Out of Turn (30 page)

And Kade. Being with him was bittersweet. I loved when he opened up to me, when I got an inkling of his feelings and thoughts. But there was no possibility of a future with him, even though it seemed he was coming closer each day to remembering what had happened between us in Vegas.

What would I do if and when he did?

Well, he just couldn’t remember, that’s all. It had been a mistake. One that should never and would never be repeated.

Which was too bad…

Whoops, that was the wine talking. I tuned in briefly to Luke again, just to get a feel for where we were in the one-sided “conversation.” He was recounting his achievements on his high school’s swim team.

Nod. Smile. Have a bite of salad. Tune back out.

I was feeling pleasantly tipsy and started mentally comparing Luke to Blane and Kade, which was a bad idea but one I couldn’t help. Luke was an attractive, normal, nice guy with a normal, boring, nice-guy job. I should like him. He wasn’t a public figure, apparently had little to no interest in politics, judging by his monologue—and he didn’t kill people for a living. Always a plus.

He also didn’t have the raw edge to him that both Blane and Kade had, more apparent with Kade because he didn’t bother to disguise it, as Blane did, under a veneer of civility.

Both Blane and Kade were older than Luke, and both carried an air of maturity, though maybe it was more an air of don’t-fuck-with-me. I wondered if Luke carried a gun or had a knife strapped to his leg. I considered asking, then thought better of it.

Luke was built, though, the muscles in his arms and chest filling out the polo shirt he wore in a very nice way. Blane and Kade had incredible bodies, too, each with strength that I relied on, took for granted. And they were smart. Luke was smart, too, obviously, since I couldn’t even understand exactly what he did for a living.

But he’d never been a Navy SEAL, and had never hacked into a government agency or Swiss bank.

I sighed a little as I ate a mouthful of angel hair pasta, murmuring in agreement at something Luke had said.

“So,” he said, finally coming up for air, “what do you do?”

That yanked me out of my pasta and wine-induced lethargy. “Oh, well, um, I go to school right now, and bartend.”

“What are you studying?”

“Criminal justice.”

He smiled. “That’s cool. So what are you going to do with that?”

“I haven’t figured that out yet,” I answered honestly. “I just know I want to put bad guys behind bars. Maybe as a cop.”

A look of skepticism crossed Luke’s face and his smile turned indulgent. “You’d be the most beautiful cop I’ve ever seen,” he said.

My smile was tight. I knew when I was being patronized. Suddenly, Luke didn’t seem quite as attractive as he had been before.

And that was the extent of the questions about me. My career choice launched Luke into another story, about how he’d been pulled over by the cops but had gotten out of a ticket, blah blah blah.

I abruptly decided I was spoiled, spoiled by Blane and Kade. Yes, Blane was overprotective and controlling, and yes, Kade confused me utterly with his going hot and cold on me, but they listened to me when I talked. They’d never made me feel like an ornament who was supposed to sit in silent adulation at their awesomeness.

I passed on dessert. Luke suggested we go to a bar for a drink and a dance or two, but I pleaded a long day so he took me back to Blane’s house. He walked me to the front door.

“I had a really nice time tonight,” he said, taking my hands in his. I hadn’t been quick enough getting my keys out of my purse.

“Me too,” I lied with a smile.

“May I call you again?”

Ack. “That would be great,” I said. Just because he called didn’t mean I had to answer. I knew I should really let him down right then, but maybe he wouldn’t call and I could avoid that whole unpleasantness altogether.

Luke moved closer and I knew what was coming. My first thought was to step away, but then I wondered—had Blane and Kade spoiled me in every way for other men? So when Luke leaned down and pressed his lips to mine, I didn’t pull back.

It was okay. He was a good kisser as far as technique goes, but I felt nothing. No spark, no shiver of arousal in my veins, nothing. It was okay, and that was all.

“What the fuck is this?”

I jerked back, spinning around to see Kade and Blane standing in the driveway. Kade was the one who had spoken and he continued walking toward us even after Blane stopped by Kade’s Mercedes, leaning against it with his arms crossed over his chest.

They were both dressed in jeans and black T-shirts, and I could see Blane was wearing his holster at his side, the Glock firmly wedged into it. Kade was armed as well. It was obvious they were going somewhere, and wherever it was, they expected it to be dangerous.

