Authors: Crista McHugh
Denise halted the sway of the rocking chair and stiffened. “He didn’t hit you, did he?”
Kiana shook her head. “He didn’t even raise his voice. That’s what made my reaction so pitiful.” She rubbed her arms. “I instantly expected the worst from him, and bless his heart, he’d done nothing wrong. He even came up with a workaround for our date.”
“Which was?”
“Pizza and movie in my office.”
Followed by hot sex for dessert
.
“Sounds like you need to latch on to him while you can.” Denise rose and carried the sleeping toddler in her arms to the crib.
Kiana stiffened. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means it’s time to start trusting people again instead of pushing them away. Not all men are like Malcolm.”
“I sometimes find that hard to believe after seeing the string of losers my mother used to bring home.”
“Your mother learned the hard way. And you learned from her mistakes. You were strong enough to get out of that bad relationship before you ended up like her, and now, your daughter is safe and spared from experiencing all the things you went through.” Denise crossed the room and patted Kiana on the cheek. “I’m not worried about you, honey. You’ll make the right decision. Just listen to your heart and your gut like I’ve taught you.”
“I’m trying, Mama. It’s just…” She glanced over at her sleeping daughter. “I’m scared.”
“Nobody ever said love was easy, but you need to trust the person you’re giving your heart to.”
Denise’s advice created a sharp pang in the center of Kiana’s chest. Her stepmother had given her heart to her father, and he’d cheated on her. Yet, she’d somehow forgiven him.
Kiana continued to watch Savannah, silently counting her daughter’s quick breaths while she mulled over her future with Frank. She might be able to trust him with her heart. But her daughter?
“Mama, do you think what Tre said is true? That Frank would run away if I told him about Savannah?”
“You know him better than me. What do you think?”
For all his playboy reputation, he’d shown her time and time again that he wanted her. His persistence hadn’t waned. And the sex was beyond great. But was he father material?
Kiana wrapped her arms around her stomach, hoping it would squash the doubt radiating from her gut. “I think I need to tell him before I lose my heart.”
“Sounds like a good plan. You don’t have to introduce him to her right now, but he needs to know that you have priorities other than him.”
“And if he decides not to continue our relationship…” She’d be upset. Maybe even a little crushed. But she’d move on. Her daughter was the most important thing in her life, and if someone wanted her, they’d have to want Savannah, too. “Well, I’m better off without him.”
Denise hugged her. “See? You’re strong enough to do what’s right. You always have. Tre, on the other hand, is giving me gray hairs.”
“What’s that boy done now?”
“He left for Vegas this morning.”
“Again? Didn’t he just get back?”
Denise nodded and sank into the rocking chair again. “He claims he did so well there last week that he wanted to go back before his luck ran out.”
“It’s going to run out eventually.” Kiana rubbed her temples and offered a silent prayer her brother wouldn’t end up without a dime to his name again.
“That’s what I keep telling him, but he won’t listen to me. It’s times like this that I wish your daddy was still alive. Marshall could always talk sense into that boy.”
“Maybe he’ll listen to Frank.”
Denise chuckled as she rocked away. “If you think there’s a chance it might work, then have at it.”
A barking cough interrupted their conversation, and Kiana rushed to the crib. Savannah’s wheezes filled her ears when she picked up her daughter. “I think we need another breathing treatment.”
“I’ll tell the nurse.”
Denise left the room to find some help while Kiana clung to her baby girl. She’d worry about Frank and Tre and everything else later. Right now, there was only one person who mattered. Savannah needed her. Everything else would have to wait until her daughter was breathing easier again.
And when things calmed down, she’d tell Frank about Savannah and see what happened.
Chapter Twelve
Frank threw his gym bag into the trunk and ran his fingers through his still-damp hair. All weekend, he’d punished his body with workouts from hell just to keep his mind off of Kiana. He physically craved her. But the dazed and confused feeling from Friday trumped his desire. She’d said she’d call, and she hadn’t. She’d just fucked him and ran, leaving him with only a vague promise for later.
Okay, God, I’m getting the cruel irony here
.
He slid into the car but didn’t start the engine right away. He needed to know where he was going first. He pulled out his phone and called his brother. “Help me through this, Adam.”
He recounted Kiana’s odd behavior with the phone call and the fact that she hadn’t contacted him. “I’m at the point where I need her to be honest with me, but I’m scared if I press her for answers, she’ll push me away.”
“Has Cully contacted you yet?”
Frank curled his fingers into his palm. “What does Cully have to do with this?”
“He’s been in Atlanta all weekend. Said he ran into some roadblocks that he needed to address in person. Something about sealed documents.”
Shit!
Cully had found something on her, just as he’d feared. But that was nothing compared to the sick feeling swirling in his stomach. “Why did you hire him?”
“Because you’re not known for sound judgment when it comes to women, and the fact that
you
were suspicious made
me
suspicious.”
“It’s a little extreme, though, don’t you think?”
“I’m just looking out for you. Besides, it seems you were right about her hiding something if Cully unearthed stuff on her.”
“Any idea what?”
“Sorry, but Cully won’t divulge anything until he has all the facts.”
A private investigator with ethics. Great.
Frank started up his car. If he wanted answers now, then there was only one place to go. “Well, when you hear back from him, let me know if there’s anything I should be aware of.”
Sherita was typing away when he came to the foundation’s headquarters, but she stopped when she spotted him. “Hello, Mr. Kelly.”
