Razing Kayne (10 page)

“Be sure to read the last one.”

“
You might be a dispatcher if: You tell grown men where to go and what to do when they
get there.”
Kayne leaned in, dropping his voice to a whisper. “I'd let you tell me where and
how.” He enjoyed watching the blush that crept up her neck and face.

“You have a one-track mind.” Jessica laughed nervously and turned her attention toward
some papers on the counter. “Behave, or I won't show you your surprise.”

She smelled incredible, tempting Kayne to bury his nose in her hair. If she used hairspray,
he couldn't tell. The curls looked soft and silky with the scent of almonds and vanilla.
He wondered what it would feel like curtaining them as she leaned over and kissed
him
Wait
, what?

Her statement finally registered.
“
My
surprise?”
 

***

Jess waved the game information printout between them. “Do you know what this is?”

Kayne captured her wrist and held the paper still, his grasp firm but gentle. He eyed
the paper curiously.
“Info on tonight's hockey game?”

“Coyotes vs. Redwings.
Interested?” Jess had to force herself to stand still instead of jumping up and down
with excitement.

“Seriously?
How did you get tickets? The game sold out moments after the Coyotes made it into
post season.”

“I have my sources.” A previous client had the resources to get them, and he'd owed
her a favor for averting a disaster during his daughter's wedding the previous year.
The scheduled venue had sustained water damage a mere forty-eight hours before the
wedding. Jess had been able to accommodate them, and her client had been eternally
grateful, even sending her referrals from time to time.

Jess fought not to grin. “So, think you can find someone to go with you?”

“Wait...no, I made a promise to the kids.” He edged back, crossing his arms over his
chest, his face drawn up in a scowl. “Maybe Joe or Del or somebody would like them.”

“They are once in a lifetime tickets, Kayne.” Was he seriously going to pass on playoff
tickets? She could hardly believe it. Jarred would have been on the phone and halfway
out the door.

“Pass.”

She took pity on him. “Kayne, there's five of them. I was just teasing. I confirmed
Gracie can sit on my lap.”

Kayne stepped closer, his face inches from hers. “Don't play head games with me, Jessica!”

God, he sounded as furious as he looked. Her pulse spiked, and she reflexively tried
edging back, only to find herself up against the counter.

“Oksana played head-games, and it drove me batshit crazy.”

Her hand trembled as she brushed the hair out of her face. “I'm not her.”

Kayne took a half-step back as if realizing he was scaring her. “I'd never hurt you,
Jessica,” He softened his voice.
“Never.”

She nodded but didn't relax until he turned and leaned against the counter at her
side.

“So we're really going to the game? All of us?”

“Yeah, all of us.”

He cocked his head studying her. “Do you like hockey?”

Jess nodded. “I've watched enough games, but I've never been to one.”

“Did their father ever take them?”

Jess hesitated. How much should she tell him? “No. He...didn't spend much time with
the kids.”
Or me.
But she'd never admit to anyone what a disappointment she'd been to her husband.

TEN

Kayne carried Gracie as they made their way into the Westgate Plaza's city-center.
Though crowded, the place was a veritable ghost town compared to what it would be
in a few hours. Jessica had a firm grip on Ash and Isabelle's hands, keeping them
close, so he wasn't surprised when Maddy fell in beside him and hesitantly reached
for his. He looked down to see the hope and doubt in her pretty green eyes.
“Is this okay?”
they silently asked.

Kayne squeezed her hand in reassurance, and her little face lit up with delight. His
chest tightened in response. Kayne knew to the outside world they looked like a happy
family, and that scared the shit out of him. He took a deep breath, trying to fight
off the panic. He wasn't going to stick around long enough for anyone to get attached
.

Gracie kissed his cheek, pulling him out of his dark thoughts. “What was that for?”

“No be sad, a'kay?” she said.

“I wasn't sad, just thinking.”

