Page 2 of Sizzling Desire

I nod, bracing myself. “Hudson took you home, and you found your person that night.” I let out a hollow laugh. “Kane took me home, too. Do you remember that?”

Kate tilts her head. “Of course I do. So?”

I swallow hard. “That night, I came onto him,” I pause because I’m still so embarrassed for my drunken behavior. “and he shot me down. Cold and calculated.”

Kate’s eyes widen. “But you were drunk. He was being a gentleman, Grace. You’re mad at him for that?”

I huff out another laugh, shaking my head. “No. Of course not. But…”

She shakes her head, completely floored. “But, what?”

I glance over my shoulder at Kane, who is laughing at something Chance just said, looking like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

I sigh. “I was so into him that night, Kate. I mean, really into him. He took me home, and I invited him inside. And you know what he did?”

Kate’s mouth presses into a thin line. “Tell me.”

“He laughed when I tried to kiss him. Like I was some silly little girl throwing herself at him. Like it was cute that I thought I had a shot with him.”

Kate blinks. “Wait. He laughed?”

I nod. “And then he told me I was too drunk and he doesn’t ‘mess around’ with drunk girls, and he left.” I let out another breath, shaking my head. “And now? I see him all over town with a different woman on his arm every damn time. So clearly, he messes around just fine. Just not with me.”

Kate’s expression twists into something between anger and disbelief. “Are you kidding me?”

“Nope,” I mutter, taking another swig of water. “So, you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t care for your boyfriend’s best friend.”

Kate puts a hand on my arm. “Grace.”

I shake my head, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “What’s wrong with me, Kate? I can’t even get a horndog guy to sleep with me. Am I ugly? Repulsive? Do I smell?” Myvoice is quiet, but the words feel heavy. “Why am I not good enough?”

Kate’s eyes soften instantly. “Nothing. Absolutelynothingis wrong with you.” She grips my hand tightly. “Kane is a jerk, Grace. If he doesn’t see how incredible you are, then that’shisloss, not yours.”

I let out a hollow laugh. “Yeah, right.”

But deep down, it still stings. A lot. Because Kane did see me that night, and he still walked away.

Kate watches me carefully. “Are you sure this isn’t about more than just that night?”

I shake my head, pasting on a smile. “What more can it be? He’s not even given me the time of day since then.” I wave her off. “I’m fine, Kate. Really.”

Kate gives me a long, knowing look, but she doesn’t push.

I glance over my shoulder again, my eyes landing on Kane, and I tell myself the same lie I’ve been telling myself for months. I don’t care about Kane Mitchell. I don’t.

Even as my heart thumps a little harder just looking at him. Even as I know, deep down, that if he ever really looked back at me—if he ever saw me the way I wanted him to—I’d be in so much trouble.

But that won’t happen.

Because Kane doesn’t want someone like me, and I refuse to want someone who doesn’t want me back.

So why does it feel like the biggest lie I’ve ever told myself?

Chapter 1

Grace

The atmosphere in Hooplas is electric, a chaotic symphony of laughter, clinking glasses, and the occasional cheer from the corner where someone just won a pool game. The air practically vibrates with excitement, the entire town packed into this bar to celebrate Kate’s comeback—the reopening of theBean & Bageland the launch ofKate’s Kakes. This is supposed to be a fresh start for her, a new chapter after the explosion that nearly took everything from her.

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