Page 8 of The Reluctant Flirt (Outer Banks #2)

“You can do anything you put your mind to, and you can do it in stilettos.”

– Kimora Lee Simmons

Two Months Later

Sierra walked along the water and immersed herself in the crowds lingering on the boardwalk.

She dragged in a lungful of air, scented with salt and sunshine, and allowed her mind to float with each smart click of her Stuart Weitzman camel-colored ankle boots with a shiny gold heel.

It had been a busy day at Flirt.

Switching over to new color palettes and fabrics for the change of season took endless hours and focus.

With the cooler weather, customers craved earthy colors with pops of burnt orange, crimson red, and hunter green.

Shoppers sought gifts for Valentine’s Day, so jewelry sales boomed.

Knits and boots replaced gauzy lace and sandals.

All of her buying was done two seasons before, so it was fun to re-discover all the goodies ready to sell.

This whole weekend had been spent replacing the racks and bringing in new products from various designers.

She’d been going nonstop, especially since Aspen had returned from New York and moved in with Brick.

Seeing them flourish after such a roller coaster ride stirred up a longing in her gut.

Her sister finally got the happily ever after ending she deserved.

Sierra wondered if she’d ever be able to trust another person that much to commit one hundred percent.

Life had proved there were never guarantees.

She was glad Aspen had beaten the odds, but there was one major fallout Sierra now had to contend with.

Kane Masterson.

His decision to stay in Corolla coincided with Aspen and Brick’s break-up.

Sierra hadn’t seen him since the night Kane announced he was staying, that piercing gaze blowing away all her defenses, practically daring Sierra to protest.

It was easy to avoid him.

If Sierra caught him out with Brick, she kept her distance.

Sierra started to meet Brooklyn and Inez at places other than Sunfish, and had become a new weekly member of the local support group, now re-named The Bad Ass Bitches Club.

Sure, Kane remained a hot topic. She heard from the buzzing grapevine that he was dating, but Sierra tried to keep her head down and her ears blocked.

But now that Aspen and Brick were back together?

She’d be forced to see Kane more often.

Even though she reassured herself his interest had passed, and he was carving out his own life here, the prickle of danger remained.

There was nothing left to do but keep her cool if they ran into each other, pretend not to care, and refuse to give him a second thought.

The whisper broke free from the locked place inside and taunted her.

Liar. What about today in the shower? When you closed your eyes and imagined—

Sierra sucked in a breath and slammed the lid closed.

“Not today, Satan,”

she muttered under her breath.

They’d both moved on. He was working at some property development firm now, gotten his own place, and forgot she ever existed.

Exactly like she wanted.

Deciding on a quick detour, Sierra headed to Duck Donuts. One little treat wouldn’t hurt. It was either sugar or a margarita, and since she still had a ton of work ahead, the nonalcoholic option won.

Sierra stepped up to the counter.

“Chocolate Coconut Dream, please.”

“Bad day?”

Greta asked with a knowing smile.

“Challenging.”

“I hear ya. Things can get hairy in here, too.”

The pert brunette was the owner’s daughter and learning the ropes.

“I’ll swing by to pick up my layaway tomorrow night. Gonna wear it to a party this weekend.”

“No worries. It’s safely tucked aside for you. I got some gorgeous earrings that match perfectly, so I put those away to check out.”

“You’re the best. Thanks, Sierra.”

“Anytime.”

She swiped her card, picked up her donut, and headed out.

Then stopped short as she almost collided with a man on his way in, taking up all the space in the doorway and the air around him.

Kane.

Sierra froze. A fragment of her hoped if she stood very still and stayed quiet, he’d walk past her and pretend he didn’t see her. After all, they’d been playing the game well for the past few months, and it was working.

Kind of.

Instead, he paused and let the door swing shut behind him. In the silence, their gazes locked, and within seconds, the slam of sexual energy gripped her in a vise.

Dear God, he was perfect.

His russet hair was thick, and unruly, like a woman’s fingers had run through the strands and he’d tumbled right out of bed. His beard was a bit rougher, giving him even more of an edgy look, tamed by the sleek designer clothes he wore with ease. His suit was a chic, tailored charcoal paired with a crisp blue shirt, bending to the will of every lean, hard muscle.

“Sierra.”

A shudder racked her. He uttered her name soft and slow, those rich green eyes holding her prisoner. Sierra opened her mouth but couldn’t say his name. It was just too intimate. Instead, she nodded. “Hello.”

