“My brain is mush. It was the best I had.”
Her soft laugh filled him up. “Well, at least it was creative. Aspen would approve.”
“Please don’t tell your sister about this.”
“Of course not.” She winced at his stare. “Well, only if she asks. I don’t want to lie to her ever again.”
“And they say men brag about their sex lives,” he muttered.
“Do they?” she asked, obviously interested.
He grunted. “Only if they don’t care. The moment they get to girlfriend or wife status, we close the vault of info.”
“Wow, I never knew.” Mischief flickered over her face. “I guess I’m open game.”
Kane shot up and glared at the screen. “Hell, no. You’re my damn girlfriend, Sierra. There’s no one else I’d ever want to be with.” A horrible thought entered his mind. “Wait—don’t you feel the same? You don’t think you’re still going on blind dates, do you!”
Her languid smile was full of amusement. “Usually, I don’t like possessive claims on my freedom, but I won’t torture you any longer. No. I only want to be with you, Kane.”
Relief poured through him. “Exactly what I thought. You’re my girlfriend.” The word seemed barely enough to contain all the things Sierra was to him. The woman he loved. His soulmate. But she wasn’t ready for such declarations yet. He’d be patient.
“Well, you didn’t officially ask, but yes. I’m your girlfriend.”
“I’m glad you see it my way.”
She giggled and his entire being lit up. He’d do anything to keep things like this, but the threat of the Stealth deal kept shadowing his happiness. Each step he took to earning Sierra’s trust could be blown up once he told her about the store. For now, Kane clung to the hope that every moment spent together was a tightening of their bond. It had to be strong enough to sustain the fallout.
They talked some more and said goodnight. He closed his laptop, cleaned himself up, and headed to the kitchen for a bottle of water.
Then found Mo blocking his progress.
The cat was like a massive orange ghost in the shadows, looming with threat. Damned if Kane didn’t take a step back. Golden eyes glinted with warning. When he first arrived, the cat had stayed away, as if sensing his arch enemy was in the house. Kane figured he’d eventually surface, so he took care of the water and food, and minded his own business.
But now, Kane sensed a confrontation was coming. Trying to compete with being alpha male was his first instinct, but Mo had probably fought even harder than Kane in his ability to survive. Nature was cruel and Mo held the scars. Kane had to be the one to bend.
He held up his hands in surrender. “I get it. You hate me because you’re afraid I’ll take away Sierra. But I don’t want to do that at all. Because she loves you, Mo. You make her happy. You give her someone safe to love, and she’s not there yet with me.”
The cat squinted. Waited.
“What if I promise never to come in between you? Hell, she’s already picked you over me so you’re the front runner. All I want to do tonight is make sure you’re fed and have what you need. I’m asking that you don’t jump on my head tonight and try to strangle me. Please.”
A swish of the tail. A cock of the head. Was he listening or planning Kane’s murder?
“Sierra will be happy if we get along. No woman wants to see a who’s-dick-is-bigger competition. Okay? Can we have a truce?”
Quiet settled over the house. The clock ticked. Silently, Mo retreated back into the darkness of the kitchen and disappeared.
Kane let out a breath. He grabbed his water and two cat treats, leaving one on the floor by the sunroom, and the other right outside Sierra’s door. Maybe if Mo was feeling generous Kane wouldn’t die of smothering tonight. He didn’t want to shut the door just in case Mo needed him.
Kane changed the sheets and got settled, enjoying being surrounded by Sierra’s sanctuary. He fell asleep easier than he had in a while and had no dreams.
Until something woke him hours later. A sensation of being watched.
His gaze met the glowing gold eyes staring from the pitch black. His heart galloped and he barely stopped himself from jumping up with an unmanly scream.
Mo was here to hurt him.
He refused to whimper. Tightening his body, he prepped for the claws to attack and prayed he could defend himself without hurting Mo.
