head studying her. “Do you like hockey?”
Jess nodded. “I've watched enough games, but I've never been to one.”
“Did their father ever take them?”
Jess hesitated. How much should she tell him? “No. He...didn't spend much time with
the kids.” Or me. But she'd never admit to anyone what a disappointment she'd been to her husband.
TEN
Kayne carried Gracie as they made their way into the Westgate Plaza's city-center.
Though crowded, the place was a veritable ghost town compared to what it would be
in a few hours. Jessica had a firm grip on Ash and Isabelle's hands, keeping them
close, so he wasn't surprised when Maddy fell in beside him and hesitantly reached
for his. He looked down to see the hope and doubt in her pretty green eyes. “Is this okay?” they silently asked.
Kayne squeezed her hand in reassurance, and her little face lit up with delight. His
chest tightened in response. Kayne knew to the outside world they looked like a happy
family, and that scared the shit out of him. He took a deep breath, trying to fight
off the panic. He wasn't going to stick around long enough for anyone to get attached .
Gracie kissed his cheek, pulling him out of his dark thoughts. “What was that for?”
“No be sad, a'kay?” she said.
“I wasn't sad, just thinking.”
She looked doubtful and kissed him again. The more time he spent with her, the more
she reminded him of Natalia. God, he needed to know who she was before he got involved
any deeper. Which meant he needed to find some alone time with Jessica. A dangerous proposition in and of itself. His body refused to accept the message that she was off limits. Somehow Kayne had
to get the idea of fucking her out of his mind. He couldn't let it happen. Both of
them would be hurt when he walked away. And walk away he would.
Eventually they chose a place for dinner, then headed toward the arena at the far end of Westgate.
“Where are we sitting?” Kayne hadn't thought to ask earlier, just thrilled with the
idea of going to a playoff game with Jessica and the kids.
Jessica shrugged and stepped up to the will call window. “Somewhere on the lower level. I was told they were really good seats.”
The attendant took Jessica's identification. “Ma'am, if you and your party will step
over there, someone will be right with you.” He picked up his radio and asked for
a club representative.
That piqued Kayne’s curiosity. “Is there a problem?”
“No, sir. I'm sorry for the delay. If you'll please just step over there out of the way, someone
will be right with you.”
A moment later, a man in a suit walked up to them. “Ms. Hallstatt, I apologize for
the delay . I’m David Williams, the Concierge Manager. I understand our GM is an acquaintance
of yours. He's asked me to personally ensure that you and your party are taken care
of tonight. If you'll follow me, I'll escort you in.”
Kayne looked to Jessica, who shrugged. She seemed as surprised as he was over the
VIP treatment.
Kayne couldn't remember the last time he'd enjoyed just being some place. No. That
wasn't true. He'd taken his family to the hills on one of those rare warm winter days
a few weeks before they died. They'd had a picnic in a meadow, and he'd played with
his children until they'd worn themselves out. Afterwards, he'd lain down with them
on a blanket, and his son had whispered, “I love you, Papa,” before drifting off to
sleep.
Damn! He didn't want to think about that. Not now. He sure as hell didn't want to remember
how Oksana had laid their baby on his chest and curled up beside him, just to be close
and talk. Kayne shoved the unwanted memory away before it fully formed, and focused
on the present.
Williams stopped in front of a souvenir shop. “If you'd like to pick out a souvenir
now, I can have them autographed before you leave tonight.”
“Seriously?” Jessica gasped. “The kids would love
Jess nodded. “I've watched enough games, but I've never been to one.”
“Did their father ever take them?”
Jess hesitated. How much should she tell him? “No. He...didn't spend much time with
the kids.” Or me. But she'd never admit to anyone what a disappointment she'd been to her husband.
TEN
Kayne carried Gracie as they made their way into the Westgate Plaza's city-center.
Though crowded, the place was a veritable ghost town compared to what it would be
in a few hours. Jessica had a firm grip on Ash and Isabelle's hands, keeping them
close, so he wasn't surprised when Maddy fell in beside him and hesitantly reached
for his. He looked down to see the hope and doubt in her pretty green eyes. “Is this okay?” they silently asked.
Kayne squeezed her hand in reassurance, and her little face lit up with delight. His
chest tightened in response. Kayne knew to the outside world they looked like a happy
family, and that scared the shit out of him. He took a deep breath, trying to fight
off the panic. He wasn't going to stick around long enough for anyone to get attached .
Gracie kissed his cheek, pulling him out of his dark thoughts. “What was that for?”
“No be sad, a'kay?” she said.
“I wasn't sad, just thinking.”
She looked doubtful and kissed him again. The more time he spent with her, the more
she reminded him of Natalia. God, he needed to know who she was before he got involved
any deeper. Which meant he needed to find some alone time with Jessica. A dangerous proposition in and of itself. His body refused to accept the message that she was off limits. Somehow Kayne had
to get the idea of fucking her out of his mind. He couldn't let it happen. Both of
them would be hurt when he walked away. And walk away he would.
Eventually they chose a place for dinner, then headed toward the arena at the far end of Westgate.
“Where are we sitting?” Kayne hadn't thought to ask earlier, just thrilled with the
idea of going to a playoff game with Jessica and the kids.
Jessica shrugged and stepped up to the will call window. “Somewhere on the lower level. I was told they were really good seats.”
The attendant took Jessica's identification. “Ma'am, if you and your party will step
over there, someone will be right with you.” He picked up his radio and asked for
a club representative.
That piqued Kayne’s curiosity. “Is there a problem?”
“No, sir. I'm sorry for the delay. If you'll please just step over there out of the way, someone
will be right with you.”
A moment later, a man in a suit walked up to them. “Ms. Hallstatt, I apologize for
the delay . I’m David Williams, the Concierge Manager. I understand our GM is an acquaintance
of yours. He's asked me to personally ensure that you and your party are taken care
of tonight. If you'll follow me, I'll escort you in.”
Kayne looked to Jessica, who shrugged. She seemed as surprised as he was over the
VIP treatment.
Kayne couldn't remember the last time he'd enjoyed just being some place. No. That
wasn't true. He'd taken his family to the hills on one of those rare warm winter days
a few weeks before they died. They'd had a picnic in a meadow, and he'd played with
his children until they'd worn themselves out. Afterwards, he'd lain down with them
on a blanket, and his son had whispered, “I love you, Papa,” before drifting off to
sleep.
Damn! He didn't want to think about that. Not now. He sure as hell didn't want to remember
how Oksana had laid their baby on his chest and curled up beside him, just to be close
and talk. Kayne shoved the unwanted memory away before it fully formed, and focused
on the present.
Williams stopped in front of a souvenir shop. “If you'd like to pick out a souvenir
now, I can have them autographed before you leave tonight.”
“Seriously?” Jessica gasped. “The kids would love
Similar Books