A tense silence fell between them. His gaze narrowed.

“Still playing the silent game?”

Her brow arched.

“I’m not playing any games,”

she said cooly.

“I’m just getting a donut.”

“Which one?”

She blinked. “Huh?”

“What flavor?”

His question came out as a demand, as did most things uttered from those lips.

“Chocolate Coconut Dream.”

“That’s my favorite, too.”

Her body softened from his low murmur. Her female parts buzzed with recognition and throbbed in awareness. She wished she could wipe out the memory of that mouth over hers, the way he demanded and controlled and gave so much pleasure. She’d shattered like glass, feeling alive for the first time.

Sierra cleared her throat and prayed her voice worked.

“Goody for us. Before I dole out friendship bracelets, you’d better hurry. There’s only one left.”

He grinned slowly, and shivers raced down her spine.

“Still mouthy, I see.”

She couldn’t do this. She’d combust and embarrass herself, and Kane was already the hottest bachelor the town was fighting over. She refused to go there.

“Well, see you around.”

“It’s nice to see Brick so happy. I’m glad they got back together.”

She wanted to ignore him but his tone held genuine pleasure. His support of Brick showed he’d been a decent friend.

“Me, too. I was worried they wouldn’t work it out.”

Kane nodded.

“Same. They were meant to be together. It must be nice to have your sister here permanently.”

“It is.”

When Aspen decided to leave New York and move to OBX, Sierra felt as if a space inside her had been filled. Her sister was the only family she had. Having her close by was a game changer.

Kane continued in a thoughtful tone.

“I think Brick was just scared shitless to try again.”

A humorless laugh escaped.

“Yeah, I get it.”

“Do you?”

His husky voice invited confidence—the same she’d given him that night.

“I guess we both do.”

She fought his spell. Arched a brow.

“Doubt it. Bed hopping is fun, but there’s little risk. Just the way you like it.”

His lower lip quirked. “Jealous?”

She practically sputtered.

“Of course not! I made myself crystal clear—I think it’s best we keep our distance and avoid each other. Bed the whole town if you prefer. Just leave me alone.”

Instead of jabbing back, he studied her in thoughtful silence. She glared, refusing to squirm.

“You’re wrong, Sierra. My entire life has been about risk. When you have millions of dollars on the line and one wrong word can destroy it all, you lean in hard. You play with no fear. You go all in. Because halfway ensures failure.”

She stood, transfixed, trying to break the spell.

“You’re talking about work again.”

“Yes. Work.”

He paused.

“And now it’s time to make a bigger move. One I’ve been planning for a while, waiting for the right time.”

A shiver raced down her spine. Damned if it didn’t sound like a threat instead of some type of rambling thought.

It was time to get out of here.

“Thanks for sharing.”

Sierra squared her shoulders and pushed past him. Her arm brushed his, and his fingers suddenly shot out and grasped her wrist, stilling her. The familiar scents of clove and whiskey rose to her nostrils, an aroma that twisted into her memory.

“You can keep running for now.”

His thumb pressed into her throbbing pulse at the base of her wrist.

“Until I’m ready to catch you.”

She made sure not to show fear. Cranking her head around, she met his gaze head-on and slowly tugged her wrist away.

“I’m not yours to catch,”

she said calmly. “Goodbye.”

Sierra walked away with slow, careful strides. She wouldn’t run.

But she felt his stare burning her alive with each step.

Kane watched her retreat. A flicker of admiration cut through him. The woman he’d fallen hard for all those years ago didn’t seem to exist in this polished, distant version. It was the only reason he’d allowed her to hide. He’d needed the time to figure out what the hell had happened and how he wanted to handle things.

Now he knew.

And Sierra Lourde’s time was almost up.

He went to the counter, ordered his Coconut Dream donut and a coffee, then took off.

As he drove, his mind flashed through the past few months.

When he made the decision to stay, Kane knew he had shit to figure out before he came hard for Sierra. Her reaction when he announced he wouldn’t return to New York had proved all of his theories.

She’d lied.

All those scathing speeches about their night together being just about sex were bullshit. Her cold dismissals and distance had nothing to do with not wanting him. He’d gathered his intel with slow precision, planning to make his big move when it was the right time.

He gave her credit—she’d almost tricked him. If he hadn’t deliberately rattled her, Kane would have retreated and believed he meant nothing.

