Page 6

Present Day

She’d run from him.

Just like she had that morning.

Kane sat on the edge of his bed in the guest room with Dug. The small, very ugly dog had wormed his way into his heart, even though he tried not to show it. Brick had inherited the canine, who looked like a rat monster with a long snout, overbite, and stuck-out tongue. He shuffled when he walked, drooled, and had no idea what a command meant.

Yet, right now, as if sensing his distress, Dug plopped his butt on Kane’s bare feet and stood guard. The company helped ease some of the ache in his chest.

Her name was Sierra.

It sang in his mind like an aria—haunting and lyrical. He’d never forgotten that night. He’d never forgotten her. For weeks afterward, Kane searched for her face on crowded streets, swearing he caught her scent and blindly following it to dead ends. He dreamed of those long legs wrapped tight around his hips while he buried himself deep inside. He woke up hard and aching, remembering how her lips opened under his like a bloom flowering in the sun.

Everything had changed that night for him. Their lovemaking transcended names. Sharing their deepest thoughts in the shadows bonded them.

He’d been so wrong.

She’d run and made him feel like a fool.

Kane’s mind flashed briefly to that morning after.

When he decided to step in and save her from joke guy, he knew she was attractive.

Caramel colored hair hit her shoulders in straight shiny strands.

Her face was a beautiful symmetry of features that made him want to linger; heart shaped face, plump, bow-shaped lips; arched brows; thick lashes.

Her body was banging—all luscious curves that would make a man pant.

But it was his reaction that stunned him when he looked into those hazel eyes.

Recognition.

Like an electrical current, his body almost jerked, sensing a familiar connection he’d never experienced before.

He wanted to stay and look deeper.

Soak up the feminine energy curling and wrapping around him like a whisper of smoke.

Sure, he’d had some one-night stands, but this was different.

It was as if this woman knew his very soul; was able to stare into his eyes and not only accept the demons but understand him.

Too many saw what he presented to the world: a rich, powerful businessman who intended to rule Manhattan.

A smooth, charming man who knew how to close a deal and get anyone to give him what he wanted.

He rarely allowed anyone into his inner circle.

But with her, all of his defenses crumbled the moment she touched him.

She’d changed him. He craved her on a basic level he’d never experienced. Kane felt alive for the first time in too long.

He rang for coffee. Searched his room. And found she’d fled.

There was no trace she’d even spent the night other than the scent of her on his skin and the indentation on the pillow.

The despair ripping through him made no sense. His head whirled while he tried to figure out what had just happened.

She’d left without a word. Left him while he slept and dreamed of a future with a woman he’d just met. But she’d never intended for them to be anything but one night of sex.

How had he been so far off? How could he have believed what they had in those precious hours was all real?

A cocktail of shame, anger, and pain surged through him.

He tried to convince himself she was a ghost.

A dream.

A fantasy conjured from what he’d always imagined would be his soul-mate. No one could be that perfect. He’d shared his truth and believed she’d done the same. But it all must’ve been a lie.

Dug whined, jolting him out of the reverie. He leaned down to pat his bony body, and his stubby tail wiggled.

Now, she was back. The sister of the woman Brick was in love with. A resident in the town Kane was thinking of settling in.

Sierra.

She hadn’t faked her obvious shock when they met.

There had been no games there, so at least, it wasn’t like she knew who he was and had ignored him.

But once he’d said her name, Kane hoped for an honest encounter.

Stepping away from the group to talk. Some type of acknowledgement they shared a past intimacy. Anything that made that night real again.

But she’d denied him.

Pretended not to know him. Put on that damn fake smile and made an excuse to flee.

Again.

Kane stared at Dug and tried to make sense of the whole thing.

Why was she so afraid to admit they knew each other? It wasn’t as if he was about to spill their secret, but he figured they could have pretended to meet in New York and left their story open.

Instead, she’d shut the door hard a second time and left without another word.

Like he was nothing.

The pain was surprising. Even after all this time, Kane had never stopped thinking about her, and what he’d do if she came back into his life. He just hadn’t anticipated this ending.

He sat with the uncomfortable feelings in silent misery. Dug kept a faithful watch. Slowly, he came to one final conclusion.

He’d been an idiot, but it didn’t give her the right to treat him like nothing.

Damned if he’d allow her to dismiss him and their encounter when he hoped to make a place for himself here.

She owed him a conversation.

There was no way the woman he’d fucked for hours, who’d cried and begged for an orgasm, who laughed and shared and listened could be this cruel.