“Mr. Kelly is my dad. Or my eldest brother. I’m just Frank.” He pointed to the closed door in front of him. “Is she in?”
“Not right now.” Sherita pushed back from her desk, her lips pursed as though she was deciding how much information to give up. “But she should be back within the hour.”
“Good. I’ll wait.” He opened the office door and closed it behind him.
Nothing had changed since he’d left Friday night. The scent of her perfume still lingered in the air, accented only by the faintest tinge of sex. He glanced at the sofa, and his dick started to throb. Yeah, it had been good. Too good. And once wouldn’t be enough.
He sat on the sofa, his legs stretched out in front of him, and closed his eyes. The memories from Friday night overwhelmed him to the point where he worried he’d grab Kiana for an instant replay the moment she walked in.
Damn it!
He jumped up from the sofa and walked around her desk. If he wanted answers, this would’ve been the perfect opportunity to go through her drawers and her computer. But his conscience cautioned him not to go there, to respect her privacy. There were some lines that didn’t need to be crossed, and Adam had already crossed one for him by hiring Cully.
However, he couldn’t ignore the picture of a baby in a frilly pink dress perched on her desk.
Cold sweat prickled the back of his neck as he stared at it. The baby had dark skin and a head full of curly black hair, but her eyes were just like Kiana’s—big and framed by thick lashes.
The sound of women’s voices trickled in from the outer office, and he backed away from her desk. He’d process what he’d found later. That is, if Kiana didn’t answer his questions before then. He had just enough time to dive for the couch and strike a casual pose before the door opened.
Kiana strode in and went straight for her desk without looking in his direction.
Frank grinned. Sherita definitely played the part of the meddling assistant well. “Hello, Kiana.”
She jumped with a squeak and turned toward him, her hand over her heart. “What are you doing here?”
Sherita poked her head in. “Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you he was waiting for you. Toodles.” She waved at them and shut the door.
Kiana dumped her briefcase in her desk chair, her eyes never leaving him. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“And you never called.” He stood and tucked his hands into his pockets while he meandered toward her. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to blow me off.”
Her shoulders slumped as she sighed. “It’s not like that.”
“Then enlighten me. After all, what’s a guy to think when a girl screws him senseless and then runs away?”
Her gaze flickered to the sofa, and she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Desire flashed across her face. “Frank, I…” She paused and lowered her gaze to the floor. “We need to talk.”
“No shit. Why do you think I’m here? It’s not just because I want seconds.”
Her head snapped up, her eyes wide.
Frank rested his palms on her desk. “And don’t get me wrong. I
do
want seconds. I want them badly. But not before I get to the bottom of things.”
That same lust-filled expression she’d worn seconds before she jumped his bones flickered across her face, but unlike Friday night, she managed to hold back, much to his disappointment. “Fine, let’s go for a walk.”
“Can’t we talk here?”
She peered around him at the sofa again. “No.”
At least I know she wants me as much as I want her
. He stepped back and gestured toward the door. “Ladies first.”
***
I can do this. I can do this
.
Kiana kept repeating the same phrase over and over again as she rode down the elevator with Frank. But every time she opened her mouth to tell him about Savannah, nothing came out.
Part of her wanted to have this conversation in private so that if Frank freaked out, it wouldn’t become a public spectacle. But at the same time, she couldn’t stay in that office. Not with him looking at her in a way that set her hormones into overdrive. She’d probably end up screwing him all over again, and she couldn’t afford to do that right now. Not with a news crew set to arrive in an hour to make up for the interview she’d had to cancel on Saturday.
And not when her heart was jumping around in her chest with uncertainty.
They arrived at the ground floor. “Where to?” Frank asked.
“Do you mind going to Piedmont Park? It’s just a few blocks away.”
“Let’s drive.” He pointed to her high-heeled shoes. “I don’t want to risk you tripping in those.”
An irrational rumble of fear rolled through her stomach. Her head told her she could trust Frank, but her gut wasn’t on board. “Fine, but I’ll drive.”
Traffic was relatively light for Midtown, and parking was easy to find. Within a few minutes, they were surrounded by the open, green space framed by the nearby skyscrapers. The breeze still carried a slight chill from the cold front that had come through on Friday, but the late March sun and her sturdy blazer were more than enough to keep her warm as they walked.
“What happened Friday night?” Frank asked, his hands rooted in his pockets.
Before or after we had sex?
Her breath shook as she blew it out. He’d opened the door, and it was up to her to take advantage of it. “I had a family emergency.”
He skidded to a stop. “Your mom? Tre?”
She shook her head and prayed for courage. “No, my daughter.”
For a moment, he stood there with his mouth hanging open, the perfect statue of a man in shock. It was just as she’d expected, right down to the panic in his eyes.
She silently cursed and started to turn away, but he caught her and pulled her back. “What happened?”
Not “Oh my God, you have a daughter.”
Not “Holy shit! You have a kid?”
Not “Get away from me before you infect with me with kid cooties.”
What happened?
And the warm glow in her heart overwhelmed the trepidation in her gut. “Savannah has asthma, and the weather change set her off. We just got her home from the hospital this morning.”
Frank cursed and slid his hand along the side of his face like he’d just woken up. Seconds ticked by as he appeared to take it all in. “But she’s going to be okay?”
“Yeah, for now.” Kiana crossed her arms across her chest and resumed walking.
He caught up to her in three easy strides. “Why didn’t you just tell me that on Friday?”