The Safe Bet (Hidden Truths #1)(60)

WHEN MICHAEL ENTERED THE LIVING room, dressed in gray suit pants that were tailored to his body with perfection, Kate had to hold her breath. The luxurious material fit him in just the right way. Her eyes traveled the length of his body, slipping below his hips and moving only slowly back up to his face.

It was Friday. Date night. She tried to fight the odd feelings that swirled around in her stomach. Worrying about Michael going on a date with the gorgeous Dallas girl should have been the last thing on her mind.

She had gone out of her way to avoid speaking to Michael since she had agreed to Jake’s plan. Even now, she worried that he might develop telepathy and read her thoughts. “Why haven’t we heard from Dustin?” She forced the words from her mouth.

“He’s playing a sick game,” Michael said as he fixed the sleeves of his pressed, black dress shirt. He steadied his hand atop the nearby recliner. “You okay?” He tilted his head to the side.

She jerked her attention away from his eyes and found herself staring at his parted lips. “Yeah,” she whispered.

It had been days since she’d thought about sex, but now her mind was slamming into dangerous territory at full force. “Have fun tonight.”

He took a step closer to her. “You know I don’t want to go.” He touched her shoulder, and his eyes drew her in.

She was surprised Jake had convinced him to go. As much as she believed Jake was right about drawing out Dustin Scott—it also scared the hell out of her.

“It’s for the veterans,” she reminded him. The ball had been only last weekend, but it felt like a million years had lapsed in between.

“I would have postponed. You know I’m only doing this because Jake insists.” He removed his hand from her body. “Thanks for not fighting me on this. Thank you for postponing your date.”

A twinge of guilt coiled inside her abdomen. She wanted to blame it on the excruciating workout she had completed that morning in the hopes of ridding her body of tension, but she knew it was something more.

“Connor, you’d better keep your eyes on her while I’m gone,” Michael barked. Connor was in the kitchen, but Michael was loud enough for him to hear.

Connor stepped into the living room and looked at Kate, shooting her a sympathetic glance. A moment later, Jake came into view. “You ready?” He tucked his gun in the back of his pants and slipped on a blazer to hide the weapon.

She’d never seen a gun up close before unless you counted passing by a police officer with one in the holster.

“You think Dustin will show up? Is Michael in danger?” she asked.

“No, I don’t think Dustin will show his face tonight, but I won’t let Michael out of my sight. Just in case,” Jake answered.

“I don’t need a bodyguard,” Michael grumbled.

And he probably didn’t. She was sure he could kill someone with his bare hands if he needed to.

“Michael, please be careful.” Her brows drew together as she studied him.

“Everything will be fine.” He gave her one last, long look and headed for the elevator.

She wanted to pinch herself, to wake up. Perhaps she was stuck in some sort of never-ending carousel of a nightmare.

But the pain and fear that streamed through her body were reminders enough that she was very much awake.

*


Kate took a sip of her Merlot and set it back on the table with an unsteady hand. “What did you say? I’m sorry.” She looked down at the sushi on her plate, feeling no sense of appetite.

Her date, Ethan, shifted in his seat and stared at Kate. “You okay? You seem a little preoccupied.”

Normally a sexy Southern accent and incredible gray eyes would impact her, but right now all she could think about was her safety. And, of course, Michael. She couldn’t stop the horrible images that spewed forth in her mind. Each scenario played out in her head, each ending with either her or Michael dead—or both. “I’ve had a lot going on lately. I’m sorry.” She smiled at him and ran a hand through her blonde hair, which was flowing in soft waves down her back. “Thanks for doing the interviews and pictures with the newspapers before dinner. It’ll help further the cause for the veterans.”

She almost forgot about needing to have her photo snapped for the two papers. She had to bare her teeth and grin for the photographers. Would the images get her in even more trouble with whoever hired Dustin?

“Well, tell me about your business. I heard you were thinking of opening a third location in Charlotte. Is it true?” Ethan asked.

“I think I’m going to stick with New York and Boston, for now. I have my hands full with those locations, and I would probably be biting off more than I could chew by bringing my business to Charlotte.” Her eyes scanned the room, searching for Connor. When she saw him at the bar, she felt a little better.

“Do you like what you do?”

She was in no mood for this conversation, but she forced herself to play the role. Pretend everything was normal, and that she wasn’t scared of Dustin Scott. “Yeah, I think so. I didn’t have much of a choice, though. My stepmother needed me to help out. But, it’s probably the perfect job for me since I’m obsessed with planning things.” I didn’t plan to fall for Michael, though.

“Will you stick with it?”