His decision to stay in Corolla coincided with Aspen and Brick’s break-up. Sierra hadn’t seen him since the night Kane announced he was staying, that piercing gaze blowing away all her defenses, practically daring Sierra to protest.
It was easy to avoid him. If Sierra caught him out with Brick, she kept her distance. Sierra started to meet Brooklyn and Inez at places other than Sunfish, and had become a new weekly member of the local support group, now re-named The Bad Ass Bitches Club.
Sure, Kane remained a hot topic. She heard from the buzzing grapevine that he was dating, but Sierra tried to keep her head down and her ears blocked.
But now that Aspen and Brick were back together?
She’d be forced to see Kane more often. Even though she reassured herself his interest had passed, and he was carving out his own life here, the prickle of danger remained. There was nothing left to do but keep her cool if they ran into each other, pretend not to care, and refuse to give him a second thought.
The whisper broke free from the locked place inside and taunted her.
Liar. What about today in the shower? When you closed your eyes and imagined—
Sierra sucked in a breath and slammed the lid closed. “Not today, Satan,” she muttered under her breath.
They’d both moved on. He was working at some property development firm now, gotten his own place, and forgot she ever existed.
Exactly like she wanted.
Deciding on a quick detour, Sierra headed to Duck Donuts. One little treat wouldn’t hurt. It was either sugar or a margarita, and since she still had a ton of work ahead, the nonalcoholic option won.
Sierra stepped up to the counter. “Chocolate Coconut Dream, please.”
“Bad day?” Greta asked with a knowing smile.
“Challenging.”
“I hear ya. Things can get hairy in here, too.” The pert brunette was the owner’s daughter and learning the ropes. “I’ll swing by to pick up my layaway tomorrow night. Gonna wear it to a party this weekend.”
“No worries. It’s safely tucked aside for you. I got some gorgeous earrings that match perfectly, so I put those away to check out.”
“You’re the best. Thanks, Sierra.”
“Anytime.” She swiped her card, picked up her donut, and headed out.
Then stopped short as she almost collided with a man on his way in, taking up all the space in the doorway and the air around him.
Kane.
Sierra froze. A fragment of her hoped if she stood very still and stayed quiet, he’d walk past her and pretend he didn’t see her. After all, they’d been playing the game well for the past few months, and it was working.
Kind of.
Instead, he paused and let the door swing shut behind him. In the silence, their gazes locked, and within seconds, the slam of sexual energy gripped her in a vise.
Dear God, he was perfect.
His russet hair was thick, and unruly, like a woman’s fingers had run through the strands and he’d tumbled right out of bed. His beard was a bit rougher, giving him even more of an edgy look, tamed by the sleek designer clothes he wore with ease. His suit was a chic, tailored charcoal paired with a crisp blue shirt, bending to the will of every lean, hard muscle.
“Sierra.”
A shudder racked her. He uttered her name soft and slow, those rich green eyes holding her prisoner. Sierra opened her mouth but couldn’t say his name. It was just too intimate. Instead, she nodded. “Hello.”
A tense silence fell between them. His gaze narrowed. “Still playing the silent game?”
Her brow arched. “I’m not playing any games,” she said cooly. “I’m just getting a donut.”
“Which one?”
