Chapter 30
THIRTY
Dane
Circling my arms around her waist from behind, I nestle my face into the crook of her neck. I press my lips to her neck and say, “I have to go to the office. But for the record, I’d rather stay here wrapped up in you.”
She reaches for my face. “I have a business, too. I know when work calls, you have to go.”
What the…she’s not going to complain? I have to leave and go to work on a Sunday.
There’s an odd feeling in my chest—a warmth and tightness.
I bring her as close to me as possible, taking in one last smell of her watermelon shampoo, so I don’t forget how she smells while I’m gone.
When I was with Maggie, it was a knock-down, drag-out fight when I had to go to the office on weekends.
“Thank you for understanding. You won’t be alone; four guys are patrolling the property, and there’s a car down the street watching who comes in and out of your driveway.”
“Wow! That’s a lot of security. Is it really necessary now that Jake’s in custody?”
I step back, holding both of her hands. “Yes, it is to keep you safe—protected. We don’t know what he was planning to do, and it’s better to be safe.
I’m going to give you Joel’s number. He is the head of security for your team, so he’ll want to know when you leave and where you are going.
They will follow you everywhere. Is that okay with you?
I mean, please say yes. It makes me feel like you’re being taken care of even when I’m not here. ”
She takes a deep breath in and pulls my arms straight down so I have to lean closer to her.
“Well, it sure isn’t ideal to have a bunch of babysitters…
” Staring straight through me, she continues, “But I trust you. Deep down. My gut is telling me your intentions are good. And it helps that I know your grandmother. You should thank her.” She raises an eyebrow at me.
Pecking a quick kiss on my cheek, she tightens her grip on my hands.
“Thank you for trusting me. I’ve known Joel, the owner of this security company, for years. I’d trust them with my family. You’re starting to feel like family, my family.”
Did I say too much? It already feels like she belongs with me, part of my family.
“That’s good to know. Here, put Joel’s number in my phone. Then I guess you'd better head to the office and…”
She pauses and bites her lip. I wonder what she was going to say. Giving her back the phone, I keep quiet in hopes she’ll finish her thought.
She mutters, “Will you be back tonight?”
Yes, I want to say, but I can’t make any promises, not knowing what I’m walking into at the office. Logan is already there, and we have a major issue that needs to be addressed. I suspect I’ll be sleeping on the couch in my office. Not ideal, but I do what needs to be done.
“I want to come back tonight, but I really don’t know. I’ll text you later if I can make it back. Does that work for you?”
Disappointment riddles her face, and she says, “Okay.”
“We’ll make plans for this week. I want to hold you every night, so don’t get comfortable with me not sleeping next to you.”
Her lips turn up, and that small gesture hits me in the chest. She’s hooked, too. One last kiss. I don’t want to let her go, but duty calls. “I’ll see you.”
“Just keep me posted. I’ll probably head over to my girlfriend's or they’ll come here, but either way, I’ll let Joel know.”
“Have fun with your girlfriends,” I say, giving her one last squeeze, before I walk away from the woman that consumes me—my every thought. The woman with fiery red hair, a perfect match for her personality, fills my heart to the brim.
I open the garage and rush to my car. Starting it up, I back out of her garage. It feels normal to have stayed here—with her, do I dare say she feels like home.
The buzzing through my body is still there when I pull into the parking garage. Walking to the office, I’m in the zone.
I don’t even make it all the way into the office, and Logan is yelling for me to get my ass in the conference room. Taking long strides, I walk into the conference room. “What is the problem?”
“Remember the case we had a couple of years ago with that woman who was almost killed by her boyfriend? He was definitely guilty, but we didn’t figure it out until the end, when the prosecutor found the evidence that he was lying.
Thankfully, we lost that one. Anyway, he was released on parole.
He was supposed to do twenty years, and they let him out on parole in two.
Someone’s lining pockets. Anyway, he contacted us. ”
“We have no further client relationship, and we lost, so why is he calling?”
“Get this—his buddy was arrested last night. He’s saying his buddy is innocent and wants to know if we will represent him when he sees the judge.”
I grab a seat at the table and say, “First, I’m not taking on a client that’s a buddy of this guy. That’s a hard fucking no for me.”
“Well, I asked him for his buddy’s name and some details. You need to hear this.”
“I came all the way down here, so tell me—what?”
He pushes his chair out and leans his elbows on his legs. “There’s a restraining order against him…from Kendall.”
