Page 35 of Return By Fire

She hesitates for just a moment. “I know you, Jed. You won’t hurt my son. Once you meet him, you’ll know what’s right for Kevin.”

“Do you plan on letting me meet him?” I challenge.

She doesn’t answer. She’s gone as silently as she arrived.

Draining the rest of my beer, I toss the bottle before grabbing the file and heading below deck. Punching the coffee maker on, I know I’m in for a long night as I examine every piece of evidence to determine the validity of Kara Malone’s ascertains.

I undo the metal clasp and start reading letters timestamped well over twelve and a half years ago—to Jennings old email.

But what sends nausea coursing through my body are the trace routes Kara’s had performed. “Covering all your bases, Kara,” I murmur. Unfortunately, it paints Jennings in the worst light as it demonstrates he’s accessed the email from varying locations around the United States.

No wonder she believes Jennings wouldn’t care about his child. I scrub my hands through my hair wearily. Between my conversation with Dean and these, it’s evident Kara believes Jennings didn’t share much more than his dick with her. I know that to be completely untrue and want to fly to his office in Seattle and wrap my hands around his neck.

But I can’t.

My murderous dreams are interrupted by heavy footsteps overhead announcing Dean’s arrival. His feet clamor down the few steps, and for the second time that night, I’m staring into the face of a Malone sibling who has woven some kind of spell around my head and heart.

If the two of them have the power to do this, what on earth will a child of Kara and Jennings be capable of doing? I wonder. Even as I think it, I hurl the papers furiously.

Dean watches the papers float to the ground. “Kara was here.” It’s not a question.

I stand and move around the desk. “I don’t want to talk about Kara, not right now.”

When I’m within arm’s reach, he fists my shirt and drags me closer. “What happened?”

Maybe there’s something in the way the sun sets over his shoulder. Perhaps it’s the way his eyes devour mine. Or something as simple as Dean making me feel like I’m the only man in the world but my voice trembles. “You don’t want to know.”

“Yes, I do.” He wraps an arm around me and rests his chin against my head. Immediately, the ache in my heart begins to ease, the burden lessens. I stiffen in his embrace when I realize I’m cloaking myself in a lie of tranquility, whereas just a few moments before, I was living in the truth of anguish.

“You already do,” I accuse, ripping away from the safe haven of his embrace.

Regret—or is it guilt?— flashes across his handsome features. His lips expel a sigh. “Jed, I’d be foolish to pretend to be ignorant as to what you and Kara were discussing. But I’ve heard my sister’s side for years.” He steps closer and picks up my hand. Lifting my fingers until they lay alongside his crisp beard, tears prick my eyes when he turns his head and kisses the palm. “Talking about things isn’t going to make them go away, but it might help you. You’re alone, and knowing that hurts.”

I tug his head forward and breathe Dean in before letting him in on some of my thoughts, “Fate is one perma-menstrual bitch.”

He blinks before a roaring laugh escapes. “Not that I disagree, but care to elaborate?”

“Because why would she want me to choose between my friends and...”

“Kevin,” Dean concludes grimly.

I shake my head.

“No?” I hate the hope in his voice because when I pull back, it causes agony to split my heart in two.

“Kevin isn’t the only Malone making me rethink friendships I’ve had for longer than he’s been alive.” I meet Dean’s eyes evenly before I push the next words out. “Now, you need to leave.”

To my surprise, he doesn’t try to convince me to stay. Instead, his mouth crashes down on mine. As I fall headlong into his kiss, I wonder what I’m going to have to give up if I choose to keep being singed by the flames Dean Malone causes in me with a simple kiss.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

I don’t sleep. My words to Jed run through my head over and over as my legs churn with every step. He asked for time, and I gave it to him.

Now, the question is, am I running toward my future, or what could have been? A flock of sea birds squawk as I run too close, reminding me of the way Kara and Maris natter on for hours. What would we be risking for him to let me in?

As dawn finishes edging out the night sky, I head back toward the marina. Night’s over. It’s time for Jed and me to hammer things out.

Together.

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