Turn On A Dime - Kade's Turn (34 page)
Read Turn On A Dime - Kade's Turn Online
Authors: Tiffany Snow
“Turn around,” he said, taking the necklace from her.
She turned and lifted her hair so he could fasten the clasp. The necklace was perfect, the locket nestling right above her cleavage. She placed a hand over it.
Kade didn’t want to stop touching her, so he rested his hands on her shoulders. Their bodies were close, nearly touching, and he inhaled, savoring the scent of her one more time.
“I wish you would stay.”
He barely heard her whisper, then she turned back to him, raising her eyes to his. He’d give her anything if she asked, but staying…staying might just kill him.
“I can’t,” he said roughly. “Do you think I’m blind? Blane wants you back. If I stay, I’ll have to watch you and him together. Don’t ask me to do that.” Blunt honesty wasn’t usually his thing, but the instinct for survival was strong. If she wanted him to stay, he’d be helpless to deny her, but it would drive him insane.
She didn’t ask him to stay. She did something even worse. She started to cry.
“Dammit,” Kade cursed under his breath, his hands cupping her jaw and brushing at her tears. She just stared at him with her wide blue eyes, the crystal rivulets tracking down her cheeks faster than he could wipe them away. “Don’t cry, princess, please,” he begged. The sadness in her eyes was something he’d put there, and he hated himself for it.
“When will you be back?”
“In time for Britney,” he said, desperate for her to stop crying and smile at him. He didn’t want her tears to be the last thing he saw of her.
“Please,” she said, her voice broken and barely discernible. “Please be careful. Don’t get hurt. Don’t die.”
He couldn’t handle this. She sounded like…like she needed him.
Him
. Kade Dennon. Assassin, hacker, lawbreaker, and all around shitty person.
“I didn’t know you cared,” he said, testing the waters.
“You know I do.”
He hadn’t known, hadn’t dared to hope that she felt something for him, even if it was just worry for his safety. It was less than he wanted, but better than nothing, and he held tightly to it.
If he didn’t leave now, he wouldn’t leave at all, and he’d fight Blane tooth and nail for her.
Kade wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Her arms went around his waist as she burrowed in close to him. Her hip fit perfectly in his palm, the warmth of her skin seeping through the thin cotton of her gown.
He wanted to kiss her so badly, it was a burning need in the center of his chest, but he didn’t. Because if he did kiss her—here, under his brother’s roof—it wouldn’t stop at just a kiss. There was too much attraction between them for it to only be a kiss, too many feelings bottled up inside him, and he didn’t want to do that to her. It was bizarre and inexplicable, but he felt as though he’d tarnish her gold with his touch. And he wanted her to stay gold.
Letting her go was more difficult than not kissing her, and when she opened her mouth to say goodbye, he pressed his fingers to her lips.
“Shh, don’t say it,” he said. He didn’t want this to be goodbye, though it might very well be the last time he saw her. He was usually gone for months at a time. She could move away as quickly and easily as she’d moved here, especially when Blane broke her heart.
He prayed she’d keep that hopefulness and optimistic view of the world after that happened—he hoped Blane wouldn’t tarnish the gold in her soul either.
Kade pressed his lips to her forehead for a long moment. An act of benediction and blessing when usually bestowed, though tonight it felt as though he was drawing from her. Strength. Protection. Warmth. Affection.
Sliding into his jacket, Kade kept his eyes on her, committing the sight to memory. His mother’s locket shimmered against her skin, and he couldn’t think of a better place to leave the best part of himself than resting against Kathleen’s heart.
Grabbing his coat, he turned and left the room, wishing he could return to the warm circle of her arms. But wishing was more useless and pointless than hoping. Instead, he walked outside into the bitter cold. Alone.
Read the entire Kathleen Turner Series!
Find Extras and Outtakes on Tiffany’s website –
http://www.Tiffany-Snow.com
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tiffany Snow has been reading romance novels since she was too young to read romance novels. After working in the Information Technology field as a system administrator, she now holds her dream job of writing full time.
Tiffany makes her home in the Midwest with her husband and two daughters. She can be reached at [email protected]. Visit her at her website, www.Tiffany-Snow.com, to keep up with her latest projects.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents