Betrayal (Secrets, Lies, and Deception Book 2) Read online

  Ethan laughed again, gripping Kat’s waist as he lifted her out of the float. “You wouldn’t be insinuating I’m a slimy politician, would you?”

  “Well…” Kat hedged, unable to hide her smile. “If the shoe—”

  Ethan cut off the rest of her words by pulling her into him, dropping a kiss on the top of her head before her feet hit the ground. “Be nice. It’s my big night.”

  Disentangling herself from his arms, Kat smiled up at him. “You did great, Ethan. It’s obvious the town loves you.” And it was so nice to see a smile on his face again, see the stress disappear and the tension between them ease.

  “You look gorgeous, Kat.” Her smile froze. It was probably the first time Ethan had ever said that to her, at least in that husky tone. She looked down at her dress. It was white, with a halter style neckline, the silky material hugging her curves without clinging too tightly. Casual, like Ethan had suggested, but still flattering and sexy enough for a party.

  Ethan let her go, helping his mother from the float. “Congratulations, Ethan,” Victoria said, giving him a warm hug. “I’m so proud of you.”

  “I haven’t won yet.”

  “You will,” they all said in unison, triggering more laughter.

  “Thank you. For everything,” Ethan said to his family, giving each of them another hug. “We’ll meet you up at the party.”

  Traffic was horrendous, and it took nearly half an hour to drive the few miles separating the convenient store from the senator’s ski house where they’d have an excellent view of the fireworks. At least this time, the drive wasn’t filled with tension.

  “Is the senator from here?” Kat asked.

  “No,” Ethan said. “He’s from the city. But his family owned a vacation house in town when he was growing up.”

  “So how’d you manage to get an invitation?”

  “The senator always invites the DA’s office, along with everybody in the area running for office. He’s usually not up at the house until after just before the fireworks start though. He goes to the lodge first. More than half the people enjoying the fireworks are from the city.”

  “Campaigning for votes from both up- and downstate at the same time? Smart.”

  “Yeah. This is the first time he’s doing this without his wife. She died a few months ago.”

  “That’s awful—”

  “It is and it isn’t. She was sick for a few years. She had a heart defect.”

  Before Kat could respond, Ethan parked on the side of the private road. “We’re gonna have to hike a bit. See why we brought the truck?”

  Kat laughed. She’d made fun of him when arrived at her door driving his construction truck. To say it had seen better days would have been a compliment. She hopped out, waiting for Ethan to come around the hood. “I’m surprised it made it up the hills.” Which seemed nearly straight up in some parts.

  “She never fails me,” Ethan said, entwining her hand in his. “It may look like a piece of crap, but it runs like a top.”

  Kat squeezed his hand. “I had fun at the parade, Ethan. I’m so glad I’m here.” Surrounded by Ethan’s mother and sisters on the float and their pleasure at seeing her again had gone a long way to ease her nerves. If they all knew what happened all those weeks ago, they never let on. And the excitement she felt for Ethan when the town shouted his name, filled her with joy. Apparently, he was more than just her hero.

  Ethan smiled, slipping his hand under her hair. “I really am happy you’re here, Kat,” Ethan said sincerely. “I’m sorry if I made you feel otherwise.”

  Kat breathed out a sigh of relief, but before she could respond, Ethan’s sisters and mother were surrounding them, their excitement drowning out anything she would have said as they walked up to the senator’s house.

  It was gorgeous. Chalet style, popular to the area. The interior consisted of logs and glass and soaring ceilings, rising at least thirty feet. A massive stone fireplace took up an entire wall adjacent to the windows, the hearth stretching the whole width. Since it had taken them so long to crawl their way through town, the party was already in full swing. Music blared from unseen speakers, both inside and out, loud enough to keep the party atmosphere going, yet low enough to enjoy conversation. An explosion of red, white, and blue balloons floated everywhere, adding to the happy and light atmosphere.

  But the most spectacular feature of the house was the floor to ceiling windows that took up the entire wall, giving an amazing view of the slopes, the lodge and the town beyond, reminding her of the time she’d spent skiing with Ethan this past winter. When she’d almost been happy.

