Page 103 of Kaine

Chapter Thirty-Eight

HER

I ask him again. “Whenand how did you know it was my birthday, Kaine?”

He doesn’t say anything. I see his eyes narrow just a tiny bit, as if trying to process the thoughts running through his brain. I don’t know if it’s to try to understand my question, or to try to come up with an answer.

“Oh, are you sure? You must’ve brought it up in passing over the last few weeks,” he says.

But I know I haven’t. I never bring it up. And I make sure he knows that.

“I’m 100% positive that I did not tell you until the night before my birthday. I don’t ever tell anyone. The only people other than family who know are Harriet and anyone who has my personal records.”

He clears his throat, posturing a little, glancing over at Jemima, who looks down at some papers on her desk.

I ignore it all, staring at him. How did he find out about it?

“Kaine?”

He reaches around and scratches the back of his neck. I’ve never seen him like this, nervous, like he’s hiding something.

“Kaine? How did you know it was my birthday?”

“Jade. It’s not a big deal. I just knew, and I wanted to do something special for you.”

“That’s not an answer. And I’m not going to stop asking until I get one.”

“Jade.”

“Kaine? I’m serious. Tell me how you knew.”

It’s a standoff. He shoves his hands into his pockets and puffs out his chest, drawing himself up, making himself bigger.

But he forgets, I know just how tender he can be. And he’s forgotten how stubborn I can be. And I can stare him down until I get what I want.

“Xavier told me.”

“And how would Xavier know?”

“Jade, just let it go!” he pleads.

“What chance do you really think you have of that happening?”

“God! It was in the report we got about you, okay?”

“What report?”

“The report we got from... Dylan.”

“Your PI?”

“Yes.”

“Your fucking private investigator?”

He doesn’t answer, just cringes and tries to reach for me.

I step back and yank my hand away, my head shaking, trying to comprehend that the man I’ve been practically living with, sleeping with, sharing everything with, had me investigated. And then the betrayal cuts even deeper.