“What’s this?” I asked, confused.

“It’s the number of an account in Cayman National, a bank in Grand Cayman. It’s your account now. I checked it. Kade put ten million dollars in it for you.”

I nearly choked, shock hitting me hard. I stared at Blane, my jaw agape.

“He didn’t want you to have to worry about money,” Blane continued.

The ache in my chest was back, slicing through wounds that had only just stopped bleeding. Kade would give me a fortune, money he’d sold his soul to acquire, but he wouldn’t give me himself.

“So, I guess that’s the Kade-equivalent of leaving some money on the bedside table.” Bitterness edged my voice. “I don’t want his money.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Blane said. “You need it. The baby needs it.”

That shut me up. I’d been trying not to think of that word. Baby. It was easier, less personal, for me to just think pregnant.

“Oh God.” I sank onto the sofa, my elbows resting on my thighs as I covered my face. I couldn’t look at him. Kade’s acceptance had helped me hold my head up when I’d had to tell Blane. But his leaving had me feeling ashamed. Embarrassed. Rejected.

“Hey,” Blane said softly, prying my hands away from my face. “I told you that you’re not alone, and I meant it.”

I made myself look at him.

“I love you, and this baby shares my blood, too.” His hand lifted to cup my cheek. “Stay with me. Marry me. You loved me once, you can love me again. I promise that I will never leave you. We’ll be together. Always.”

I was speechless. The enormity of what Blane was offering overwhelmed me. Safety. Security. His name. His love.

Blane slowly leaned forward, his gaze dropping. I had plenty of time to move away, but I didn’t. His mouth met mine with a tender reverence that made my heart skip a beat. His lips moved coaxingly and his tongue softly brushed mine. His hands curved around the back of my neck, his fingers buried in my hair.

I pulled back, my emotions chaotic and my thoughts in a turmoil.

“I made a promise to Kade,” Blane said, resting his forehead against mine. “When he was shot. I promised that if something happened to him, I’d take care of you. And I want to. God, I want to.”

I jerked away, my eyes wide. “You made a promise?” I repeated in disbelief.

I stood and started pacing. “Don’t you see how messed up this is?” I asked, an edge of hysteria in my voice. I gripped the sides of my head in frustration.

“Why is my making a promise so ‘messed up’?” Blane had risen, and he approached me without making a sound.

“I don’t believe you, Blane,” I said baldly. “I can’t.”

“You don’t believe that I love you?” Blane’s expression was forbidding, his jaw clenched tight. “You think I’d say that to just anyone?”

“Blane, your sense of duty, of honor, is such that I wonder if you even know if you really love me,” I said sadly. “And I can’t do this anymore, to either of us.”

“What do you mean?” he rasped.

“I can’t hurt you like this!” I cried, tears streaming unheeded from my eyes. “I’m in love with Kade. I’m having his baby. You don’t deserve that! And my staying around is only going to hold you back.”

He stiffened, his eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”

The words were nearly impossible to get out. “I mean I’ve got to let you go.”

Blane said nothing, but his face grew pale.

“It’s not fair to you,” I managed to say through my tears, “for me to keep holding on, keep needing you. You have to get on with your life.” I swallowed. “And so do I.”

I turned away, moving to grab my purse, but Blane was there in an instant, blocking me. His hands pressed against my cheeks, his fingers tangled in my hair as he forced me to look at him.

“Don’t go,” he said desperately. “Please—” His voice broke. “Kat, I’ve never begged a woman. Ever. But I’m begging you. Stay. For me. Please stay.” Blane’s eyes were a brilliant green.

“You’re a good man, Blane Kirk,” I whispered through my tears. “You mean so much to me. Which is why I can’t.” I placed my hand over his, turning my face to press my lips against his palm.

This time, he didn’t try to stop me when I turned and walked out the door.

Driving away from Blane’s house was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do, and tears I couldn’t control blurred the streets as I drove. Everything in me screamed for me to turn around and go back to Blane, but I knew I couldn’t.

Somehow, I made it home. I was fumbling with my keys to unlock my door when Alisha’s door flew open.

“Kathleen! I’ve been so worried!” She launched herself at me, wrapping me in a huge hug.

