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She hated that she felt a small tug, hated that for months she’d prayed for this moment. But she loved Ian. How could she deny herself the man she felt she’d been waiting for her whole life?
But on the other hand, how could she deny her daughter the bond of her parents raising her in the same house?
Cassie shook her head, refusing to listen to the conflicting voices in her head. She needed to think, needed to be alone.
“I waited for months for you to come back,” she told him, hoping her words would make him squirm, make him feel the heavy dose of guilt he was due. “I cried myself to sleep when I thought of Emily not knowing her father. But you know what? After the tears were spent, I realized that Emily was better off. Both of us were, actually. Neither of us needed a man in our life who didn’t put us first. We needed a man who would love us, put our needs above his own selfish ones and be there for us no matter what.”
When he opened his mouth, Cassie raised a hand to silence him. “I would’ve given you the same in return. I married you thinking we were both in love, but I was wrong. You didn’t love me, because if you did, you wouldn’t have found it so easy to leave me.”
“I’m back, though.” He reached out, touched her face. “I want my family back, my wife back. I know I made a mistake, but you can’t tell me you’re ready to throw everything away.”
When the door opened behind her, Cassie didn’t have to turn to know Ian stood just at the threshold. She closed her eyes and sighed.
“Actually,” she whispered. “You already threw it all away.”
Derek’s eyes darted from hers to just over her shoulder before he dropped his hands. “You can keep the paper. Maybe it will give you something to think about.”
She didn’t move as he skirted around her. When the door shut once again, Cassie turned slowly to see Ian, hands on his hips. Even with the space between them, Cassie saw so many emotions dancing in his eyes: confusion, hurt, love.
“Where’s Emily?” she asked, hoping to keep the conversation on safer ground.
“I actually just left her with Linda. She’s taking a nap.”
Cassie nodded, worry lacing through her. “What you just saw was—”
“I know what I saw,” he murmured. “I know he wants you back. He’d be a fool not to. It’s just—”
Ian glanced down, smoothing a hand over the back of his neck, then froze when his gaze landed on the paper. Slowly he picked it up, skimming the front page.
Cassie waited, wondering how he would react.
When he muttered a curse and slammed the paper down, Cassie jumped.
“Tell me this wasn’t Derek’s defense,” Ian begged. “He surely wasn’t using me as his battle to win you back.”
Shrugging, Cassie crossed her arms around her waist. “It’s a pretty damning photograph.”
Closing the spacious gap between them, Ian stood within a breath of her and tipped her chin up so she looked him in the eyes. “The media is known for spinning stories to create the best reaction from viewers. It’s how they stay in business.”
Cassie nodded. “I’m aware of that.”
Ian studied her for a moment before he plunged his fingers through her disheveled hair and claimed her lips. The passion, desire and fury all poured from him, and Cassie had to grip his biceps to hold on for the ride.
He attacked her mouth, a man on a mission of proving something, of taking what was his and damning the consequences.
When he pulled away, Ian rested his forehead against hers. “Tell me you believe that I could kiss you like that and have feelings for another woman. Tell me that you don’t trust me and all we have here is built on lies. Because if that’s the case, I’ll leave right now and never come back.”
Cassie’s throat tightened as she continued to clutch his arms. “I don’t believe that, Ian. I know you wouldn’t lie to me. You’ve shown me what a real man is, how a real man treats a lady.”
Taking a deep breath, she finally stepped back, away from his hold. “But I also know that this is something I’m going to have to deal with if we’re together. The media spinning stories, always being in the limelight.”
“I’m an agent, Cassie. Nobody cares about me. If I had been out alone, nobody would’ve known who I was.”
Cassie smiled. “But you were out with the breathtaking Lily Beaumont. All of your clients are famous, Ian. There will be other times, other photos.”
Shaking her head, she walked around and finally sank onto the sofa. Ian joined her but didn’t touch her. She hated this wedge that had settled between them...a wedge that had formed only once Derek had entered the picture.
