Page 50 of Playing with Temptation

Nate escorted Kai to where Maya sat, looking worried. She’d obviously witnessed the exchange between them and Stephanie Weiss.

He quickly returned to her side. “Babe, I’m sorry about that. You shouldn’t have to deal with her.”

“Don’t call me babe.” Kendra’s hands shook and her pulse raced.

Nate frowned. “You don’t actually believe that bull, do you?”

Kendra met his gaze, but didn’t respond.

“She’s a notorious liar. You said so yourself.”

“I never said she was a liar.” Kendra spoke slowly, her voice soft. “I said she was untrustworthy. She’ll use any means necessary to find out the darkest, ugliest truths about people. Anything that will advance her career, no matter how devastating it is to the person. Like what she reported about your friend. It wasn’t untrue, it was just something private that he preferred the rest of the world not know.”

“It’s more than that. If a story isn’t salacious enough, she’ll put a spin on it, like she’s doing right now.”

“So there is some truth to what she’s saying about you and her during your rookie year.”

She shouldn’t care. They weren’t together anymore. So why did it feel like her heart was about to explode?

“Why don’t you just go ahead and ask me what you really want to know?” Nate narrowed his gaze, his voice tight.

“Because I might not like the answer, that’s why.” Kendra’s voice faltered. She exhaled. “Besides, I can’t afford the distraction from the question I need to have answered.”

“Which is?” Nate’s incredulous expression indicated that he couldn’t believe there was anything more pressing than the issue at hand.

“What the hell is she doing here?”

Nate sighed, realization in his eyes. He knew enough of Stephanie Weiss to recognize that she hadn’t come all this way without something sinister in mind.

“What do you think she’s planning?”

“I don’t know.” Kendra shrugged. “But that’s where our focus must lie. Not on what happened between you two eight years ago.”

“I thought you said you needed to know everything, so we don’t get blindsided?” He shoved his hands in his pockets.

“So you didn’t tell me the whole truth about you two?” Her mouth felt dry and tears pricked her eyes.

Nate exhaled and sat on a bench, pulling her down beside him. He turned his body to face her, his eyes barely meeting hers.

“Midway through that first season, I’d become this breakout star. Stephanie interviewed me for her sports magazine over dinner. We had a few drinks. I walked her back to her hotel and…she kissed me.”

Kendra screwed her eyes shut against the pain in her chest. She blinked back tears. “So did you—”

“Nothing happened, I swear.” He held his hands up, his palms facing her. “I told her I don’t get down like that. That I was with someone I loved and was going to marry.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was ashamed of myself for letting it happen.”

“You know about my dad, about what he did to our family.” She pointed a finger at him.

“That’s why I was so afraid to tell you the truth.” A vein was visible in his temple as he lowered his gaze. “With your history with your father, I was afraid you’d never trust me again. I wasn’t willing to take that chance.”

“Guess my concerns about what happens out there on the road aren’t so unfounded after all.” Kendra stood, angrily wiping away the wetness at the corners of her eyes. “Don’t worry, this won’t change anything between us. I’m still your media consultant, and I will honor my promise to let you spend more time with Kai, because it’s the right thing to do. But I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to come over after all.”

“Kendra, please.” He grabbed her hand, but she snatched it from his grip. “It was a mistake, and I know I should’ve told you, but nothing happened. I swear to you. You have to believe me.”

“No, I don’t. My job is to make everyone else believe you.” She bit her lower lip and willed her limbs to stop trembling. “Excuse me, but suddenly, I’m not feeling very well.” Kendra grabbed her things and made her way to her car.

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