Going Down Easy (Billionaire Bad Boys 1)

She must have heard his voice because she stilled.

“Lexie.”

Slowly, she turne

d, and the look on her face absolutely gutted him. Pain was evident in her sad eyes and hurt showed in her expression.

“What is it?” she asked. “Because I need to talk to my sister and figure out what’s going on. I’ll get your watch back somehow and make things right. Just please, please don’t call the police?” she asked, begging him on her twin’s behalf.

She obviously didn’t know why her sister had stolen his watch or how she’d come to be with Julian, but she was going to protect her with every fiber of her being. A big part of Kade admired her for her loyalty in the face of pretty damning evidence. Because at one time he’d had a younger brother who was like a twin to him. One he’d have done anything for.

He exhaled hard. “I’m not calling the police. I just think we should talk too.” There was so much he didn’t know or understand, and he couldn’t just let her go with the ugly words he’d said hanging between them.

“But Kendall—”

He assumed that was her sister’s name. “You can talk to her later. Nothing is going to change between now and then. Please.” He dug deep for that last word.

Despite now knowing Lexie hadn’t betrayed him, he’d spent twenty-four hours thinking she had. And it had been too damned easy for him to believe the worst. He needed to figure out what that said about himself, that he was willing to throw her out without listening to an explanation after the things they’d shared. But first he needed the whole story.

She blew out a long breath. “Okay. I owe you a conversation, at the very least.”

He didn’t want her here because she owed him, but the truth was he didn’t know what he needed or wanted besides an explanation.

They started to walk. “I told you about my mother’s depression,” she said.

“Yes. And you did mention that you had a sister. You just never said twin.”

He glanced her way, but she’d dipped her head, and when she spoke, it was low and difficult to hear. “Sometimes I just want to forget, you know? I want to pretend that my life is normal, that I can have friends and a serious relationship without having to drop everything at a moment’s notice because Kendall is bipolar and spiraling out of control. I know better, of course, and today proved it. But for the short time I knew I’d have with you, I wanted it to be about just … us.”

Without thought, he reached over and grabbed her hand, needing to feel her, to be closer, to show her he understood.

“When we got together, I told you my life was complicated and I wasn’t looking for anything serious. She’s why.”

They reached a corner and stopped, waiting for the red light to change to green before crossing and continuing on. They passed people walking dogs, vendors selling pretzels, bagels, and soft-drinks, and life went on as normal in the busy city. Except Kade didn’t feel normal anymore.

Everything had done a one-eighty, and given how much he detested change, his insides were churning and panic was setting in. When this was over, losing her was a very real possibility, and that wasn’t something he was ready to deal with.

“Listen, now that you understand, I really need to talk to her.”

“I’m coming with you,” he said, deciding as he spoke.

She came to a halt and turned to face him. “What? You can’t. She’ll take one look at you and freak out.”

“Or she’ll take one look at me and spill her guts. What are the chances she’ll tell you everything if you’re alone?” he asked, willing himself to ignore the fear in her eyes.

She didn’t reply, letting him know he was right. Besides, he wasn’t going to hurt her sister. He just wanted answers. More than that, though, he didn’t want Lexie to face this alone.

Maybe he was a nicer guy than he’d thought. Or maybe this woman meant more to him than he wanted to believe.

* * *

Lexie’s stomach churned as she and Kade took a cab to her apartment. She didn’t know what awaited her any more than she understood why he insisted on being there. She could handle her sister. But he did have a point. Kendall was more likely to cave if Kade was there, and she was intimidated by his presence. She didn’t have to like it though.

A little while later, she let them into her place, realizing it was the first time Kade had been there. Subconsciously she’d been avoiding allowing her worlds to collide in any way. And that had been a mistake, she realized now. Not just because the distance she’d created had allowed Kendall to run amok in Kade’s life, the very opposite of Lexie’s intentions, but because what kind of relationship could they have had if she didn’t share everything?

She pursed her lips at that thought and stepped inside.

“Kendall?” she called out. She’d left her sister at home in bed this morning, recovering from the migraine. She’d said she had no plans to leave the apartment. “Kendall?”