  Unfortunately, the tall statuesque blond reporter was the first person they saw when they walked in, as if she was lying in wait. Kat’s good mood disappeared in an instant, her tension back in spades, shock at seeing her replacing everything else. She glanced up at Ethan, wondering if he’d known she’d be there, because she damn well could have used the warning.

  “Emma!” Abigail and Arianna said in unison. Kat couldn’t tell if they were excited or surprised. Emma and Ethan’s family were close, had practically been raised together since the triplets met Emma in nursery school when they were three.

  But none of that warmth for Ethan’s family extended to Kat. Emma Anderson hated her. Blamed Kat for her and Ethan’s breakup even though nothing could be further from the truth.

  As Emma approached, Kat felt the full weight of Emma’s stare even as she avoided looking at her, instead focusing on the man by her side. A boyfriend, maybe? He was handsome, brown hair and blue eyes, his smile open and friendly, so unlike Emma’s.

  “Congratulations, Ethan,” Emma said as she approached, the smile on her face positively glowing.

  “Thank you,” Ethan returned, accepting Emma’s hug, but Kat could feel the tension in his body even though they weren’t touching.

  “Mark,” Ethan greeted, shaking the man’s hand. “Thank you for your help tonight.” He turned to Kat. “This is Mark Prescott, the senator’s campaign manager.”

  Mark smiled and extended his hand toward Kat, his Claddagh ring shining, reminding her of her father’s. But Mark was wearing his on his right, not his left. “It’s a pleasure to meet you—”

  “Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn Delaney,” Emma supplied before either Ethan or Kat could make the introductions.

  “Kat,” she said easily. “Everybody calls me Kat.” She smiled at Mark, trying to ignore then tension that was now pouring off Ethan, the feel of the triplet’s eyes on her, along with Ethan’s mother. She hoped none of the nervousness she felt showed on her face, while trying to ignore Emma’s smugness when she took Mark’s hand. After he released it, Kat wrapped her fingers around Ethan’s forearm, hoping to ease some of his tension, hoping he wouldn’t say anything, falling into Emma’s trap.

  Ethan grabbed her a glass of wine from a passing waiter, which Kat gratefully accepted. Soon, the whole world would know who she was anyway. Yes, it would be annoyance, and yes, she’d probably be hounded by the press once again, but that’s just what it was. An annoyance. Something that would blow over. At least for her. Not so much for Stephen.

  “Here’s the man of the hour!”

  Ethan turned, bumping into Emma in the process. The glass of wine she held poured down the front of her white dress, splashing on Ethan. Kat jumped back, her small bag falling to the floor, the contents spilling.

  Emma gasped just as Ethan swore under his breath, muttering apologies as he grabbed some napkins from a nearby table and thrust them at Emma. Kat bent down, retrieving her stuff and shoving it back in her bag with Abigail’s help.

  “Way to make an entrance, Ethan,” Senator John Harrington chuckled as Emma glared at Ethan, which he ignored. The senator was classically handsome, his gray hair cut short, light blue eyes filled with laughter. By his side, a woman about Kat’s own age stood by his side. Her hair was a beautiful shade of auburn, the light picking up her red highlights, her blue eyes the same shade as the man next to her, le
aving no doubt they were related. The redhead grabbed more napkins, which had little effect on the wine.

  “I was just going to suggest we get this show on the road,” the senator said. “But maybe you’d like to change first?”

  “Good idea. I’ve got another shirt in my truck,” Ethan agreed, grasping the senator’s outstretched hand, before doing his round of introductions, using Kat’s current name.

  “The fireworks will be starting soon. I’ll introduce the congressman while you change. Ten minutes?”

  “Perfect.” With another round of handshakes, the senator made his way to the raised hearth while Ethan went outside to change.

  Kat spotted a waiter across the room and went to grab another glass of wine. As she made her way back to the group, she noticed Emma had disappeared, her date now standing next to the senator who stood on the fireplace’s raised hearth as the music was lowered. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My daughter, Genevieve, and I would like to thank you all for coming tonight…”

  Kat let the senator’s voice drown out while he introduced the congressman who was up for reelection, keeping her eye out for Ethan, who appeared less than ten minutes later. His shirt was a blue button-down, replacing his white one. He smiled, giving her a wink, as he made his way to where the senator stood.

