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“Good guess. Benny moved to LA, landed the job at Deuces, and he’s been ‘protecting’ his sister ever since. At least in his mind. When we left the club together the other night, he realized limiting his efforts to the club wouldn’t cut it anymore. He had to be able to watch you 24-7 if he wanted to make sure nothing happened, so he decided to take you away. He rented a place outside Vegas, with some notion about you two living together, and eventually, working together at another club. He doesn’t have a clue he abducted you and not Stacy.”
“My God, the whole thing is just…” Sad. Crazy. Terrifying. “…awful. What’s going to happen to him?”
“H
e’s confessed to murdering two unarmed men, which means he’s looking at life in prison or worse. His attorney will probably offer an insanity defense. I’m no psychiatrist, but he’s got me convinced. Either way, Benny’s days protecting pretty blond strippers are over.”
“How did I get here? I mean, I know I came in an ambulance, but I’ve got a black hole from the time Benny knocked on my window until now.”
Trevor filled in the blanks, with frequent interruptions from Stacy. Kylie followed along as best she could. In the end, she found herself swallowing hard around a painful lump in her throat. Ian, Stacy, Trevor—she owed them so much, particularly Trevor. How could she have thought he would throw her life off course? He’d saved it, for God’s sake.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, and clasped Trevor’s hand. “I should have owned up to this a long time ago—I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Stacy replied. “But don’t apologize, honey, none of this is your fault…”
Kylie watched Trevor’s eyes shift to Stacy and let hers follow suit. Under two sets of pointed stares, Stacy blinked. “Oh, my. You weren’t talking to me. Jeez, look at the time. I should, um…call Ian, and tell him you’re awake,” she mumbled as she hustled out of the room.
As soon as the door swooshed shut, Trevor turned to her. “You were saying?”
“I’m so sorry—”
“Not that part. The thing about loving me?”
“I do. I love you—”
He cut her off with a slow, tender, and completely mind-numbing kiss. When he finally raised his head, hers was spinning.
“I wanted to tell you, but I was too scared.”
“Technically, you did mention it,” he pointed out with a grin. Then his expression sobered. “Don’t be afraid.” He kissed her again, quick and thorough. “I love you, too. I love that you have dreams and goals, and I would never do anything to derail those.”
“I know. In my heart, I always knew. But I wouldn’t let myself believe it.” His lips closed in on hers again, but she looked into his eyes and kept on speaking. “Someone recently pointed out to me that I have a few trust issues.”
Those dark, knowing eyes stared back at her. His lips curved into a slow, lopsided smile. “Maybe I could help you work those out?”
“I don’t know. I might take a while.”
“I’ve got a while,” he assured her, and rubbed his lips over the sensitive hollow at the base of her throat. “Starting now?”
She closed her eyes and sighed. “Now sounds just right.”
Epilogue
Ten months later…
“Kylie, this is the most bee-yoo-ti-ful studio ever! I can’t wait for the first class,” Lee Ann gushed in a slightly tipsy twang as she closed in for a hug. Ginger moved quick and intercepted Lee Ann’s champagne flute before the Southern belle’s sloppy hug splashed the contents all over Kylie’s strapless black cocktail dress. When Lee Ann drew back, Ginger raised the half-empty glass and toasted Kylie. “You done good.”
Ariana nodded. “Yes, Kylie. You make us proud.”
“Thanks,” Kylie replied. Her own pride welled up as she glanced around her brand-new yoga studio, Nirvana on Ninth, and took in the high ceilings, gleaming bamboo floors, and for tonight’s grand opening party, the champagne fountain and tables overflowing with hors d’oeuvres. Friends, family, and students chatted and circulated. Her gaze landed on Trevor, ridiculously gorgeous in his dark suit and silver-striped tie. He stood by the door, talking with Vern and Ian. At the sight of him, her heart did its predictable little flutter. He turned and gave her a long look loaded with not-so-hidden messages, and a whole lot of other parts started fluttering, too.
With some effort, she dragged her attention back to the girls. They were quite a sight decked out in their mile-high heels and short, tight outfits. “It means a lot that you ladies came to help celebrate the grand opening.”
“We wouldn’t have missed it,” Ginger assured her, “and not just because of the free-flowing champagne.” The redhead leaned in and gave Kylie a quick squeeze, then tugged Lee Ann toward the door. “C’mon, Country. Time to call it a night.”
“Me, too,” Stacy said, looking every inch a star in her silky ivory gown. “I’m so thrilled for you, Ky, I want to party ’til sunrise, but—”
“But the new, responsible Stacy knows she has to be on the set at 5:00 a.m.,” Kylie finished with a grin. Stacy had struck gold with her TV show. The network had picked up the series on the strength of the pilot, and now, a month into the first season, critics and fans alike declared it a breakout hit.
