Page 95 of Love, Hate, Love

I wanted to sit on that damned porch swing, rocking gently. Wrapped in a blanket with a hot cup of coffee in my hands, I’d watch the sun rise over the mountains.

There were other parts of that morning that I missed more than anything, but I had to stop thinking ofhim. Nothing good came from that.

When I got home, I’d spent every waking minute rebuilding my career, and it was working. My clients were slowly coming back. I was regaining people’s confidence now that my name had been cleared. I could’ve even had my friends back if I’d wanted, but I hadn’t.

I should’ve been happy. Things were getting back on track. But all I did was think of him, what seemed like every single minute.

The buzzer rang, signaling Monroe’s arrival. He walked in the apartment a few minutes later.

“Coffee’s still hot,” I said, motioning toward the kitchen.

His eyes lit up and he headed to get a cup. “Man, I missed this brew. Where do you get it from?” He dropped onto my couch.

“Coffee shop around the corner sells a special blend.” I’d thought I’d miss it, too. Now all I thought about was how good the brew Kade had in Montana was.

Monroe watched me intently. “Is it weird to be back after everything that happened?”

“Yeah, I guess it is. I thought I’d get some satisfaction out of walking back here with my name cleared. The reality fell a little short.” Everything seemed to be falling short. I felt like I’d been living in 4K and had just been thrown back to silent movies.

“It’s been a month and you still seem off, like you don’t want to be here,” he said, watching me in that way he did lately, as if he weren’t sure who I was anymore.

“It’s just jarring to be back. I’ll settle in.” There was no way I’d sit around and pine for that man for another month. “By the way, did you bring me those new mortgage documents? I’m still waiting on them. I don’t know how you keep forgetting.”

He looked at his coffee as he said, “I have to tell you something about that.”

Usually when he wanted to tell me something, he just blurted it out.

“How bad is the interest rate?” I asked. I’d suspected it was horrendous but didn’t even care about that. Maybe I’d just sell the place, go somewhere else and start anew.

“It’s zero,” he said.

“Zero? How can it be zero?” I asked, turning around to look at him.

“Okay, this is where I’m going to have to talk about a subject you said I can’t.”

“I told you I don’t want to?—”

“I know,” he said. “You don’t want to talk about Kade, but youhaveto know this. It’s just too important not to tell you.”

Even the thought of Kade made my heart rate jump, my stomach feel like it was bottoming out, and my eyes burn. How was it he could still do this to me?Damn him.

“Fine. What’s so important? Say it. Get it out, but it better really be important, because I hate that man and I don’t want to talk about him.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything, but you’re just too miserable and Ihaveto tell you. That witness who came forth? Kade paid him off, and from what I’ve heard, to the tune of several million.”

“Who would tell you something so stupid? That’s bull, ’cause Kade wouldn’t have millions to throw around like that. I mean, the ranch is doing well, but I think he throws every dime back into it.” To grow as fast as he had, he must’ve. Plus he’d kept buying more horses, cattle, and land while I’d been there.

“Alec told me. We’ve been talking.” Monroe sipped, watching me like he was getting ready to run out the door if I made a wrong move.

“You’ve been talking to Alec?” I was too stunned to punch him.

“Yes. Apparently Kade is as miserable as you, and we made a decision to screw all the confidences for both of your best interests. Kade paid for that witness to come clean. He got into Bitcoin on the ground floor and rolled some of that into other tech stocks. Guy has brilliant instincts and a brother who’s an insider.”

I leaned forward, gaping. “Kade paid to clear my name?”

“Yes.” Monroe stared at me, brows high, like he was wondering how many times he’d have to say it.

“There’s no way this is true.” It couldn’t be. Why would Kade do that?

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