  Applause filled the room as the congressman stepped down and the senator introduced Ethan. She couldn’t help but notice how handsome he was, his smile lighting up the room, perfectly at ease as spoke to the crowd. It was different seeing him like this, in his element, she supposed, surrounded by people who supported and loved him. So much of their time together had just been one on one and it was sometimes a shock to realize she no longer had to hide.

  “Thank you, Senator Harrington,” Ethan said over the crowd. “Not only for the endorsement, but for the use of your beautiful home. And thank you to everybody who has come to support me tonight. I’ll keep it short and sweet.”

  “He’s a natural. The reigning king of the town.”

  Oh, God. Could the night possibly get any worse?

  Chapter Six

  “What are you doing here?” Kat smiled as if she’d been paying attention when laughter rippled through the crowd. Her question had come out as a hiss, although she hadn’t meant it to sound that way. She glanced toward her left, glad to see the triplets were watching Ethan, unaware of Stephen Chandler standing behind her. Above their heads, a huge banner proclaimed Ethan O’Rourke for District Attorney! She couldn’t help but wonder how Stephen felt about that. After all, it was a position he’d wanted as well. And if that dream hadn’t already died, it would as soon as Emma’s story ran.

  “Last ditch effort.”

  Kat looked around, still not seeing Emma in the crowd. “You think she’d really blow Alex’s cover? Couldn’t she get in trouble for that?”

  Stephen’s answer was cut off from the sound of thundering applause. As Ethan stepped off the hearth, Stephen gripped her arm, pulling her out to the deck while Ethan was surrounded. She glanced back, didn’t miss the subtle tightening of Ethan’s jaw, which told her he noticed.

  Great.

  Outside, darkness was just beginning to settle. Three massive grills had been set up on the deck, grilling everything from steak and chicken to hamburgers and hotdogs. The serving table held every conceivable type of salad, all sitting in ice. Children ran around outside, playing on the slopes, their laughter contagious. More banners were tied around the deck’s railing, all exclaiming Ethan O’Rourke for DA! under the senator’s name.

  Stephen led her away from the crowd, leaning against the deck’s rail. Lights from Main Street and the mountains beyond twinkled in the growing darkness. The heat and humidity hadn’t disappeared with the sun. She took a sip of her wine, gently pulling her arm from Stephen’s grasp without making a scene, the silence between them awkward. “I take it you haven’t heard from Alex?”

  “No.”

  And in that one little word she heard the barely uncontrolled rage. The fear and frustration. Her heart broke again, guilt twisting her stomach. Setting her glass down on the railing, she glanced back inside. Ethan was still being swarmed.

  “I’m sorry.” On so many levels, she thought, wishing she could offer him some comfort, not that he’d accept it from her.

  Stephen was silent for so long, she half expected him to just walk away. Instead he bent to whisper in her ear, his voice was a low, sexy growl. “Come home with me tonight.”

  “What?” The sudden change in topic had her head spinning as she looked up at him in shock. She remembered that tone, remembered that look on his face that told her exactly what he wanted from her. She tried to ignore the heat as it flared through, refused to let it conjure up all the memories of being underneath him...

  Jesus, he was beautiful. His dark blue eyes glittered with intent, his thick black hair fell over his forehead and her fingers itched against the urge to reach up and smooth it back into place. Despite everything, her entire body responded just as it had last night, craving him with a fierceness that left her breathless.

  But when he lifted his hand toward her, she couldn’t contain her flinch, memories of him throwing her into Ethan’s arms and walking away, banishing that instant flare of arousal as fast as it had hit.

  If Stephen noticed, he didn’t acknowledge it. He settled his hand on her waist and she stepped back instantly. Even though it wasn’t a date, she had come with Ethan. Stephen had no right to touch her.

  “We need to talk.”

  “No. We don’t.” She wasn’t going down this path with him again only to get her heart broken all over again.

