Kane Masterson had finally come to get her.
Chapter Ten
Kane watched her open the door like she was about to face her executioner. Irritation rippled through him, but he made sure to keep his face expressionless. Talk about an ego sting. The woman he was obsessed with didn’t even want to talk to him. She’d be happier to pretend they’d never spent the night together and move on as if they were strangers.
He studied her in the porch light. She hadn’t changed yet, but her hair was loose, the caramel strands tousled and soft. He remembered how he’d fisted her hair, a tangle of silk against his palm.
White tapered pants snugly hugged her curves. He remembered grasping her hips and lifting her over his body, then slowly lowering her to sink deeply inside her warm, clinging heat.
The silk t-shirt was patterned with yellow and white daisies. The V-neck plunged low in the front, emphasizing the golden tanned skin. He remembered cupping those lush breasts, watching as her nipples hardened and flushed a strawberry red, begging for his tongue.
Those hazel eyes were known to change with her mood, from a misty blue to a brown-green, and every shade in between, accented by thick lashes. He remembered the way her pupils dilated when she was on the edge of orgasm; the yearning intensity in those mysterious depths burning only for him and what he could give her.
Now, they were cool and narrowed in defense. Her aura pricked with edginess. Kane refused to acknowledge the hurt flaring inside at her dismissal. He needed to cling to the facts he’d gathered all these months while he bided his time. Over and over, his research always circled back to one thing.
She wanted him, too. She was just scared shitless.
“Can I come in or would you like to do this for your neighbors’ entertainment?”
Without a word, she swung the screen door open.
Kane walked in. It was the first time he was inside her house. He looked about, greedy for more information, noting the elegance and warmth amidst the classic southern beach vibe. Personal accents showed off the things she loved.
Artwork. Canvases of beach photography. Modern watercolors swirled with a free, heavy hand. Black and white photographs of her and Aspen in childhood and through the years. A framed wedding photo of her parents.
Curated knickknacks. Delicately blown glass figurines. Driftwood sculptures. Seashell-encrusted mirrors. Sea glass in colorful bowls.
Comfort. Oversized pillows, thick crocheted blankets, and coffee table books highlighting fashion and jewelry.
The décor matched her—he could easily picture Sierra in this space.
She stood a few feet away, watching him. Kane decided to wait her out, until the silence between them stretched with awareness. “Well?” she finally said.
He crossed his arms in front of his chest. Regarded her with a lazy deliberation he knew affected her. “Don’t you think it’s time to tell our truths?”
Her eyes widened. “Haven’t we done that? I thought we both agreed to move forward in our separate lives.”
“No, you did. I just decided to wait until I felt you were ready to stop hiding.”
She shook her head. “You’re delusional. I’m not hiding from anything or anyone. Especially you. I’ve been living my life, and from what I’ve heard, so have you.”
He deliberately pushed. “Meaning?”
“Are you kidding? You’re dating every woman in OBX. You’re certainly not brooding and carrying some torch for me so stop playing the role of victim.”
Satisfaction unfurled. Good, she was jealous. Still dialed in to his activities even if she pretended she didn’t care. It was time to finally start with a clean slate. “When we first met, the only thing I wanted to do was reconnect. I wasn’t the one pretending that night meant nothing. And after that amazing performance where you pretty much laughed in my face and said you barely remembered me except for a few orgasms. How do you think that made me feel, Sierra?”
The anguish that flashed in those beautiful eyes finally eased his own. “I thought it was best not to relive the past,” she said stiffly.
“For you, not me. Hell, you treated me like I had the fucking plague. Brick thinks I asked you out and was rejected. I guarantee Aspen believes you think I’m an arrogant jerk. Anyone around us jokes about how we can’t seem to be in the same room together without keeping our distance. If you didn’t mean to draw attention to us, your plan backfired.”
He watched the emotions flicker across her heart-shaped face. Kane sensed he needed to go hard in this confrontation or it would be too easy for her to hide behind neat rationalizations. But he wanted the truth.
She reached up to push her hair back. He noticed her hand trembled. “I was giving you an easy out. This is gossip central around here. If anyone realized we knew each other beforehand, they’d dig and probe until they found the truth.”
He arched a brow. “Why would that be bad?”
Her eyes widened. “Are you kidding? We had a one-night stand and didn’t even know each other’s name. Even my sister doesn’t know and I tell her everything. I assumed it was better for us both to move on.”
