Kat wanted to say no, but she wouldn’t stand Olin up, not after he’d come because she agreed. “I can’t run. I made a bet, and I always follow through.”
“A bet, huh?” Dean frowned for a moment, his gaze shifting toward the door. “Who exactly is that bet with?”
Kat forced herself to her feet. “A friend.” Best to leave it vague, to not offer anything specific. “I guess I better get in there.”
Dean rose, once again reminding Kat just how tall he was. He’d always made her take a second look, the way he filled out those slacks he wore, the way he managed to look put together no matter how disheveled he should have been. “Sure. I’ll see you in there.”
Dean probably knew Kat needed another minute to herself, since the observant Dom could easily read most people.
Still, once she took a deep breath, the chilly night air cooling her cheeks, she figured it was time to go in.
The check-in process was familiar enough that Kat hardly paid attention. She already had her cuffs on, the ribbons tied there to show what she was interested in and what she wasn’t. A part of her had considered changing that, because even the thought of allowing anyone to inflict pain on her had her stomach clenching in fear.
She’d stared at the cuffs at home, doubting this whole damn idea, but had ended up deciding to leave them as they were. She didn’t want anyone to notice that she had changed them, that anything was different than it had been before.
Instead, Kat plastered a false smile over her lips and wrapped herself up in the idea that nothing had happened, that nothing at all had changed. She was the same old happy Kat she’d always been. After signing in, she passed the entry space and entered the actual club.
The music was loud, and somehow the movement of people felt different from before. Kat sighed, rubbing one hand against her other to dispel the anxiety inside her, to ease the desire to turn around and run right the hell back home. She’d thought this was better than dealing with Bradley, but now she wasn’t so sure.
“You came.” Olin’s voice felt like a lifebuoy thrown into the sea of noise and movement, something for her to grab onto and hold for dear life.
Kat turned slowly to find Olin standing behind her, and it only took one look to derail her train of thought. She’d only seen him dressed for work so far, which had meant slacks and a white button-up shirt. As it turned out, he could dress down and look amazing.
He had a pair of jeans on and a black T-shirt, but his auburn hair was as unruly as ever.
He moved his gaze over Kat, a heat there telling her that he hadn’t invited her there as some sort of platonic thing. It warmed Kat, made her feel a rush like she had before, a desire to throw caution away and lose herself in another person for the night.
Except, he didn’t come closer, didn’t make a move. “You look nice. You strike me as the sort of girl who likes to dress up.”
“I like fun.”At least, I used to…
Olin’s smile softened, as though he could read the thoughts on her face. “You’ll find your feet.”
Kat wasn’t sure what to say back to that. She normally always knew what to say, how to act, yet she suddenly had no idea.
Olin let out a soft laugh, then nodded toward a table in the back room. “Go grab a seat. I’ll get you a drink.”
Kat nodded, following the direction without complaint, which wasn’tat alllike her. Still, she just couldn’t seem to get her bearings, to feel normal. A glance around the place didn’t help at all.
People danced and laughed and kissed, and all looked so carefree. That used to be Kat, too. It felt like a lifetime ago, like someone else. As she took her seat, she struggled to come to terms with why everything had to change.
She picked one of the booths that sat out of the way. She didn’t normally care about a private corner, but for some reason, tonight seemed like a better choice. She didn’t want to feel exposed, to have others watching her. Hell, she’d be happy if no one realized she’d even come.
The idea of facing Sunny, Ell, Toya or any of her other friends made her draw her shoulders in and try to look smaller.
It seemed that even when she returned to Sanctuary, nothing was the same.
Bradley narrowed his eyes as he spotted Kat sitting at a back table at Sanctuary. She’d walked out of her place with a tight smile and a bad lie—which told Bradley he should follow.
He had to admit, seeing her at Sanctuary eased him. At least, it did until he watched the way she all but hid in that booth.
He struggled to understand her, to know how to pull her from the pit she’d fallen into.
“Surprised she came.”
Bradley turned to find Dean standing there, no jacket on, his sleeves rolled up his forearms, his gaze locked over on Kat.
The jealousy Bradley had had the first time he’d met Dean didn’t rear up again, which was odd. Maybe it was the fact that he knew Dean was looking out for Kat, that even with Dean’s stupid jokes and jovial attitude, it was clear he cared for the woman.