CHAPTER 15
Ares was strung out from four nights with hardly any sleep. He hadn’t been able to keep from playing those moments with Kelsey on the sofa over and over in his head. How good her skin had felt beneath his hands. How perfect her lips had been beneath his. How much he’d wanted to tear off every last stitch of her clothing and take her.
Slow.
Fast.
Gentle.
Rough.
Any way he could.
Every way he could.
No matter how hard he’d tried to blank out his mind and fall asleep, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Until he was sure he’d go
stark raving mad with need and desire.
But now it was Tuesday morning, and Ares was in the backseat finishing up his phone call with a florist as Mendez maneuvered
through traffic heading up to San Diego. He needed to let Kelsey know how much he appreciated her help on Sunday. He wanted to
say thank you with more than a bouquet of flowers. She deserved so much more for her unending support. But the flowers would at
least brighten her day and make her smile, until he could come up with something more substantial.
Something he could do for her that didn’t involve dragging her down into the muck of his life.
And now, regardless of how tired and distracted he was, it was time to make good on his promise to check in on Tessa. He pulled out
the card on which she’d written her phone number. And was surprised by the twinge in his heart at seeing her familiar handwriting.
Once upon a time, she used to write him funny notes to find in his lunchbox.
Shoving away the painful memories, he dialed. “Tessa, it’s Ares.”
“Ares.” She sounded surprised to hear from him. “It’s so nice of you to call.”
“How are you doing today?” he asked politely, even though it felt like his tie was strangling him. He’d phoned because it was the
right thing to do. It didn’t mean he was going to start calling her Mom.
“I’m fine,” she replied.
His catchphrase. He suddenly knew who he’d learned it from as memories hit him. All those times he’d rushed to his mother after his
father had gone off on her. I’m fine, Ares. She’d repeated those words to him a hundred times. Don’t worry, I’m fine.
“Just getting ready for work, Ares.”
“Any problems yesterday?”
“No problems,” she said in a low voice. And when she added, “It was lovely seeing you the other day,” he thought he understood the
nervousness in her tone. She was still afraid of rejection. And why wouldn’t she be after what she’d done?
Still, he wanted her to know, “I’m glad you’re doing okay.” They were words that wouldn’t get anyone’s hopes up, but hopefully
wouldn’t do any more harm either. “I better let you finish getting ready.” They’d exhausted any other conversation. At least, he had.
“Is Tyler there? I’d like a word with him.”
“I’ll get him.” She called her other son’s name, then said, “Ares?”
He tensed at whatever she might be about to add. “Yes?”
“Thank you for talking to me. On Sunday, I mean. And for calling today.”
“You’re welcome.” His voice was stilted, his emotions deliberately blotted flat.
“Here’s Tyler.”
Relief washed through him like fresh spring rain. Tyler he could handle. “Just checking in, Tyler. I figured you would have called if
Paul showed up.”
“Not a peep.”
“Glad to hear it.” He paused, before asking, “She didn’t try to call him?”
“No. Mom made a promise, and she keeps her promises.”
Right. He knew just how well she kept promises. But revealing his story to Kathy had made him realize he had to at least give his
mother credit for trying to protect him, while she’d been there, from his father’s abuse. It was her leaving without him that he
couldn’t forget. Or forgive.
“But since I have to get back to San Diego this morning…” Tyler’s words already had a question in them. “Could you call her again
sometime? I think she’ll do better if you, me, and Kathy are all checking in with her. Letting her know we’re all available if anything
happens.”
Ares knee-jerk no clenched tight in the pit of his stomach. He wanted to protect himself at all costs.
But honestly, a few phone calls wouldn’t hurt him. They wouldn’t mean he’d forgiven Tessa. Wouldn’t mean he wanted her to be his
mom again. But it was the right thing to do.
“I’ll call.”
“Thanks, bro.”
Bro. The label took him by surprise. Especially how much he liked the sound of it coming from a man who was his biological
brother.
Hanging up, he held the phone on his lap a moment, staring out at the buildings flashing by along Highway 101. He had a brother
and a sister. Regardless of how it had come to be, there was something amazing about that. He suddenly had the urge to call Kathy.
Just to check in and see how she was doing.
If Kelsey were here, she’d push him to do it. To step outside his comfort zone one more time by reaching out to his sister. Because
Kelsey was all about connection, family, loyalty, love. Which was amazing, considering the way her sister always treated her.
But if Kelsey had actually been here with him, he knew what he’d be unable to stop himself from doing. And it wouldn’t be making
another phone call. He’d tell Mendez to take them back to his house.
And then he’d finish what they’d started on the library couch the other night. It wouldn’t end with a kiss this time. Not even close.
Mendez pulled up in front of Argus building, and Ares struggled to corral his focus. Sexy, forbidden daydreams about Kelsey
couldn’t be tolerated, especially during a business meeting with his fellow Baddricks.
The Baddrick Group made their headquarters on Argus twenty-ninth floor. Though each of them had their own enterprises, they came together for joint ventures, including real estate and other investment opportunities. Calyx Jones, as their business manager, handled daily operations on many of those ventures, but the five Baddricks made all the higher-level decisions as a group.
After telling Mendez he’d walk to his own headquarters on Market Street when the meeting was done, Ares entered the lobby, passing Diana’s magnificent sculpture, Chardonnay Race.
Diana Evans was an extreme talent, her medium being metal. The sculpture of four racing horses dragging a broken chariot dominated Argus lobby. It had become a tourist attraction all on its own, with people coming to admire the work of art, especially at noon when sunlight poured through the glass ceiling into the lobby, turning the metal into a blaze of glory. It was no wonder Argus had fallen for her.
Damned if Ares didn’t think of Kelsey. Again.
And damned if he couldn’t avoid the truth another second.
Because when Kelsey had been straddling him in his library, her arms and legs around him, her mouth pressed to his—all he could
do, think, feel was her.
And in that moment, he’d never wanted anyone more.
Not even his wife.
Nine years ago, he’d been blinded by Keira’s seemingly brilliant charms. But holding Kelsey in his arms, kissing her, tasting her—he
swore he’d felt their hearts touch.
And he’d never in his life experienced any emotion so powerful, so strong, so true.
Kelsey was his sister-in-law. One of his best friends. Too good, too sweet, to be dragged any deeper into the vortex his life had
become. She was untouchable.
But, God help him, he wanted her anyway.
