Sneaking out of the LAA Center building is much easier than I thought. In fact, it might be the easiest thing I’ve ever done. There are no security guards. The reception area is unmanned. It pretty much involves just walking out the door and no one giving a damn about it.

From outside, almost all windows are lit, including Kade’s and my apartment, left to look as though we just stepped outside and would be right back. It suits the purpose of fooling anyone who might come checking on us, even though I’m pretty sure no one will bother.

When Kade suggested we walk the small distance to the intersection, I agreed, which I shouldn’t have.

“Where are we going, Kade?” I ask for the third time in what feels like at least twenty minutes. “There’s no restaurant nearby.”

Or on the island.

I glance at the moon rising between the clouds. Night is about to fall, and I really don’t want to be walking around a deserted street in an unfamiliar place.

If Kade isn’t careful, someone is going to see us and report us.

“Where is your trust?” He shoots me a cocky smile, repeating my previous choice of words.

“If you’re thinking about dragging me into the woods and raping me, you should know that I took a self-defense class, and I’m not afraid to kick your ass.”

He stops and turns to face me. “Let me get this straight. You’re a stalker, a fighter, and a rebel.”

“I’m not a fighter.”

“No?” His gaze sweeps over my body appreciatively. “What is it that you do? Karate? Jiu-jitsu? Pillow fights, maybe?”

I stick out my tongue. “It’s kickboxing, asshole. And I know the best place to hit you to take you down. If I were you, I would be careful what you say next.”

“No need. You hit me pretty well when you stepped out in that red dress.” He gives me another glance and shakes his head. “Wow. I just want to strip you naked.”

My heart skips a beat.

Shit.

He did not say that!

Why the hell did I put on a tight dress?

It’s a bold shade of red, too.

“This is how I dress every day,” I lie.

“It’s a nice cocktail dress, without a doubt,” he says. “I’ll have my hands full beating the competition off.”

I give him a little shove. “I’m not going to cheat on Bruce. Not with you, not with anyone. We’ll have dinner, as agreed, but I’m only doing this because you gave me no choice.”

“Not because you like me?” His eyebrows shoot up, and I close my eyes, letting out a groan. I know how it sounds, and it’s wrong on so many levels. “Okay, you gave me a choice. The thing is, I need that phone. I need to make sure he’s okay.”

“Stalking him much?”

“Shut up,” I say with more anger than I actually feel. “I don’t need your judgment. What the hell is it you do when you’re not thinking of sex, Kade?”

“A few weeks ago? Or right now? Let me think.” He remains silent for a few moments. “A few weeks ago, I would have said, nothing. Now, however, I’m trying to become a writer.” He seems so earnest, I find myself laughing. “I should tell you that I’ve started writing a journal while you were squeezing into this exquisite little thing.” He points at my dress. “And, get this. I think I’m going to turn it into a story. Less of a memoir and more of a—” He taps a finger against his lips, looking for the right word.

Oh, this is going to be good.

“A story?” I prompt. “About what, for crying out loud?”

“About a man who’s a sex addict and—” He breaks off as he catches my grin. “I’m not talking about myself, obviously.”

“Obviously. I can’t wait to read it,” I say sarcastically. “All three hundred pages of a dick’s sexcapades. I hope you have a thick skin.”

He lets out a laugh. “Trust me. I have. The only thin skin is the one that’s pulsing between my legs.”

I don’t know why, but a hot sensation builds between my legs.

“Gross,” I say and resume walking, putting some distance between us. He catches up with me in no time.

“You saw the picture.” It’s more a statement than a question.

“No, I didn’t see your cock.” The lie comes out all wrong. “I mean, I can only assume you’d have a picture of a cock on your phone. Not that I know what you’re talking about. Obviously.”

He lets out a laugh.

It’s irritating, but at the same time also sexy and captivating.

“I wouldn’t have lent you my phone if I had known you’d be bothered by it.”

“Nothing scares me,” I say. “As a nurse, I’ve seen plenty of naked people in my life.”

“I knew it.” His smile is back in place, and I realize he smiles a lot. As though life isn’t so bad, and there’s always something to laugh about. I like that attitude in people. Come to think of it, I like Kade’s smile. But if he isn’t being careful, it’s going to stay stuck forever. “You’re one hot nurse. I bet the guys flashed everything they had to get your attention.”

“That’s a preposterous assumption. I—” I shake my head. “People don’t do that.”

