“Did you happen to notice she appears to be married?” I spat the question out angrily.
His brow furrowed, and he looked down at the ground between us. “I’m well aware she’s married,” he said, but he refused to look at me. I couldn’t tell if it was anger or shame. I wasn’t sure it should matter.
“So you’re adding home wrecker to your limited list of skills. That it? Along with cradle robber of course. At least this one’s closer to your own fucking age.”
His eyes suddenly flashed up to mine, and he looked furious. He closed the space between us in two strides, and when he pushed me back against the wall, I gasped. “Don’t forget I like to do the occasional cougar,” he retorted as he placed his hands on either side of my face, glaring at me. “I enjoy a good threesome too. And don’t get me started on how much fun it is to stick my cock up a woman’s ass. Can I add that to the list?” He glared at me. “What about virginity taker? Do I get to claim that one too?”
“Get away from me,” I snapped as I planted my hands on his chest and pushed. But he was strong, and he held his place, keeping me within the frame of his arms.
“Pretty much any woman who’s not too frigid,” he said cruelly. “Guess that means you’re safe now.” He focused on my face as he said it, his expression as cruel as his words.
“What did you say?” My lips trembled as I studied him, trying to figure out if it was an intentional jab or completely unintentional.
When he smirked, I knew. It was very much intentional.
“Saw the email from Brian,” he said. “Looks like someone has intimacy issues.”
He finally leaned away from me, dropping his hands as he stepped back. The look on his face was smug and mean, and before I knew what I was doing, I reached out and smacked him hard across the face as a whimper of pain erupted from my throat.
“At least I’m not a whore,” I spat out, and then I shoved past him toward the door.
As I was reaching for the handle, the door was pushed open, and married girlfriend was suddenly standing awkwardly in front of me.
“Your husband must be so proud,” I muttered as I skirted past her.
Kane followed me, calling my name as I hurried down the hallway that would take me back to the restaurant. “Hell, wait.” He called, but there was nothing, nothing at all, that would stop my brisk march straight the fuck out of there.
Eyes followed me through the restaurant, and I knew it was because I looked like a crazed maniac. I’d never felt so murderously angry in my life. He didn’t have the right to hurt me. I was giving him rights to my emotions he didn’t deserve to have, and my fury was as much for myself as anything.
Hilde glanced up at me casually as she stood from the table, but then her eyes bulged as she took in the sight of me. When a hand clamped down on the back of my arm, I froze.
“I need to talk to you,” Kane said quietly with his lips near my ear, but however quiet it was, I could tell he was speaking through gritted teeth even without looking at him.
I turned to him. “Stay away from me,” I hissed, trying to veil our interaction from everyone around us.
“Come on kids,” Mark said easily as he eyed us. “Let’s pull the car around. We’ll let Auntie Helene finish talking to her … friend.”
I looked at the children, and I forced myself to smile at them. Hilde glared at Kane over my shoulder, but she followed Mark and the kids from the table. When they were safely out of earshot, I turned back to Kane once more. “I’m done giving you even an ounce of my time. You are nothing more than a ghost of the boy I once knew. You are venomous. You are cruel. You are pathetic. And my sister was right. You are not … worth … my … time.” My vision was skewed from the tears that were ready to fall. I could seem to do nothing in front of this man that didn’t involve tears. There was just too much emotion buried in the chasm of ground between us.
He watched me for a moment, but then his eyes bounced around the room, and his lips trembled. “Yeah,” he finally said quietly as his focus shifted to the floor between us. He stepped back as he glanced at me, but then his eyes glossed over too, and he shook his head. He turned and walked away toward the back of the restaurant where he’d presumably left his married girlfriend somewhere along the way.
Chapter Fifteen
Kane
Eleven Years Ago
Helene crawled up behind me and curled her body around mine. Her skin felt warm, and her lips trembled against the back of my neck. She draped her arm over my body, clutching my hand tightly in hers.