I wake up to my phone ringing, and turn over in the dead of the night to find my cell beside me lighting up, indicating a call is coming through. Shit, what time is it? I sit up and grab my phone; it’s 2:00 a.m. Immediately thinking it’s my parents, I swipe the screen, and yawn as I answer the call.
“Hello?” My voice sounds drowsy, and I blink a few times, trying to wake myself up.
A deep voice says, “Hello, is this Charity?”
I can hear music in the background, and what sounds like men shouting. “Um, yes, who’s this?”
“I’m Tim, from Pete’s Bar downtown. I have a guy here that’s drunk and refuses to leave. He’s been talking about you all night, so I found your number in his phone and was hoping you’d come and pick him up.”
Kane? It’s got to be Kane!
Suddenly feeling wide-awake, I jump out of bed and switch on a light. “Do you know his name?”
“Nope, won’t tell me, but he’s wearing some leather vest that says Blood Brothers on it. He must be in some biker club or something, so don’t feel like you have to—”
“Yeah, I know who he is. I’ll leave now,” I say, rushing to the bathroom to get ready.
“Thank you. And Charity?”
“Yeah?” I say distractedly, looking around for my toothbrush.
“Give the guy a break. He loves you, you know.”
I run my free hand through my hair and sigh. “Tim, thank you for the advice, but you don’t know what’s going on.”
Tim chuckles on the other end of the line. “I know that he loves you, and how all night he’s been down in the dumps, saying you love him back but won’t give him another try.”
“I’ll see you soon,” I mutter, ending the call. Who does this Tim guy think he is, meddling in my affairs? And Kane? What the hell? What’s he doing still here, and at a bar getting drunk of all things. Could he really be in love with me…? It doesn’t matter, I tell myself, because it would never work. I can’t be in a relationship right now.
I quickly jump into my parents’ Mercedes and start it up, then let it run for a while, knowing that it’s been in the garage untouched for three weeks so far, while they’re on holidays.
Driving down the highway, I start to panic. What will I do when I get there? Do I take him to a hotel, or back to my parents’? Listen to yourself, Charity. The man helped you when you needed him, the least you can do is return the favor.
I park my car next to Kane’s bike when I arrive at the bar. My dad used to come here on Friday nights to watch a game with his buddies, and my mom used to complain each week about him going out drinking. I didn’t mind—the man works hard as a professor at a local college, and he needs a break, time to chill with his friends.
Opening the door to the bar, I search around for Kane as soon as I step inside. The bar’s quiet now, a jukebox playing softly, and there’s only a handful of men still hanging around. I spot Kane almost immediately, sitting on a stool with his forehead resting against the bar top. The guy behind the bar looks up at me, a relieved look on his face, then points down to Kane. I nod and begin to walk toward him.
Once I reach him, I can hear snores coming out of his mouth, and I realize he’s asleep.
“Here, I’ll give you a hand,” the man behind the bar—Tim, the overstepping barman according to his name tag—says.
“Thank you, that would be great.”
Tim throws the dish towel he’s holding over his shoulder then walks around the bar, stopping on the other side of Kane. “Come on, buddy, time to go home,” he says, squeezing Kane’s shoulder firmly. When Kane only responds with a grunt, showing no signs of moving, Tim lifts him off the stool, pulling Kane’s arm around his broad shoulders, and walks toward the exit. I quickly catch up and open the door for him. Noticing he’s struggling with Kane’s dead weight, I take Kane’s other arm and drape it around me, leading the way to my car. The smell of whiskey pours off Kane, mixed with a hint of his cologne, and I hold back a moan at its familiarity. I unlock the car and leave Kane with Tim for a moment to open the door. Tim places him as best he can in the passenger seat, and I quickly put the seat belt on him.
Kane opens his eyes a sliver at my touch. “Charity? Charity, you came back for me. God, I love you. Did I tell you how much I love you? So, so, much, baby.”
I hear Tim chuckle behind me. “See, Miss? He’s been saying that all night.”
I click the belt in, and I’m about to stand when he reaches out and pulls me close, holding me to him. “Don’t ever leave me, baby, I need you.” Then light snores come from his mouth again as his grip loosens and his hands fall to his sides.
“Come on, Romeo, let’s take you home.” I make sure he’s fully inside the car before standing and shutting the door. I turn to Tim, thank him quickly for everything, then get in the car, deciding to take Kane back to my parents’ house.
When we get there, I start to wonder how in the hell I’m going to get him inside on my own. Shutting the garage door, I hear him stir. He opens his eyes and looks around, then his gaze comes to rest on me. “Where…? Where are we?” he asks, rubbing his face with his hands.
