Chapter 7
My time spent in Gage’s office this afternoon had left me fucked on an emotional level.
But it also shot me to a high from which I never wanted to come down.
However, as soon as I pulled into my driveway and spotted Katherine’s shiny red car sitting in Gage’s parking spot, my mood plummeted so fast it could have caused whiplash.
She alighted from her vehicle with grating nonchalance as I shut off the ignition.
Her arms, enhanced by subtle muscles that some men found sexy, crossed over the white bosom of her suit.
I hated how she managed to embody the definition of put-together.
Her red lips matched her nails to perfection, and hell…
I wasn’t blind. She’d look perfect and gorgeous on Gage’s arm—another observation that gutted me.
Shoving aside my petty, envious thoughts, I headed to the front door, muttering a “what do you want?” on the way.
“Don’t be nasty, Kayla. I’m only here to talk, woman to woman.”
I unlocked the door before turning to confront her toxic presence. “We have nothing to talk about.” Shooting her a fake smile, I added, “So why don’t you take your jealous ass home and go cry into a pint of Ben & Jerry’s?”
Much to my irritation, she didn’t seem affected by the barb.
Casually, she glanced at her diamond-studded watch.
“In about an hour, the only thing I’ll be gorging on is your husband’s cock.
” Her icy blue eyes widened, feigning incredulity.
“You didn’t think you were the only one sampling that fine cock, did you? ”
“Get the fuck off of my property,” I seethed.
She tsked-tsked. “You’re just the trophy wife, Kayla. So that makes this his property. I’ll leave when I’m ready.”
I folded my arms and prayed for composure because I was two seconds away from tearing into her flawlessly made-up mug. I thought of Eve, and how she needed her mother at home instead of in jail.
Katherine pursed her painted lips. “Don’t get me wrong.
I’m sure Gage enjoys having you cook and clean and cater to his cock at his beck and call, but I’ve got a child to think about too.
So I’m here to give it to you straight. Gage is in love with me.
He’s been fucking me for months, ever since he found out about Conner.
” For a fraction of a second, she had the nerve to appear contrite.
“It’s really not fair to you, or to me, so I think it’s past time you know. ”
Clinging to my outward front of stoicism, I remained silent. But a porno of epic proportions flashed through my mind, starring Katherine and my husband, and I found my pretense in jeopardy of crumbling at any second.
Don’t lose your shit now.
“You don’t believe me, do you?”
“I trust my husband.” Even as I said the words, I couldn’t ignore the ever-present niggle of doubt.
Forget the hypothetical porno. The memory of Katherine on her knees crashed into me with the violence of a hurricane.
I ached to wash the recollection in red, ached even more to tear into the bitch and scratch the smugness from her face, blast the haughtiness from the curve of her pouty mouth.
I wanted her blood on my hands. I’d spatter every last piece of clothing Gage owned with crimson if he were fucking her.
Combing a manicured hand through her blond curls, she sauntered toward her car. The click-clack of her heels was akin to nails on a chalkboard.
“We both know there’s no love lost between us, but you need to know the truth. I’m the mother of his child, and I refuse to be the mistress. Since he doesn’t have the balls to tell you, then you need to come see for yourself.”
She was lying. She had to be. Gage wouldn’t…he wouldn’t. If there was one thing I knew about Gage Channing, it was that I was the center of his universe.
Then why did she look so…triumphant?
I shook my head, refusing to buy into her lies. But as she pulled her car door open, lifting a shoulder as if to say, “Fine, don’t say I didn’t warn you,” my lips parted and betrayed me.
“Where?”
She walked to my car and set a keycard on the hood. “The Hilton,” she said, then rattled off a room number.
I waited until she slid into her driver’s seat and backed out of the driveway before snatching the keycard from my hood. And as her luxury sedan disappeared down the road, I chewed over the decision ahead. I had three options.
Option A: Call Gage.
Option B: Ignore what Katherine had said.
Option C: Walk into that hotel room in an hour and see for myself.
The first option was not only the smartest, but it was the only option that would keep me out of trouble.
The second was the most maddening, and the third was the one my unwavering doubt would demand I go with, to hell with the consequences.
If checking this out for myself and finding that she was lying—that my husband was not cheating—would land me in hot water with Gage, then I’d accept the consequences.
At least then, I’d finally be able to put these doubts to rest.
An hour later, I found myself creeping toward the door of an upper-floor room of the Hilton. Whatever lay beyond, I would accept and deal with it. But if what Katherine claimed were true…
Could I find the strength to forgive him? I wasn’t sure, and that drove home how difficult it must have been for him to forgive my betrayal. I loved him so much at that moment, needed him more than I ever had because we’d both made mistakes, yet somehow we still formed a united front.
At least, I fucking hoped we did.
Sucking in a fortifying breath, I swiped the card and slowly pushed the door open.
Nervous energy tingled down my spine as I crossed the threshold.
With each step forward, my heels moving silently over the light textured carpet, I felt as if I were stepping into a bear trap, metal claws just waiting to rip into flesh.
Because if Gage were having an affair in this suite, wouldn’t I hear something? And this hotel…it wasn’t his style. Clearly, the room was a corner suite, outfitted with plush furniture that complimented the neutral theme of the space. Straight ahead, I spied two sitting chairs, but both were empty.
