Page 77 of All's Fair in Love and Blood - A Romantic Comedy Novel

“We need to leave at noon,” he called through the closed door.

“Okay.”

“By the way, what’s wrong with your dad? He’s icing his knee in the kitchen.”

I bit my lip. “Uh, we had a little accident playing golf this afternoon.” As in, I took after my mother and had whacked my father in the knee with a club. It was good of Auggie not to broadcast that. I still felt terrible about it. He’d assured me he would be fine, but he was limping, and his knee had a huge bruise on it. He’d offered to hire a golf pro for me. I didn’t think he trusted me not to injure him again. That was a good call on his part.

“All right. See you tomorrow.”

Tomorrow? It seemed too close and yet so far away.

~*~

I stared out the window of Kane’s Porsche, which still had that new-car smell, questioning my sanity while trying to stay as far away from him as I possibly could. Which made zero sense given we were in a tiny sports car. It made about as much sense as me agreeing to drive downtown with him. Sure, it might seem weird to show up separately, but at least that way I wouldn’t have had to be consumed by his intoxicating scent or the Christopher Cross he was playing on his amazing sound system. In the last eight years, I hadn’t been able to bear listening to any of his songs. I wasn’t bearing it well now. Honestly, if I could have plugged my ears, I would have.

Lyrics talking about someone turning your heart around were making me squirm. That’s exactly how it felt. My heart was all turned around. Worse, Christopher Cross was crooning about how the best thing you could do was fall in love. False. My hands balled into fists while I leaned my forehead against the cool glass, trying to focus on the stream of cars Kane was blazing past instead of on sweet memories of dancing with Kane on his balcony, promising him I would follow my dreams.

“You look great,” Kane said out of the blue.

I inadvertently adjusted my red spaghetti strap sundress so I wasn’t showing quite as much leg. I didn’t want to feel even more exposed to Kane. It was bad enough knowing he could read every emotion running through me. No one knew me like he did. Not even Ethan. It was probably why I’d been able to so easily let Ethan go. “Thanks,” I spoke softly into the glass.

“Scarlett,” he spoke my name so tenderly. “You know, that used to be your cue to tell me how beautiful I am,” he teased.

A smile broke out on my face before I could stop it, though I quickly recovered. “Could you please stop being charming for five minutes?” I begged.

“I’m not sure that’s possible.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

I was afraid of that. However, I would resist him.

He lightly ran a finger down my bare arm, leaving a trail of goose bumps behind. “I promised no strings attached today. I meant that. So, could you at least look at me?”

It’s not that I didn’t want to; it was just better for my mental health if I didn’t. Not only was he breathtakingly beautiful, but I would get a look into his eyes and see so many possibilities that were no longer feasible. We were at war. More like I was at war with myself. I knew if I let him, he would want to be my ally. And my greatest champion. Why couldn’t he have believed in me enough eight years ago?

“Maybe I shouldn’t have come,” I eeked out, unable to face him. What was wrong with me? I’d survived med school and a grueling residency. I should be able to handle an afternoon with the man I loved.

Kane eased off the gas. The car decelerated quickly despite our still being on the highway. “I know there’s nothing I can say or do to make up for what I did, but do we have to be enemies?”

I braved a glance at him.

His eyes were darting between me and the road, begging me to forgive him.

“I will be firing you soon,” I said lightheartedly, though there was a hint of truth in my words. How could we ever work together? I mean, I would give him the ultimate severance package and even allow him to say he resigned. I wasn’t a monster.

Kane laughed. “Darlin’, the board would never approve that. They love me.”

Ugh. Of course, they did. He had the advantage in every way. “Right,” I sighed.

“Why didn’t you ever tell your father the truth?”

I shrugged. “What are dreams anyway? Actually, I’m surprised you haven’t. You could use it to your advantage.”

He swerved a bit when he whipped his head my way for a brief second. “Advantage? You think I would do something so low? I promised you I would keep your secrets and I have.”

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