Sierra may have run four years ago, but now there was nowhere left to hide.

And he was coming for her.

For the past forty-eight hours, Sierra had been a nervous wreck.

Barely able to keep up a fa?ade at work, she spent the torturous hours prepped for a confrontation.

Each time she got into her car, she expected to see him.

She kept picking up her phone to check her notifications, positive he’d text or call.

She walked by the window of Flirt a hundred times, peeking at the busy streets for a flash of his russet hair and broad shoulders.

But there was nothing.

Aspen asked a few times about her impression of Kane, but Sierra quickly shut her down.

She agreed he was hot, but simply not her type.

Aspen seemed to accept the answer with a bit of disappointment.

Lying to her sister hurt.

Sierra thought about confessing the truth, but after her performance and further thought, it was best to keep up the ruse.

Maybe she was overreacting.

After all, it had been four years since their night together.

Maybe he didn’t care that she disappeared the next morning.

Maybe he’d been relieved, and Sierra was making this a huge deal in her head. Maybe Kane had laughed and shrugged the whole episode off.

Maybe he wouldn’t even pursue a further conversation.

Her imagination was overtaking her.

She’d been hanging around a writer too long.

Sierra closed up Flirt and drove home.

Her nerves slowly settled.

There’d be no need for him to privately seek her out.

Maybe next time Kane and her ran into each other, they’d have a moment to quietly acknowledge their past.

He’d be going back to New York soon.

Sierra dove headfirst into a Google search, greedy for information, and confirmed Kane had made all his dreams come true.

Unfortunately, ambition came at a price.

Sure, he made his millions and carved out a reputation, but her focus had lasered in on the small article pretty much buried on the Internet unless someone was really looking.

He'd been in jail.

The fact both shocked and concerned her.

The man she remembered hadn’t struck her as a criminal, but with money and greed, anything was possible.

There wasn’t much detail—just the facts the charges had eventually been dropped, and he’d quietly left Global Property Inc.

The dates coincided with his appearance in OBX so Sierra figured he’d come to visit Brick and let the heat die down.

Since Ziggy Tours had been struggling, he must’ve decided to stay and help his friend out before heading back.

No way would he be happy in a small beach town.

Kane Masterson craved the fast-paced life.

He was probably setting up his next moves to rebuild his career.

He’d never be interested in picking up with her after all these years.

Finally calm, she pulled down her block and into her driveway.

Where he was waiting.

The breath exploded from her lungs in a rush. Sierra fought the impulse to close her eyes and stay safe in the locked car. Instead, she sensed going on offense was best. Cowering or hiding from this confrontation would prove she had feelings that went way beyond one night of sex.

Stiffening her spine, Sierra got out of the car and slowly walked to her front porch.

He lounged on her white rocker, one ankle crossed over his knee. Linen pants, a pink shirt, and Armani loafers screamed billionaire playboy vibes. Thick auburn strands blew in the wind, giving his hair that freshly out of bed look. The perfect amount of scruff hugged his jaw and mouth to keep him from looking too pretty. Her gaze went immediately to the small scar on his lip her fingers had once glossed over and traced. When she’d asked, he told her it was the result from a scuffle with his father. There were no words to offer, so she’d pressed her lips to the mark and then he’d tumbled her back to the mattress, spread her legs, and—

“Nice place you got here.”

The familiar, gravelly voice hit her body with an explosion of heat. She’d forgotten his ability to overwhelm anyone within a close distance. His aura practically crackled with sensuality, from those lazy green eyes, muscled body, and intense scrutiny. The spicy scent of him drifted to her nostrils in the summer breeze. Even though they were outside in daylight, she felt squeezed in; attuned to every slight movement or glance; her body already softening in welcome, remembering.

“Thanks. Nice of you to drop by without an invite.”

That lower lip quirked.

“Figured you wouldn’t want to have this conversation in public, surrounded by friends. But if you’d rather wait, I can leave now.”

She ached to wrap her arms around herself in protection but the gesture screamed defense.

“No, you’re right. Better to get it over with.”

One ginger brow arched.

“You sound like my company is a dentist appointment. I think I prefer when you scream and beg for your orgasm.”

The scene slammed against her vision.

“You taste like a ripe peach,”

he growled against her naked thigh. Green eyes glittered with lust as he stared up her body.

“I can’t get enough.”

Vibrating with need, her voice came out ragged.

“Oh, please.”

