He’d dated women before who’d been able to get his blood stirring, but not Alyson. Although they were okay together in the bedroom, whenever he thought of hot, sizzling sex her name never came to mind. He found her to be good company and
someone who was fun to do things with…until she became jealous.
“Reese?”
“Yes?”
“I want to know what in the world is wrong with you? Back in there when you confronted Dr. Thomas you acted like a dog guarding a bone.”
He squared his shoulders, raised his chin and pierced her with dark eyes. “And what if I am?”
She crossed her arms over her chest and glared up at him. “Then I think something is definitely wrong with that picture.”
“Wrong in what way?”
“Kenna is supposed to be your best friend and not your woman. At least that’s what you’ve told me.”
“And that's what I meant.”
“Then explain your actions back there, Reese.”
He rubbed the back of his head annoyed. “I recognize the good doctor for what he is.”
“Which is?”
“A man on the prowl…” He’d been around Blade enough to know the signs.
“And what if he is? Kenna is old enough to take care of herself. Why can’t you accept that? Why are you playing the role of a jealous lover instead of doting best friend? Why?”
He blinked.
Jealous lover?
“I’m not playing that role.”
“Yes, you are. In fact, this whole relationship between you and Kenna isn’t normal. At times the two of you are almost inseparable.”
He ignored the fact that Dex had mentioned something similar. “We’re separated now, aren’t we?”
“Yes, but if you had your way, you would be right there by her side, making it impossible for Dr. Thomas to hold a decent conversation with her.”
The man might be holding a conversation with Kenna, but
Reese doubted it was anything close to decent. “Is this what you pulled me aside to say, Alyson?” He watched her close her eyes and breathe in a few times, a sure sign there definitely was more to come.
She reopened her eyes and stared up at him. She was no longer glaring. Her eyes had gotten soft and he recognized it for what it was—a manipulative move on her part. “I thought we were close, Reese, and that our relationship had gone beyond games and that we were even contemplating marriage.”
“Marriage? That word never came up between us,” he said in a surprised tone. He definitely wasn’t expecting her to use that angle, since he knew for a fact he’d never brought the subject up before, although he’d picked up on her hints a time or two.
“I know, but I assumed that eventually we would get to that point.”
He figured now was not the time to tell her she’d figured wrong, and although he was certain she would make some man a good wife, that man wasn’t him.
“But I never had a chance. And although you might have cooled things between us because of my accusations about you and Kenna, I can now see that I was right all along. There’s more between you two than mere friendship, and the sad thing about it is that I’m not sure either of you knows it.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
The glare was back in her eyes. “What I’m talking about, Reese, is that you never act protective around Kenna, you act territorial. There’s a difference. And the two of you are so into each other it’s obvious. You drank out of the same beer bottle, for heaven’s sake. It’s such an automatic thing, I doubt either of you realizes you’re doing it. You’ve never even shared a glass with me like that.”
His chest tightened as a sense of panic settled in. How far was Alyson planning on taking this? “Kenna and I have been best friends for over eleven years. We’re used to each other.”
“And you and I dated for almost a year—exclusively. You should have gotten used to me, too.”
He drew in a deep breath. “Look, Alyson. I don’t know what to tell you. Things didn’t work out between us and I thought we had moved on.”
“I tried but I can’t. I want to get married, and you’re the man I want, Reese. I’m used to getting what I want. How can you deny me?”
Easily.
Thanks to her parents, she was pampered, spoiled rotten and selfish. He knew just how those traits worked together.
“Sorry, Alyson, but when I ended things between us that was it,” he said.
“Just because you want Kenna.”
“No. Because things didn’t work out between us.” He hoped she’d let it go and wouldn’t ask for specifics. He wanted her to walk away with her pride intact, and she wouldn’t be able to do that if he were to be completely honest.
She scowled at him. “No matter what you say, I’m going to think otherwise.”
“That’s your prerogative and there’s nothing else I can say, is there? And I think it’s time for me to leave. Take care of yourself, Alyson.” He turned and walked away.