“I’m sorry,” I said, hugging her back. “I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

Letting me go, Alisha stepped back, scrutinizing me. “What else happened?” she asked.

I shook my head. “I’ve laid enough on you lately,” I said. “I’m sure you’re sick of hearing about it.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said with a snort, grabbing my arm and hauling me into her apartment. “Sit down and tell me all about it.”

So I sat, and I told her what had happened. How I’d told Kade everything and how at first he’d reacted so great, but then he’d flipped out, or so I guessed, and left town. That Blane had taken me back to his place once they’d found me in Kade’s apartment, ending with what Blane had offered tonight.

“But I can’t do that,” I finished with a sigh. “Marry Blane and have another man’s child? That’s insane.”

Alisha didn’t say anything, just kind of squirmed.

“Right?” I persisted.

“Well . . .” she hedged.

“You’ve got to be joking. You can’t stand Blane. Now you think I should marry him?”

“It’s just that he was so worried about you,” she said plaintively. “He came by, told me how upset you were, and wanted me to go check on you in the morning. Then you didn’t answer your door, or your phone, and finally, I didn’t know what to do but call him. I think he was in court, because his secretary had to go to the courthouse to get him.”

Oh no. Blane had left court because of my drama? Now I had guilt as well as embarrassment.

“He was frantic, Kathleen,” she continued. “I know I haven’t been Blane’s biggest fan, but I thought he was going to tear this town apart, looking for you.”

I didn’t know what to say, which didn’t matter because Alisha kept talking, now going on a rant about Kade.

“. . . can’t believe he’d be such a shit about it,” she said, irritated. Getting up from the couch, she grabbed a cloth and started furiously dusting her already immaculate furniture. “Did he even have the decency to tell you to your face?”

I shook my head. “No.”

Her rag moved faster. “Of course not! Men are such assholes,” she groused. “I mean, don’t you think that was a total asshole thing to do? And since when is he such a coward?”

I couldn’t disagree.

“So what are you going to do?” she asked.

I folded my arms across my stomach. It was still hard for me to imagine, to wrap my head around that I was going to have a baby. I’d have someone of my very own to love and take care of. Would the baby be a girl with my color hair? Or a boy with eyes like his father’s?

And it suddenly struck me: I wouldn’t be alone anymore. I’d have a family.

And I knew what I had to do.

* * *

I was packed and loading my car by the time dawn rolled around. Alisha carried down Tigger in his pet carrier. He was none too happy, meowing pitifully the entire way. Bits followed her, whining as he tried to jump up on his little legs to help his friend.

“That’s all of it,” she said, setting Tigger in the passenger seat of my car. She closed the door on his complaining. “Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked.

We’d talked for hours last night, once I’d decided that I’d be leaving Indy. Alisha had thrown every argument she could think of at me, but in the end, she hadn’t been able to dissuade me. We hovered at the door to my Toyota Corolla.

“I am,” I said. “It’s barely thirty miles from here. You can come see me anytime, and I’ll come visit, too.”

“What about your job?”

“I worked ten days straight. I’m off for the next four. Romeo should be able to find a replacement by then.”

“And what are you going to do about money?” she persisted.

“I have the money Kade gave me for that job in Vegas,” I said, pushing aside the thought of the millions he’d left for me in Grand Cayman as well. I wasn’t touching that, not unless it was absolutely necessary. “And I’ll get another job.”

Alisha still looked worried, so I hugged her. “Thank you for being such a good friend,” I said. Both of us were teary when I let go.

“I’ll be back in a few weeks to get the rest of my things,” I reminded her. “The lease on my apartment isn’t up for another two months. I’ll see you again soon.” I slid behind the wheel and shut the door.

Alisha leaned through the open window. “And you’re sure you don’t want to tell Blane about this?”

My gut clenched at the mere mention of his name. I shook my head. “Not right now. I just need some time. Some space. If he asks, don’t tell him where I’ve gone, okay? I’ll get in touch with him at some point. The baby’s related to him, after all.”

Alisha didn’t look happy, but she nodded in agreement. “I won’t tell him.”

We hugged through the open window one more time, then I started the car and backed up. Smiling, I waved at Alisha as I pulled out of the lot.

I heaved a sigh that felt like it came all the way from my toes as I drove down the highway. I was heading home.