Chapter Nine
Josh
Klein takes my arm and pulls me out of the restaurant. My brothers wave goodbye with little smirks, most likely amused that I’m letting my tiny assistant drag me around. My heart is beating a bit wrong—too funny, too unsteady—but I know I’m doing the right thing.
It didn’t take long to figure out the relationship dynamics at Klein’s table. Her family… They were absolutely horrific. And I’ve seen my share of ugly things families do to each other.
Klein’s family wasn’t even fighting for money or power. At least I could understand that. They were putting her down just because they could—and because they enjoyed cutting her to pieces. Their eyes were practically glowing.
As soon as we’re out on the street, Klein starts swiveling her head. What’s she looking for? If I were her, it’d be a murder weapon to use on Chad.
“What do you need?” I ask, ready to give her my Huxley cane if she wants something to beat Chad up with. I’ll even volunteer to hold him down so she can focus.
“A quiet café…”
A little disappointing, but Klein is a pacifist.
Her phone buzzes in her purse; she glances at the screen before dropping it back into the bag. “Or maybe a Starbucks?”
I point to a little mom-and-pop doughnut and coffee shop tucked between an independent bookstore and a narrow alley. “How about that one?”
“That works.”
Klein’s hand remains on my arm. Does she know what she’s doing?
She’s always been careful to maintain a professional distance.
Harder to do now, of course, since I announced in front of everyone that we’re engaged.
If Bryce is smart, he’ll give Chad’s pregnant wife his card.
It looked like she could use his expertise.
I don’t say anything because the feel of her hand on me is as sweet as a slice of heaven.
Not sure why Klein has such an impact on me.
It wasn’t like this when we first met, but over the years, her unique influence on my mood has grown.
My family arouses feelings of duty and loyalty, my clients…
obligation. But Klein’s touch makes me want to wrap myself around her and bask in that special warmth that makes me feel good to the core.
So I let myself indulge with a bone-deep appreciation that elicits a sigh.
This won’t last forever. We need to go back to keeping things proper between us soon, although with an appropriate exit plan, so Klein doesn’t end up getting embarrassed because of me.
My heart rebels, but I clamp down on it.
I know better than anybody why it’s necessary.
Ultimately, I don’t trust myself. Mom said she loved Dad—and us—but betrayed everyone to get what she wanted. And Harvey apparently said that Mom even killed their younger brother because he was in the way.
What if—someday—I do the same? Hurt everyone I vowed my loyalty to, to achieve my goal and not feel any guilt about it? What if I become blind in the pursuit of my own goals and forsake my loved ones?
Although I’d like to believe I’m not a sociopath, part of me is deathly afraid of turning out to be like her. There have been dark urges and thoughts over the years.
When the Dunkels are out of the picture and Mom’s not around to trigger me… Only then might I be able to relax—possibly. When I’m completely sure of myself, I might be worthy of a good girl like Klein.
So ask her to wait for you.
For how long? There’s no deadline to this. She could wait forever.
We step inside the charming little café.
Some upbeat Taylor Swift fills the quaint space.
The pleasantly cool air smells like sugar, butter and flour.
Perfect. Just the thing Klein needs. She’s gotta be suffering from low blood sugar by now.
The strawberry cupcake was hours ago, and I know she didn’t touch anything at Peking Town.
She lets go of me as she peers at the glass display. I eye her hand wistfully, wishing it was still on me—but the moment is broken and isn’t coming back.
Turning my attention to the cheery cashier, I order a couple of chocolate-glazed doughnuts and a cappuccino.
Klein gets a decaf latte. Her phone buzzes again.
While she’s busy checking it, I pay for everything, since that’s the least I can do.
After the cashier places everything on a tray, we move into a relatively empty seating area.
Most people are having dinner, not munching on over-sugared fried dough.
“Here.” I push the plate of doughnuts toward her.
“How about you, boss?”
Her calling me boss is like a needle prickling the pad of my thumb—irritating and stinging.
It’s a constant reminder of where she’s placed me in her world.
At the same time, I should be grateful she doesn’t want to cross any lines.
It keeps her safe. “Ate at the restaurant. I got these for you. Chocolate’s your favorite.
” Just like the strawberry cupcake. The latter’s my favorite too, but Bobbi’s Sweet Things only had one left earlier today, so I had the raspberry cupcake, my backup choice.
Klein gives me a wan smile. “Thank you. You’re always so thoughtful.”
The smile soon disappears as she bites into the doughnut. Is it not very good?
“I don’t even know where to begin…” She sighs. “I’m sorry you had to get involved. And your brothers for having to see the scene. You must be thinking I’m an idiot to fall for a guy like that.” Her entire body collapses like a broken accordion.
I put a finger under her chin and lift it up. “Hey. Chin raised and back straight. Don’t beat yourself up. You just got fooled. He’s the bad guy for being dishonest.”
The corners of her lips twitch, but she doesn’t smile. “Yeah…but I should’ve known it was too good to be true.”
What does that mean? The only thing too good to be true was a maggot-eating invertebrate like Chad getting her to agree to marry him. “Don’t let him win by dragging you down, Klein. I’ve got your back.”
The downturned tips of her mouth begin to lift.
She polishes off the first doughnut, then begins to lick the melted chocolate on her fingers.