“Where are you going?” I asked as Kade reached past me to unlock and open the front door. Luke stared at him.

“Nowhere special,” he said. “Go inside. We’ll be back later.”

“Um, who is this?” Luke asked me.

Kade had been ignoring Luke, but now he fixed him with a stare. “Back before eleven? I’m guessing she thought
you were less than impressive.” His smirk was cold, and if Luke had any sense, he’d shut up.

“No one asked you, asshole,” Luke shot back, his ears turning red. “Kathleen, who is this guy? Is he your brother, too?”

“Brother?” Kade interjected before I could answer. “She doesn’t have a brother, dipshit.” He turned to me. “Really? You told him Blane was your brother?” His tone spoke volumes about what he thought of that idea.

My face heated as Luke’s gaze landed on me again. “I’m really sorry,” I said quickly to Luke. “It just… came out.”

“So who is he then, if he’s not your brother?” Luke asked, angry. Not that I blamed him.

“Her fiancé,” Kade said.

“Ex-fiancé,” I shot back.

“You’re living with your ex-fiancé?” Luke was incredulous.

“Yes, but it’s over now,” I protested, though the part of my mind not completely aghast at what was happening was wondering why I’d bothered. It wasn’t like I wanted to go out with Luke again.

“Then who’s this guy?” Luke jerked a thumb at Kade.

Kade slung his arm over my shoulders. “I’m the brother,” Kade explained. “His brother.” He nodded at Blane. “And her friend,” he said, which would have been fine. But then he added in a conspiratorial whisper, “With benefits.”

My embarrassment was now complete. Luke looked at me like I was insane, a slut, or possibly both. I covered my burning face with my hands, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole. Maybe I should say something? But what on earth would I say?

“Um, yeah, I-I’m not really… in… to that,” Luke stammered. “I’ll catch you later, Kathleen.” He hurried back to his truck without a backward glance and a moment later was speeding away.

“I can’t believe you said that!” I rounded on Kade, forcing him to drop his arm.

“You should thank me,” he said with a snort. “Did you see the size of that truck? Textbook overcompensation.”

I just looked at him, my mouth agape, utterly speechless. Then a laugh bubbled up from my throat. Really, the whole situation must have seemed ridiculous when seen through the eyes of a stranger. And I probably didn’t need to worry about having to turn down that second date with Luke.

Kade’s eyes crinkled slightly at the corners, his smirk transforming into a soft smile.

“So now that I ruined what would have been a very disappointing evening,” he said, “you want to come along?”

“You have to ask?”

“Go change. You’ve got three minutes.”

I ran upstairs, unlacing my dress as I went and jerking it off when I hit my bedroom. Thirty seconds later, I had on jeans and rummaged in my closet until I found a black tank. I pulled it on over my head and grabbed a pair of tennis shoes before heading back downstairs.

Kade’s eyes flicked appreciatively over me. “I love it when you dress badass. Let’s go then.”

Blane was still leaning against the car, smoking a cigarette, when we came back out of the house. I remembered that he smoked only when he was incredibly stressed-out. When he saw me, he flicked the cigarette to the concrete and ground it out with his boot. He didn’t seem to bat an
eye at my presence, though I’d been preparing myself for an argument.

“How was your date with surfer dude?” he asked as Kade rounded the car to the driver’s side. Blane’s eyes seemed to glitter in the faint light.

I lifted my chin. “It was great,” I lied.

Blane just looked at me.

I huffed in exasperation, caving. “Okay, it wasn’t great. But it doesn’t matter because after that little scene I doubt I’ll hear from him again. Are you happy now?”

His mouth tipped up at the corners, like he was thinking about smiling. “Very.”

He opened the back door for me and I climbed into the car. Blane got in the front as Kade started the engine and we pulled away from the house.

I leaned forward between the two men, bracing my arms on the tops of their seats. “So where are we going?”

“Kandi’s house,” Kade answered.

“Why?”

“Check out the crime scene.”

“I thought you’d already been there?” I asked Blane.

“It was right after she was murdered,” Blane said, glancing at me. “I was in shock. There were lots of people around. I didn’t get a good look.”

“So why all the firepower?” I asked.

