Page 84 of Keeping Kaitlyn

Shit.

Getting up, I cross the room to stand in front of the drawing of Kait and her horse, putting as much distance between me and that fucking list as possible, just as she comes into the room.

Even though it’s obvious that she knows I read it, she doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t get angry at me for invading her privacy.Doesn’t call off our date and kick me out of her apartment like she should.

Instead, when I mumble some lame ass excuse about having to leave so we aren’t late for our reservation, she meekly grabs her coat and follows me out into the hallway where she locks her apartment before following me to the elevator. To the parking lot where she allows me to open her door and help her into my car with nothing more than a murmuredthank youto fill the charged silence between us while I do my best to ignore the fact that reading that list didn’t just change the way I feel about her.

It changes everything.

FORTY-SIX

KAITLYN

Went broughtme to his father’s restaurant.

As soon as I realize it, I start to panic. Because he’s always been able to read me like a book, Went looks at me across the dark interior of his car and cuts off my obvious questions with a tight head shake.

“It’s not a big deal,” he tells me, right before the valet opens his car door.

He’s wrong.

It’s a big deal.

It’s a very big deal.

I open my mouth to tell him exactly that but before I can get it out, my own car door is opened and a different valet is gently pulling me out of my seat to deposit me onto the sidewalk where Went is already waiting for me.

“It’s okay.” Still reading me like a book, Went presses a hand against the small of my back to herd me toward the restaurant’s heavy, smoked glass door. “It’s Monday. He won’t be here.”

Hearing him say it makes me feel better—but it doesn’t last long because the moment I see the hostess smiling at us from behind her sleek podium, I recognize her.

“I was wondering if you were really going to show up,” Went’s sister says with a laugh. Stepping out from behind her station, she meets us halfway. “I was starting to think you stood us up.” Looking at me, the stunning brunette with curves to die for and the most luminous gray eyes I’ve ever seen, offers me her hand. “I’m Silver—Went’s sister.”

I know.

Because I’m not supposed to know, I don’t say it out loud. Taking her hand, I force a smile onto my face. “Nice to meet you, I’m Kait. I’m a… friend of his.”

When I say the wordfriend, Went’s hand, still pressed into the small of my back, grips itself in the fabric of my coat and the muscle running the length of his jawline twitches.

“Us?” He looks at his sister like he’s hoping he might have heard her wrong.

Pulling her hand away from mine, Silver winces slightly. “I didn’t tell him, I swear.” Shaking her head, she gestures for me to give her my coat. “I’ll check that for you,” she says, trying to avoid her brother’s looming death glare. “It can get warm in the kitchen.”

“Andthe chef’s table?” He looks at his sister like she’s committed the ultimate betrayal.

“Not my idea.” Silver gives him a helpless shrug. “You know how he is. He?—”

“Yeah—I know exactly how he is. Keep your coat on,” he orders me through clenched teeth. “We’re leaving.”

“If you didn’t want to run the risk of seeing him, why did you book a reservation in the first place?” Silver says, suddenly every inch the irritated little sister. “It’s his restaurant, for Christ’s sake.”

“Because it’s supposed to be his day off and this is theone restaurantin the entire fucking city that I knew he wouldn’t be at,” Went shoots back, clearly just as irritated as she is.

“Well, like I said—I didn’t tell him.” Hands on her hips, Silver glares up at him. “Jean Luc must have seen your name in the book and?—”

“It’s fine.” Giving his face a rough swipe, Went looks down at me, the awkwardness between us momentarily forgotten. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay…” Shaking my head, I offer him a reasurring smile. “You can take me home. We’ll just?—”

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