Kidnapped at the Gun Show [Ransomed Hearts] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read Free Page A

next?” Kale sat next to her and kept his eyes focused on the trees in front of them, giving her space.
    “No.”
    “Want me to help?”
    When she turned her head to stare at him, he ignored the urge to meet her gaze. If he did, he’d want to kiss her senseless, and that wouldn’t get them anywhere near the truth. She had to hear the facts and come to him willingly. The physical attraction they still had would get in the way until she was ready to decide.
    “What kind of help can you give me?”
    She sounded irritated but curious. Kale let his eyes drift closed for just a moment. They were making progress.
    “I can tell you what happened the day before I left town.”
    “You mean, the day Kathy told me about your affair?” she said, her voice a ragged whisper of raw pain.
    “I didn’t sleep with her, Sara. But I was told you slept with Howard Finch while I was out of town. Hell, I even had pictures of the two of you together. So I didn’t come home, just disappeared and let you do whatever you wanted. But I never stopped loving you.”
    “You had pictures of me with Howie?” She sounded incredulous, which made sense. “He was a friend, but we never dated.”
    “Yeah, I know. The pictures weren’t real. I know that now. I was hurt. Pissed off. I overreacted.” Kale turned on the bench and faced her, taking her hand. “I used it as an excuse to bolt.”
    “Why did you leave?” she asked.
    “Our relationship was moving fast and I freaked. I was stupid.”
    She tugged until he let go of her hand and moved far enough across the yard to avoid further contact. “Who gave you the pictures?”
    “Does it matter?”
    “Well, since I have pictures of you with Kathy, yes. It definitely matters.”
    “You have pictures of me with Kathy? Impossible. We never dated.”
    “Why should I believe you?”
    Kale kicked at the gravel path, watching her pace across the small space while he thought about the words he’d have to use. Finally, he decided to screw the rules his grandmother had drummed into him since birth. “Look, what I have to say isn’t pretty, and I apologize up front, okay?” He waited for her nod before continuing. “Kathy was a skank. I know she was your friend, but she spread her legs for just about every man in town. And personally, I’m not interested in everybody else’s leftovers.”
    She’d stopped pacing and was staring at him like he’d grown another head. “Sorry, I know it’s not nice to talk about the dead like that, but it’s the truth.”
    “What? Kathy’s not dead. She moved to Nevada last year.”
    “I was told she died in a car wreck a year after I left town.”
    Sara returned to her spot on the bench. “Who’s been telling you these things?”
    “Denny Cooper.”
    “Interesting. He’s the one with the picture of you and Kathy.” Sara shook her head, sadness washing over her face, and Kale had an immediate urge to punch someone, with Denny high on the list.
    “Where can I find the sonuvabitch?”
    “He moved to Nevada with Kathy.”
    Kale stared at her, both of them fools to believe the stories they were fed. So much time wasted because of lies.
    “I shouldn’t have believed his story.” Kale shuffled his boots through the gravel, hoping the worst of the conversation was over.
    “Why did they do this? It doesn’t make sense,” Sara asked.
    “Hard to tell what motivates some people. Jealousy? Pure meanness?”
    Sara sighed. “We were casual friends, not really close, but – wait. You used all this as an excuse for what?”
    Busted.
    “Honestly, I had some relationship issues to work out. I’ve been figuring things out.”
    Sara placed her hand on his knee and squeezed. “Commitment issues?”
    “Sort of. I’m working on it.” He tugged at her hands. “It’s been three years. What are we going to do now?”
    Her face glowed as regret was wiped away and replaced by a sensual awareness he’d missed for three years. A smile teased at the corners of her