Page 130 of Tragic (Lark Cove 3)

“How are you feeling?” Kaine ran a hand up and down my back. He always managed to find the tight spots with one pass, and his fingertips began working out a sore spot underneath my shoulder blade.

“Good.” I leaned closer. “I hear you talked to my ex-husband today.”

He grunted. “If he calls or emails again, I’d better hear about it from you. Not Logan.”

“He won’t be calling again. But if he does, you’ll be the first to know.”

Kaine kissed my temple. “Got a surprise for you today.”

“Hmm.” I closed my eyes as his hand kept massaging. “I like surprises.”

“You can have it after the party.”

“Okay. Maybe we could duck out of here early. I need to talk to you about something in private.”

His hand froze. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“People don’t say they need to talk about something in private when everything’s good. So what’s wrong?”

“Nothing!” I insisted, shying away from the scowl on his face.

Damn it. I should have kept my mouth shut. But pregnancy only allowed my brain to function until four in the afternoon, and since it was close to five, strategic thinking was a crapshoot.

“Piper.”

“Kaine.” I mimicked his angry tone.

He stared at me, waiting, but I just stared back. There was no way I was going to talk about his proposals—or lack thereof—when my boss was due to arrive in seconds and the entire town of Lark Cove would soon be crowded around us to toast the new year.

“It’s nothing,” I lied, patting his leg.

He huffed. “God, you’re a shit liar.”

Before I could protest—because I wasn’t a bad liar, just an unpracticed one—he bellowed toward the back. “Thea!”

“What?” she called back.

“We’re going to skip the party.”

“Kaine! No, we’re not, Thea!” I yelled as she came out from the back, wiping her hands on a towel.

“Okay. You guys have a happy New Year’s Eve. Call me tomorrow.”

“Seriously?” I asked as she rounded the bar. She wasn’t mad that we were missing the party she’d been planning for a month?

No, she isn’t. Thea smiled and hugged me tight just as Logan walked in the front door.

“Leaving already?” Logan asked with a smirk as Kaine helped me off my stool.

“Kaine, I’m not missing this party.”

His answer? Silence.

“Do you think ignoring a hugely pregnant woman is wise?”

He grunted.