A ringing phone jars me out of deep sleep.

“Hello.”

“We’re joining Kat and Connor for brunch. Meet me in their suite in ten minutes.” Jaden is all business; he makes this pronouncement and hangs up. No “Is that okay with you?” or “Do you mind?” Nope; he just says jump. He’s about to find out I’m not a “how high?” kind of gal.

I check the time—almost noon. I yawn and stretch my pleasantly sore muscles as memories of last night ignite my nervous system. It quite possibly was the best night of my life. The sexual spark between Jaden and me turned into a solid blue flame. Now, if only he didn’t act like such a bastard. That isn’t the vibe I get from him, but it sure is the face he puts on things. Mostly what I get from him is a layer of determination covering roiling emotions and mixed messages. I sense confusion . . . and desire, but there are too many feelings to identify.

I scramble to get washed and dressed while I try to sort out my feelings. Something passed between us. It isn’t just my imagination. But the fucker walked out on me. Again. Un-fucking-believable. I run a comb through my short curls and stick my tongue out at the freckled reflection staring back at me.

Jaden’s obviously going to pull the stranger act again. Time to put on my big girl pants.

I pull on a pair of tight black jeans and a tee. I cinch my twenty-one-inch waist—something I’m proud of—with a black leather belt. Black Doc Martens complete the outfit. I turn in front of the closet mirror. For all my faults, I do look damned good. Black is my favorite color and makes me feel kick-ass.

I’ll show Jaden. What he can do, I will do better. The problem is, there might be no point. I’m not sure he even likes me, sex aside. One minute, he acts as if he does like me, the next he acts as if I barely exist in his world. I wish he’d try harder to be nice.

I’m not responsible for your happiness. Jaden’s voice echoes in my head, albeit in a rather random fashion. If I focus really hard, his emotions wash over me, sucking me under like a whirlpool. I shake it off.

Jaden doesn’t even look up when I join them at the round table. An impenetrable layer of distance shields his emotions. I can’t get a read at all.

“Good morning, Drake,” Kat says. “Sleep well?”

The question is innocent enough, but I go beet purple. “Ah . . . yes, thanks.” I make busy pouring a cup of tea. “Everything’s great.” Could you say anything more stupid?

“That’s good to hear.” Connor’s deep voice makes me feel all gooshy. Kind of like listening to Darth Vader. Never mind that the guy looks like a movie star. I glance at Kat, embarrassed. She grabs my hand and laughs. “Don’t worry. Everyone has that reaction.”

Connor frowns. “What are you talking about?”

“Nothing, sweetheart.” She gives Connor a huge smile. He makes a noise that sounds a lot like a harrumph. She winks and turns back to me. “Don’t mind these two. They’re both acting like they got out of prison with no place to go. Jaden was just sharing your plans for today.”

I sneak a look at Jaden, but he’s digging for gold in his pancakes. Fine. He’s not the boss of me. “I’m going to visit Sasha this afternoon, but I’ll be back for tonight’s class.”

Kat opens her mouth to speak.

“You two are staying here,” Jaden says. “I’m going to the hospital.”

Pissant. “No, I’m not. I promised Sasha I’d be back.”

“You’re not coming with me.”

“Fine. I’ll get there myself.” Now I’m really pissed off. It’s one thing pretending nothing happened, for whatever stupid reason he has, it’s quite another ordering me around and acting as if he runs my life. One thing is for fucking sure—he’ll have to be a lot nicer to me if he wants my cooperation.

“No, you will not.” Jaden’s quiet voice shouts with intensity.

“Listen, buster—”

Kat covers my hand once again. “Settle down, you two. How about I take her? Then you’ll be free to leave when you wish.”

“It’s not safe. Connor and I decided it’s best if you both stay here.” Jaden swivels his head and stretches.

“Yes, dear one,” Connor says. “It really is the best idea until we’ve picked up Summer. Rayne really is safer here.”

Like I’m not in the room. Then I realize what he said. Summer. Nervous energy shimmers through my system. I push my plate away, no longer hungry. “You found my sister? How?” I look directly at Jaden. He returns the glare with an even stare. He says nothing.

Connor clears his throat. “Jaden’s guys tracked her down. They’re moving her to the bucket of slime where they pimp the girls. It will be an easy snatch and grab from there.”

“Let’s make tracks.” Jaden walks out of the room without a second look. Connor and Kat pucker lips for what seems like forever before Connor follows Jaden out the door.

“What the fuck was that about?” I ask Kat.

Kat smiles. “I was hoping we’d have a little time for some girl talk. Looks like you made an impression on our Jaden last night. That makes us happy.”

“I don’t know why. He’s not acting like we even connected.”

“Even better. That tells me you really got to him. Do you mind if I give you a bit of sisterly advice?”

I shake my head. Kat’s probably old enough to be my mother, but for once in my frigging life, I keep a thought to myself.

“Jaden and Connor are carved from the same block of hardwood. They’re both hardheaded Scorpios who act like they have the world by the ass.”