The place was nice, though nowhere near Gage’s high standards. If he were going to cheat, I’d expect him to fuck me over in the Presidential suite of a place like the Heathman, at the very least.
I cleared the wall partitioning the vanity and bath area from the rest of the suite and found the king bed empty as well. The white comforter hadn’t been disturbed, and the drapes were wide open, affording a view of the neighboring skyscrapers of downtown Portland.
What kind of sick game was Katherine playing? I reached for my cell. Calling Gage would mean he’d find out how I’d doubted him, and that would mean a harsh punishment on top of his hurt and disappointment, but I needed answers—answers only he could provide at this point.
A beep sounded, and the quiet swish of the door reached my ears, followed by the soft pad of feet. I put my phone away and watched with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. The last person I expected to see was Ian.
Apparently, he felt the same way. We both froze, eyes wide as we took each other in.
I opened my mouth, trying to find a string of words that would make sense, but could find none.
My mind raced ahead, mentally cataloging every detail of him—the healthy tint of his face and the subtle weight he’d put on since the last time I saw him.
Without thinking, I launched myself at him, overcome by too many emotions to name, and just held on to him. Tears dripped from my eyes, running in rivulets down my cheeks before soaking his black shirt.
“I’m sorry,” I said with a sniffle. “I’m just so glad to see that you’re okay.”
He stepped back and tilted my head up with a gentle finger underneath my chin. “Hey, don’t cry. I’m fine.”
Nodding, I wiped my eyes, and the precarious predicament I now found myself in hit me hard. I stumbled toward the bed, only stopping when my legs gave out, and I sank onto the end in a stupor.
“But I am confused as to why you’re here,” he said as he claimed a spot on the other side of the mattress, being sure to keep plenty of distance between us.
“Umm,” I blinked several times, running my fingers over the down comforter.
“Katherine told me she and Gage…” Humiliation burned my cheeks, and I felt utterly ridiculous for believing her, for falling for her lies.
I let out a long sigh that blew my bangs out of my eyes. “God, I was so stupid to believe her.”
“You’re not the only gullible one,” he said. “I got a message that Gage wanted to meet with me, accompanied by this.” He held up an identical key card.
“Bitch set us up,” I muttered.
“Why would she do that?”
“Because she wants Gage, and…”
“And?” Ian prompted.
Oh, God. Panic fisted my heart, and all I could see was my husband’s cock just mere inches from her lips.
And Gage’s threat that if I touched another man again…
I covered my mouth, suddenly feeling sick.
Upchucking would accomplish nothing, besides more embarrassment.
I pushed down the burn of vomit in my throat and dropped my hand.
“I can’t talk about it, so please don’t ask.
” How could I be so fucking stupid? But damn, I still couldn’t bring myself to regret that hug.
Not one bit. Because the last time I’d laid eyes on Ian Kaplan, I’d been certain his death was imminent.
But here he was, alive and healthy and…ironically all because the brother who hated his guts had found a morsel of mercy in his sadistic blood.
“Last thing I want is to cause you trouble,” Ian said. “After the way I behaved earlier this year….”
“This isn’t your fault. This is Katherine’s doing, and I’ll explain that to Gage.” Never mind that he would be furious. I eyed Ian. Now that he was here, I could finally get some answers. “He told me what he did for you.”
“Did he tell you his terms as well?”
Averting my gaze, I nodded. “You’re not supposed to be here.”
His mouth flattened into a stubborn line. “I know that’s what he wants, but I can’t live my life with our history hanging over my head forever. Don’t you think it’s time we put this behind us?”
“Of course I do! But Gage would rather burn in hell first. He’s not going to budge.”
“Well, getting a second chance at life has made me see things in a new light, Kayla. I have no control over what he does, or how he treats you.” His hazel eyes, overflowing with the familiar kind of warmth I ached to wrap myself in, held me captive.
“You’re a strong, capable woman, so when you say you love him, I’m going to take you at your word.
” A beat passed. “I’m going to believe that you know what you’re doing and can protect yourself. ”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I’m not leaving Portland, and I’m sorry if that’s going to cause you problems.” He shuttered his eyes for a moment. “I’m sorry if my decision to come back gets you hurt. But I’ve gotta live my life. I’ve accepted a job here, and…”
I raised my brows. “And?”
“And I’m seeing someone.”
“Simone?”
He cocked his head in surprise. “How did you know?”
“Just a hunch.”
And it was at that precise moment, as we were finally on the cusp of putting all of our cards on the table, of burying past hurts and broken dreams, that another beep rang through the hotel room.
A hint of footsteps kept me in suspense, breath stalling in my lungs.
Terror tore through me, and my back stiffened, as my first thought was that Katherine had sent Gage.
But those footsteps weren’t confident like my husband’s.
He had a unique way of walking, in which every step touched the ground with complete ownership of the path he chose to walk.
These footfalls were dainty, completely feminine.
When Katherine came into view, I shouldn’t have been surprised.
Of course she’d want to witness the coup she’d pulled off single-handedly.
However, I was even less prepared for the camera flash that went off in our faces.