The Safe Bet (Hidden Truths #1)(49)

“He better be okay with it, because I’m not giving him a choice. Thank you.”

After finishing their breakfast sandwiches and lattes, they exited the cafe, but Kate stopped in her tracks before they made it more than a couple of feet outside the door. She had forgotten how close they were to Michael’s office building.

And there Michael was, standing on the other side of the street. He was talking to the slender auburn haired woman she’d seen at his office last week. The redhead was touching his chest, and then she reached up and pressed her lips to his.

A city bus zipped by, blocking her view for a moment. When it was gone, she saw Michael looking over at her.

Michael’s eyes left Kate’s and returned to the redhead. He took the woman by the elbow and led her inside his office building.

Jealousy was an ugly thing. Kate was rarely a party to it when it came to men, especially since she hadn’t ever really fallen in love before—but with Michael, a bubbling caldron of emotions had brewed into something frustratingly toxic. She needed to get out of his home, and fast.

“You okay?”

“Do you know her?” Kate asked while looking up at Connor.

There was a sudden darkness, or maybe a pain, flickering in his irises.

He stared at her for a brief moment and then shook his head as if he were shaking free a thought. “I don’t know. Come on, let’s take a walk.”

“We’re just friends, Connor. Maybe not even that. . .”





CHAPTER FIFTEEN




“MICHAEL’S CALLING,” KATE SAID AS she looked down at her cell phone. Connor and Kate had been roaming the streets of the city for about thirty minutes after Kate had witnessed Michael’s kiss. “I don’t feel like talking to him right now.” She shoved her phone back into her purse.

Connor’s cell began buzzing as soon as Kate’s had stopped. “I have to answer it. He’s the boss.” He shrugged. “What’s up?”

Kate bit her thumb and took a seat on a nearby bench. She tried to ignore the pain that pooled in her stomach, ready to crash down like a tidal wave, to knock her off her feet. She looked up at Connor, who had stepped away to talk to Michael in private.

Connor was grimacing when he approached her. “He wants to see you,” he said, shoving the phone into the back pocket of his board shorts.

Kate jumped to her feet. “No. I don’t feel like seeing him right now. Come on, let’s get a drink.”

“It’s eleven in the morning.” He reached for her arm. “Kate, Michael isn’t the guy you say ‘no’ to.” He tilted his head in a beckoning motion. “Please. You don’t want me to get in trouble, do you?” A small smile threatened his lips, though.

He was trying to manipulate her. There was no way this ex-military badass was afraid of Michael. “Connor, I—I can’t face him. Okay?”

“He won’t be happy about this.” He reached for his phone and sent Michael a text. He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him. “You win. It’ll be my head, but I aim to please you, madam.” His eyes lit up like those of a mischievous young boy. “I have an idea. Follow me.”

The touch of his rough hand against hers made her feel unfaithful. But she knew that was totally crazy. What was there to be faithful to? Frustrated with herself, she tightened her grip on Connor’s hand and allowed him to lead the way.

“There’s a great dive bar a few blocks away. We can throw some darts and drink a few beers. They should be opening about now.”

He was definitely right about the dive part, she realized when they stepped inside. The bar looked like something out of the Blue Lagoon. It was a tropical paradise for men with scruffy beards and women with tattoos. It was not her typical hangout place, which was why it was perfect. The last thing she wanted was to be typical Kate. Of course, ever since she’d come to Charlotte she’d become almost someone different.

“I love it,” she exclaimed as they sat down at the bar. She attempted to ignore the fact that the black leather stool was a tad sticky.

“Two Coronas with lime,” Connor ordered.

“I don’t drink beer . . . but what the hell, first time for everything.”

“This will be your first Corona?”

Kate decided that the shock on his face was rather cute. “Yes.” When he handed her the bottle, they clinked their glasses together, and she took a sip. She attempted to hide her obvious distaste for the gold liquid, but judging by the huge smirk on Connor’s face, she failed.

He grinned at her and motioned for the bartender. “Can you make a mimosa for the lady?”

Kate’s cheeks warmed. “Thank you,” she said. “That’s a little more my speed.”

“You should do that more often,” he said before raising the bottle to his mouth.

“Do what?”

“Smile,” he said over his shoulder and drank his beer.

“You, too. You have a great smile.” When her drink arrived, she took an eager sip and looked around the bar. “So, tell me about yourself.”

He ran a hand over his short brown beard, and his pale green eyes turned a shade darker. Kate waited for him to speak, but she wondered if she had hit some invisible mute button. “Connor?” She reached for his shoulder and rested her hand on it. “You okay?” she whispered, sensing the unspoken tension in his body. She never expected that such a casual question would prove to be such a difficult one.