After Brandi sent him packing that morning, Blaze had gone into the kitchen while they’d played downstairs and made a list in his spiral notebook of who could possibly be blackmailing Drake. Admittedly, he hadn’t been here long enough to know many of the Kingstons associates but he’d been vetted before his arrival and felt comfortable with what he did know.
The Kingstons went to dinner every Saturday night with J.W. and Maryann Brown. J.W. worked with Drake and the two had been friends for quite some time. There was also many people from Drake’s management team whom he worked with on a daily basis. He wrote all of their names down. He didn’t know all of their wives’ names but knew he could call Shell and figure out that information fairly quickly.
Mrs. Kingston had her social circles. She had her book club, her group at the church and she served on various boards within the community. He’d have to get a complete list for all the boards she was serving on but he knew she was on the library’s fundraising committee as well as the Chamber of Commerce.
He had no reason to suspect she knew about any of the phone calls Drake had received. The only thing that had been coincidental was Brandi’s claim that she had seen Mrs. Kingston with The Prince when she was in the library. With her being involved with a book club as well as the town library, he couldn’t chalk that up to guilt…or a mere coincidence. He’d have to keep his eye out for anything from her. With the caller using the children as a threat, he was fairly certain she wouldn’t have anything to do with the blackmail.
While Blaze didn’t believe their marriage was sweet and rosy, he did believe they both had their place within their relationship and were comfortable with what they had. Did she know about the firearms trafficking? That her husband was on the wrong side of the law, committing acts that were going to land his ass in a whirlwind of trouble? Again, he wasn’t sure but so far nothing had given her away that she knew of her husband’s illegal dealings.
One thing about this puzzle that bothered Blaze was Brandi’s father, Kurt. The chances of being blackmailed not once, but twice, were extremely low. He suspected if he could figure out her father’s angle more, that might help sort out Drake’s blackmailer now. Maybe they were related? Maybe an old friend of the two men figured out the shipment of arms and decided to blackmail Drake knowing full well it could be pointed at Kurt, who was already in prison.
A multitude of scenarios flitted through Blaze’s mind as he considered what could possibly be going on. Drake hadn’t been taking the issue of being blackmailed very seriously until the caller had threatened his children. The guy was a bastard. Four beautiful kids, a job that put him in the Upper Class bracket – something most people would love to claim – and here he was on the wrong side of the law.
Blaze knew sometimes being successful wasn’t enough for people. They wanted more. They had money and they were greedy and they wanted more. So much more that it didn’t matter if their dealings were on the right side of the law or the wrong side. That is what had gotten Nadia killed.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t know you were in here. I just came to get a drink.”
Her sultry voice brought him out of his trance, he shut his notebook and stood from the table, watching her ringlets bounce around her shoulders as she made her way to the refrigerator.
“It’s fine. I’m glad you came here. Is Dee down for her nap?”
“She is.”
“Can we talk?”
“About what?” With her hand on her hip and her eyebrow raised a mile high on her head, it was all he could do to tell his dick to calm down. Even angry, she was appealing and beautiful. Her eyes were bright with fury but he’d never been blessed with a sight so tempting.
“About us.”
“There is no us.”
“There is-” he stopped. Isn’t that what he wanted? A no ‘us’? “Will you just give me a chance to explain?”
“Go ahead. You have two minutes.”
Blaze blew out a breath. Fuck she was stubborn. And this was hard. What was he trying to say here? How much did he want to say? Realizing his time was ticking, he let his mouth do the talking and allowed his brain to stop thinking.
“I had a fiancée before. She died. You are the first woman since her. And I mean the first in every sense possible. I want to do this with you. I think about you and how desperately I want to touch you and graze your skin with my lips. I like when I make you laugh and you clasp your hands to your chest like it’s the funniest thing you’ve ever heard. How you smile when you think I’m not looking when I’m playing with Dee. I love that you find horror movies so appealing even though you can only stomach about half of them. Last night, Red, was…so much more than I anticipated.”
When she stayed quiet, he continued despite his dry throat. “I don’t think I’m ready for it. Maybe it was a bit premature to sleep with you, but I enjoyed it and I’m not regretting it. I just can’t be there yet. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He opened his mouth to speak again. Closed it. “I’m sorry.”
Her blue-green eyes blinked continuously as she watched him. Her gaze gave nothing away. He reached out to her and she stepped back.
“Say something.”
“I’m sorry about your fiancée. I had no idea.”
“I know. It was the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced. Which is why whatever this is between us-”
“Don’t say it,” she pressed her fingertip to his mouth and it about killed him. She was soft and sweet and he wanted more. Desperately wanted more of this hurricane. He’d hurt her and now she was the one consoling him.
“What was her name?”
“Nadia.”
“I’m sorry about Nadia. I really am.”
She fell into his arms and for once, maybe ever, he allowed someone to comfort him. He smoothed his hands down her sides, resting them along her hips. His heart burned with sadness over Nadia. She had been a part of him. She would always be and it hurt like hell. Brandi’s head rested on his chest as she held on to him.
“Thanks,” he cleared his voice, trying to untangle himself from her.
“I’m not asking for anything, Blaze. Just so you know.”
“I know. But you deserve much more than I can give you.”
“You’re right. I do. Absolutely.”
“So we’re good?”
“No, Blaze, we’re not good.”
He cocked his head, maybe he misunderstood?
“What I mean is,” Blaze loved the way her cheeks flushed red as she tried to figure out what she wanted to say to him.
“Go on.”
“What I mean is, this is good enough for now. Can’t we have sex and continue on with our lives, like normal?”
Normally, yes, that would be great for Blaze. In fact, how many women offered themselves up on a silver platter for the taking in which he’d gladly accepted? He couldn’t think of the last time that happened to him. It had been awhile. Pre-Nadia.
The question was whether or not he could accept this go-around. The way she’d been putty in his hands last night was tempting. She, with her pouty lip and curly-ass hair, was tempting. But what was she going to do when she found out he worked for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and was here to throw her boss in jail, essentially and quite possibly, putting her out of a job?