“What did you talk about with Kenna?”Focus.That woman didn’t stop by just to chat and gossip.
“Nothing much. Just hellos. She said some nice things about the ring.”
I give her the steady stare I give the opposing counsel who isn’t being entirely honest.
“She, um…” Klein swallows. “She apologized for referring Chad to me.”
“He’s her dentist?” Could be a coincidence, but I lean toward deliberate, especially with anyone connected to a Dunkel.
“Uh-huh. Although she said she’d quit going to him and get a new one.”
Did she now?I scoff inwardly. I take a step toward Klein. She takes an unconscious half a step back, until she’s almost touching the desk. She looks entirely too exposed, her eyes as wide and vulnerable as a doe’s. At any moment, one of the numerous predators in my life could come and tear her apart. The younger Dunkels would do it gladly, if it would somehow help them gain power over each other before Vincent croaks.
I slap my hands on either side of her, like gates coming down to keep the bad guys away from her. Her mouth parts. We’re so close I can feel her breath feathering on my cheek. She smells like the specially formulated soap I ordered from France—a combination of subtle lavender, sandalwood and bergamot.
Mine. And I’d do anything to keep her safe.
“Do you trust me, Klein?” I ask.
She nods.
“How far?”
“Very,” she whispers.
Good.“Stay away from Kenna as much as possible and don’t shareanythingwith her. Nothing outside of what’s strictly necessary for work.” I run the side of my finger down Klein’s soft, warm cheek. “Do this for me, okay? I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ailee
“Breathe. It’s just dinner.”
I nod. It’s easy for Josh to say. It’shisfamily.
I still can’t believe his stepmom wants to meet me. She must’ve seen the embarrassing video, so…
What if she disapproves of me?She might think my judgment is too poor, my hair weird, that I’m not pretty enough for her stepson. I’ve never met her, since she only comes to the firm for occasional lunch dates with her husband, who’s on a different floor. But I’ve heard stories from other people—that she’s from a massively wealthy family in Japan, and quite fond of her husband and stepchildren.
My nerves are totally frayed. I continue to pace, my pumps clacking on the marble in the kitchen.
The dress I picked out swirls around my legs. It’s a pretty pink one I saved for a special occasion. I spent an hour straightening my hair in the morning, with a subpar result.
I glare at my reflection in the stainless-steel fridge door. “Argh, my hair’s already curling.”
Do I have time to wash my hair and re-straighten it?I check the clock. Of course not. Josh only stopped at home to “have a snack,” which was a little strange, because he could’ve just grabbed something light at the office. He didn’t explain why he was planning to pick up beef-and-cheese tacos. At least he skipped the nachos…? There’s no way I could scarf down this“snack”andnachos,andthen go for dinner. Or maybe it’s all for him.
Josh walks up from behind and takes my shoulders in his strong hands. He leans down until his chin rests on the curve of my neck. His delicious body heat surrounds me, and I want to sink into it. I’d love to have an excuse—any excuse—not to go if I could do it without offending his family.
His eyes meet mine in the reflection. “Klein, relax. Your curls are absolutely adorable. You’ll be fine.” His warm breath tickles my ear, sending little shivers along my arms.
“Yeah. I’m sure.” Except I don’t sound convinced, not even to myself.
Josh shakes his head. “Why don’t you just have the tacos I bought for you?”
I tilt my head to face him, then realize we’re too close this way. Our lips are only a couple of inches apart. I swallow, then manage a whisper: “Why? Aren’t we having dinner with your family?” I wince at how eager I sound for it to be a no. But they could’ve canceled at the last minute.
“Yeah, and you’ll be starving afterward.”
