Page 88 of To Tango, with Desire

“I’m always dating.” Kade winked, but there was something off about him this evening.

“Zane home?”

“No, he’s still at work. Thanks for coming over so last minute. I didn’t mean to interrupt your plans.”

Kade’s shoulders lowered, and he offered me his megawatt grin. Any agitation that was there seemed to disappear. He flopped back on the sofa, patting the seat beside him. The shift in his demeanor was startling.

“Anything for a beautiful lady.”

I sat down trying to figure out how to begin. But there was no sugarcoating it. No easing into what would be an odd conversation. I didn’t want to make Kade feel like he was betraying Zane’s trust. Especially because of their history and the fact that they were working together. But I was Zane’s wife and I needed to know the truth. Surely that counted for something?

“I want you to tell me everything you know about Zane’s past engagement.”

Kade whistled, rubbing his jaw. The gesture reminded me of Zane. It was odd seeing how alike they were in their mannerisms, given how they had such different personalities.

“I think I need a drink for this.”

“Oh. Okay. Tea? Cof—”

“Whiskey.”

“That bad?”

“You don’t know the half of it.”

Cold dread shrouded me now. There was no going back. No pretending once I knew the truth.

What did it mean for the future of our marriage, if Zane was in some way still in love with his ex?

“Give me a sec.” I made my way to the kitchen. Finding an open bottle of whiskey from the stand, I poured Kade a drink and then, on second thoughts, poured a glass of wine for myself. The look on Kade’s face had suggested that I’d need it.

Taking a deep breath, I walked back in the room.

“Thanks.”

“Welcome,” I replied, placing our drinks on the coffee table.

“So. Zane’s ex-fiancée?”

“Chloe.”

“Chloe. Okay.” Zane and Chloe. Chloe and Zane. Chloe Nasser. What did she look like? What was her personality like? Bright and bubbly or serious and brilliant?

Kade stared at me, sipping at the whiskey. “You have no idea, do you?”

I tried my best not to get angry at him, but I was sick of being the outsider. Sick of not knowing.

“I’m kind of fed up with people telling me that today.”

Kade grimaced, downing his whiskey in one go. He coughed, clearing his throat.

I could only stare at the guilty expression on his face. I didn’t understand what was going on, but the heavy, sinking sensation in my gut told me I needed to brace myself for what was coming.

“I was young. An idiot, really. I should never have allowed it to happen. But I was in a dark place back then. Drinking a lot. And, uh, well, I took pills and shit. I was a mess. You have to understand that, Amira. I wasn’t okay inside.”

“Alright.”

Kade squeezed his fingers, frowning down at his empty glass. “I could do with another drink about now.”