James snorted. “So, you’ve gone from hating me to matchmaking? Aren’t you worried I’ll ruin whomever you match me up with? That I’ll break her?”
“No. You’re not the devil, James. The truth is I was angry that you gave up so easily. That you abandoned us. Me. I lost everything that night. My wife and my best friend. But if you’d told me what she’d done, I would have gone with you.”
James’s eyes widened.
“You thought I’d choose her, didn’t you?” Sloan shook his head. “Idiot.”
“You loved her.”
“I also loved you.”
He took a deep breath. “James, I know you care about Kinley—”
James slashed a hand through the air. “That was a passing interest.”
Sloan knew he was lying. “Then why do you keep sending her flowers?”
James frowned. “I haven’t sent any flowers to Kinley.”
“You didn’t? Then who the fuck has been sending her flowers?”
“The flowers that were at her apartment when I took her back that day, they weren’t from you?” James asked, looking worried.
“No,” he bit out. “And she’s received two bunches since. Both at her apartment.”
“Who did she say sent them?”
“She has no idea. We both thought it must be you.”
James grimaced. “Why? Because I’m a lovesick fool? I’m not. I get that she’s yours.”
“Sorry,” Sloan said. “I guess you were just the easy choice. Because if it’s not you . . .” A sick feeling developed in his stomach.
“Were there notes?”
“Yes, but I threw them out.”
“Did you read them first?” James asked.
“Of course,” Sloan said impatiently. “They were both ridiculous. One said, ‘These flowers aren’t as sweet as your scent.’ The second one said, ‘For my sweet little flower.’”
James stared at him. “And you really thought I’d would write that in a note?”
“Guess I was just hoping it was you.”
“I think your sub has a secret admirer.”
“Or a fucking stalker, and I left her alone. I have to go.”
He raced towards the elevator, James behind him. Urgency beat at him.
“I thought they were from you. I never thought of a damn stalker.”
“You couldn’t have known,” James told him. “It could be someone with a crush.” But then why wouldn’t he have given his name? “I’m sure she’s fine. But we’ll take my car. It’s faster.”
Kinley lay back in the bath with a sigh of pleasure. Even though warm water was relaxing, part of her was still tense, wondering how Sloan and James were getting on.
She’d encouraged Sloan to speak to James. They both needed to talk things out. But it wasn’t easy to stay at home and wonder. She hoped James was all right.