Blurring the Lines (Men of the Zodiac) (15 page)

When she appeared from somewhere—inside?—he tossed his phone face down on the table and stood.

“Kira!” Damn. He’d hoped to deal with her on a pragmatic business level, like they’d managed for months, even after they’d tumbled into his bed. Without emotion. Cool. Calm. But just seeing her thrilled him, and he had a hard time keeping his voice even.

“I just came from the animal shelter. You took Cyclops.” Instead of smiling at him, demonstrating her willingness to put their professional grievances aside, she glared at him. She should be beaming that he’d continued to foster dogs despite their argument. That showed he cared about the same things she did, right?

Worse, she hurled more accusations. An excited bark echoed from under the table. Blake smiled, pulled a dog treat from his pocket, and held it in his hand. The Great Dane gave a happy bark and devoured the snack before settling back down.

He shrugged. “Krystal showed up with him this morning, and I couldn’t say no. I mean, look at the poor guy. Nowhere to go and Thanksgiving’s tomorrow.”

A cone prevented Cyclops from scratching at the eye patch, and Blake reached under the table and ran his hand along the dog’s back then rubbed the Dane’s head. “Good guy, hey. Yeah. No more skunks, right?”

“Why would you take another foster? You still have Honeybear! Have you forgotten she can’t be excited? How will it be for her to have another dog around?”

He couldn’t believe she cared more about the dogs than about him, after what they’d shared, but if that was the way she wanted to play, then he’d follow suit. He wasn’t about to beg her. This just proved he’d been right all along to not mix business with pleasure. If she thought quitting was the solution, then he’d let her go.

“Yes. I adopted Honeybear
,
and I’m fostering Cyclops.”

“Why?”

No. He would not have this conversation like this. With her half ready to throw a tantrum. This just proved she didn’t understand him at all. Had no clue how he felt about these animals. How much he cared about her. She was so ready to condemn him. Maybe he didn’t know her after all.

Seeing her—feeling all those tumultuous terrible/wonderful emotions that just her nearness evoked—made him wish he’d never bumped into her that first day. His life had been just fine before her. And now…now, he found himself wanting to call her, to pop out of his office just to see her face. He, damn it, dare he say
needed
her? No. He didn’t need anything. While he may have cared for her—more so than he’d thought possible—that didn’t mean she reciprocated.

“I don’t need to explain myself to you.” She wanted all business. He was damn good at that.

She huffed and even stomped her little foot. Before he would’ve considered it cute, but now he only grudgingly admired the way she kept her gaze neutral and didn’t back down. This was the Kira who had first entered his office demanding he save The Bromwell Building. Just one more female wanting something from him.

“Fine. Fine! You’re right.” She stormed back inside The Fresh Bean.

Well, that was interesting. Why had she come out? To yell at him about Cyclops?

He couldn’t replace what he felt for Kira with dogs, but it hurt. Her lack of faith and trust in him. Here he’d been thinking they had a chance, that they could deal with their disagreement in a logical manner and she’d brush off their differences and come back to work for him. In the end, really, she’d only ever had her eye on the prize, like all the other women he’d ever gotten involved with.

I
f he hadn’t been looking at his phone, holding Cyclops’s leash, and balancing a coffee in the crook of his arm, Blake might have seen Margie before she stepped in front of him. As it was, he barely managed not to spill anything on him or the dog as he adjusted his balance to avoid the potential collision.

“Hello, Blake.” His former secretary smiled at him. “I’m surprised to see you out of the office in the middle of the day. What bet did you lose?”

“Bet? What are you talking about?”

“The dog. Sunlight. Two things I never connected with my former workaholic boss, Blake Whitman. You know? The guy who doesn’t have a family and doesn’t care if anyone else does, either.”

Ouch. Her words caught him in the gut. He’d bet she’d been waiting to spew those at him all along. Guilt washed over him. Had he really been such a tyrant? Kira had never complained. “You’re right, aren’t you? I’m sorry if I was difficult or too demanding.”

Surprise lit her features. “Oh, it wasn’t entirely your fault. In the beginning
,
I welcomed the excuse to stay late. It meant my husband made dinner for me and the kids. But not every night. That got old fast. I tried to tell you that you needed balance. To play. To work less and enjoy more. You don’t want to end up both old and alone.”

He’d really used her time unfairly. “I really am sorry.”

Her mouth curved into a smile, but he couldn’t tell if it was real and happy, or fake with a hint of sadness. “I’m sure you had no trouble replacing me. And I’m happy now. I work regular hours, I’m home while it’s still light outside, and I don’t feel like every item on my agenda has to be finished right then and there. My youngest is learning to play the piano, and I’ve signed up for a yoga class.”