She looked doubtful and kissed him again. The more time he spent with her, the more
she reminded him of Natalia. God, he needed to know who she was before he got involved
any deeper. Which meant he needed to find some alone time with Jessica.
A dangerous proposition in and of itself.
His body refused to accept the message that she was off limits. Somehow Kayne had
to get the idea of fucking her out of his mind. He couldn't let it happen. Both of
them would be hurt when he walked away. And walk away he would.

Eventually they chose a place for dinner,
then
headed toward the arena at the far end of Westgate.

“Where are we sitting?” Kayne hadn't thought to ask earlier, just thrilled with the
idea of going to a playoff game with Jessica and the kids.

Jessica shrugged and stepped up to the will call window.
“Somewhere on the lower level.
I was told they were really good seats.”

The attendant took Jessica's identification. “Ma'am, if you and your party will step
over there, someone will be right with you.” He picked up his radio and asked for
a club representative.

That piqued Kayne’s curiosity. “Is there a problem?” 

“No, sir.
I'm sorry for the delay. If you'll please just step over there out of the way, someone
will be right with you.”

A moment later, a man in a suit walked up to them. “Ms. Hallstatt, I apologize for
the delay
.
I’m David Williams, the Concierge Manager. I understand our GM is an acquaintance
of yours. He's asked me to personally ensure that you and your party are taken care
of tonight. If you'll follow me, I'll escort you in.”

Kayne looked to Jessica, who shrugged. She seemed as surprised as he was over the
VIP treatment.

Kayne couldn't remember the last time he'd enjoyed just being some place. No. That
wasn't true. He'd taken his family to the hills on one of those rare warm winter days
a few weeks before they died. They'd had a picnic in a meadow, and he'd played with
his children until they'd worn themselves out. Afterwards, he'd lain down with them
on a blanket, and his son had whispered, “I love you, Papa,” before drifting off to
sleep.

Damn!
He didn't want to think about that. Not now. He sure as hell didn't want to remember
how Oksana had laid their baby on his chest and curled up beside him, just to be close
and talk. Kayne shoved the unwanted memory away before it fully formed, and focused
on the present.

Williams stopped in front of a souvenir shop. “If you'd like to pick out a souvenir
now, I can have them autographed before you leave tonight.”

“Seriously?”
Jessica gasped. “The kids would love that.”

“All five of us.”
Kayne chuckled pointing to himself as one of the kids.

Jessica rolled her eyes. “By all means, lead the way Peter Pan.”

***

Nearly an hour later, drinks and snacks in hand, they followed Williams down the concourse
and through a short tunnel into the lower seating area. The man kept walking right
up to the glass, then toward center ice.

Holy hell!

Most hockey fans would sell their soul to be sitting at the glass, center ice, during
any game, much less the playoffs. Jess was momentarily speechless. She’d never imagined
anything like this when she'd called in the favor for tickets.

Kayne ushered them into the aisle in front of him. “I'll take the end seat, if that's
okay?”

Jess knew it was the die-hard cop putting himself between them and danger, but she
couldn't resist a little ribbing. She laughed. “Wouldn't have anything to do with
the fact that that’s the center line
seat,
would it?”

“No, of course not.”
His expression was pure innocence.

Jess had planned on sitting at the opposite end to be the other “kid goalie” but when
an argument broke out over who got to sit by Kayne, Jess solved the problem diplomatically.
She took the seat herself.

It seemed like such a good idea until she realized how much room Kayne took up. His
leg and arm constantly brushed against
hers,
making it difficult to concentrate on one of the most spectacular games she'd ever
seen.

Kayne amazed her. As focused as he was on the game, he never lost track of the kids.
The moment one of them left their seat, he had his eye on them, and he didn't get
angry if it took his attention away from the game. Jess couldn't help but feel disloyal
to Jarred when she realized she was measuring him against what she saw in Kayne. The
simple truth couldn't be avoided: Jarred never would have taken her and the kids to
something like this, much less been a good sport about it.

Jess was on the edge of her seat as the last few seconds of the third period wore
down. The Coyotes were ahead by one, but the Redwings had the puck.

“5, 4, 3, 2...1!”
Everyone erupted in cheers.
The 'Yotes had won.

