Page 23 of Second Shot

Before he can make some judgmental comment, I snap, “Whatever you’re thinking, don’t say it. There’s nothing wrong with the place. It’s clean and safe. Just because itisn’t-”

“I’m not here to judge you.” His gaze hardens on me. “There’s been enough ofthat.”

I open my mouth to answer him with a harsh retort, but clamp it shut when he takes a step towards me, with an expression so feral I swallow back the whimper that forms in mythroat.

“For one goddamn second, can you let go of whatever vile, made-up image you’ve created of me in yourhead?”

I wish I could conjure that image right now, because as he hovers above me, all six-foot-two of bulging muscles, the only thing I can think about is running my fingers across that broad chest, down his defined abs and narrowhips.

He leans closer, so close I can see the faint scar above his top lip. A scar he got a few years back from a stick to theface.

There’d been so much blood. I shouldn’t have cared the way I did. But even from my living room, miles away from him, I’d felt the shot like I’d takenit.

I’d called him that night, admitting that I watched the game. The truth is that I never missedone.

“Careful, Baby Jacobs,” he’d slurred, already halfway to intoxicated when he’d answered my call. “You sound like you actuallycare.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Madden.” I’d hung up when I’d heard a shrill feminine laugh in thebackground.

That was the last time I’d ever allowed myself tocare.

He’s watching me now, the blue of his eyes barely visible past the black of hispupils.

I take a step backwards, and cross my arms over my chestprotectively.

“Why are you here, Kane? What do you want? I gave you an out. You can walkaway.”

He snorts and says sarcastically, “A way out? You really don’t know me, doyou?”

“Trust me, Kane. I know you better than youthink.”

“You hate me,” he sneers. “And I’ve letyou.”

“Letme?”

He gives a harsh shake of his head. “But nomore.”

“You think you can just snap your fingers and make everything you’ve donedisappear?”

The look he gives me makes me wonder if he thinks hecan.

“You’re going to have to forgive me for whatever you think I’vedone.”

“Why?”

“Because we have a kid together, Brynne. And I’mnotwalking away from him.” He points his finger at me. “I’ll fight you every damn step of the way if you try and keep him from me. This isn’t just about you and me, this isabout-”

“Okay.”

“-him. He deserves afather-”

“Iagree.”

Kane straightens, looking at me like I’m trying to trick him somehow. “Youdo?”

I nod. “But thereare-”

Noah lets out a quivering cry from hiscrib.

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