Instead, it was the opposite. Sierra hadn’t forgotten him either. He’d begun making a mental list of all the pieces that didn’t fit, until he saw the complete puzzle.

Her obvious jealousy over Callie and any other woman he was supposedly dating.

Her desperate intent to avoid him.

The panic she showed whenever they ran into each other.

Her hungry stare when she thought he wasn’t looking.

The way her pulse skyrocketed when he touched her today.

Her reaction when he announced he wasn’t going back to New York.

Naming her store Flirt.

He understood now why she ran that morning, even though he didn’t like it. The timing hadn’t been right. With her divorce, and his drive to succeed in the corporate world, the odds were against them.

But the second time?

She’d run because they finally had a chance. And she was scared.

Kane pulled into his rental place and walked in. The small home held two bedrooms, living area, kitchen, and one bathroom. The generous porch sagged and the backyard needed an overhaul. The floors creaked and the walls held some cracks. The shutters were pink with chipped paint.

But it was reasonable and walking distance to the beach. The furniture was comfortable and clean. He was even getting used to all the pink pelicans and seagulls the owner seemed to be obsessed with. Unbelievably, Brick’s cranky neighbor had known a guy who’d known a guy and gave him the contact number.

Kane looked around and briefly wondered what the hell he was doing.

Less than a year ago, he’d lived in a penthouse apartment near Central Park, owned a walk-in closet of designer suits, got reservations at all the hot restaurants, and held the respect of some very important people. Everything he’d worked toward had finally come true. Success and money gave him power. He’d made it in the most cutthroat city in the world.

Until everything exploded and he’d ended up in jail.

He grabbed a bottle of water and sat down at the cramped kitchen table. Taking out his donut, he ate it slowly in the quiet. After he got out of jail and crashed at Brick’s, Kane spent last summer brainstorming various plans to get himself back in the industry. First, he turned his focus on finding a new opportunity back in New York. But after reaching out to some old contacts, Kane realized the chilly reception from everyone in his old life was a sign.

Especially after he received the text from John that chilled him to the bone.

Remember our deal.

The warning did its trick. Kane left New York and figured he’d create a business here. But all the banks politely declined, especially with no money to back up his ambitious proposal. So, Kane did the next best thing.

He found a job in a small family firm. Kane intended to dazzle them with his skills. Rebuild his name. And make his way back up to success.

This time, he’d do it in a more organic way. He’d go slow, learn the area, and make the contacts needed. In the meantime, he’d enjoy being with his best friend. He’d embrace the beach and horses and his fresh start.

And he’d get Sierra back into his life and in his bed.

All roads had led him here. Kane learned early on never to waste an opportunity. Patience was key with all big wins. He’d given Sierra the time and space needed to lower her defenses and believe she was safe. He was now gainfully employed, settled in, and carving out a place in Corolla.

Kane was almost ready to begin the second part of his plan.

The phone jolted him out of his thoughts. He didn’t recognize the number, but picked it up anyway.

“Kane?”

His heart stopped. Every cell in his body surged in a wave of tangled emotions, too intense to try and separate. “Derek.”

His half-brother gave a hesitant laugh.

“Yeah, it’s me. I know it’s been a while. Do you—have a minute to talk?”

“I always have time for you,”

he said quietly.

“How are you doing?”

“Good. Really good. I got a new job. I like it.”

“Yeah? Where?”

“The teen center. At first, I was just sharing my story and volunteering, but an opening came up and they hired me.”

His tone turned rueful.

“Not as glamorous as Waldorf lunches and high stakes deals, but I come home feeling good about myself.”

Kane closed his eyes and rubbed his palms over his face. The past reared up in ugly Technicolor and rattled his insides. Guilt struck, but he was used to it.

“I’d say you’re miles ahead of most people out there. Fancy jobs are crap if you come home empty. Your heart was always too big for that bullshit, Derek. Got it?”

The glitch in his breath tore Kane’s heart.

“Got it. Maybe that’s why I like working with the kids. I know exactly how it feels to be raw and not know how to handle it.”

“You’re going to be such a help to them. I’m fucking proud of you.”

He pictured his brother’s face, so unlike his own. Kane had gotten his red hair from his Irish mother who died before she could figure out the man she married was a monster. Or maybe she’d known and hadn’t been able to leave. Kane would never know. He didn’t know Derek’s mom, but his father never had trouble bedding women. Derek had appeared one day, a young seven-year-old confused and lost after his mother took off. Had she realized her son had been dumped on a monster?