“What’s there to act? They’re rich and good-looking. What else do they need?”

“Love.” Kat says it with finality. “But then, I think you know this.”

“What makes you say that?”

“The connection you have with him. No one’s been this close to Jaden—”

“Yeah, right.” I bark out a laugh. She must think I was born in a mole burrow if she thinks I believe this.

“It’s not really funny.” Kat takes a sip of her coffee. “So, you know what happened to Savannah?”

“No. Sasha mentioned something about her but didn’t tell me much. She said Jaden’s heart broke, and he’ll never love again. He must have really loved Savannah.”

“He thought he was in love with her. Yes, Jaden’s done a good job of convincing himself he’s walked away from love. And just like Connor, nothing could be farther from the truth, but that’s another story. Both of them mistook infatuation for love. We just hope that when Jaden finds someone who can get through to him, she’ll be the right one.”

“Well, good luck with that if he treats them all the same way he treats me.” I huff in self-righteous indignation.

“It’s the way he treats you that shows me you could be the one. That and that tiny little bit of abrasive attitude you have. You don’t put up with his shit.”

“Did Connor treat you like you’re some kind of virus he wants to get rid of?”

Kat laughs again. “You certainly have a dramatic flair. Don’t be put off by Jaden’s moods. Connor is even worse. But you just may have what it takes to deal.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I study my fingernails, eager to show my indifference. Kat just smiles as if she sees right through me. I wiggle in my seat.

“You’re curious, and you want more. And you’re smitten by him. I recognize the signs.”

“He doesn’t like me.” Now I’m fishing for reassurance.

“Oh, yeah. What would you say if I told you he’s never brought a woman here? He’s hooked up a few times, but that’s it. For that matter, he’s never taken anyone to his compound. You’re his first, ever.”

This pleases me no end, but I try not to get too excited. Good things don’t happen to me. “Tell me more about when you two and Connor back together. Why did you break up?”

Kat tilts her head, holding my gaze. I realize just how rude and intrusive that sounds. “That is if you don’t mind sharing.”

“Not at all. Like I told you, I got scared off by his moods and kink. Probably because I was embarrassed to think about my own kink meter.”

I lean forward, mesmerized by her story. I love hearing about other peoples’ sex lives. I want to know everything but hold my tongue.

“He waited twenty years for you? That’s love.” I’m so envious. No one will even date me never mind wait for twenty years.

“No, it wasn’t like that. I was separated from a common-law marriage when we met up again. Con was deeply immersed in his broken heart. Like Jaden’s Savannah, Connor’s Meredith died in his arms.”

“What happened?” I’m totally hooked into the story.

“A drunk driver hit Meredith on the day Connor was going to propose to her. She died in his arms.”

“That’s so sad. But I thought Savannah was killed by kidnappers.”

“That’s how Jaden got into the sex trade. They kidnapped Savannah from the hospital during one of her shifts, drugged her, and took her to work the trade. The police found her bleeding out in a Burlington motel room. She died in Jaden’s ER.”

“Oh my God. That’s dreadful.”

“Very, and he blames himself for her death. He confuses his guilt with fear of being hurt again. He’s got it all wound around and tied in knots to protect his heart.”

“You’re the first one who’s managed to get through to him. You scare him. It’s as simple as that.”

“How come nobody acts like the guys in the romance novels? How come I always have to meet the weird ones?”

“Am I to understand from this that you’re looking for something normal? I somehow suspect that’s not really what you’re looking for, or you wouldn’t be here.”

“I’m here because Jaden brought me here, and I need to find my sister. No other reason.”

“Oh, really? So are you saying that you’re Jaden’s captive?”

I stare at her in sheer amazement. I can’t believe that someone with her obvious smarts would talk to me this way.

“No.” I drag out the vowel as long as I can. “I’m not his prisoner. I’m here because I need his resources, and he needs help right now. Especially since Sasha got hurt.”

Kat gives me one of her Cheshire cat smiles. “Keep telling yourself that. Now, you better get dressed if you want me to take you to the hospital.”

“Jaden said we have to stay here.”

“Yes he did, but we’ll have Brian drive us. We’ll be safe enough with him. It wasn’t worth the argument with our thick-headed men.”

I gulp the rest of my tea and head for the door.

“Oh, one other thing, Drake.”

I stop and look back. “Oh?”

“Sasha’s going to try to get you to promise to stay and look after Jaden. I ask one favor. Don’t promise unless you plan to go through with it. In fact, if you’re not willing to see this through, break it off now.”

“Don’t you worry. I’ve made it quite clear that I’ll help until Sasha recovers, then I’m out of here. It’s only fair.”

Kat’s dark eyes burn into me, searching through all my hidden crevices. Eventually, she nods. “One thing to keep in mind about our men, they take forever to commit, but once they do, it’s for life.”

Like I care. It only occurs to me later to wonder how Kat knew about Sasha. How does she know?