Page 56 of When You Are Mine

“Don’t waste your time worrying about me.”

“But it’s out of your system?”

“I don’t think…it…will ever be out of my system, but I’m better.” He captured the braid hanging between her shoulder blades, studying the dark, fire-studded length of it skimming down to her waist, the ends brushing against the leather of her belt. “Your hair’s grown. I like it.”

She closed her eyes and pushed back against his fist shackling her braid. He could feel the heat of her flesh hidden beneath the clothes. His hand splayed against her back, trapping the braid for a second before grasping it again, wishing he never had to let go.

“What are you two up to?”

Kerris’s eyes jerked open, and Walsh set her hair free. She stepped away from the sink, crossing over to Cam in the kitchen doorway to link her hand with one of his. In the other he palmed two small tomatoes.

“Oh, the tomatoes.” She took them both, her smile forced. She tipped up to press a kiss to Cam’s cheek. “Thank you.”

“I see Walsh got here first.” Cam’s jaw relaxed under her lips.

Walsh stopped himself from flinching at Kerris’s deliberate affection, the necessary cruelty of her kiss. He got the message. He knew she’d never do anything to hurt Cam. Never cheat on him. Neither would he, but he looked at her trying not to glance in his direction. He knew it wasn’t as easy as she made it seem. He wanted it to be easy—for her and for Cam, which was why he would cut his trip short.

“’Fraid I gotta head back to New York in the morning.” Walsh dried his still-damp hands on a nearby dishtowel. “I thought I’d be able to stay until Tuesday, but I’m leaving right after tomorrow’s board meeting. A project I’ve been working on.”

“Damn, Walsh.” Disappointment clearly marked Cam’s even features. “I was hoping we could hang out a little. We haven’t since Kenya.”

He meant it. Walsh could see that Cam really meant it. He was genuinely sorry they wouldn’t get to spend more time together. Cam was fighting for their friendship and fighting for his marriage, both equally important. Their eyes locked across the room, and Walsh hated the open secret that lay between them. He needed Cam in his life as the brother he’d never had. And never seeing Kerris again, even in innocent snatches, would be a lifelong suffocation. He would fight, too, as best he could.

“I know.” Walsh focused all his attention on Cam. “I promise we’ll catch up when things slow down.”

“You’ve been busy with your supermodel girlfriend.” Cam’s good-natured taunting hit a sore spot, but Walsh locked his smile in place. “When are you gonna make an honest woman out of Sofie, by the way?”

“Honest woman?” Cam knew him better than anyone. Surely he was joking. “What do you mean?”

“You know. An honest woman. Here comes the bride, all dressed in white. It’ll be the wedding of the year.”

“What the hell.” Walsh let out a short bark of laughter. “Cam, you know I’d never marry Sofie. I know everyone else is deluded, but you know me better than that.”

“I tried to tell ’em.” Cam aimed his legendary smirk at Kerris. “I told Kerris last summer you’d never marry Sofie, but she, Jo, and everyone else thought you would.”

“That’s ridiculous.” Walsh caught a glimpse of Kerris’s stricken face before she turned away and started wiping out the sink, her movements quick and jerky.

Had she thought…?

“Hey, Cam!” Jo yelled from the next room. “We’re up. You playing poker, or what?”

“Gotta go whup some ass.” Cam rubbed his hands together. “Don’t leave without saying good-bye, Walsh. I know what an antisocial bastard you’ve been lately, so I wouldn’t put it past you.”

The quiet in the kitchen was broken only by the clanging of dishes as Kerris loaded the dishwasher with less than her typical grace.

“Did you think I was going to marry Sofie?” Walsh tried to keep his tone calm, despite the horrific suspicion blossoming in his mind.

“What? I’m sorry, what’d you say?”

He walked up behind her to cover her hands, halting the methodical loading.

“I asked if you thought I was going to marry Sofie.”

“Yeah, everyone did.” She looked down at his large hand eclipsing hers. “Does.”

“Did you think I was going to marry Sofie the night you got engaged?” His voice roughened like a Brillo pad. “Did you, Kerris?”

Her lips slammed shut, a flimsy gate guarding her emotions. She finally looked up at him.

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