His father informed him he now had a brother and to take care of him. When Kane looked into those teary, fearful Bambi-type eyes, his heart had melted. With curly brown hair, and a small, skinny body, he exuded a sensitive vulnerability that tore at Kane’s heart. He’d sworn to always protect Derek, even at the expense of himself.

He'd failed. Kane had been unable to stop the demons from possessing his younger brother. But a promise was a promise so he’d never stopped trying. He’d always been the strong one. It was his responsibility to protect the ones with an open, kind heart like Derek, who felt too much to be safe in this world.

A pause hummed over the line.

“I have to say some things to you, Kane. Will you let me?”

“You already apologized. You already made your amends. You owe me nothing.”

“Not true, brother. Some thoughts are different once you get out of rehab and begin really working the program. It’s easier to keep myself accountable. Does that make sense?”

“Yeah,”

Kane said softly. “Tell me.”

His brother began.

“When Dad drank and got mean, I swore I’d never be him. You gave me that goal. Tried so hard to save me, like you saved yourself. I realize now what a liar I was. Not only to you, but myself. Because I loved alcohol more than anything. Just like him.”

Kane was falling apart with each word his brother dropped. But he kept quiet and listened.

“I was never able to admit that before. I always thought it didn’t matter because my intentions were good. To prove I was worthy of being your brother. To show you I could stand on my own and be a big success. Hell, you were the one to bring me in to Global and give me a job. You believed in me and for a little while, God, Kane, it was everything I dreamed of. Me and you working our way up. Making more money than I ever imagined. I didn’t think anything or anyone could change our future.”

Kane remembered. For a little while, he’d felt invincible, working side by side with his brother and taking over the world. He just hadn’t stopped to look deeper, because he was too focused on achieving more. Always more.

“But I needed to drink. I’d sell my soul to Satan for the bottle, and I did. And this is the hard part to tell you. The part I hate to admit. Ready?”

“Go ahead.”

“You were never enough to save me. You spent your whole damn life trying to make things better, I felt I owed you. I stopped trying to find myself in order to follow my big brother. I was terrified of disappointing you.”

The confession shot through him like a bullet, shredding through bone and flesh. Pain throbbed in every part of him, but damned if Kane didn’t recognize the truth. In his intentions to save his brother, he’d also pushed him over the edge. He’d tried to make everything right so Derek would never need any vices to make him happy.

Both of them had missed the truth.

Derek continued.

“That’s on me—not you. Chasing my next drink kept me from having to confront that whole mess. But every fucked-up thing happens for a reason, and I’m grateful. For rehab, and this new job, and finally figuring myself out. I need you to know that.”

He allowed himself to ask the question that still haunted him.

“If I hadn’t pushed so hard, do you think things would’ve been different?”

“No. Because I’d still find a way to drink. I did it all by myself. Don’t you ever take that responsibility away from me, okay? Without it, there’s nothing but cheap excuses and a drunk at the end of an empty bottle.”

“We both made mistakes. And I’m listening, okay? Even if I don’t like to hear some of this shit.”

His brother’s laugh turned genuine.

“Sucks, right?

“Rehab helped? You sound good. Solid.”

“Rehab was a game changer. Staying in the full year gave me the tools I needed. You saved my life.”

Kane dragged in a breath and reset. Once again, he thought of his choices; the deal he’d struck when his life had shattered around him. The rage and resentment eventually quieted. Knowing Derek was sober and safe was worth anything.

“You saved your own life. I just paid the bill.”

They both laughed, even as the lie choked Kane.

“Tell me about beach town USA. I’m glad you decided to stay. We both needed fresh starts.”

“I think you’re right. I’m settling in.”

“Catch me up.”

He did. Some of the tightness loosened in his chest as he talked with his brother and shared the daily stuff. Too many of their past conversations revolved around them trying to sidestep their past and pretend it was all good. Now, he realized he enjoyed Derek’s droll humor and blunt dialogue, stripped to the simple exchange, brother to brother.

They finally hung up, promising to talk soon.

The silence closed around him, along with memories that clawed to the surface. The room faded around him as Kane was dragged back in time, back to his nightmares…

The crash vibrated and echoed through the stale, smoke-filled air.

