A man appeared in front of us, and Kian braked.

“It’s me,” the stranger said.

Kian shook his head, tugging me behind him. He grinned ruefully at the man. “Perfect timing.”

“Yeah, well, we might still be screwed. Someone from the party must have alerted the media. There’s another news van in the back. I think they went inside already, but two more channels are heading to us. We have to move quick.”

“Jo!”

I looked over my shoulder. Jake was in the window, staring at us in disbelief. As his gaze touched on me, another wave of guilt swept over me. He looked to Kian, and then his eyes fell to our linked hands. A second wave crashed over me.

I couldn’t think about that, not now. “We have to go. Now.”

The stranger scanned a shrewd eye over me. His lips lifted into a slight smirk. “We’re aware. Follow me.”

He turned and led the way. No one was in the backyard, but the stranger and Kian kept to the side of the yard. They hugged close to the neighbor’s fence and then paused when we got to the back alley.

The stranger waved us ahead. “My car’s at the end. Go, and get in the back.”

“They’re back here!” someone shouted from the house.

I didn’t look back. Kian started down the alley, and I was right behind him. The news van didn’t look like anyone was inside, but the side door opened. I didn’t have time to react. Kian reacted for me. He caught my waist and pulled me behind a garage door. It blocked us from their view, whomever it was. He held us there. As we waited, he was pressed against me, shielding me.

He nuzzled against my ear. “They didn’t see us. We’ll go when they’re gone.”

I closed my eyes, inhaling the scent of him for a second. This was all sorts of wrong, all sorts of bad timing, but I grabbed the front of his shirt and pressed myself against him. It was a tiny gesture, but Kian went still, and he looked down, gazing at me under lidded eyes. His hand lifted to cup my cheek. His eyes darkened, and he started to bend down. His lips hovered over mine, breathing into me, but he didn’t touch them to mine. I wanted it. My hands grasped him tighter. Neither of us could look away.

We heard a whisper, “Clear. Go.”

Kian fell backward, back out to the alley. I fell with him. It was like breaking through cement to pull my gaze from his. Then, we were off and running for the car. Kian got there faster and had the back door open and ready for us. I dove inside, and he was right behind me, his hand going to my hip. He guided me down, all the way below the seat, and he flattened himself over me.

His mouth was above mine. His face was right there. My heart was pounding— from the jumping, from the running, and now from the close proximity.

“Jordan?”

“Yeah?” My breath was stuck in my throat.

“There’s a blanket underneath you. I’m going to grab it.”

“Oh, yeah.” I moved as he reached underneath for it, lifting up my body so he could pull it clear.

Kian spread it over both of us, and we waited.

“You think they’ll see us?”

“No, they won’t be looking here.” He grimaced. “I hope not anyway.”

“Who’s that guy?”

“Cal, my private investigator, but he’s my go-to guy for everything.”

“What’s he doing?”

“He’s waiting behind to see what they know. That’ll help us get a jump on damage control.” A second grimace from him. “I hope.”

That made sense. A second question formed. “Kian?”

“Hmm?”

Erica’s face flashed in my mind again along with how Jake looked at us as I ran with Kian while we were holding hands.

“What am I going to do now?”

I was no longer Jo Keen.

I was Jordan Emory.

Cal didn’t stick around.

He dropped us off—or he dropped me off. Kian remained in the car, and whatever they had to say, it didn’t take too long. I waited in the doorway before going into the hotel through the back way.

When Kian approached, he took his cap off and gave it to me. With a guiding hand on my back, he walked beside me. I kept my head bent down as we maneuvered to the private elevator. Once inside the penthouse, I went straight to the liquor cabinet.

Kian pulled his phone out, but he held it in his hand as I poured a healthy shot of whiskey. It burned but not enough. I switched to tequila, and three shots later, some of the storm started to ebb. I was hoping to be numb.

Kian moved, so he was leaning against the counter, right behind me. He lifted an eyebrow. “Better?”

I swallowed. Nope, I could still feel it. I poured another. “Getting there,” I rasped out.

“Jordan.” He reached for the bottle.

I held it away, using my hip to check him. He would have to reach around me to get it. Our eyes met and held.

I winced, seeing the sympathy in his gaze. “Stop it,” I ground out.

No sympathy. No pity party. No I’m sorry. None of that shit would do. My life was done, but I was going to get drunk before I had to face it.

I reached for the phone. His fingers tightened on it, but he used the touch to move closer to me. He was now crowding me against the counter. Desire pooled inside me, and I swallowed, licking my lips, as I reacted to the smoldering in his eyes.

I murmured, “One night. Give me one night before you call in the cavalry.”

His fingers moved, so he was holding my hand as I was holding his phone now. “One night?”