Page 120 of Tate
She’d never expected Tate to show up, practically banging down the door of Ben’s lodge home to get to her. He’d crossed the room in giant strides of panic, his eyes pinned to hers, and she’d half expected him to sweep her up in his arms, the anger and fear radiating off him nearly palpable.
She might have lost her heart to him the night when he’d cornered her in the kitchen of his family home. When she’d offered him a cookie.
He’d wanted something else, she knew it, but she’d ducked away, afraid of the emotions between them.
Afraid of losing her heart again to a man who could walk away with it.
Her eyes filled as King reached the bridge in the song.
I need you, I need you, I need you
Don’t say goodbye
I need you, I need you, I need you
Can’t live without you
I need you, I need you, I need you
Come back to me tonight.
She drew up her knees, staring out toward the ocean, hearing Tate’s pleading.I love you. I have for months, and I…I’d give my life for you.
Her phone vibrated, and she looked down to see Kelsey’s name on the screen. She accepted the call and the music died. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
Silence.
“So, you heard then.”
“No. I guessed. I saw you stumping for your mother, and Tate was nowhere to be seen. Is that my imagination?”
“He left me.”
A beat, then, “Tateleftyou? C’mon?—”
“He kissed me, and the media found out, and Mother?—”
“Oh. Glo.”
“Yeah. And then he was quitting and walking out of my life and…” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. He’s trouble. Did you know that the last woman he protected waskilled?”
“Knox told me the story. She wasn’t a woman he was protecting. She was his girlfriend.”
Glo nodded. “He was in love with her.”
“Which probably gives a good reason why he’s a little rabid about protecting you.”
“Well, the threat is over—or it never was. The Bryant League wasn’t behind the bombing, and all the rest of the crazy moments have been, well, just crazy moments. None of it is connected. I’m perfectly safe.”
“Even from Sloan?”
“Sloan? Please. He’s harmless. Protective, but that’s all.” Poor man—he deserved better from Glo.
“What are you doing tonight?”
“It’s a dinner for my mother and Isaac White. Don’t tell anyone, but my mother is going to be announced as his running mate.”
