Chapter 26 #2
Kade stands in the doorway of his apartment with an easy, confident posture, not appearing as rattled at seeing me for the first time as I feel seeing him.
He's shirtless, and my skin heats up at the sight of his chest—every muscle shifting subtly when he moves.
Every motion makes the intricate tattoo designs shift.
“Daisy, what are you doing here? I have company coming soon.” His voice brings me out of my reverie.
Well, that wasn’t a warm and fuzzy welcome? What was I expecting? And who is coming over? A woman? Multiple women? My chest tightens. Is he onto the next person so soon?
“Bruce was here.” I ignore the tightening of my chest.
“What? Where is he?” He makes to push past me, and I stop him by placing a hand on his chest. His firm, muscular chest. The one I kissed and licked repeatedly.
“He’s gone.” I reluctantly drop my arm. “He was downstairs in the lobby. Demanding Natasha go home with him. I got him to leave. Although, I’m worried he might come back.”
Kade rubs his hands over his spikey head. “Come in and tell me exactly what happened.”
“Aren’t you expecting company?”
He frowns like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about. “It’s only Asher and Lincoln. They need to know about this too.”
“Oh, okay.” Relief washes over me. I shouldn’t care if he has women coming over, yet for some reason, I do.
We enter the living room, and I take a seat.
I rub my palms up and down my thighs as I sit straight back on the couch.
Only a week ago, I felt comfortable enough for him to strip me naked and do the most amazing things to my body.
Now, sitting fully clothed in his apartment, is the most awkward I’ve felt around him.
Grabbing a black t-shirt hanging from the back of a wingback chair, he puts it on, then takes a seat opposite me.
Silence stretches between us. Should I bring up Las Vegas?
Ask him why he left me? Before I can pluck up the courage, the door to the apartment opens, and in saunter Asher and Lincoln.
The men on their own are a delicious sight.
The three masculine men together in one room is a feast most women would give up everything to dine on.
Kade propels from the chair. “Bruce was here.”
“Yeah, I know. I just got a call from the security company saying he’d been picked up on the cameras,” Lincoln explains.
“Why the fuck didn’t you call me?” His tone is harsh and pissed off.
“Bruce left, and we were on our way here anyway. I’m telling you now.” Lincoln doesn’t seem concerned with Kade’s ‘if looks could kill’ stare.
Asher drops onto the seat Kade vacated and props his feet onto the coffee table. “What did he want?” He aims his question at me.
“He wanted Natasha to go home with him because the social worker is asking about her. He’s worried he’s not going to get any more money.”
“The bastard is trying to milk every last dime before she turns eighteen. Let’s hope they’re not stupid enough to give him another kid.” Lincoln shakes his head with disgust.
That would be a disaster. Surely, they can contact the authorities and let them know Bruce is a danger to children.
“Cameras aren’t enough. We need twenty-four-hour security.
” Kade sits on the arm of the couch next to where I’m sitting.
His hand slides along the cushions behind my shoulders.
Something fluttery twists low in my stomach at the casual gesture.
And for a second, I wish that this was normal for us.
After a moment, like he realizes how this position looks, he swiftly removes it.
“I agree.” Asher drops his feet to the floor and pulls a phone from his pocket. “I’ll arrange it with the club’s security company.” His fingers tap the screen at super speed.
“If he shows his face around here again, I want to know about it right away, so I can kick his fucking ass back to where it came from,” Kade says.
Asher’s phone beeps. “It’s done. A security guard is on his way. You ready to go to the club?” Asher asks Kade as he stands.
“I’ll wait for the security guard to make sure he’s capable.”
Lincoln cocks an eyebrow. “Since when are they anything but capable? The guys from our team are built like machines. The Terminator couldn’t bring them down.”
Kade stands and crosses his arms over his chest. “I’ll meet you at the club.”
Lincoln glances at me and grins like he knows something I don’t. Then winks at Kade. “Ash and I can handle things if you’d like a lot of time to interview the guard.”
“I won’t be long.”
When they’re gone, I rise from the couch. “Well, I better go and check on Natasha.”
“Is she okay?”
I stop. “A little shaken up. Not that she’ll admit it. Sally’s with her.”
He nods. “Good.”
Silence fills the room. After having the most amazing time in Las Vegas, conversation constantly flowing, we’ve come to acting like strangers. Even when we were strangers, we had more to say to one another.
“Okay, I might see you around,” I say, turning toward the door. I take two steps, stop and spin back around. “What’s going on?”
His brow creases. “What do you mean?”