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small; I remember doing everything with him. It wasn't that Rhone wasn't there or participating with
us when we played in the yard or hung out, but I remember wanting to tell Dad everything first,
whereas Rhone just wanted to tell someone; my mom would have done as well as my dad. Anyway,
Dad came home after being away for a few days, and I ran up to him and tried to hug him, but he just
patted my shoulder and went into another room. I was an eager little fucker and I followed right on his
heels, itching to tell him about how far I kicked a ball in soccer or something, I don't know.
Kasey bit her lip, but she would bet her life that Canin knew exactly what he had wanted to share
with his father that day.  So what happened? she asked instead.
 Turns out he'd just come home to change his clothes so he could go out again, Canin said, his
voice tightening.  I was crushed that he was leaving again after not having seen or talked to him for
days, so I asked him why he had to keep going away. He tried to brush me aside with a 'no reason' or
'just because,' but like I said, I was pushy, even back then. I jumped up on his bed and started
throwing a fit that I didn't want him to leave and why did he have to keep going away, making a real
scene. He finally grabbed me by the shoulders and jerked me to shut me up. He looked right at me,
and there was something in his eyes and in how hard he held me that scared me, but now he wouldn't
let me go. He said, and I can hear his voice in my head as if he said it just yesterday, he said,
'Because looking in your eyes is just like looking at your mother, and I can't bear to see you every day
and know I can never have her back.'
Kasey's hand flew to her mouth to stifle the gasp.
Canin spared her a glance, but then put his stare right back up on the ceiling.  It's all right, he said.
 I'm fine now. But back then, I can't even tell you what his words did to me. I could hardly look
Rhone in the eyes for years, knowing that I had driven our father away, leaving him with no parents,
when he at least could have had one. At the same time, I became super overprotective of Rhone, and I
got very aggressive with anyone who even looked at him funny on the playground or in school. It was
all totally ridiculous, as I was all of one year older than him. I was quite a bit bigger though,
physically, even back then. I figured I could do that one thing for him, make sure he never had to
worry about bullies.
 He adores you, Kasey shared, keeping her voice soft in deference to his.  He doesn't even try to
hide it. You must have done something right. Probably a lot more than you think you did.
 Maybe, he said.
Zin took that moment to crawl over Kasey's belly, eliciting an  oof. Kasey automatically
contracted her muscles to combat the claws. The cat hopped up on Canin's stomach and settled right
down into a fluffy white ball. Canin absently rubbed her behind the ears, and the buzz of her purring
began.
Kasey thought Canin had given her as much as he would when he murmured,  You know, I never
told anyone what my father said to me all those years ago. Not even Rhone. It seems stupid now, and
like I made it a much bigger deal than it was.
 Well, if I may paraphrase what you told me, you're an adult now, so you have some perspective.
Doesn't mean what you felt or did back then was wrong.
Canin gently nudged Zin off his stomach and rolled onto his side. Facing Kasey, his pale eyes
caught the early light through the high windows, making them twinkle like blue diamonds.  Glad to
know you actually listen when I talk. He brushed the back of his hand across her cheek, and drew out
a shiver. His hand slipped lower and caressed the nape of her neck.  Careful, Kase. If I didn't know
any better I'd think you liked me. He brushed his knuckles over her collarbone, tugging her closer as
his fingers snagged around the collar of her nightshirt.
Her heart pounded under her clothes, and she wondered how in the hell Canin didn't see it.  But
you do know better. She covered the back of his hand with hers, but didn't apply any force to stop
him.
He pulled her to him with just those two fingers. She licked her lips, anticipation making her mouth
go dry. His attention dipped down to her mouth, and his pupils flared.  No  his voice was all thick
with the morning  I don't think I do know any better.
Moving in to close those scant inches of space between them, their lips almost brushed when Canin
howled,  Ahhhh! and jumped a foot off the bed with Zin attached to his shoulder blades with all
four sets of claws. He shot upright, and she meowled with a sound reserved for when a cat is given a
bath. Kasey lunged and snatched the animal off Canin's body before she did any more damage.
 Jesus. Canin reached back and fingered the puncture marks.  I guess she doesn't want me kissing
you.
Kasey chuckled and rolled her eyes.  Or maybe she doesn't want me kissing you. She put the cat
on the floor, and Zin tore down the stairs in a shot.  After all, you have been sneaking her treats all
week. She might be jealous.
Canin had the grace to look sheepish.  Noticed that, did you?
 Yes. She gave him her best stern voice.  I did.
The familiar clatter of a bowl scraping across a hardwood floor reached Kasey's ears.  Or maybe
she's just hungry and wants to eat. Glancing at the clock, Kasey tapped the appropriate button and
turned the alarm off before it sounded in the next minute.  I'll go do that while you take care of your
scratches. She pointed at the bathroom.  There's stuff under the sink.
 Wait, Canin called to her, stopping her on the top step.
She met his still heated gaze and raised a brow.  Yes?
 You're not going to take care of it for me?
Kasey glanced down at the hard-on pushing against Canin's sweats.  Nice try. She couldn't
believe it, but she actually had to bite her lip to keep from giggling. What the fuck?  I'm sure you're
capable of taking care of it yourself. Come downstairs when you have, and we'll strategize for our
date with Lindsey and Jeff.
Smiling ridiculously, although she couldn't understand why, Kasey tripped down the stairs, feeling
lighter than she had in years.
Chapter Twenty
As she pulled open the nightstand drawer in Lindsey and Jeff's bedroom, Kasey wondered what in
the hell she thought to find that might incriminate them. They weren't stupid people, so even if by
some stretch of the imagination they ended up being the perpetrators of these crimes and every day
that went by Kasey doubted that more and more they wouldn't keep evidence of their guilt in their
bedroom.
Except maybe they would.
Where else would they put it? They didn't have a storage unit registered anywhere at least not
under their own name. They didn't own a second home or apartment, they didn't yet own that [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]