Chapter Seventeen
Keely had just gotten out of the shower and dressed.
She had no plans of leaving the apartment.
She’d spent the last few days ignoring the calls coming in, especially from Caine.
Those were harder to resist answering. Her mind was playing tricks on her.
On the one end, she relived the moments from the club full of anger and bitterness.
Then his number popped up on her phone, and she fought against her weakness to answer. She didn’t. But I wanted to.
Keely was shaking off the droplets from her damp hair as she entered her living room. The apartment should’ve been empty. Two of her roommates were out for the night, and the other was staying at her boyfriend’s house. She had the place to herself. Or so she thought.
What the fuck?
Caine stood in the center of her living room with his arms at his side.
“You broke into my apartment?” she shouted.
“You didn’t answer the door.” He said it as if it would somehow validate his actions.
“Because I was in the shower.”
Caine cocked his brow. “Would you’ve opened it if you knew it was me?”
She flattened her lips. No!
“We need to talk.”
Oh no, they didn’t. The nerve of this man thinking he could break into her apartment and demand anything from her.
“First of all” —she folded her arms— “There is no we . There’s no us . There’s me, and then there’s you. Secondly, talking to you is the last thing I need or want.”
Caine stepped forward, and she shot out her arm, pointing.
“Don’t you dare come any closer.”
He straightened his shoulders and tucked his hands in his pockets. It was clear while he’d respect her wishes, Caine wasn’t leaving. Fine. If he wanted to do this, then they’d do it.
“When I sent that text at the club, I was staring right at you. I watched you pull out your phone, look at the screen, and then shove it back into your pocket. You didn’t even consider responding, did you?
But that’s right, you were too busy.” She drew in a breath.
“Do you remember the next thing you did? When she said something to you, you leaned closer. You keep a mandatory five feet away from me in public.” She threw her hands in the air.
“God forbid anyone sees you talking to me, right? But for her? It’s different. ”
“I was working.”
Yeah, working on your next lay.
Keely snorted. “Is that what we’re calling it now? Good to know.” She walked around her coffee table and dropped onto her couch, folding her arms. “Look, I get it. You’d have to be blind not to see.”
“What do you get?”
“Obviously, you have options. She’s beautiful. So, I get it.”
His gaze darkened.
“But here’s the thing, Caine.” She sat up, resting her elbows on her knees and clasping her hands. “So do I. You’re not the only guy in the world. And as much I—” She caught herself. She didn’t owe him anything, and certainly not the truth that would leave her the vulnerable party.
“As much as you what?”
“No.” She forced a smile and shook her head. “You don’t get that.”
Caine’s brows furrowed, he gripped his hips, and sighed heavily.
Keely expected him to walk out. He didn’t.
“Let me explain.”
Keely scoffed, shaking her head. “Nooooo. There’s nothing to explain. I was there, Caine. I know what happened. I lived it.”
“I was there for…”
“No!” Keely shouted and shot up from the couch.
“I said fucking no. I’m not going to stand here and let you give me some excuse why it’s okay to humiliate me, allow your friend to pour a drink on me, and then have you berate me and force me to leave.
” She shook her head. “You hurt me once, and I let that go. But I’m not doing it again.
I’m not going to be the girl who forever dismisses and forgives behavior like that. I deserve better.”
Something shifted in his demeanor. As if he was struck by a realization. Keely expected some type of apology. Maybe begging for forgiveness. The seconds ticked by, and Caine remained silent, staring at her.
He straightened, and for a brief moment, she thought he’d circle the table and come across the room. Secretly, it’s what she’d hoped.
Caine turned and walked out without another word.
****
Caine drew in a breath and stared at the clock in Nash’s kitchen. They’d arrived early to pick him up. They’d be scouting a location for an upcoming transport.
“Nash?” Ridge said and looked over at Caine briefly. “Keely is here.”
Caine steeled his features but felt Cyrus’s eyes on him. This was the last place he expected to see her, but it shouldn’t have been. Keely was tight with Charley, and he should’ve anticipated her showing up at Nash’s home. However, Charley was at work.
Nash waved his hand. “Bring her up.”
It had been a few days since he’d shown up at her apartment.
Caine didn’t know what to expect or what he could say to smooth things over with her.
Sharing the real reason why he’d made her leave the bar wasn’t an option.
Then she’d delivered a harsh and honest blow.
She did deserve better, and he might not be the man capable of giving her that.
Caine didn’t move a muscle. He was the last person who should escort her upstairs. Seeing him would probably be an unexpected and unwelcome surprise. A few minutes later, that sentiment proved to be true.
Ridge had gone down and brought Keely upstairs to the main level.
She had her head bowed, staring down at the steps until she hit the landing.
As soon as she looked up, she turned her head.
It was as if she’d sensed him, and she locked eyes with Caine.
He should’ve looked away, but he was entranced in her stare.
There was a lot about Keely that was beautiful, but her eyes had always struck him deep.
They masked nothing. Her hair was toppled on her head in a bun, small wispy strands framing her face.
It should’ve come off sloppy and a mess, but it didn’t.
Keely tore her gaze from Caine and seemed to gather herself. She smiled at Nash as she approached. It was forced.
“Hey, Nash. Charley said I could borrow her paper shredder?”
Nash pointed to the coffee table, and she rounded the couch, grabbing it. It took up the length of her torso, and when she lifted it, she stumbled slightly but caught herself.
“I can have someone help you with that. Carry it down to your car,” Nash offered, which was met with an immediate and firm head shake.
Keely hoisted it up against her chest, trying to balance the weight.
“No,” she blurted. “I don’t need anything from any of them .”
Nash glanced over at Caine, Ridge, and Cyrus standing in line.
“Alright.” Nash sighed and moved closer to Keely, lowering his voice. “Can I help you?”
Her lips spread into a small smile, this time genuine. “No, I got it. But thanks, Nash.”
He nodded, and she walked around the couch, which put her directly in front of him, Ridge, and Cyrus. As she passed, she kept her gaze straight ahead. Look at me. She didn’t.
“Bye Ridge. Cy,” she muttered, and never gave him a second glance. She walked across the room and down the stairs. Long after she’d disappeared, Caine found himself staring at the empty space. It was so unlike him to zone out on anything while on duty.
Caine had always been locked in whenever he was working for the Underground.
“Caine.” Ridge’s low warning had him jerking his head and his attention landing on Nash, who was staring at him intently.
“Ridge, Cy, pull the car around. We’ll be down in a few minutes,” Nash said.
Fuck!
Ridge and Cyrus left the room, leaving him alone with Nash. They’d always had a good, solid relationship. Caine didn’t have many people in his life he trusted. Only a handful, but Nash was one of them.
“Did Keely seem off to you?” he asked, and Caine straightened but clamped his lips, keeping his reaction in check.
Nash paced around the room, looking over at the empty staircase.
“Quiet, and if I’ve learned anything about her, that’s not a usual trait.
” Nash moved closer, standing in front of Caine but facing the stairs.
“Anything I should know about, Caine?” Nash glanced over.
“Like say” —he paused, narrowing his gaze— “A certain personal involvement with my woman’s best friend? ”
“No, sir.”
Nash nodded slowly then started toward the door. He may have let it go, but Nash definitely suspected something.
Fuck.