“We’re at my parents’ house, I picked you up from the bar. Tim gave me a call,” I add to answer the next question I assume is coming.
He looks confused, though. “Wait, who’s Tim?”
I smile despite how exhausted I am. “The barman, the one who served you drinks all night. What were you thinking, Kane?”
He sighs, and his head falls back against the seat. “I just wanted to….”
“You wanted to what?”
He turns toward me, his eyes filled with a sadness that makes my breath catch in my throat. “I wanted to forget you.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek, hating myself for making him feel that way. The guy took me in, even fought Blake for me, got rid of him and out of my life, and all I can do is hurt him.
Not able to deal with the look of grief on his face any longer, I open my door, and walk around to his side to open his. I help him get his seat belt off, and he turns toward me and starts to stand but wobbles on his feet. “Here hold on to me.” I put my arm out to him to grab hold of. He takes it, putting most of his weight on me. I don’t know how I manage it, but I get him into the family room, where I let him fall onto the couch. “I’ll go get you some coffee.” I go to turn away, but he keeps me still by pulling on my arm. I turn back to him. “What is it?”
His green eyes look deep into mine, his scruffy jaw making him look unbelievably sexy, and those lips… God, his lips look perfect.
“Thank you,” he says, and I smile.
“You’re welcome, Kane. Now, I’ll go fix you some coffee, then it’s off to bed.”
He grunts, then his head drops between his legs and I hurry to the kitchen, returning with a glass of water. “Here, drink this, your coffee is almost ready.”
He looks up again and takes the glass of water out of my hand. “Thanks.”
I watch him swallow every bit of water, and I find my gaze transfixed on his throat—even the way he swallows is sexy. He hands the empty glass back to me then removes his cut, placing it on the couch beside him. He’s wearing a fitted V-neck white Henley—delicious—and I don’t realize I’m staring until he says, “Babe, you okay?”
“Oh. Uh, yeah. I’ll just… go get you that coffee.”
He smiles as if he knows he’s getting to me but doesn’t say anything. It was pure torture not kissing him back before, but it needed to be done. I needed him gone. But right now looking at him this way, makes me realize how much I’ve missed him.
I return with a strong brew in hand and leave it on the coffee table in front of him. “It’s hot, make sure you drink it. I’ll go get you some blankets so you can sleep here on the couch.”
He looks down at the couch and pushes his hands down into the cushions. “Looks comfy, thank you, but I can go and stay at a motel if you prefer. You don’t have to do this, Charity.”
I wring my hands in front of me, knowing that I should drive him to a motel, but at the same time wanting so much for him to stay. “No, it’s the least I can do for you.”
Before he can reply, I walk to my parents’ linen cupboard, where I know my mom keeps all the spare blankets, sheets, and pillows. I grab one of each, then walk back to the couch and stop in my tracks when I spot Kane removing his shirt. He’s now dressed only in light blue jeans and revealing his perfectly muscled chest and back. He throws the shirt to the ground then removes his boots. Trying to act unfazed by it all, I head over to the couch and move his shirt to an arm of the couch, then place the sheet over the cushions. When I stand, he’s unbuckling his jeans, and is about to remove them when I shout, “Stop!”
He freezes, his eyes widening. “What? What’s wrong?” He’s swaying on his feet so I move closer and hold him upright, then help him sit back down. His fly is undone, and I can see his black briefs low on his waist, his happy trail leading my gaze from his belly button to under the seam. Sweet Jesus.
“Drink your damn coffee,” I say determinedly, waving at the coffee still sitting untouched on the table. “It’s going to go cold.”
He takes a sip and scrunches up his face. “Shit, woman, this is strong.”
“Yeah, well, you need it. Okay, so here’s your blanket and pillow—” I lay the pillow down at one end of the couch. ”—and if you’re okay and don’t need anything else, I’m going to head to bed, it’s been a long night.” He takes another sip, wincing again at its taste. He hands the cup back to me then falls onto his back, shutting his eyes. “Kane? You need anything else?”
His hand moves up to cover his eyes, and I watch him for a few minutes—the way his mouth opens with each breath, his chest rising and falling, all the way down to his open jeans, the bulge of his cock standing out underneath his briefs. I lick my suddenly dry lips—what I would do to have one more taste of him. But I won’t. I won’t let myself fall for him again. I can’t. Right now, my heart is broken, and there’s no room for anyone or anything else.
I gently place the blanket over him, then turn off the light and head upstairs to my room. Removing all of my clothes except my panties, I slide into my childhood bed, no energy left to even shrug my favorite sleep T-shirt on. Once my head hits the pillow, I’m out like a light.