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And Kane?
Kane was easily the perfect hero, the ultimate book boyfriend.
The only problem was that I knew this wasn’t a fictional story. This was real life. This wasmylife. And my life hadn’t exactly been a fairytale.
But I would have accepted it. Boy, would I have loved to have been a cliché for once. I didn’t think I would have minded being the damsel in distress, especially not if Kane was going to be the overprotective hero that would swoop in to not only rescue me from the danger swirling around me but would also do it while effortlessly making me fall for him.
In truth, I wasn’t exactly sure it would take a fictional setting to make that happen. I didn’t know much about Kane outside of what I saw in his physical attributes and the skills he possessed to do the job that he did. But even that was far better than what I’d had for years.
So, it wouldn’t take much to fall for a guy like Kane, even in the best of circumstances. In this situation, I hated to admit that it was almost a sure thing, especially considering what he’d just so blatantly declared.
I’m going to do whatever I’ve got to do to keep you safe.
Just like that, without even speaking to me about the specifics of what was happening, Kane had declared himself my protector.
I knew men like him existed in the books I read; I didn’t know they existed in real life. God, what I would have given to be able to call a guy like Kane mine. I had to think there wasn’t much I wouldn’t have given, considering I’d given up my future, my happiness, and my freedom for a guy like Patrick.
Granted, I guess I technically didn’t give all of that up for Patrick. I gave it up for my family, but it still ultimately led me to having Patrick as my husband.
To have Kane? To have a guy that would step up to the plate and promise to defend me and protect me would have been a dream come true.
But I couldn’t be distracted by the hope of Kane being my knight in shining armor.
I had far too much to talk to him about, far too many pressing things that were actually happening in real life and not inside my head.
Like, for example, the fact that he even knew I was married.
Married.
Reminding myself that I was married to Patrick was enough to crush my hopes. I was married, yes. But because I was married to him, even if I wasn’t in love with him, I’d never have the chance to get a happy ending like all the lucky girls in the books did.
Right.
Time to accept my reality.
Time to move on.
Staring into Kane’s captivating eyes, eyes I knew I’d never forget as long as I lived, I rasped, “How do you know about him?”
My insides trembled with the nerves I felt as I waited for him to respond. There was something in his expression, something intense, and I was desperate to know what thoughts were running through his mind.
Finally, he confessed, “Jake saw it on the television this morning.”
Tears welled in my eyes, and my gaze dropped to my hands that were resting in my lap. I couldn’t believe this was my life. I wondered what I’d done so wrong to deserve all that had been forced upon me.
When would it be enough?
Why couldn’t I have just been able to leave him, move here, and start over? Why couldn’t I have been able to file for a divorce like a normal person? Why did I ever get married in the first place?
At that question, I recalled the interview I watched on the television this morning. Images of my devastated parents and sister danced in my mind, forcing the tears to escape and roll down my cheeks.
The moment the first tear escaped, Kane’s large hand covered my small one. The tender touch was so sweet and comforting. I wanted nothing more than to feel that comfort wrapped around my whole body.
“Ellery?” he called gently.
Slowly, I lifted my head and returned my eyes to his. “Yeah?”
His thumb began stroking softly over the skin on my hand. “I want to help you. Whatever you need, no matter what’s going on, I want to do whatever I can to help you get through this.”
