He studies me again, eternal seconds passing before his mouth closes down on mine, a rough passion in his kiss that I want to read, but too soon, it’s over. He tears his mouth from mine, and orders softly. “Climb in, baby.”
This time, I don’t hesitate. He wants me with him and I’m going with him.
I settle into the backseat and he follows, shutting us into the warmth of the heater Nelson has left cranking out air. Kace’s hand settles on my leg, possessiveness in his touch. Once again, I think that I really do have this sense I hit a nerve with Kace that I’m not well-versed enough on this complicated man to understand. But I want to understand him. I only know that I must, that it feels necessary. So quickly, too quickly perhaps, Kace is becoming a part of my life. He’s becoming important to me. And I’m not blind to the message he’s sending me by taking me along for this meeting. We’re building a bond. And the more he pulls me into his life, the more I have to come clean about mine.
The idea weighs on me, but not for long. The drive is short, and already it seems, as Nelson slows and turns into a property, we’ve arrived at Nix’s place.
“It’s beautiful,” I say, as I bring a giant mansion on the water aglow in lights, into view.
“As would be expected,” Kace says dryly. “He’s a filthy rich bastard who pimps me out no more.”
“Ouch,” I say. “That sounds like acid in the water.”
He shrugs as the vehicle halts in the driveway. “I actually like the guy. He’s just not listening right now, which is pissing me off.”
He reaches for the door and I catch his arm. “I know we’ve talked about me being here being fine, but it really seems like Nix will think I’m a distraction.”
“There’s nothing to distract from, Aria. I’ve been telling Nix and Bear that I’m done for a year. I gave them both notice. Bear gets it. Apparently Nix just needs me to look him in the eyes and say it.” He opens the door and steps outside, helping me out, only to waste no time once the door is shut. He leans into the Escalade, speaks to Nelson, and then he’s lacing his fingers with mine, pulling me toward the long staircase, which leads to double red doors.
“There are those red doors again,” I say.
“Don’t read into them with him. They came with the house, and the zip code he wants on his resume.”
Another comment that suggests Kace isn’t Nix’s biggest fan. “Will your manager be here? He will be, right?”
“Nix called Bear and told him this was between me and him. I’m not happy about the fact that Bear listened.”
“And I’m here? Kace, if he didn’t want Bear here, he won’t want me here.”
“Nix’s wife Becca will be here. There’s no reason you can’t be here. You’ll like Becca. You can chat with her if he and I need privacy. And have a drink to help you with your nerves before the flight.”
“I’m not sure we want me drinking around your agent,” I say as we halt a the door and he rings the bell.
Kace winks. “I’m pretty sure Nix doesn’t stand a chance with you drunk or sober.”
The door opens and a pretty forty-something blonde in a pink dress with gentle blue eyes greet us. “Welcome, Kace,” she says before her eyes fall on me. “And you must be Aria.”
“Hi,” I say, confused by the familiar greeting.
Kace wraps his arm around me. “Did I mention Bear has a big mouth?”
“He does.” Becca laughs. “And I used to date Bear, so his lips flap more freely with me.”
I blanch and she laughs. “I never get over people’s reaction. Go ahead. Say what you think.”
“No wonder Bear isn’t here.”
She and Kace erupt in laugher and she backs up to allow us to enter, while Kace’s hand on my lower back guides me forward.
“Nix is on patio,” Becca says as we join her in the foyer. “We have the fire going and a bottle of wine open and breathing. I’ll meet you there.”
Kace lifts a hand her direction and reaches for my coat, as she fades down the hallway and disappears.
“She dated Bear?” I ask as he hangs it on a rack and shrugs out of his own.
“She and Bear were broken up when she met Nix, but it’s awkward. Bear still loves her and Bear and Nix are like night and day.”
“And she jokes about it?”
“That’s not my read on her. I think it’s the elephant in the room she tackles before it tackles her.” He catches my hand. “Let’s get this over with, baby.”
I nod as he leads me through a luxurious house, with steepled ceilings, and an open-concept living room of creams and whites that is both beautiful and sterile. We exit to a much more cozy patio with two couches facing each other in front of the fireplace.
Nix and Becca occupy one of those couches, standing as we walk their direction, my attention focused on Nix, the man of the hour we’re here to see. He’s tall, lean, and dressed in expensive slacks and a button-down. His hair is red, and while his features are sharp, what he lacks in good looks, he gains in overt confidence.
Kace and I step into the space across from them—woman to woman and man to man, but none of us sit.
“Nix, this is Aria,” Becca says, motioning between us.
“Hello, Aria,” Nix greets, and his attention doesn’t just land on me, it thuds heavily. “You are,” he adds, “quite beautiful.”
It’s a biting compliment I don’t accept blindly. “I have never been called beautiful with such anger. Well,” I amend, “except maybe by Kace.”
Kace laughs and wraps his arm around me. “Only when I was resisting your charms, baby, and that’s what he’s doing right now.”
Nix scrubs his jaw. “He’s right, Aria. I’m thinking I’m fucked because with you state-side, he’s not leaving.”
“Who says I wouldn’t take her with me?” Kace challenges. My gaze jerks to his and he adds, “If you’d agree. I’d take you in a heartbeat. You already know that.”
Stunned, my heart is racing as Becca says. “Let’s sit and drink wine. We could all use it.” She takes the lead and sits, lifting a bottle of red wine that she begins pouring in four glasses.
Kace tugs me with him onto the couch. Nix grimaces and sits. “I can see now that you’re really done, Kace.”
My defenses bristle. “Not because of me. He was done when he met me.”
Kace kisses my temple. “Relax, baby. He knows.”
Nix surprises me by confirming Kace’s statement. “I know,” he agrees, eyeing Kace. “I’ve know. I just denied that fact, but no more.”
Becca offers me a glass of wine that I eagerly accept. I’m going to need it to get through this meeting and the flight. She makes sure everyone has wine, and once we’ve all sipped at least once, Nix is already changing his tune. “That all said,” he begins. “Pepsi will sponsor a final run if you—”