Twenty-Four

Brandon was seated at an outside table when I arrived and he'd ordered two large iced coffees. When he saw me he stood, his eyes widening at my appearance.

A woman at the next table slid her appreciative gaze over Brandon. I glanced around for my cousin, but she wasn't there. With an uneasy feeling, I saw the table he'd chosen was for two. "Where's Lindsay?"

"She doesn't know I'm here."

Warning bells rang like the liberty bell. "I'm sorry. I thought I was meeting both of you." Lindsay would be livid if she knew I was meeting her fiance behind her back, and rightfully so.

"Please sit down, Lucy. Just give me five minutes. I've been worried about you." His eyes were warm and friendly, and there were a lot of people around.

Still, I stood my ground not liking this at all. "Thank you, but I can't stay without Lindsay."

"Lindsay thinks you're upset we're getting married." He wasted no time getting to the point.

With a sigh, I reluctantly took the seat across from Brandon. He would be family after he married my cousin, and I could not have him think I was still carrying a torch for him. "Brandon, I'm happy for you and Lindsay. The two of you belong together."

"Do we?" he asked, leaning forward and propping his elbows on the table. "Because I'm not sure."

I blinked, startled. "I don't think I'm the person you should be confiding in. Talk to Lindsay."

He reached out, covering my hand with his own. I snatched it back. His gaze snagged mine.

"I miss you." He leaned in again, and I breathed in a heavy whiff of his overpowering cologne.

Sitting back in my chair to put space between us, I spoke each word clearly. "You're marrying my cousin."

"Lindsay is everything I want in a wife. She's gorgeous, rich, and comes from an influential family, but I don't feel the same way about her as I did with you."

"You're getting married in two months. I've got an invitation to your wedding."

"We should go out again," he announced as if he'd just come up with a brilliant idea.

"No. We shouldn't."

"I regret breaking up with you. If you'll give me another chance, I can prove I don't care about money and connections as much as being with you."

We had no relationship, and he did not break up with me. I longed to shout this at him, but there was no point in continuing this one-sided conversation.

He wasn't hearing me. I started to get up, but his arm shot out and grabbed my arm.

"Is this about that guy Lindsay mentioned?" he asked with undisguised irritation. He didn't wait for an answer. "You look like someone has knocked you around. Who is this loser?"

"That would be me."

The deep, achingly familiar voice slid over me like warm honey. I turned and my heart wept at the sight of him.

Kyle stood casually with his arm propped above his head on the brick wall to his left. His gaze fastened on Brandon's hand, which held my arm.

Stepping from behind me, I saw that his mouth was pressed into a firm line and his eyes glittered dangerously.

Brandon eyed him warily, releasing my arm, and clearing his throat.

I met Kyle's hot blue gaze, all of a sudden realizing why he was here. "Jase called you."

He didn't respond. I felt the back of his hand brush my face in a feathery light stroke. Dragging in a shivery breath, I leaned into the touch.

"You came after me," Kyle said softly. "I never even looked back." I heard the self-recrimination in his voice.

"It wasn't your fault."

"Are you sure about that Lucy?" Brandon broke in. "You don't look like you fell. If this guy has been hitting you, I'll call the police." He held up his phone for emphasis.

"No one hit me. Brandon, please let go, we're done here."

"I don't think that's a good idea." He eyed Kyle suspiciously.

"She didn't ask for your opinion," Kyle replied easily. "She did ask you to let go of her." Though his tone was calm, he'd given an unmistakable command, and Brandon must have heard it because he released me immediately, looking afraid of Kyle.

I stood and slipped my purse over my head so that it crisscrossed my body. Then I met Brandon's eyes and saw his bewilderment. He could not understand why any woman would turn him down. He was handsome, rich, and successful, but next to Kyle, he was like a sparkler being compared to a firework.

"I'll see you at the wedding," I said firmly, reminding him that he was getting married.

"We'll talk later." He stood with obvious reluctance. "If you need me, give me a call," he added tipping his head toward Kyle. "I know people."

Kyle seemed amused but remained silent.

I shook my head not wanting to encourage Brandon. "That won't be necessary."

"Lucy—" he whined, but Kyle cut him off.

"Brandon, buddy, take the hint. She doesn't need you, but thanks anyway."

He walked away slowly, eyeing Kyle as if he was a serial killer.

Kyle spun and his eyes clashed with mine. "You broke up with me for that guy?"

"I didn't break up with you for anyone." My chin lifted in challenge.