Good for her for finding balance in life. At least she knew what she wanted. Everyone had their own priorities, and until Kira, his had been work.

Cyclops tugged on the leash, and Blake stepped back. “Well, it was nice seeing you.”

“You, too. And good luck. You’ll find someone smart who’ll stick around.”

“Thanks for that.”

On the way back to the office, he found a park bench and sat to consider Margie’s parting words. The Dane plopped down and laid his coned head on Blake’s lap.

Absently patting the dog’s back, he said, “You know, Cyclops, I found the perfect combination. Kira, the gorgeous woman you just met? She’s smart and sexy and grabbed my attention the moment she tripped me
.
” The Dane nuzzled his palm. “Okay. So I broke my own rules by getting involved with her, when I knew business and pleasure don’t mix. Ever. But there it is. I did. And blurred lines or not…?”

The dog snorted.

“You’re right. I. Do. Not. Give. A. Damn.”

Cyclops’s massive front paws propped on his thigh, so Blake switched to a belly rub.

“Yeah, we were explosive in bed, and even after the great sex, she never pressured me for a commitment. She was perfect at keeping work and play separate. She was perfect.”

The Dane whined, and he squinted at the dog
.

“You think I was wrong to let her go?”

Cyclops turned his head and regarded him with big brown eyes, as if agreeing he was an idiot.

Margie’s words circled in his head.
“You don’t want to end up both old and alone.”

He didn’t want to end up old. Without Kira. And he certainly didn’t want to end up alone.

If they couldn’t discuss getting back together in a business-like manner, or through him fostering Cyclops, he’d have to find some other way to get through to Kira that he needed her in his life. Because he loved her.

Chapter Nineteen

B
lake checked his watch for the tenth time in ten seconds. Where the hell was Keith? It was almost four, and City Hall closed at five. If Blake wasn’t in a great mood from a recent discussion with one of the undecided board members, he’d be annoyed, but he was one phone call closer to getting the vote to land in his favor. No way would he say anything to Kira until he was absolutely sure
.

But he needed his brother to sign a document for the historic downtown redevelopment so he could fix things with her, and the sooner Keith showed up, the better.

The enormity of what he planned to do hit him full force. If this worked, he might be ending his lucrative deal with the city. He might be voted out of the CEO position by the board. He could lose everything on something that might not even get her back.

But he wouldn’t think about that now.

K
ira strolled along the waterfront and watched the people pass her by. She took a deep breath and released it. This strip of land would be remarkable, no matter how it was designed; it was time to figure out her next course of action. She wasn’t angry anymore. She even understood why Blake hadn’t told her about the board’s indecision and responded with anger instead of apologizing when she accused him of lying. That was a business strategy—put someone on the defensive. Sure, he should have dealt with her from his heart, but the lines between them had blurred so much it was hard to tell what role they were supposed to play: boss and secretary or lover and lover.

So while she forgave Blake for his lack of total honesty, she was depressed that he hadn’t done anything to try to get her back. No apology, other than showing up at The Fresh Bean with another dog. Obviously he’d decided his life would be less complicated without her in it. And yes, she’d known all along that the reason he didn’t mix sex and employees was to keep things complication-free, but he’d already blurred the lines with her, and until they’d messed things up, they’d been doing fine.

Could she get any part of that back?

With the sun setting over the Gulf of Mexico, Kira changed direction toward The Bromwell Building. Just thinking about the place brought back images of Blake and the scene of the crime. The first place she’d plowed into him. The last place she’d seen him with Cyclops, and many times in between.

If she applied for landmark status, the building would be protected, and Blake couldn’t do one damn thing to tear it down. But her dad had already agreed to the group sale, and she doubted he’d be willing to take this to court. Plus, even if she won, she’d be stabbing Blake in the back with his board. Forcing his hand to construct around the building rather than based on his company’s recommendations.

She couldn’t do that to him. Not when she’d rather tear off her own arm than see him fail.

How had she let him become so important to her? Her throat tightened. Caring about him so much left her with few options.

As she approached the building, tears blurred her vision. The cute cafe tables. The brick storefront. Even from the sidewalk, she could smell the coffee.

A figure stepped into her path, and she looked up to meet Blake’s guarded eyes, a stony expression on his face. Her feet stopped moving, and she choked back her surprise.

He stared at her for a long moment and then said, “I couldn’t let you walk by without saying hi.”

Her heart tore open at the way he regarded her, so hesitant. She searched his face for something that might reveal his mood. She glanced down at the Great Dane and then squinted up at him. “Um…hi?”

He pressed a hand to his heart. “I’m Blake and this is my rescue dog, Cyclops. I adopted a Chinese Shar Pei, but she’s at home because she has a heart condition.”

