Chapter 9 Kael , Have You Slept With Sloane The man's tone was distant . " No need . " ] Hearing that , Nova had no more to say . She watched him leave , then headed off . [ ] She didn't have her phone , so she could only stand by the roadside hailing a taxi , planning to pay the driver once she got home . [ ] Cars streamed by not far away . [ ] Through the windshield , Jax Ford spotted Nova in the distance . He couldn't help speaking up , " Mr. Thorne, that looks like the lady from earlier . Should we give her a ride ? " Jax glanced at the rearview mirror , his heart racing . He was trying to get Corin to interact more with women - after all , his family had been pressing hard for him to get married . " Are you that free ? " Corin lifted his eyes , giving him a cold glare . [ ] Jax fell silent , but couldn't hold back adding , " This bar's surrounded by drunks , and it's rush hour now . She'll never get a taxi anytime soon . What if something happens to her ? " Corin frowned , glancing up - and there , by the road , Nova's outfit was indeed eye - catching . Before long , a man went over to pester her . [ ] His eyes darkened . He set aside the tablet on his lap and said calmly , " Go ask where she lives . If it's on the way , give her a ride . " ] - 0 Nova was worried when a car pulled up beside her . II was a Maybach . She froze for a second . [] Next , the window rolled down , revealing Jax's face . " Hi , we met at the bar earlier . It's rush hour - you won't get a taxi anytime soon . Where are you heading ? If it's on the way , we can give you a lift . " Nova recognized Jax . She glanced inside , where a man sat gracefully in the back seat , reading emails . ] ] She already felt bad about using his money earlier . " No trouble , thanks . I'll wait a bit longer . " Jax said , " This roadside is full of drunks . It's not safe for a girl like you alone . We're heading to Bradley Road soon - if that's on your way , we can drop you off . " [ ] Bradley Road was on her way . And there really were too many drunks around - unsafe at night . But ... Corin suddenly spoke up . " Get in . A ride won't be a hassle . " Hearing that , Nova glanced around . Evening rush hour was chaotic - how long would she have to wait for a taxi ? ] Screw IL ] She apologized with a thank you , then got into the back seat . She didn't notice someone taking a photo of her getting into a stranger's car . [ ] The car drove down the road . Nova sat trembling in the corner , trying her best to make herself invisible - but that crisp woody scent still made her heart race , like he was right there beside herff Just as the car neared the villa area , a suit jacket fanded on her lap " Fix this . " The man's voice was slightly hoarse [ ] Nova froze for a few seconds , confused - until she shifted her legs and realized what was wrong , She'd gotten her period . [ ] Has he noticed earlier ? What about the seat ? ] Suddenly , her cheeks flushed bright red . She grabbed the suit jacket on her lap , quickly taking wet wipes from her bag to wipe the seat Chapter 9 Kael , Have You Slept With Sloane Blushing , she said , " I'm so sorry - I'll wash this and return it , or ... if you give me a contact later , I can send you money for it . " [] " No need . " In the darkness , the man's expression was unreadable , his voice low and deep . [ ] Nova bit her lip in embarrassment . She figured they'd never run into each other again anyway - and his tone made it sound like he didn't care about the jacket at all , just a random favor . [ ] Seeing her still wiping nonstop , the man turned to look at her , his voice firm . " Stop wiping . It's fine . " [ ] Now , Nova wanted nothing more than to sink into the floor . [ ] Was she having a streak of bad luck lately ? -0 The car pulled over by the roadside . Nova thanked him again , taking the suit jacket from her lap and tucking it around her waist . [ ] She wiped the seat once more , her cheeks burning . ] Jax fell a twinge of regret - but Corin wasn't interested , and they hadn't even exchanged contacts . There was nothing more he could say . [ ] No one noticed , though - Corin hadn't finished the five - line email on his laptop the entire drive . [ ] Nova dragged her tired body home , tapping her forehead in frustration . The suit jacket wrapped around her waist was a constant reminder of what had just happened . ] ] All she knew was that people called him Mr. Thorne - she had no idea what his full name was . ] ] Otherwise , she could have looked him up and properly thanked him later . [ ] Nova sighed , stepping through the front door . As soon as she entered , she smelled a strong whiff of cigarette smoke . ] Kael was sitting on the sofa smoking , his face gloomy . [ ] When he saw her come in - with a man's suit jacket tied around her waist - his brows furrowed tightly . [ ] He stood up and walked over , his voice laced with accusation . [] " Whose jacket is that ? Who were you with just now ? Why are you back so late ? " Three questions hit her at once . Nova couldn't help but want to laugh . What right did he have to question her ? ] She looked up at him , meeting his eyes . " Kael , weren't you having fun at the club ? Why can't I go out ? " ] Ather words , a flash of panic crossed Kael's face . The flood of accusations he'd been holding back died on his lips . [ ] He grabbed her shoulders , forcing a laugh . " Nova , dont joke around . Trent and the guys kept me there - I couldn't leave earlier . Don't you trust me ? " But what about you ? It's so late - where did you go alone ? Who sent you back ? And whose jacket is this ? " Kael's tone turned serious , his grip on her shoulders tightening anxiously Nova curled her hips into a smile . Compared to his panic , she found the whole thing ridiculous . [ ] Men were always like this - fooling around outside , yet demanding women stay home and be faithful to them She looked at him amusedly . " Kael , you took my phone . That's why I couldn't get a taxi back . " [ ] That one sentence left Kael tongue tied . Parc was written all over his face . " Your phone ? " ] Nova let out a soft laugh . She had no energy to play games with him , let alone invite more trouble . Besides , she'd be leaving soon anyway [ She pushed his hand away , lying casually . " It's Silas jacket . I got my period on my pants , so I borrowed it . He drove me back too . " [ ] Silas Cole was her childhood friend - even if Kael went to check , he wouldn't slip up . It would hold [ ] Sure enough , Kael relaxed , no longer so on edge [ ] He caught up to her , slinging an arm around her shoulders Chapter 9 Kael Have You Slept With Sloane He hurried to explain , " Nova , I really had no idea about your phone . You must have left it on the club sofa - I only found it after I got back . I thought you'd already gone home ; I had no idea this would happen . I'm sorry . " [ ] He looked at her with a tender expression . If Nova hadn't seen him hugging and kissing Sloane with her own eyes - hadn't watched them flirting - she might have actually believed him . ] Nova stopped , looking at him with a faint smile . " It's fine . I want to take a shower now - don't come in . " [ ] With that , she pushed him away and walked straight into the bedroom . Kael stood frozen in place , rubbing his face in remorse . [ ] The easier Nova made it sound like she'd forgiven him , the more his heart raced . [ ] In the bathroom , Nova washed the suit jacket clean , then put it in a bag and stored it away . When she came out again , her eyes immediately fell on the milk and the late - night snack on the nightstand . [ ] The room lights had also been switched to a warm tone , just how she liked it . [ ] It was clearly all Kael's doing ... [ ] Her hand , which had been drying her hair , paused . A dense , bitter feeling spread through her chest . When they were together , Kael had always taken meticulous care of her . Back in the day , during their fights , he'd sneak her a nice meal or a box of apple pie - and she'd forgive him every time . ] ] But this time ? He'd cheated . It was a matter of principle . She couldn't forgive that . [ ] Nova sat on the edge of the bed , staring blankly at the things on the nightstand ... ] ] Just then , her phone - charging nearby - started vibrating nonstop . [ ] She was worried about missing work messages , so she wiped the tears and hurried to check it . [ ] As her gaze landed on the notification popping up on the screen , her heart skipped a beat . [ ]