It had been easy to fall for Sierra without walls, because she was the first woman he’d ever wanted with his heart and soul. All the ones before her were a blurred line of trophies; beautiful, hungry women who wanted the same thing—money and first-class experiences. The sex was satisfying and easy. He’d never formed any attachments, though many had tried. Kane believed his heart was simply not built for any deep emotions.
Until Sierra. When he was around her, the dirt from his past didn’t matter. He felt…clean. Seen. Alive.
Dragging in a breath, he went over his next options. If it wasn’t so frustrating, it’d be hilarious. The way Mo sat in front of her, his fuck-you gaze shimmering with male challenge, was something Kane had never experienced. It both pissed him off and gave him mad respect for the cat. He was scarier than a damn German Shepherd protecting his master from a break-in. Lord knows, he seemed almost as big.
He'd rejected both his advances and his bribes, but Kane loved a hard trial. The prize of winning Mo’s trust and loyalty held bigger stakes than normal. Because with the cat’s approval, he’d prove something to Sierra.
That he wasn’t afraid of hard things. That he didn’t intend to walk away.
That she meant more to him than anything else.
He didn’t blame her for being wary. When she asked if he hurt people, it had wrecked his insides to tell her the truth. Because even though he’d been betrayed and set up for fraud, his actions had still hurt everyone around him.
He’d trusted the wrong person because he’d been greedy for more. He’d ditched his brother in the pursuit of power. He’d betrayed Global Enterprises by refusing to do his job correctly, when he may have been able to catch the truth earlier on. Before his ass got thrown in jail and he was stripped of everything, he’d fought for.
Most of all?
He’d hurt himself.
No, he couldn’t lie and pretend he was guiltless. But it also meant showing her the man he was today. And telling her the truth.
About Derek. About his past.
About everything.
He needed to take that chance and put it all out there so she could make her own decision.
He’d never shared those pieces of himself, and it was a risk. If Sierra was disgusted, or refused to accept his choices, it was over before things had even begun.
But if she was going to leap, Kane would need to go first.
The road forward began with truth. Truth about how and when they’d originally met. Truth about their past and their intent for the future. Truth about their feelings and what that night had begun between them.
It had to start somewhere.
Good thing he was ready to take the leap.
But not yet.
He still had work to do with her heart. In the meantime, they had an engagement party to plan. She’d mentioned her top picks for the party and vendors but nothing was booked. He could use this upcoming week to lean in to planning and make appointments. She’d probably be pissed he was trying to lead, then step in.
So, he’d just show up beside her, offering his support and help.
Kane grinned. She hated not being in charge so that would set her off, but her temper was a turn-on and an important insight into how she worked. On what she needed.
On what made her happy.
Kane spent the rest of night doing research for Stealth. The challenge juiced him up, and he was eager to get back into the game and make some big money. He wanted to prove to Sierra that he was a sure bet and could easily provide her everything she could want. She was a strong woman who’d built her own legacy. Since New York, he’d had to start over, and it was important to show his own ability to rise and pivot to meet any challenge.
Therefore, Kane could not fail.
The week passed, and Sierra admitted it was getting harder to pretend Kane was a man to be politely kept on the sidelines.
She stared at him from across the event space where they gathered to fine tune the food and flowers for the engagement party. After going over Kane’s spreadsheets, she’d quickly set up appointments with two places that were frontrunners, eager to get a date nailed down and the party quickly planned.
For each meeting, Kane showed up with a broad grin and an enthusiasm that charmed everyone around him. Both owners—females—gushed about how sweet it was he took such an involved part in his best friend’s engagement, until Sierra was tempted to wave her hands in the air and remind them she was the one in charge.
He came with lists of helpful suggestions, and asked questions that managed to even impress Sierra. It was annoying as hell to be jockeying for leader position in her own sister’s celebration.