“You’ve got to be shitting me! I had him arrested. There’s no way in hell we’re defending that asshole. He can rot in his jail cell.”
“Brother, you need to back up and fill me in. How do you know him?”
I can’t sit any longer. I hop out of my chair and run my fingers through my beard. Pacing. I decide Logan needs to be brought up to speed, and I give him the details of the last forty-eight hours.
“What are the odds of his buddy calling us? That’s shit luck if you ask me.”
“We are not taking this,” I say, shaking my head
He takes his hand and runs it down his face. “I agree.”
“The minute I saw Kendall’s name in the file, I called you. So…Kendall?”
There’s more work to do, and we don’t have time to spend gushing about the woman who has consumed my every thought.
“Logan, let’s focus on our case for tomorrow.”
“You’re seriously not going to give me anything, absolutely nothing, while we are here for hours combing through files?”
“There’s not much to tell,” I shrug like it’s no big deal, like she isn’t the sun that I’m revolving around.
He laughs and points at me. “I call bullshit. Come on, you can’t lie to me; I see right through it. You even tried to cover up your smile when you walked in here. Newsflash, asshole, you’re not hiding it well enough. You’re happy.”
There’s no way he’s giving up on this one, so I start at the beginning, and by the time I’m finished, his mouth is on the floor.
I don’t fight it anymore. “Yeah, I am happy.”
Who would have thought Kendall would be my kryptonite, the one who reigns in Dane Walsh? It’s like every breath I take, it’s for her, to be back with her in my arms, protecting what’s mine. It prompts me to text Joel.
Dane:
Hey, can you give me periodic updates?
Joel:
You hooked, huh?
Dane:
Fuck off and do your job!
Joel:
You know I need to bust your balls, man. Call me. I’ll fill you in.
I say to Logan, “I need five minutes. I’m going to call Joel.”
He knows Joel, too. “Tell him I said hi.”
Joel gives me the status update. She left to hang out with her friends at Faith’s house. He told me not to worry, as he would not let her out of his sight, which makes me feel a lot better.
Dane:
Hey, I don’t think I’ll be back tonight. Text me when you get home.
Kendall:
How do you know I’m not home?
This woman tests me at every turn. She knows Joel is a good friend and, of course, I’d want updates on her. But after the conversation earlier today, I tread lightly.
Dane:
I just checked in with Joel and he updated me.
Hoping that will calm her.
Kendall:
You know you could have just texted me. I’d tell you my whereabouts.
I’m off the hook. I thought for sure she’d give me an earful. I decide to put the ball in her court.
Dane:
That sounds like a great idea. Why don’t you text me when you get home?
Kendall:
I can do that.
Dane:
Thank you
Back to the case we’ve been working on for weeks now. After a couple of hours discussing a theory, we dump it and move on. It’s already midnight. I check my phone to see if Kendall texted me. She hasn’t.
Dane:
Home yet?
My eyes go cross-eyed. I need a few hours of sleep, and then I can stare at the board we created with much more clarity.
“I’m going to sleep on my couch for a couple of hours. What are you doing?” I say as I lift myself from the chair and start walking to the conference room door.
“Yeah, I’m not driving home either. I’m going to finish up and then crash in my office. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
My shoes scuff against the office floors as I drag myself to my office.
Once I walk in, I close the door and turn on the lamp on the side table near my black leather couch, which has a couple of throw pillows.
My decorator said they were a must, and now I’m glad I have them to sleep on.
I look around and admire all the accomplishments that hang on the wall and bookcase.
With no more energy, I throw myself on the couch, not even removing my shoes.
My arm goes over my eyes, and my nose tickles with the faint smell of watermelon.
It’s all I need to picture Kendall in my arms.
I’m running down the stairs. Where is she?
We fell asleep together, but now she’s nowhere to be found.
I’m out of my mind, yelling for her. The silence is deafening.
And then I reach the back door slider, and I see her being dragged away by Jake.
What the fuck? I’m supposed to be protecting her.
How did I let this happen? Where the fuck is the security team?
I sprint out the door, no shoes on, and reach her.
She has blood all over her face and hands.
Jake pulls a gun out and says, “One more step and I’ll kill you and her.
” He waves the gun around. I see it in her eyes; she’s going to try to stop him.
I stare at her, nodding slightly. And then, she grabs the gun, and I rush over.
But I’m too late; he pulls the trigger and shoots her.