Page 60 of Keeping Kaitlyn

Looking out the window again, I try like hell to find something to say that might put us back on even ground. “I got your text,” I say and instantly regret it because if I was looking for even ground between us, talking about the dirty picture he drew of us is not it.

“Oh, yeah…” Went says on a low chuckle that stains my cheeks. “Which one?”

“Both.” Flicking him a quick look. “But I’m specifically referring to your text about dinner tomorrow night. I was thinking maybe we shouldn’t?—”

“Sorry, Sunshine—” Shaking his head on another chuckle, Went tightens his hands around the steering wheel, the sight of them reminding me what it feels like to have them gripped around my hips. Fisted in my hair. Wrapped around my throat. “I’ve already made reservations.”

“Reservations?” Looking up from his hands, I find him looking at me like he knows exactly what I’m thinking about. Embarrassed over being caught, I look away. “Can’t we just go to Benny’s?”

The corner of Went’s mouth twitches at my obvious discomfort. “We’re not going to Benny’s.”

Trying to reason with him, I shake my head. “I don’t have anything nice enough to wear to a restaurant that takes reservations, besides, if we’re trying to put on a show for the Gilroys, wouldn’t it be better if we went to a place where they might actually?—”

“I don’t want toput on a show. That’s not why I asked you out.” Frowning at the road, Went shakes his head. “I’m pretty sure it’s not going to matter anyway. Conner knows everything so that means Henley does too. It’s only a matter of time before?—”

“Conner knows everything.” I repeat it back to him like I don’t understand the words. “What do you mean,Conner knows everything?”

Eyes focused on the road, Went frowns at my tone. “I mean he knows. About us—that we met while I was tangled up in that Lexi Chase mess and that we got married.”

There’s more. He’s not telling me something but instead of pressing him about it, I ask him the more important question. “Why would you do that? Why would you justtellhim without talking to me about it first?”

“First off, I didn’t justtell him.” Aiming a quick look in my direction, Went shakes his head. “Did you know that weird motherfucker can read lips?” When my face folds into a confused,what are you talking aboutfrown, he lets out a loud bark of laughter. “Yeah, me either—but he can. So even though there was no audio with the security camera feed in the elevator, Friday night, he had absolutely no problem with understanding what we said to each other.”

You seem to have forgotten what happens to me when you’re within fucking distance…

“Yeah…” The look on my face must tell him what I’m remembering because he laughs. “That.And before you ask me why I didn’t try to feed him some bullshit story—I don’t know about you but the ConnerIknow doesn’t swallow bullshit very well. Lying to him would’ve been a stupid thing to do.”

Because I don’t have a winning argument for that one, I feel my shoulders slump. “You told Ryan that you’re married.”

Went’s face crumples into a frown when I say it. “What?”

“At Conner’s bachelor party—you were tattooing him and you told him that the woman in the pictures you have hanging up in your shop are of your wife—not ex-wife.Wife.” When he doesn’t say anything, I keep pressing. “He warned me that getting involved with you would be a bad idea.”

He makes a hard, flat noise in the back of his throat and hearing it pisses me off for some reason.

“Why would you do that?” I ask, turning in my seat to study his profile. “Why would you?—”

He nails me to my seat with a quick, hard look before refocusing on the road. “Why did you leave?” Ignoring my question, Went asks one of his own. A question he’s asked me more than once and it’s one I haven’t answered.

But I should.

“Because—” Shaking my head, I look away from him, hoping it’ll make it easier to say. “the only reason you married me was to save me from Brock and my father. Because it was the right thing to do. I was saved. There was no reason to stay.”

He makes that sound again but it’s uglier this time. Angrier. “You really think that?” he asks me with a disgusted head shake. “You really think I married you to?—”

“You’re arescue ranger, remember?” I bite back, forcing myself to look at him. “You blew up your entire fucking life because your ex-girlfriend called you, crying for help. You can’t help yourself, Went. It’s what you do.” Sighing, I turn away from him to aim my gaze out the window. “We were never going to work,” I say quietly. “I just figured it out before you did.”

Neither one of us says another word for the rest of the trip.

THIRTY-FOUR

WENTWORTH

I stayedat the cape house just long enough to fulfill my duties as groomsman while making small talk with everyone, laughing and joking like I was having the time of my life. To his credit, Conner didn’t say a word about what I told him yesterday and if Henley was aware, she didn’t let on. I have a feeling our little secret is safe, at least for now.

Not sure I could take another two-hour car ride with her without completely losing my shit, I made sure Kait and her dog have a ride home before I left without saying goodbye.

As soon as I got home, I went straight to my studio and started drawing because that’s the only way I know how to deal with the bullshit floating around in my head.

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