“Reese!”
He stopped and turned around. “Yes?”
“If you walk out of here, I won’t give you another chance.”
He didn’t recall asking her for another chance. Instead of telling her that, he turned and headed back inside.
Dr. Wendell Thomas gave Kenna a long, searching look. “So what time do you want me to come pick you up to go boating tomorrow?”
Kenna flashed him a smile. “Any time after noon. I was planning on sleeping late.”
“I was serious when I said you can sleep over at my place. I have several spare bedrooms,” Wendell said.
Yes, and she’d bet her diamond earrings—the same ones Reese had given her last year for her birthday—that the bedroom he intended to put her in if she spent the night was his.
“We just met, Wendell. What makes you think I’d spend the night at your place?” she asked sweetly, keeping her gaze fixed on his face. He was handsome, and she knew a lot of women who had no qualms about sleeping with a man they’d just met, but that wasn’t her style. She had agreed to go boating with him and that was as far as it would go for now.
“I was just being kind,” he said.
Yeah, right.
“Thanks for the offer, but I have a comfortable bed to sleep in tonight.”
“The one at Reese Madaris’s house?”
“That’s the one.”
“And what’s your relationship to him again?” he questioned.
She frowned. The man had heard Reese loud and clear when he’d said that they were friends. But just in case he had hearing problems… “Reese is my best friend. I told you that when I introduced the two of you.
And
he told you that as well.”
“Yes, but I wanted to be sure, since he seemed quite annoyed when I told him about our date tomorrow.”
Yes, he had. “Reese and I have been best friends since college and he can get a little overprotective at times. He’s the big brother I never had.”
Wendell smiled. “I have a younger sister, so I know how that can be, and I’m fine with it, as long as that’s all it is and goes no further.”
Wait a minute. Didn’t we just meet? Why is he trying to control things here? The last thing he should try to do is rattle my cage in order to bolster his ego.
She leaned in close to him. “Are you questioning my friendship with Reese?”
There must have been something in the tone of her voice and the look in her eyes that alerted him that he was on shaky ground. “No, no. I just need to know where I stand. After all, I am an established neurologist.”
She smiled and took a deep breath. This was the first time she’d ever shown interest in a doctor, especially one who evidently took a great deal of satisfaction from being an M.D. There was nothing wrong with being proud of your accomplishments, but he was becoming a bit too much. How many times had he told her tonight what he did for a living, like it would open all kinds of doors, especially the one leading to the bedroom? Red flags were going off in her head, and she had a tendency to pay attention when they did.
“And I’m a gifted artist,” she said proudly. The handsome prince was turning into a jerk.
“Yes, I know. You’re a police sketch artist who will start working for the Houston Police Department in a few weeks.”
She frowned at the smirk on his face. Was he looking down on her, making light of what she did for a living? She was about to lean in closer and tell him she’d decided not to go boating with him after all.
“Come on, Kenna, we’re leaving.”
She swung her head around and met Reese’s dark, intense gaze. “What?”
“I said we’re leaving.”
She studied Reese’s features. He was upset about something. Had he been any other man she would have told him to go on and leave without her, she would find another way home. But this wasn’t any man. This was Reese, and something or someone had ticked him off. She looked past him and saw Alyson hurrying in their direction. The look on her face was furious, mutinous—downright bitchy. Kenna held her breath when Alyson stormed across the room.
“Go ahead and go with him, Kenna, since he won’t leave
without you,” Alyson snarled, causing a scene. “And the two of you need to stop lying about your relationship, because you’re more than just best friends.”
Dr. Thomas cleared his throat and diplomatically said to Reese and Alyson, “Maybe the two of you need to take it outside.”
“We already have, and he refuses to admit the truth,” Alyson wailed.
Kenna blinked. There was nothing worse than seeing a grown woman whine. She figured a temper tantrum was next and Alyson would probably begin throwing things. She glanced over at Reese and caught his eye, read his thoughts and nodded. They were on the same wavelength. It was time to get out before the missiles start flying, especially since they both were targets.
