“I will not.” Nick shook his head and refused to look at her.
“Nick,” Dex warned. “Don’t say anything, bro. You’re angry, and you cannot take words back.” Dex opened the door for Kalilah. “I’m sorry, go home before he says something he cannot fix.” Kalilah fought back her tears and he looked at her sympathetically and whispered. “I’ll fix it.”
Kalilah rushed out the door and got into her car. She refused to cry. Not until she made it home at least. Even with all the time they’ve spent together, he still didn’t trust her. He had officially accused her of going after his dad and brother. She hated being right, especially when it meant that his opinion of her hadn’t changed months after they’d gotten to know each other.
Kalilah hadn’t learned how to listen to her instincts yet; she had signed herself up for another case of heartache. She didn’t have the energy to complain to Natalia and Cayla. Kalilah opted to lie in the dark with a blanket over her head.
Nick was so mad he couldn’t see straight. Dex was only in town for a few minutes, and Kalilah had already fallen for his bad boy routine. What was so unappealing about him that a woman could go from begging him to make love to her to being seconds from kissing his brother in a matter of minutes?
In the time it took for him to take the bread out of the oven and open a bottle of wine, his brother had already gotten under her skin. She’d immediately announced that she was not his girlfriend, then everything went downhill fast after that.
Nick’s heart hurt when she’d left. She didn’t even have the decency to face the music. Somehow, he ended up being the bad guy, and Dex was the savior of whores.
“Nick. The things you are thinking are why I sent her home. I got her out of here before you could blow any chance of getting her back. You’re overreacting…”
Dex’s statement pissed him off more than him admitting his mistake and asking for forgiveness.
“I am not fucking overreacting. You were practically kissing her! Oh! And what did you say? You’ve been waiting for her all your life. You were really laying it on thick.”
Dex held up his hands in surrender. “You heard that out of context. Nothing was going on. But, I will tell you what just happened – in reality. In the real world, you just overreacted your way out of what looked like was about to be some hot sex.”
The crushing pain in his heart outweighed his anger. “Out of all the girls, Dex…”
Dex expression softened. “Nick. She’s yours. All I did was test her…”
Nick was too tired to have this conversation with Dex right now. He thought family was supposed to stick together.
“Out, Dex. I can’t deal with you right now.”
Dex nodded and grabbed his things. He paused at the door before leaving.
“She passed, Nick.”
Nick was left alone in the silence with a breaking heart. He grabbed the bottle of wine. He didn’t bother getting a glass and headed to his room. It was going to be a long night.
Chapter 14
K alilah was not surprised that Nick didn’t call her Sunday. She also was not surprised when he cancelled their lunch meeting on Tuesday. She scoffed to herself in her office. Who was avoiding whom now? He even kept the privacy glass activated all day Monday and Tuesday. Now on Wednesday, she was ready to burst into his office and tell him he was an idiot. From the looks of it, this issue would not be resolved before she left for Dallas.
She chose him and still lost. When she returned after lunch, she had an unexpected visitor in her office. She could tell by the glassed over expression on her assistant that it was going to be the Sinclair that she wasn’t looking forward to seeing again. She knew this wasn’t Dex’s intention, but it was also partially his fault.
She entered her office to see him leaning on her desk. Damn, if he didn’t look good in business clothes. The classic combination of a black suit with a white shirt looked good on him. He wasn’t wearing a tie, and the top button was left open. Even in the suit, she could tell he was all muscle.
“Hey…I expected him to cool off by now,” he said by way of greeting. “I can tell by the way you are looking at me that he hasn’t called you either.” Kalilah shook her head and threw her purse on the couch. “I’m sorry.” His apology was sincere.
Kalilah shook her head. “It’s not your fault. You were a catalyst, but it’s obvious that he still has trust issues. You didn’t tell your parents, right?”
Dex hit her with a megawatt smile. “Darling, I’m out of touch, not stupid.”
Kalilah couldn’t help but smile. “I know first-hand how smart you are. That is why we’re in trouble now.”
Dex laughed a genuine laugh that caused her to join in and her assistant to peek into her office and ogle Dex. Of course, since the universe hates her, Nick chose that exact moment to come out of his office. Her heart stopped; even mad she was happy to at least see him. She could feel his eyes piercing into her across the hall. If looks could burn glass, she would no longer have an office. Nick looked like he was going to say something, except he turned and went back into his office.
Kalilah stared at the floor. Nick’s rejection pained her to the, core and she didn’t want Dex to see her in her feelings right now. Dex, however, was his perceptive self and zoned in on her pain.
“Kalilah?” His voice was gruff. She looked at him and was shocked by his sudden seriousness. There was a hint of anger simmering in his gray eyes.
“If you are going to be with my brother, the first thing you need to learn is that he is stubborn. You must be ready to fight. Are these offices sound-proof?” She nodded. “Good. I’m about to test them.” He patted her back. “Are you going to be okay?” She nodded.