Page 43 of At the Edge of Surrender

Nothing but fresh orange blossoms. A morning glory under the sun.

I reveled in it the whole time I drove us the short distance to Kane’s.

It was scarcely more than a mile, and two minutes later, I slowed and pulled into the lot at my club.

I eased my bike up along the side wall that was reserved for motorcycles. Not that there was anyone else around other than a few employees prepping for tonight.

Kane’s didn’t open until seven, so we’d have plenty of privacy.

I kicked the stand and killed the engine.

Emery kept clinging to me like she’d gotten locked that way. Arms bands that wouldn’t give. Like she didn’t know how to let go.

Or maybe she worried if she did, she’d have to face whatever had brought her to my door.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” I asked.

“Speak for yourself,” she grumbled.

A low chuckle got loose before I swallowed it down and warned, “Be sure to watch the tailpipe when you hop off.”

I took one of her hands to help her, and a heavy breath left her as she disentangled herself from me.

She swung off wide.

So wide that she stumbled backward, nearly falling onto her ass.

Thankfully, I still had hold of one of her hands, and I hauled her upright in the same second that I jumped off. Grabbing onto her elbows to steady her, dragging her too close as I murmured, “Whoa. You okay?”

Tears suddenly blurred those eyes, horror in their depths, and she glumly shook her head. “No. I’m not okay.”

I wanted to demand that she tell me what that meant right there.

Pry her secrets from her so I could hold them.

But I forced some patience when I offered, “Why don’t we go inside so you can tell me what that means?”

She gave a jolting nod, and she turned to head for the front entrance. I was right at her side, settling my palm on the sweet spot at the small of her back.

At the bare contact, a ragged breath left her, and she seemed to shake herself out of whatever had tied her tongue, her voice thready when she asked, “You own this place?”

“Yeah. Kane’s. It’s a nightclub. Super clever name, I know.” I laughed at my own expense.

“Kane.” She whispered it like it was a secret.

“That’s right.”

A current of trepidation vibrated through me as my mind tossed through the memories of last night. Realizing I hadn’t given her my name and she’d still wound up at my door.

I didn’t have time to fully contemplate it before she rushed through a rasp, “Then why were you at that other bar last night?”

Unease rumbled through me as we walked along the exterior wall and around to the steps that led to the ornate double doors. I paused in front of them.

Unsure of what to tell her. Knowing the truth would send her running and knowing I couldn’t give it to her, anyway.

No one could hold that except for my family.

Which was why whatever the hell I thought I was doing right then was so reckless.

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