The motion is small and economical, nothing like the disgusting, giraffe-like displays my exes have tried.
And I can’t look away, absolutely mesmerized by the innocent act.
The air becomes thick. My dick starts to stir.
Shit.
I tug at my tie, feeling suffocated. Shifting my weight, I glide the plate closer toward her, hoping she doesn’t notice anything.
“I hope what happened tonight doesn’t mess up your future plans,” Klein says.
“Future plans? You mean my dinner with my brothers? Because it really wasn’t that big of a deal.”
“No, you know… Your wedding.” She clears her throat. She can’t quite meet my eyes as she uses a finger to dab up the crumbs on the plate. “You should marry the one you love. And I should, too.”
The words hit me like a series of well-executed punches. It sounds like she’s saying she could never love me. Well, I already knew I wasn’t her type, but hearing it from the source cuts deep. “I don’t have any plans for a wedding.” My voice is a lot terser than I intend.
Her shocked eyes collide with mine. “Still?”
“What do you mean, ‘still’? I’ve never had any.
” The kind of women who buzz around me aren’t the type who’d last, not when they find out what I’m really like.
Actually, that isn’t precisely correct. To be honest, I don’t even know what I’m really like.
I try to avoid giving in to my impulses and instincts as much as possible when I’m around people.
I keep things light. Simple. Make sure nobody takes me too seriously, except for work.
I also make sure to not care too much about other people, except my family.
That way I’ll never be in a situation where I’ll have to make a difficult choice and learn something about myself I never wanted to discover.
There’s a part of me that wonders what might’ve happened if Ares hadn’t called me when I glared at the hotel she was staying at, the knife clenched in my hand. I managed to conceal the fact that I took Dad’s car out, but I wouldn’t have been able to hide stabbing my own my mother.
Klein’s phone buzzes yet again.
I frown. “Is it important?”
She shakes her head. “No. Just…some spam. Anyway, I guess…she’ll be disappointed.”
“Who?”
“Katt, of course.” Klein gives me a puzzled look.
I cock my head, still not getting it. “Why will she be disappointed?” And why does Klein care anyway? Katt was a complete bitch to her.
“Because she was planning on marrying you, and I just ruined it for her.”
I close my eyes briefly and wait for Klein to elaborate.
Why would Katt—and her family, apparently—have ever thought that?
She acted like a tramp when she was my client years ago.
Has she harbored some weird obsession since then?
I shudder. That’s creepy, a lot like Mom’s unhealthy obsession with me and my brothers.
Klein fidgets a little and clears her throat. “I didn’t mean to make things awkward by hiding my relationship with Katt or anything. She doesn’t like it much if I let people know we’re related. I’m sort of…embarrassing.”
What the fuck? What’s embarrassing is Katt and those shitty parents, not Klein.
She continues, “It’s just best if I stay away from her personal life.
It bothers her when it looks like I might have an opinion about something related to her life, or—worse—like I might’ve interfered.
I mean, she’s doing way better than me anyway.
So when she told me about her and your marriage plan, I just smiled and nodded. ”
“Okay.” I hold up a hand. “But why would you think I’d marry your sister? It’s not like she can unilaterally just decide to marry me.”
She shoots me a look that says, Are you kidding? “Boss…you’ve been seeing her for seven months, while she’s waiting for you to…get things out of your system. Nobody lasts that long in your dating life.” She shrugs helplessly.
“Seven months? I didn’t even know her name!”
“But…” Klein taps her phone a few times and flips it toward me to show what’s on the screen. “Look.”
I glance at the Instagram account—which belongs to “Katt”—and scowl.
It has tons of photos, most of them too perfect to be mere snapshots, although she tried very hard to make them seem that way.
Many of them are of me and her, except I don’t remember being this close to her.
When I go to any sort of social gatherings, I stick to my network, people who have been vetted not to have any connection to the Dunkels.
When I go clubbing and hook up with someone, I make sure to pick women who are so transparent Mom would never consider using them against me.
“These photos are fake,” I say.
Klein’s eyes turn as round as mini saucers. Guess it’s never crossed her mind that her sister might be a liar. “They are?”
“I was never around her like this. Besides…” I squint at one where I have my arm around Katt’s waist and a shit-eating grin on my face. “It’s AI. I certainly never put my arm around her.”
“AI?”
“Yeah. Look at the fingers.” I point to the corner. “They’re a bit too long and awkward.”
Klein takes her phone and stares. “Oh wow. You’re right.”
“So you don’t have to feel guilty toward your sister. You haven’t ruined anything, Klein. You could never ruin anything.”
She lowers her phone and gives me a soft, shy smile. “Thank you. I think that’s one of the nicest things anybody’s ever said to me.”
I shrug. “Just being honest.”
“Well, honesty deserves gratitude, too. Also, thanks for coming to the rescue, boss. I’ll find a graceful way to get us out of the situation soon. Count on it.”
Her reassurance should cheer me up. After all, isn’t this what I want?
To protect her from the humiliation of being deceived by Chad and the judging eyes of her shitty parents?
I knew I had to come up with a plan to undo my lie about proposing to her—even reminded myself of all the reasons I’m not right for her.
But I can’t feel anything positive about her eagerness to be free of me.