Page 50 of Dirty Little Secret
Chapter 17
Zandra
Wiping down the bar, I waited for the new bartender, Ashley, to make my drink order. At ten on a Friday night, the club was busy, taking most of my attention. After the way things had been going, I felt very grateful for that.
Four days had passed since my brunch with Kane. Agreeing to take things nice and slow, we’d parted ways without even a kiss goodbye. I supposed both of us knew where that kiss would lead, so we’d avoided it.
I’d already called Fox for our nightly goodnight ritual. He asked me if I thought I could make time for him on Sunday, since he knew I would have the day off. I told him I was free but that it would be up to his father if we could spend time together or not.
I had the distinct impression that Kane wasn’t sure about me at all, other than the fact that he knew he wanted my body. And how could I blame him?
A whole week went by without my finding another job that paid as well as my position at Mynt. On top of that, I hadn’t found the time to see about trading my Mustang for something more suitable for a mother.
I knew Kane wasn’t pleased with the lack of change. And I knew that because he and I talked every day on his lunch break. He would ask me how the job search was going. I would tell him it wasn’t going well. He would ask me if I’d gotten down to any car dealerships to see about trading my car in, and I had to tell him that I hadn’t. He would ask when I thought I might find time to do those things and I would tell him I didn’t know. Then he’d sigh and wish me luck and we’d end the call. The same old conversation each day.
I knew it had only been a week, but that afternoon call was already becoming a thing I didn’t look forward to. Not because I didn’t love to hear his deep, smooth voice that had just the slightest hint of a southern accent, but because I could hear the disappointment in that sexy voice each time he asked a question and I had nothing positive to report.
Hell, I hadn’t even gone shopping to buy myself some appropriate “mom” clothes. I hadn’t done anything, other than sleep, eat, and go to work.
Working nights meant sleeping most of the day away. Generally, I worked until two in the morning. When I got off, I would usually go somewhere to eat with coworkers. That would take an hour or so. I would head home then and would need an hour or so to wind down before I’d finally be able to go to sleep. That meant it was usually around five in the morning when I finally made it to sleep.
My day would start around one in the afternoon, when Kane called me, waking me up. And that was another thing he didn’t seem to understand. Of course I sounded groggy from being woken up. He would ask if I’d been asleep, and I would say yes. Then he would sigh and ask me what time I had gone to bed.
Being a doctor, Kane had to let me know that staying up that late and sleeping all day wasn’t healthy. Fox deserved a mother who tried her best to stay healthy, he’d remind me. And I had to agree with him about that, but I didn’t have much choice in that, with the job I had. Not if I wanted to continue living where I was. The apartment was nice, and it did cost more than most of the apartments around town.
So, I faced the dilemma of whether I would stay where I was—job, apartment, and all—or move into something cheaper and get a job that paid less.
I seriously had no idea how single mothers did it. And I had no idea how I was going to do it, either.
“Handsome stranger at two o’clock, Zee,” Ashley said as her eyes looked over my shoulder.
Turning around, I saw that Kane had come to pay me a surprise visit. I couldn’t say I was exactly thrilled by that. “Hey,” I said as he came up to the bar, taking the tall stool next to me.
“Hey.” He took my hand, pulling me to him and kissing my cheek. “It’s Friday. I don’t have work tomorrow, so I thought I’d come out and spend some time with you.”
Despite my initial lack of enthusiasm about his visit, I couldn’t help how my body reacted to him. Wet heat pooled between my thighs and my head went light. “How sweet of you.” I kissed his cheek but wanted so much more than that. Some motherly instinct crept up inside of me. “And who’s with Fox?”
“Aunt Nancy came over to stay with him while I’m out. He was already asleep when I left.” He smiled at me, making my heart flip. “And I’m happy to hear you ask about him.”
And then I got a little mad about that. “I care about him, Kane.”
“I know.” He let my hand go and looked at Ashley, who seemed to be hanging onto our every word. “Can I have a rum and Coke, please?”
“Sure thing,” she said before her eyes shifted to mine. “Your drink order is ready, Zee.” Putting the tray on the bar, she winked at me. “He’s a cute little secret, isn’t he?”
My cheeks warmed as a blush covered them. “I suppose so.”
A look of disappointment came over his handsome face. “You haven’t told the people you work with about me? About us?”
Shaking my head, I picked up the tray. “No. Only Taylor knows. I’ve got to get these drinks out. Don’t think I’m ignoring you, Kane. It’s just a busy night, and I’ve got to keep working.”
“You go work. Just come back and say hi from time to time.” He smacked my ass as I walked away. “Be good.”
Although I wasn’t in the market for a boyfriend—I never really had been at any point in my life—the fact that Kane sometimes treated me like I belonged to him kind of made me angry. He hadn’t made anything official between us, after all. Yet there he was, watching me, touching me, telling me to be good. I didn’t understand him at all.
“Here’re your drinks, ladies.” I placed the cocktails in front of the women at my table who were out hoping to have a great night.
When I turned to go to my next table, I caught Taylor talking to Kane out of the corner of my eye. Jealousy shot right through me. But I didn’t have time for that, as I had to get the next table’s order.