"He's not good enough for you."

"He's marrying my cousin. I thought I was meeting the two of them or I wouldn't even have come." I glanced back and saw Lindsay's wayward fiancé still glaring at us.

Kyle looked like he wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or yell 'Boo'. He shook his head and turned his attention back to me with an expression of disbelief. "He left you alone with me even though he thinks I've been knocking you around."

"Brandon doesn't believe in violence. He's not confrontational."

"He should have his man-card revoked."

"I think he's just confused."

"I think there's no way he's marrying Lindsay. He's looking at you like you belong to him, and he's glaring at me like he'd like to beat me up or maybe hire someone to do it."

I saw Brandon making the, I'm watching you gesture to Kyle with his fingers.

Kyle cocked a brow before turning his attention back to me. His brows drew together as he studied my face and looked down at my wrist, which was still in a brace. His expression was pained. "Are you ok?"

"My golf game is temporarily ruined, but I'm hanging in there."

His deep chuckle inspired an army of goosebumps to pop on my arms. "Rumor has it your golf game was never that great."

I stiffened, feigning indignation. "Who's been spreading these lies about me?"

"I'll never tell," he said pulling out a seat and motioning me to take it. "Can't burn my bridges. If you suddenly ghost me again, I'd have no one to feed me info."

"Funny you should mention ghosting."

He took a seat, leaned back, and studied me. "Jase told me you were fired."

Hearing it said aloud made it all too real. I'd been working hard to forget. "I behaved unprofessionally. Nurses aren't supposed to have relationships with their patients."

He stared at me a moment before replying, his jaw tight. "Our situation was unique." He rubbed his jaw and released a slow breath. "I promise I'll fix this. I'll tell them it was my fault."

"No, it wasn't," I replied with resignation. "I knew what I was doing. I knew it was wrong."

"What exactly did you do wrong? Fall in love with me?" Hurt swam in his eyes. "Were you ever in love with me?"

"I'm still in love with you. I always will be."

"Then I don't understand." He leaned back, searching my face as if he'd find the answers there. "The first sign of trouble and you're done."

"I'm not done, Kyle." I put my hand on top of his and felt him flinch. The rejection was like a physical blow. "I made a mistake and I want to make it right."

His expression was shuttered. "What exactly do you want to fix?"

"Everything. Us. I've listened for God, and I think I know where I went wrong." The confession tumbled out in a rush of words. "I was afraid and I ended it before I could get my heart completely crushed. That probably doesn't make sense to you."

His gaze was hard, cautious like he didn't trust me. "What are you saying?"

Glancing up, I saw Ava walking toward us and I went cold all over.

His eyes flashed quizzically before following my gaze. "Ava and I are friends. That's it," he insisted.

"She wants more."

"No, she doesn't. Unlike you, she understands our relationship."

"Why is she here?"

"I told her I'd be here. She's helping me with something," he replied vaguely, and I got the feeling there was a note of challenge in his words as if he was daring me to ask what she was helping him with.

Jealousy, hurt, and anger warred within me. I did not know which I felt more. "I'll bet she is," I whispered, hoping I didn't reveal my heartache.

A few seconds later, Ava joined us looking fabulous as always in a cute dress with a denim jacket and boots. Unlike me, her makeup was perfection and her hair was a cascade of curls that rained gently down her back.

"Hi Lucy!" exclaimed Ava with an enthusiasm that rang false. I'm not sure if Kyle picked up on it because he'd stood up when Ava arrived and she wasted no time in folding her arms around him in a hug that lingered longer than necessary.

I couldn't be sure exactly what she said to him, but it sounded as if she was asking him if he was okay. Frowning, I wondered what she was talking about and didn't like that Ava knew more about what was happening in Kyle's life now than I did.

He moved to grab a chair for Ava, but I stood up quickly, nearly knocking mine over. "She can have mine. I'm leaving anyway."

Leaning over his lips brushed my ear. "We're not finished here."

A jerky nod was all I could manage.

"Lucy, what happened to you?" cried Ava obviously getting her first good look at me. Her ruby red lips formed a beautiful circle as she gaped at me like I'd suddenly stood up and started flossing.

Her exaggerated concern was obviously faked. I wondered if I should carry around a sign to save myself the trouble of repeatedly telling the story of how I fell down the stairs.

"I was chasing after a dream that wasn't meant to be. It was a momentary lapse in judgment. It won't happen again."

Ava looked confused. I spun around and walked away, not bothering to turn when Kyle called my name.