Chapter 44

“Alexander Brighton?”Kayla said, her voice thick. “Why?”

“I don’t know,” Natalie said. “It just happened.”

She pushed her friend’s phone away, unable to look at her nemesis’s face, no matter how handsome. “He’s living in Asheville?”

Natalie nodded. “For about six months now.”

Betrayal burned in her chest. She took a large swallow of wine in an attempt to diffuse the pain. It didn’t help. “How did you meet?”

“By accident.” She downed the last of her own fortification. “My niece and I made our monthly trip to the bookstore. Alex and I were both in the thriller/mystery section, and he recognized me.”

What a cliché.

“He moved here to be an aide to Senator Maria Alvarez.”

After the arrest of the previous senator who’d held Alvarez’s seat, Vicky had consulted with Kayla on who to appoint in his stead. Like Vicky, Alvarez was well-liked and she did what was best for the community, even if it meant crossing party lines.

Which meant Kayla could only blame herself for inviting the viper into her home.

“Is Mason waiting for you outside?”

Kayla shook her head. “I didn’t know how long I’d be, so I sent him home. I’ll ride share when I’m ready.”

Silence fell between them.

“Someone wrote TRAITOROUS BITCH on my vehicle Saturday night.”

“So I heard. From Gemma.”

She ignored her friend’s accusatory tone. “You don’t find the circumstances of that odd?”

“I would if I couldn’t account for Alex’s whereabouts Saturday. But I can.” Still standing, Natalie sighed. “I’m sorry my relationship with Alex is hurting you. We can talk about it more when it’s not so raw.”

“That would be never.”

“People change, you know.’’

Kayla swiveled on her stool. Betrayal turning to anger. “Do they? Maybe they grow wiser. Maybe they become more understanding or empathetic. But could a man who’s a dickwad to his core ever stop being a dick?”

“I’m leaving before we say something we’ll truly regret.”

Natalie made it two steps before Kayla did just that.

“Nat, did it never occur to you that Brighton bumping into you at the bookstore was strategic? That he knew getting into your pants would be the perfect revenge on me?”

Anyone else would’ve taken attorney Natalie Bryant’s stillness as shock, maybe even a slow, seething rage. But Kayla recognized the devastation, the kind of hurt that only a close friend could inflict.

“Nat, I’m?—”

“Maybe the vandals got it right, after all.”

Kayla followed Natalie’s stiff back until she disappeared from sight. The heart thundering in her chest urged her to chase after her friend, explain what she was feeling, apologize for being so cruel. But all those same feelings kept her seated and mute.

Unbidden, her hand reached for her phone to call Ash. She froze. What would she say?

I just destroyed one of my most valued relationships?

He already thought she was ruthless. This incident would only serve to prove him right.

Maybe he was.

Something inside her broke.

“Mind if I sit?” a deep cognac-smooth voice asked.

She turned to find the black-haired Adonis standing next to the stool Natalie had vacated, with a whisky in hand and a killer smile.

“I wouldn’t be great company,” she said.

“In these situations, alcohol and conversation with a stranger you’ll likely never see again is the best balm.”

“‘These situations’?”

“Pissing off your best friend.”

“Been there?”

“More than once.”

Kayla released a long breath before swiveling back to the bar. She opened her mouth to refuse, but was caught by his brown, knowing eyes. A twinkle at the edge vaporized the words and she found a smile twitching at the corner of her mouth.

“Have a seat.”