“I think it’s best if Reese and I left now,” she said.
Dr. Thomas gave her a look that all but said,
smart move.
Reese took her hand and was about to lead her to the door when Dr. Thomas said, “Umm, Kenna, maybe we should take a rain check on that boating date tomorrow.”
She smiled. “No problem.”
Reese tugged on her hand and together they turned and quickly left the party.
Chapter 10
L
ike two thieves in the night, they sped away from the scene of the crime. Reese made quick time getting to the interstate. It was only then that Kenna relaxed. “Am I wrong or did we just escape from
The Twilight Zone?
”
Reese shot her a quick glance. “Hell, I was thinking more like something from
Friday the 13th
.”
She chuckled. “What went down on that patio to get Alyson so hot under the collar?” Kenna asked, twisting around in her seat. “Talk about fireworks.”
Reese wondered how much he should tell her and decided she deserved to know it all, especially in light of the accusation Alyson had flung at them right before they left. “You heard her. She’s still not convinced we aren’t lovers instead of best friends.”
Kenna rolled her eyes upward. “Jeeze. What is it going to take for people to stop assuming that? Can’t they see that you don’t see me that way?”
Reese nibbled on the corner of his mouth, thinking if only she knew where his thoughts had been going lately she would hit him over the head a few times. “And you don’t see me that way either. Trust me, I think you’re beautiful, intelligent, smart as heck and successful. But we’re just friends and that’s all we can and ever will be,” he iterated, for his benefit more than hers.
“I agree, and thanks for saying that, especially since Wendell doesn’t share your opinion.”
“I didn’t like him,” Reese muttered under his breath.
She mustered a half smile when she heard him. “I think your dislike of him was obvious, Reese. What I want to know is why. He didn’t start acting like an ass until later, when he saw I wasn’t going to jump into his bed quick enough to suit him. He figured being a doctor afforded him certain privileges. Too bad nobody told me about them.”
He knew he should feel bad, but in all honesty he felt good knowing she’d found out about the man before it had been too late. He could tell she’d been taken with him. He had seen her flirt, which was something he’d never seen her do in all the eleven years they’d known each other.
“So, what all did Alyson say?” she asked.
He wasn’t surprised she wanted all the facts. He drew in a deep breath, deciding not to mention Alyson’s calling him a jealous lover rather than a best friend. “She thinks our relationship isn’t normal and that we act like people in love do.”
“In what way?”
“Like drinking from the same beer bottle without giving it a second thought…”
“Oh.” Kenna didn’t say anything else for a long while, which made Reese wonder if she thought there was something to it. He told himself there wasn’t, but wondered how many other friends did that.
“We also eat off the same plate sometimes,” she finally said. “Even share the same cookies a time or two.”
He nodded. “Yes, we’ve even shared the same fork and spoon.”
But never the same bed,
he thought quickly.
“Yes. But that only shows how much we trust each other.”
“It does,” he agreed.
“And that you’ll do anything for me and I’ll do anything for you.”
He totally agreed with her there as well. He would do anything for her and believed she would do the same.
“So, we’re into each other’s lives to a point. Is that such a big deal?”
“No,” he answered quickly, focusing his gaze on the endless stretch of interstate in front of him. Although he knew for some people it would be a big deal. But things were different for them, especially since they weren’t dating other people. During the time they were dating others, they never went into any details about their relationships. He knew when she was dating a guy and could usually gauge how much the guy meant to her by how much time she spent talking about him. She rarely talked about any of the men who’d passed through her life other than Terrence, Lamont and Curtis. All the others had been out of sight and out of mind.
“I think we should continue and not let anyone dictate what type of friendship we should have,” she said.
“I agree.” She didn’t say anything else for a while, and the more he thought about what she had said the more his mood lightened. Although he felt that Alyson didn’t have the right to behave the way she had, she had said how she felt and what she believed.