“Come against my mouth. Let go, beautiful.”

Heat flushed her face, and other more intimate places. The sharp words rushed out in a tumble.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize one nameless night years ago gave you the right to show up on my porch.”

His eyes flashed with something that looked like pain, but it must’ve been a trick of the sun. His face reflected nothing but cool amusement.

“Guess it doesn’t. But with Aspen and Brick spending all this time together, I figured a chat was needed.”

Sierra tried to hide her wariness. He made a good point. She’d keep things polite.

“You’re right. Sorry, I was taken off guard. What do you want to talk about?”

“You pretended not to know me.”

His casual tone contradicted the hard gaze that pierced and shredded her defenses. She jerked back, then raised her chin.

“I panicked.”

“Understood. But you ran away. Again. Why?”

She practically squirmed with discomfort but tried to answer honestly.

“I thought it was best for both of us to forget. Neither of us believed we’d ever see each other again. I didn’t want any awkwardness, especially since Aspen and Brick are together. I had no idea what your reaction was going to be, so I ran.”

He tilted his head, considering. She tried not to study his beautiful face and remember how many times throughout the night she’d kissed that full mouth, ran her fingers through his hair, caressed his rough cheeks.

“You get points for honesty.”

Temper stirred.

“This isn’t a game, and I’m not being judged by you. You agreed to the rules. No names. Just one night. Don’t try to pretend there was any more than that between us.”

Her words must’ve hit a hot spot. Kane rose from the chair in one graceful movement, and stood inches before her. Face tight, he stared back with challenge.

“Is that what you believe? That our night was just about great sex and no more? Is that why you fled like a bat out of a hell, afraid to face me in the morning?”

In that moment, Sierra realized the shattering truth.

He cared.

The passion weaved within his words proved he hadn’t forgotten her either. Kane was trying to push her to admit the real reason she’d run—because she was scared of what they’d found together.

Off balance, Sierra knew there were two roads to choose.

She could confess the truth, and open herself to a mess of vulnerabilities. If Kane knew how hard she fell that night, he’d want more. More time in his company would encourage her to fall harder, faster, leading to a relationship with the same type of challenges.

He lived and worked in New York. He was dedicated to his career. He was already the local playboy in town, so obviously he enjoyed being with a wide variety of women.

Sierra finally had her life together. She wasn’t about to blow it up and take a chance at a broken heart with a man who was dangerous. She deserved someone safe and true and easy. Someone who didn’t scare the living hell out of her.

Which led to path number two. She could convince Kane right now that night wasn’t important. Just a fun time to blow off steam while she visited her sister in New York. That she hadn’t given him a second thought until he showed up.

It would create the proper distance between them to get her through until he went back home.

Sierra didn’t need long to make her choice, even as an inner voice branded her a coward.

She forced a tinkling laugh and shook her head.

“Don’t take it the wrong way, Kane. The sex was amazing. I got off so many times I should’ve left a thank you note, but I didn’t think it was necessary.”

Sierra met his eyes and used all her willpower to tamp down on any shred of raw emotion threatening to reveal the truth.

“Honestly? Seeing you drop into my real life freaked me out a bit.”

She shrugged.

“No big deal. Kind of glad we’re getting this straightened out now. Sorry I was rude.”

Sierra allowed him to hold her gaze for a long moment, probing, assessing. Sweat broke out on her brow but she didn’t move, didn’t blink.

He took a step back. “I see.”

Sierra pushed harder for the close.

“You understand, right? I have a reputation in this town, and I don’t want it ruined by gossip. Especially since you’ve stirred up some chatter around here.”

Another forced laugh.

“Every woman I talk to is dying to get in your pants. Much better for me to claim ignorance and not ruin your vacay.”

She hated every ugly word uttered but it worked. Distaste flickered over his features along with a hardening that made her heart ache. He turned with a derisive snort.

“Got it. I won’t say anything. We’ll pretend it never happened.”

Each step as he walked away was like a slap.

“I’m sorry, Kane.”

The words spilled out softly, her own private apology for soiling a memory that had been precious to both of them. She hadn’t expected him to hear but his retort was the final blow.

“I’m not. It’s exactly what I needed to hear. See you around.”

She jumped as the car door slammed.

Then he left.

Sierra let herself inside with shaky hands. Her gut lurched but her brain reminded her it was the right choice. It was much simpler this way.

The familiar silence closed around her. She ignored the emptiness and reveled in the safety.

It was done.