Cyclops sniffed her shoes and then walked around them, the leash effectively locking her in place. She stepped out of the loop, mentally begging Blake to take her in his arms. When he didn’t, she said, “Hi, Blake. I’m Kira. Why would you adopt a dog with a heart condition? What if she dies?”

He gazed at her like they’d never argued in the first place, and little bits of hope flowed through her. She couldn’t quite believe it when he stepped into her space and touched the side of her face. “She will. But when you love someone, you have to be willing to take the pain that comes with it.”

Her heart leaped into her throat.
Love
? Could she hope he was trying to tell her something?

He stepped back and handed her a packet. “I think we should look through this together.”

A million thoughts flooding her brain, she sank into one of the cafe chairs and pulled out the top sheet, reading the title,
Authenticating Local Landmarks
. The application had already been filled out and notarized
.
The filing fee had been stamped as paid.

The Bromwell Building. Date of construction. Significance of use. Nomination guide.

Her eyes blurred as she looked up at Blake and then back to the second page.
Petition for Support
.

The signatures included names she recognized from the historical society, elected officials, and the mayor. Keith’s name appeared on a letter to the city council stating how he fully supported Blake’s change in architectural design, and as the CFO, he confirmed the cost-benefit analysis for towns with historically designated areas.

But the name that stuck out the brightest was the name of the applicant: Blake Whitman.

She processed the information at a snail’s pace, reading and re-reading, digesting it all and finally understanding that Blake had applied to save her building, just as she’d threatened she would do when she confronted him.

Just to be clear, she said, “If this goes through, and your company board votes against the design, you’ll lose the bid. The building will be protected, and you won’t be able to implement your shiny, new plans.”

Blake nodded. “I know, but I don’t care. I love you. Being with you means more to me than any building, any position, any job.”

She sucked in huge amounts of air, unsure she could fully trust what his actions meant. He’d gone and done exactly what she’d just decided she’d never do. He’d taken steps to protect her building, even if that meant it went against his company’s board. In the meantime, they had to wait and in the end, all decisions were out of their hands. The most important thing, though, was that he’d done it because he loved her. He loved her.

She was afraid to breath. Afraid she’d wake up and find out that none of this was real.

He scooted his chair closer to hers, and before she could blink, his mouth covered hers, and his arms tugged her into his chest. She sank into him, eager to get closer. She lost all sense of time and space and only knew that right there, in his embrace, with his lips on hers, she could handle anything. Even the prick of paws on her thigh and the sharp cut of the plastic cone from Cyclops’s sloppy attempt to join in the kiss.

They parted slowly, hesitantly, and she laughed at how easy it was for him to make her forget the entire world. The sidewalk, the dog, the building.

He touched his forehead to hers and whispered again, “I love you, and I’m sorry I was an ass.”

She blinked back happy tears. “I… I love you, too, and I’m also sorry you were an ass.”

His shoulders shook with laughter, and he gave her another kiss before admitting, “You keep me real, Kira. You give me balance, and that’s something I’ve never thought I needed until you.”

She swallowed back her choked up emotions. “I should’ve told you about those other deals, but I never did anything against you when I worked there.”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him. Staring into her eyes, she saw the sincerity in his words. “I know. I know you. I trust you.”

Tears stung her eyes again
,
and she looked up at the building and then back to his face. “All I wanted to do was be part of something beautiful. I didn’t want to let down my mom. I didn’t want to let go.”

He brushed a strand of hair off her cheek. “You are beautiful, and you don’t have to give up anything. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you have whatever you want.”

She looked back down at the table, at the papers that hadn’t disappeared with invisible ink. “I still can’t believe—”

He nibbled on the side of her neck. “The downtown district is going to be amazing.”

Cyclops made a circle and plopped back on the pavement, halfway landing on her foot.

She cleared her throat. “Because of you. All because of you.”

It was almost too much to take in all at once. She wasn’t sure she could be any happier than when she was to be in his arms. “But-but what happens now?”

He grinned and stood. “Now? We go back to my place, and I’ll cook you dinner.” He held out his free hand, and she reached to clasp it. His skin felt warm as he curled his fingers around hers.

She giggled. “I like to eat. In fact, I’m thinking we should start with dessert first.”

“My thoughts exactly. I have a fresh package of coconut macaroons.”

“And whipped cream?”

“I’m sure that can be arranged.” That sexy smile of his—the one that set her on fire—curved his mouth.

The silly buzz that hummed through her body didn’t stop as they continued down the sidewalk side by side. It had always been like this between them, and every time she thought she’d gotten her desire under control, something would happen to let her know the chemistry hadn’t waned.

It probably never would.