“Of course I do.” Her thoughts raced. Blaine had lied, that much was certain—and at this point, not surprising. Not after the way he’d changed since they’d come back to the US. But this seemed a bit much, even for him. Maybe he really didn’t know how the law worked.
Her stomach clenched. Or maybe he didn’t want to annul it.
As if reading her mind, Cade quirked an eyebrow at her. “Can you think of any reason that Blaine would be trying to cement your marriage further rather than annul it?” He hesitated. “Did you two ever?—”
Rosalyn shuddered. “No.”
“Making sure. That could complicate the process.”
“Is that the only reason you’d care?” The words she’d never intended to speak rode the last of her adrenaline right out of her lips. She pressed them together, but it was too late. They were out there, between them.
Cade’s eyes widened. He leaned back against the bench. “No.”
Oh. He’d actually answered. Her stomach cartwheeled. “Sorry. That wasn’t fair.”
“Agreed.”
Silence pulsed again. She wanted to sink into the bench, then below it. Straight down to the core of the earth. Where she could quit making a mess of things. Quit listening to the wrong voices—namely, her own.
“Look, Ace. I’ve taken punches for you before.” He snorted. “Thought I might have to again today.”
“Nah, you totally had that guy.” She smiled, the compliment the least she could offer.
“I’m serious. I want to help you.” He held both of his hands up in a sign of surrender. “No more, no less.”
“I appreciate it.” She did. Even if she wanted it to be “more.” This was too complicated, too much.
Always the timing, with them.
Cade’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “So you’re not mad I sleuthed?”
“If that means this whole marriage issue can be put behind me sooner, then no. I’m grateful.” Confused, maybe, about Blaine and his motives. But grateful.
“Do you want me to file the dissolution request for you?” A different question lingered in Cade’s eyes, one she couldn’t quite put words to and wasn’t sure she wanted to try.
“Yes, please.” Blaine might get notice that she’d taken that legal step, but hopefully not untilafterthe circus. She could smooth things over, then, once she was back performing professionally. And then once her debt was paid, she could be free of Blaine forever.
Maybe free of all of it.
Cade nodded. “I’ll handle it first thing in the morning. Whatever paperwork is involved, I’ll print and bring for you to sign.”
“Thank you. I know you’re busy.”
“Not too busy for this.” He tucked his hands behind his neck. “Which brings us back to—the Mafia?”
“That brings us back to Blaine, still.”
Cade squinted, clearly trying to follow. “So what’s his angle?”
“I don’t know, other than maybe control of some kind? That’s Blaine’s specialty.” She used to find it endearing, the way he handled everything for her. Protective.
Just another thing she’d been wrong about.
“Well, if this marriage procrastination isn’t about s—” Cade cleared his throat, gestured toward Rosalyn. “—um, you,personally, then I’d wager it’s probably about money.”
“He makes a great living off all his clients, including me.” Rosalyn tilted his head. “He even got his manager’s cut of my world tour money in advance, so I don’t know why that would be a factor.”
“So, let me get this straight. Is Blaineinthe Mafia?”