The pot left on the stovetop where he’d heated up soup. Shit, had he forgot? Kane strained his ears, listening downstairs as each nerve ending prickled with dread.

Lurching footsteps. Muttered curses. The slam of a bottle. The open and shut of the refrigerator.

“Where is it you little shits? Did you take it?”

The roar chilled his blood. He was out of booze. Kane should’ve kept a closer watch so he could’ve been out of the house but he’d been up late trying to do his homework and forgot it was Wednesday. The paycheck had run out and now they were gonna pay.

“Kane?”

The small whisper at the door caught his attention. Derek was in his pajamas, the torn batman fleece riding high on his stomach and ankles because it was two sizes small. Kane made a quick note to visit the thrift shop and get new ones.

“It’s okay,”

he said, motioning him over. His father liked to boast how well he took care of them since they had their own rooms, but his brother rarely slept there. Not when the monster could surprise him at any time. Kane had told him he could stay in his room, and even though he was five years older, he liked to cuddle against Derek’s small, warm body and hear his steady breath. It calmed him enough to sleep sometime.

But there’d be no sleep tonight.

Another smash told him time was running out. Derek’s wide brown eyes filled with terror, but Kane kept calm as he guided him inside the closet to his hiding place.

“Stay in there and don’t make a sound, okay? Remember what I said?”

His brother blinked furiously to fight tears.

“Smoosh my mouth in the blanket if I need to cry. Don’t worry because you’ll be okay because you’re like Batman and things don’t hurt you.”

“That’s right. It sounds bad but I’m only pretending it hurts so he stops.”

Kane gently covered him with the blankets so he’d be hidden if his father somehow decided to throw open the door. Thank God, he didn’t care who the victim was. Derek was so much easier to pick on, but his father was lazy and would take whoever was most available.

Kane always made sure he took on that role.

“I’m coming up and if you don’t tell me where my bottle is, I’m going to beat the shit out of you!”

Kane hurriedly asked the final question.

“What happens when he leaves?”

Derek’s lip trembled but he answered bravely.

“I count to one hundred, then come out to help. The Band-Aids and cream are in your nightstand.”

“That’s right.”

He forced a smile while his stomach twisted in a knot.

“Remember, it’s not a big deal and I won’t let him hurt you. What song are you going to sing in your head?”

A crash on the stairwell.

“I’m coming!”

“’I like Dynamite by Taio Cruz,”

Derek said.

“I like that too. Start hearing it now.”

“’kay.”

Kane closed the closet door. Stark fear threatened, but he’d learned to be friends with it because at least if it was him, Derek was safe.

His father stumbled through the door. Eyes red. Empty bottle in one hand. Belt in the other. Swaying back and forth, his gaze blurred with rage and need for the liquid in the empty bottle. And they’d all pay for that loss.

“Where is it?”

“You drank it, Dad. Remember?”

He threw the bottle. Kane ducked just in time.

“Smart ass shit. I’ll teach you to back talk.”

Kane glanced at the clock. The beatings never lasted long. His father didn’t have the endurance—he just liked to empty his poison on his son quickly and then go to bed.

The belt lifted and it began.

He started the countdown in his head while he sang Dynamite.

The horrific images faded slowly; too slowly. It took him a while to move. Each memory of the past flickered before him, taunting like a deranged jester. His hands shook with the effort to remind himself he was safe. And so was Derek.

Kane turned, catching his reflection in the far wall mirror. The image he presented was polished and confident. A man who owned the room. A man able to charm anyone to get what he wanted.

Underneath, he still felt the stain of poverty and shame. The taint of tattered, borrowed clothes that hung big on his too-small frame. The scent of grease and garbage as they scrounged for food after his father had drunk away all the money for groceries. The creak of the dirty mattress he shared with his brother on sleepless nights where he waited to see if his father would bust through the door and use his fists to take away his demons.

He'd done his best to protect Derek. For Kane, the answer was money. Money was his savior. If he made enough, he’d be safe. Power and money were the thing that kept the monsters away. Monsters like poverty and sickness. Humiliation and helplessness. Hunger and fear.

But maybe that wasn’t what his brother ever needed. He had his own path to figure out. Derek had a chance to find the peace that eluded him.

Maybe it was time Kane found the same.

Sierra seemed to be the key. His new job may provide a new opportunity without the stink of his past.

He’d dig in and fight like he was taught.

And maybe this time, he’d win.