Burned Deep (Burned 1)

I watched him a few minutes, all confident in himself that he truly was bodyguard material. I couldn’t dispute it, though in the back of my mind I wondered how dangerous that might be for Kyle. And whether I should have Dane fire him for his own protection.

When we were finished, we walked back to the lobby. He asked, “Why so quiet?”

I sighed. How had this all gotten so complicated?

“I like that we’re friends,” I told him. “I like that we get to hang out at work and that everyone’s raving about what a great job you’re doing. Dane really likes the invitations you’re producing—and that has nothing to do with me. I’m not even commenting on them, just letting him choose the ones he wants. And I can tell it’s been a difficult decision for him, because they’re all good.”

“But…?”

“But,” I said with a grimace. “There are some sketchy things going on around here. Between you and me, they might have to do with some of Dane’s former investors. I don’t want you finding yourself in trouble because of me, any more than Dane wants me caught in the cross fire because of him.”

We reached the elevators and Kyle leaned against the wall and grinned again. “Because you like me.”

I smirked. “Your arrogance knows no bounds.”

“Come on, toss me a bone. You like me a little, don’t you?”

Leaning in, I said, “As friends.”

“That’s a start, remember?”

He’d told me that at the Delfinos’ house. God, that seemed a million years ago. So much had happened since then. And along the way, I’d fallen madly, addictively in love. With Dane.

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In answer to Kyle’s comment, I told him, “On your way to being a BFF.”

“Ah, the best friend curse. Though,” he added optimistically, “the more you’re exposed to my rapier wit and these muscles”—he flexed his biceps—“the better chance you’ll have of ditching the brooding, intimidating guy for someone much more fun.”

“You do have a way about you. Just … don’t forget what I said earlier, okay? All of it.”

The elevator arrived. Though I missed my daily stair-stepper routine, I moved inside with Kyle.

“Is it his money?” he asked.

I shot him a look. “Oh, please.”

“So … what? Is it that whole I’m as tall as the Empire State Building thing he’s got going on?”

“I can’t tell you exactly what it is,” I said. “Because it’s everything—but mostly the way he makes me feel. And do you really want to hear about this?”

He frowned. “No, I guess not.”

With an empathetic smile, I said, “I’m sorry. It is what it is, whether I can explain it or not. I can’t do anything about it. I can’t help how I feel.”

“Yeah, well, I feel very strongly that you’ll get over him soon and come knocking on my door.” He gave me a smug look that I could see was feigned.

“You’re probably right,” I played along. “I mean who wants to be in love with the Empire State Building?”

The elevator chimed and the doors slid open on the third floor to let Kyle off.

“If you change your mind,” he said, “you know where to find me.”

“Duly noted—and thanks. For everything.”

He stepped out and I returned to my office.

I’d pulled together an entire theme for the launch and was in the process of creating a collage I could show Dane, to give him the full impact of my concept. It was hugely helpful to have something so massive to concentrate on. I didn’t even notice the time whizzing by until Molly announced over the speakerphone, “Kathryn DeMille on line two for you.”