  “Trust me—”

  “I can’t!” she hissed. The words were out of her mouth before she could pull them back. Stephen recoiled, stung. Every muscle in his entire body tensed as he took a step back, the air rushing out of his lungs as if she’d punched him in the gut. Or stabbed him in the heart. Kat felt her face pale, all color washing from her skin, felt the stunned regret as the expression in his eyes changed from pain to cold detachment.

  “So that’s it then,” he bit out before she could apologize, his tone colder than she’d ever heard it before. He’d taken the words the wrong way, but before she could explain, Abigail was there, throwing herself into Stephen’s arms.

  “Stephen! I’m so glad you’re here!”

  Ethan’s hatred of Stephen obviously wasn’t shared by the rest of his family. Arianna and Annalise greeted Stephen just as warmly as Abigail had. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Ethan, slowly making his way toward them, stopped every few steps, more handshakes, congratulatory slaps on the back. She gave him big ups for the smile that was still plastered on his face. She knew him well enough to know he was anything but annoyed.

  “I need another glass of wine,” Abigail said, wrapping her arm through Stephen’s. “Come with me?”

  Without another glance at Kat, Stephen agreed.

  “Everything alright?” Arianna asked, handing Kat the glass of wine she’d put on the railing. But her hands shook when she took the glass. Without taking another sip, she put it back on the railing, watching Stephen’s retreating back until Ethan blocked her view.

  “He’s got a lot of nerve showing up.”

  The anger in Ethan’s voice was unmistakable, but Kat couldn’t deal with it right now. She needed to apologize, couldn’t have Stephen thinking she’d meant those words because of his grandfather.

  “He has as much right to be here as you, Ethan,” Arianna said, scowling in Ethan’s direction before glancing over Kat’s head again. “What’s your issue?” she began a second before her gaze landed on Kat. “Oh. I…are you alright?”

  So they did know, she thought with a sigh. Nothing like being in the spotlight, Kat thought as all eyes landed on her, the sympathy too much to take. Instead of answering, because it was so obvious she wasn’t, she said, “You seem to forget Stephen risked his life to save mine.”

  Reminding h
im for the second time that day, she thought. Yet, like Ethan, nobody was going to focus on that when the shit hit the fan, were they? No matter what his family had done, Stephen shouldn’t have to hang his head in shame. He was just as much a hero as Ethan.

  “You’re right, of course,” Ethan replied. “Shall we toast him now?”

  “Knock it off,” Kat hissed, watching Stephen with Abigail still at his side.

  A scream caught her attention and she glanced toward the slopes. Just kids, playing with their glow sticks in the now darkened sky, sparklers lighting up their faces before more excited screams echoed through the night as the first of the fireworks exploded in the sky. The music changed abruptly, America the Beautiful pouring through the speakers.

  Abigail returned a few moments later. Kat glanced beyond her but didn’t see Stephen. “I’ll be right back,” she said to Ethan. “Bathroom,” she lied when he gave her a questioning glance.

  Fighting her way through the crowd on the deck, she searched everywhere for Stephen, nearly frantic when she couldn’t find him. Inside, the house was nearly empty, just a few people standing near the fireplace. Spotting the door to the driveway, she raced down the short hallway, hoping she’d catch him.

  Kat spotted his truck almost immediately and ran toward it. But he wasn’t there, wasn’t outside. How the hell had she missed him? More fireworks exploded, echoing through the mountains. Grabbing her phone from her bag, she texted him, hoping he’d feel the vibration even if he couldn’t hear the ding. But minutes later, he still hadn’t responded. Damn it. Where the hell was he? She was prepared to stay by his truck for the rest of the night if she needed to, but Ethan would soon come looking and—

  A scream pierced the darkness, so much louder than the fireworks thundering through the mountains outside. Not a kid. Not this time, Kat thought as her heart raced. Whirling toward the sound, her gaze automatically zeroing in on the trees between the senator’s ski house and another, just a few feet in front of Stephen’s truck. Heart pounding, Kat raced toward the sound, the masculine yell barely decipherable between the pounding in her head and fireworks.