Before she realized how or why, Jess was in Kayne's arms. He lifted her off the ground,
hugging her close. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist,
and she was kissing him, or kissing him back, she wasn't quite sure. Lost in the moment,
she didn't care.

***

Kayne found his arms full of luscious female, not certain how she'd gotten there.
The initial kiss only lasted a moment, barely long enough to register her soft lips
against his firm ones.
But the feel of her body?
Her arms wrapped firmly around his neck, those tight thighs snug against his hips,
his hands cupping her ass—
Oh
yeah.
That was Richter
Scale
worthy. He couldn't resist dipping his head for another taste of her sweetness. The
world all but disappeared around them as she melted into him.

The Redwing's player being checked against the glass directly in front of them broke
the spell, and Kayne set her down and stepped away. Holy hell, he was not into public
displays, and he'd all but devoured her in front of God and everybody. As penance,
his jeans were suddenly about three sizes too small.

Williams materialized next to him. “That was some game.”

“It was incredible.”
Almost as good as that kiss.
Shit!

“Would you like to meet the players?” Williams asked.

“Most assuredly!”
Kayne picked up a sleeping Isabelle—how she'd managed to sleep through all that noise
he had no idea—and followed Jessica, who held Gracie, and the other kids, out onto
the ice.

***

Jess stood back and watched while Kayne intermingled with the players, shaking hands
and introducing the kids. She was amazed that he included them. Jarred would have
insisted she keep the kids off the ice so he could interact with the players. Ha,
who was she kidding? He would have insisted she and the kids stay home and taken four
of his buddies to the game. In his opinion, an event like this shouldn't be wasted
on children who wouldn't appreciate it. And she would have given in to keep the peace.

What was it about Kayne that made him so different? Was it just because he missed
his own children that he was so attentive to hers, or would he have treated
his the
same? Would he be the same way with her, or would he turn out to be like Jarred in
that aspect? Was she willing to find out? She was pretty sure he wanted her in his
bed, but was that all he wanted? If so, was she willing to settle for sex without
a relationship? She of all people knew a marriage license meant nothing when it came
to commitment and fidelity.

***

Hours later, Kayne found himself back in Jessica’s kitchen. “Thank you for today,
Jessica.”

The kids had fallen asleep within moments of climbing into the Tahoe, and Jessica
had followed not long after. It had been a quiet drive, giving Kayne some much needed
time to think. Though a part of him—the selfish bastard who had enjoyed today more
than he'd had any right to—was glad he hadn't been given the opportunity to find out
more about Gracie. The other part of him, the honorable part, was disgusted that he
was worming his way into this family's life and vice versa. Every moment he spent
with them provided not only the children, but Jessica, as well, an opportunity to
get attached. How could he be so selfish?

“It’s okay to call me Jess, everyone who knows me does.”

He nodded, but doubted he would. He needed to keep distance between them any way he
could.

“The kids had a really good time. So did
I
.”

She moved a little closer, and Kayne had to fight everything in him to stand still.
He wanted to run almost as badly as he wanted to take her into his arms. “I should
probably go, it's really late.” He took a step backward. The flash of disappointment
that crossed her face firmed up his resolve. He needed to get out of there.

“Oh, wait a minute.” She reached for her purse. “Let me give you your ticket. You
do keep them, right?”

“Yeah.”
Kayne accepted the ticket stub, pulled out his wallet, and flipped it open, intending
to put it inside. He paused, staring at the picture of his family. He'd taken it that
day in the meadow. Oksana held their baby, while Natalia sat on her lap, and Niki
stood beside her. All he had to do was turn his wallet around and show the photo to
Jessica. Would she see Gracie, or would she see a child with similar features?

“Kayne, are you okay?” Her voice was soft with concern.

No, he wasn't. He couldn't do this. Where would it leave him when she confirmed that
there was no possible way Grace was his missing daughter?

“I have to go, Jessica.” Before he could beg her to let him stay, to let him be a
part of her life, of her children's, before he could admit, even to himself, that
maybe,
just maybe
, it didn't matter so much who Gracie really was, he got the hell out of there.