The Safe Bet (Hidden Truths #1)(61)

“I think so.” If I survive.

“You could always come and join the finance world. It’s very riveting.”

You have a great smile, she decided. And he was good looking. He definitely had the angular features and soft eyes that she adored . . . even though he, and every man, seemed to pale in comparison to Michael Maddox. Still, she hoped he could distract her from the fear that was burning her insides. “For some reason, investments and acquisitions don’t exactly sound sexy to me.” She returned his smile. It was her first real smile of the evening.

When Ethan finished his sushi, he looked up at the approaching waiter. “You ready to order?”

“I’ll have the egg noodles and chicken.” She wondered if she’d be able to force herself to eat.

“Same for me.” Ethan handed their menus to the waiter and focused his attention on Kate. “I guess we have similar tastes.”

She could practically read his mind and almost felt sorry for him. He had no idea how little of a chance he had. It wasn’t fair.

“Thank you again for bidding on me. It’s for a good cause.”

“I would have asked you out, regardless.” He brought his glass to his lips, but his eyes never left hers.

She downed the rest of her wine and rolled her tongue over her front teeth. Where are you, Connor? Her nerves pushed to the forefront of her mind when she noticed Connor was MIA from the bar. Was everything okay?

“You’re beautiful. I can’t believe Michael didn’t snatch you up for himself.”

Ethan’s comment snapped her attention back front and center. If only you knew. “His loss,” she joked.

“Lucky for me.” She relaxed when she spotted Connor near the entrance of the restaurant. He didn’t look alarmed, so she shifted in her seat, hoping to seem casual.

After the meal ended and she carried her weight through the polite conversation portion of the evening, Kate proceeded with the rest of Jake’s instructions.

Ask Ethan to a club. Get out wide in the open.

She couldn’t believe she was purposefully becoming a target for a psychopath. But Ethan kept the drinks coming, and the alcohol soothed her, alleviating her nerves.

For a moment, she almost forgot that a murderous hitman for hire was stalking her—was possibly watching her at that very moment.

Tipsy became somewhat of an understatement, and she noticed Connor growing edgy at the bar. He had been against Jake’s plan from the beginning, but he’d agreed to it when Jake explained that, once they had Kate’s willing cooperation, they were under direct government orders to proceed. Jake had reported to the FBI that Dustin Scott was in Charlotte—and now her case was a federal one. No pressure . . .

“Come here,” Ethan said, grabbing her hand and pulling her to the dance floor. They were at the nightclub where Kate had spilled her drink on Michael. That was the night her life had changed. No—her life changed the moment she received the phone call from Julia Maddox.

As much as she wanted to regret coming to Charlotte, she would never have discovered the truth about her mother, and she wouldn’t have met Michael. Of course, she wasn’t sure if meeting Michael was a good thing or not. The jury was still deliberating.

Kate attempted to focus as she danced with Ethan, but the alcohol was going to her head. His hands brushed over her bare shoulders before skimming down the sides of her pale yellow, sleeveless dress. He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms snug around her waist when an Ellie Goulding song blared through the room. She shut her eyes as they moved around the floor, but she kept thinking of Michael.

When Ethan’s lips touched hers, she blinked her eyes open in surprise. She took a step back, breaking their kiss.

She wasn’t ready for the touch of another man’s lips—alcohol or not. “Sorry, I just . . .” She didn’t know what to say, and the music was so loud that it was probably pointless to speak, anyway.

“That’s okay. Sorry.”

She took a nervous breath and began to search for the beat once more.

Then terror struck her heart.

It wasn’t Dustin watching her.

She gulped at the sight of him. “Michael,” she whispered.

Michael stood a few feet away from the dance floor. His shirt sleeves were rolled to the elbows, and his hands were fisted at his sides.

Ethan followed her gaze and looked over his shoulder.

“Kate, it’s time go,” Michael demanded after he’d stalked toward them with purposeful strides.

Kate looked back at Ethan, unsure what to do or say. He was reaching for her hips, but his touch felt foreign and wrong. Especially in front of Michael.

“Kate,” Michael said with a strained voice, his eyes shrouded in rage. “Now.”

“I should go,” Kate said, pulling free from Ethan’s grasp. “Thank you for the date.”

Ethan looked to Michael. It didn’t take a genius to figure out why she had pulled away from his kiss now.

“Goodnight, Kate,” Ethan said. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

She gave him an apologetic glance and then allowed Michael to pull her away. He moved so fast that she almost lost her balance in her four-inch heels. Holding her by the wrist, Michael guided her toward the door of the club.

“I’m so sorry,” she cried as they stepped outside.