“Trust me, guys do.” His fingers entangle with mine, and with a soft tug he guides me to the other side of the street. “The driver’s here.”

“What—” My words die at the back of my throat as I notice the black limousine blending in with the shadows. I might not be versed in riding luxury cars, but I’m not seeing one for the first time. My sister’s birthday parties always involve renting something that you usually only see in auto magazines.

“What the hell, Kade?” I turn my head to him. “You want us to break out?”

“I want us to go out.” He smiles, his white teeth building a strong contrast to the darkness surrounding us. “We’ll be back before they even notice we were gone.”

I close my eyes and force air into my burning lungs. “This can’t be happening. This isn’t what I agreed to at all.”

“You have no choice,” Kade whispers behind me and opens the door. “The driver’s booked. I can’t back out of this just as much as you can’t. And I’ll gladly remind you that you already said yes. There’s definitely no going back on your word.”

I groan. “Again, if I so much as find myself in a strange situation, I swear I’ll—”

“You’ll kick me where it counts so I may never have kids,” he finishes for me. “Got the memo.”

“Those weren’t my exact words, but yes, that’s pretty much the plan.”

He motions at the car again. This time, I can sense his impatience. With a defeated sigh, I get in, settling on the backseat.

The fact that I didn’t put up much of a fight pisses me off, and yet I went along with whatever Kade has in mind.

It’s because of Bruce.

Out of my periphery, I see the driver watching us in the mirror.

The way Kade settles next to me, his thigh glued to mine, even though there’s enough space to lie down and not touch each other, it looks like we’re a normal, dating couple.

Couple.

Where the hell did that come from?

“Fine. I hope I’m not going to regret this,” I say, repeating his words.

“I don’t see why you would. There will be drinks, fun. Heck, you can even call Bruce and rub it in his arrogant face.”

I let the arrogant part slip as my pulse picks up speed. Maybe all’s not lost.

Back in my room, I used Kade’s phone to check if Bruce had replied. Instead of an email, I found that he had unfriended me on Facebook. His actions hurt, but what hurt me more was the discovery that he had accepted my catfish account’s friend request.

Is Bruce into blondes like most guys are said to be?

“How did you get this drive?” I ask.

“A friend?” Kade half asks, half states.

“He has to be a really good friend if he sends a limo.”

He shrugs. “I guess everyone has a price. People’s loyalty can be bought.”

I’m not sure I wholly agree with that, but I let it slide.

“I can’t believe the driver even found this place. Whoever hired him must be rich.”

“Cash Boyd.” Kade raises his eyebrows at my clueless face. “You don’t know him?”

I shake my head. “Should I?”

“Club 69.”

That doesn’t ring a bell either.

“Cash is probably the richest nightclub owner in the world. He’s in the magazines all the time,” Kade elaborates, which earns him another clueless expression from me. “Where the hell have you been living, Vicky?”

“If you want to make fun of me because I don’t read the kind of magazines you’re probably referring to, then please, go ahead. Be my guest. I don’t mind.”

I don’t feel that I’ve been missing out just because I don’t frequent clubs or don’t know who the hell his friend is. That just isn’t me.

I stare at him, challenging him to start ridiculing me. But he doesn’t.

The car takes off and I turn to the window, looking at the woods passing us by even though it’s too dark to make out more than the trees and branches’ silhouettes.

“You know what? I won’t,” Kade says. “I’m going to shut up and pretend I never asked.” He opens a drawer and pulls out a bottle, examining it shortly before lifting it up to show me the label. “Drinks?”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass. I get drunk easily.”

In the reflection of the tinted window, I see him inclining his head. His expression is the same one he used on me before. “This is a five-hundred dollar bottle, baby. And it’s free, courtesy of my friend. Are you telling me in all honesty that you’re not interested in trying a drop?”

Turning to him, I eye the bottle, wondering how people can justify spending so much money on a bottle of wine. Then again, they can afford it and probably don’t know what else to do with their money.

I do feel a bit thirsty, and I haven’t had wine in a long time.

“What’s the harm, right? I’ll have half a glass.”

“Good choice.” He retrieves two wine glasses from a cabinet and places them on a small counter before pouring the wine.

“That’s more than enough,” I say, signaling him when to stop.

He hands me my glass and lifts his. “Here’s to us breaking all the rules.”

I nod my head and take a sip, then another.

Damn.

That’s one good wine and definitely worth its price tag.