturally, does it?” he asks. “So it’s a gift.”

Enough pleasantries. This son of a bitch kissed my girl yesterday and has the nerve to show up at her room first thing in the morning. Over-eager bastard. He needs to state his business and be on his way.

“What do you want, Dub?”

For a minute the look on his face is so exposed I have the answer to my question even though he doesn’t say a word. He wants my girl. Sorry. Shit outta luck, dude.

“I need to talk to Kai.”

“She’s still in bed.”

We watch one another for long seconds while the intimate implications of that statement sink in.

“I didn’t know you two were back together,” he finally says. “She never mentioned it.”

“Yeah, we wanted to avoid the media attention while she’s on tour.” I shrug. “Like I said, she’s still asleep, but I can give her a message for you.”

“I don’t need you to deliver messages for me.” He laughs, crossing his arms over his wide chest. “I assume you’ll be leaving soon, and I’ll still be here with her. You hate that, don’t you?”

“What I hate is the fact that you want my girl.” If he wants gloves off, they can come off. “And you can’t seem to grasp the fact that it’ll never happen.”

“Maybe you hate the fact that she just may like me, too.” He leans forward, squeezing his thumb and index finger together. “Just the tiniest bit. Maybe just enough.”

“She’s your friend, yeah. No accounting for taste.” I turn my mouth down at the corners, outwardly calm, inwardly feral. “But if you think there’s more on her end, you’re mistaken.”

“Ya sure about that, are ya?” His Irish accent thickens and his smile grows wider. “Seems to me you have a habit of foockin’ up, and maybe all I have to do is be around at the right time. And maybe I will be, yeah?”

Before I can form words to even tear into this *, a sound behind me catches my attention, and I’m sure Dub’s too. Kai shuffles into the suite, rubbing her eyes groggily, my wife beater hanging off one shoulder, a perky, rose-tipped breast exposed, dark hair clinging to her arms and shoulders.

“Baby, was someone at the—”

“Kai, get back in the room!” I snap, shifting to block Dub’s view.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know . . . I . . .” Her eyes get wide when she catches a glimpse of her choreographer in the hall. She drags the strap up over her shoulder and turns to dash back into the bedroom, the door slamming behind her.

When I turn back to face Dub, his mouth is set, expression grim. Maybe seeing her drove home that I’m the only one who gets to see her that way, who has her that way, and he never will.

“I hope you enjoyed the view.” Irritation still roughens my voice. “’Cause that’s the closest you’ll ever get. I promise you that.”

“Tell Kai I came by in case she wanted to grab breakfast before rehearsal,” he says, not addressing my promise. “We have a production meeting at nine, so make sure she’s not late.”

Without another word, he turns and walks down the hall. I close the door and head back to the bedroom. Kai sits on the edge of the bed, head buried in her hands. She looks up when I enter, cheeks pink.

“I had no idea he was here. Oh my God.”

“It’s okay.” I sit beside her, dragging her onto my lap and pressing a kiss to her lips. “He got an eyeful of what he’ll never have.”

She pulls back, searching my face.

“So I guess he knows we’re together, huh?”

“Sorry. I was asleep and didn’t think twice about answering the door. He was gonna find out anyway.”

“Yeah.” She nods, laying her head against my shoulder. “I’ll talk to him later. Explain what’s up. He’ll be fine.”

“He has no choice but to be fine.” I pause, looking for a way to say this without sounding insecure and jealous. “I’m serious about you not working with him beyond this tour.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” She slides off my lap, standing at the foot of the bed.

“We’re at the bridge, Kai.” I wrap my hands around the backs of her thighs, bringing her back to stand between my legs. “He as much as admitted he’s just biding his time. Waiting for me to f*ck up again so he can make his move.”

“He said that?” She frowns, pushing one hand into my hair and cupping my face with the other.

“Pretty much.” I lean into her palm. “Look, I can’t make you do anything. I’ve seen where that gets me, but I can tell you when someone in your life wants me out of it. And Dub wants me out. You do what you want with that information.”

She stares at me unblinkingly for a few moments, and for the first time, I think I may have handled this the right way. I think the wiser part of me won this round because she nods, a thoughtful expression on her face.