“Whoever did this is still out there,” he explained. “And he’s a sick fuck. I’d rather be armed, just in case.”

“So what’s with the date?” Kade asked.

I abruptly leaned back in my seat. “Nothing. Just some guy I met.”

“And his last name was…?” Blane prompted.

I shot a glare to the back of his head. “I don’t remember.”

“Well, he looked like a barrel of laughs, so I’m sure you had a great time,” Kade teased. “And how thoughtful of him to get you home so early.”

“He had to work tomorrow,” I said, making up an excuse for my short date. I really didn’t want Blane and Kade to know how boring Luke had been.

“I see,” Kade said. “And what did he do for a living?”

Shit. “Um… something with numbers?”

Blane snorted a laugh at me.

“I wasn’t paying a whole lot of attention, okay?” I protested. “He talked a lot.”

Now Blane laughed outright, turning a bit so our gazes caught. His eyes twinkled at me.

I hid a smile and said loftily, “Okay, I’ll admit it wasn’t exactly a love connection. But hey, he bought me dinner, so it wasn’t a total loss.”

“I would’ve bought you dinner,” Blane said, his voice a low thrum of sound.

Kade made a too-sharp turn and Blane was suddenly plastered against the passenger door.

“Sorry about that,” Kade said easily.

I sighed. Maybe that maturity thing I’d been thinking they both had earlier was really just wishful thinking on my part.

Kade parked a block away, under the looming darkness of an overgrown oak tree. I followed Blane through the yards, Kade bringing up the rear. When we reached the rear of the darkened house, Blane paused, handing both me and Kade a pair of latex gloves.

“No fingerprints,” he said, pulling on a pair himself.

My heart was pounding as Blane took out a key and unlocked the back door.

The house was still and silent, making the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I followed Blane as he left the kitchen, entered the foyer, and then climbed the stairs to the second floor. The last door on the left was ajar and Blane flipped on the light in the room.

None of us spoke, and I was painfully conscious that a woman’s terrifying last moments had occurred in this very room. Flecks of dried blood stained the ivory satin sheets on the bed, which was where my eyes were inexorably drawn.

Blane paused for a moment, his gaze on the bed, too, then he seemed to shake himself. Moving to the dresser, he began opening drawers and pawing through them.

“What are we looking for?” I asked.

“Whoever did this was someone she knew,” Blane said. “There’s no sign of forced entry and no evidence of a struggle. She let him in, let him come up here. There’s got to be something around here that can help us figure out who he is.”

“Her phone records show repeated calls to an unlisted number, including one the night she was murdered,” Kade said. “I traced the number to a burner phone, so dead end there. Was she dating anyone else?” He started on the dresser drawers.

I flinched at the “anyone else” part of that question. Opening her large walk-in closet, I started looking through her things, trying not to think about how much Kandi would have hated me touching her belongings.

“She said something,” Blane answered, digging through another drawer, “about a man who, quote, ‘appreciated’ her. She was trying to make me jealous, I think. I didn’t care enough to ask who it was.”

Sometimes the coldness Blane was capable of rivaled Kade’s.

“Shouldn’t the police be looking for that guy?” I asked.

“The police have all the evidence they need,” Blane said. “I’m not sure how much longer Charlotte can hold off an arrest.”

“Shouldn’t your uncle be helping you?” I asked, trying and failing to keep the bitterness from my voice. Regardless of how much I hated Senator Keaston, he had always had Blane’s best interests at heart, no matter how misguided his actions.

“I’ve asked Robert to keep his distance,” Blane replied. “No need to take him down with me.”

I didn’t have anything to say to that, so just kept on searching. My mind worked the puzzle as I searched through Kandi’s clothes. Whoever had done this was sick and twisted. Maybe they were also the kind that liked to play rough in the bedroom? If so, he and Kandi would have needed… accessories. If they’d used any, maybe there would still be DNA. Where would she have kept stuff like that?

A woman like her would have hidden them, I decided. But where?

I looked up at the stacks and stacks of shoeboxes lining Kandi’s closet. Hmm.

Reaching up, I pulled a box carefully from the stack, but it was high and I watched in horror as the whole stack
teetered. I squealed in dismay and covered my head with my arms at the shower of boxes that tumbled down on me.