Page 4 of Reckless Curves
“Kendra, babe, there is no you and me,” he said looking around wishing she’d keep her voice down. Catherine was watching with interest. “Aside from friends I mean, or is that what you mean?”
“Friends, really? Okay, the past you and me then. Or have you forgotten our one night together, perhaps you have, as it has been awhile… almost four years ago.”
Forget? That night burned in his memory.
When he said nothing, her eyes narrowed. “I suppose it’s hard to keep track with all the women who throw themselves at you. Let me refresh your memory. You screwed me once and then tore out of there afterwards like your ass was on fire!”
Tom remembered everything. He especially remembered back further, eight years ago, to the day when he’d first met Marcus and laid eyes on his little sister, Kendra.
Marcus had caught him eyeing Kendra up — his recently recovered little sister who’d been sick with leukemia, though you’d never know it by looking at her now. Marcus had made it crystal clear back then that his sister was off limits, especially as they both had man-whore reputations. He’d vowed to his best friend he’d keep his zipper up around her. That vow had ripped to shreds when four years ago he’d been weak, and he’d given into temptation, betraying Marcus and totally screwing up with Kendra.
Tom forced his attention back to the present and shook his head. “That night was a mistake. I think we both agree about that. Why bring it up now?”
He was further startled when her jaw clenched and she banged a pretty fist down on the counter.
“A mistake? Well, some mistakes have consequences and it’s about time you faced up to yours whether you like it or not.”
Her breasts rose and fell under her black tank top, making it hard for Tom to think with his brain instead of where his blood had flowed. Shit. Only two minutes in her presence and he was ready to back her up against the wall and…
“I don’t know what you mean,” Tom said. “I only left that night because I had an early flight out. I had to get back to Prague and the racing circuit—” Tom stopped short of saying anymore because of what came to mind. He vividly remembered the condom incident too, something that may have propelled him out the door. They’d talked about it, but she assured him she couldn’t get pregnant.
“That’s it? Surely you remember our conversation about the condom breaking?” Kendra hurled at him. “Maybe that’s why you left that night, but what about after? You never answered my calls, emails, nothing! You never even tried to contact me.”
Tom hid his guilt behind a stony expression. He felt bad about not staying in touch, but he always figured she’d let him know through Marcus if there was a problem. Besides, Marcus would never approve of him hooking up with his sister, so staying in contact was a bad idea all the way around. “Look, it was just one night, all turned out good, right? And I warned you I wasn’t into relationships.” He shrugged, feeling like the gum on the bottom of his shoe. “I wasn’t trying to hurt your feelings, but I figured that a clean break was best so I ignored your messages and emails. Maybe that wasn’t the right thing to do, but I’ve been back in America for almost a year. How was I to know that you’re still pissed about it?”
She came closer, and the enticing scent she wore hit him like a ton of bricks. Heat roared through his body and he cursed the fact she still affected him so strongly. The instant arousal took Tom completely off-guard, and he staggered back a step.
“You think I’m still pissed about you not wanting more, more between us? You’re even more conceited than I thought. Think for a moment. Why might I have been chasing after you so hard?”
Tom’s second sense rose to the surface like it had back in the day whenever his drunken father was around. His insides clenched, fearing the worse. “What are you implying?”
Her eyes never left his. “What kind of man ignores a woman’s pleas?”
“Pleas?” But spots danced behind his eyes. It was as if his body knew what she was about to say, but his mind could not grasp the implication.
“What kind of man knocks up his best friend’s sister and doesn’t even want to acknowledge his son’s existence but is happy to go into business with her brother?”
Her hissed statement was like a sucker punch to the groin, and Tom couldn’t move. “What?” he asked softly.
“You got me pregnant and left me to face it all alone,” Kendra said, tears shimmering in her eyes. “I begged and begged you to come be with me, to help me, but you wouldn’t. Obviously, you wanted nothing to do with me or Connor.”
A buzzing started in Tom’s brain, and he shook his head to clear it. “Connor? What the hell are you saying, Kendra?”
“Like you don’t know! It was in the emails I sent you!”
“No! Idon’tknow!” Tom shot back. Shit, he’d received her calls and emails but neverlistened or readthem… he couldn’t, he missed her too much and he didn’t want to fuck up both their lives. He was just beginning to taste success and Marcus would’ve killed him for sleeping with his little sister, destroying both their chances to make it big. Why bother to cause that pain for something that would never last. Once Kendra got to know the real him, she’d leave anyway. Princesses always got their prince, not the frog.
Kendra said, “You’re Connor’s father! I told you in all those emails I sent!”
Tom could barely get his words out. “What? No, I’m not. Emails?”
She searched Tom’s face as if looking for any sign of deception. “Did you get my emails?”
Tom nodded, I guess now was as good as time as any to confess. “I got them, but I never opened them. I deleted your voicemails before I listened to them.” He knew if he’d opened even one, he’d be tempted to contact her and that wasn’t an option with the racing team on the cusp of victory. He couldn’t let anything destroy Marcus’s chance. He’d also promised Marcus he’d stay away from Kendra—but if he’d known... He looked at the hurt on her face and knew she spoke the truth. Finally, he understood why Kendra had refused to reveal the baby’s father to her brother.
Fuck. It was to protect him.
Guilt hit hard and fast. “You should’ve come and told me in person as soon as I moved back to LA.”
