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Needing to put all thoughts of the stalker out of my mind, I threw myself into decorating my cousin’s new home. But it wasn’t as easy as I imagined it would be. Not the decorating, that was easy, and Luca seemed to love the way I transformed his house.
No, it was trying to keep my mind off the fact that someone was obsessed with me. Calling me “little bird” and then breaking the necks of poor little innocent birds to get my attention. On top of that, Jordan still hadn’t so much as tried to contact me, reinforcing my theory that when I was out of sight, I was definitely out of his mind.
The fact that he was in dozens of tabloids with Letizia was enough for me to know that he’d been full of shit Christmas Eve. I’d told myself repeatedly that I was over him, but that kiss and his promises had given me hope. I was just the stupid girl who had let her heart believe we might have something special.
By the time most of the rooms in Luca’s house were complete, it was time for me to get back to work. Filming for the final episodes of my show was getting ready to commence, and I needed to return to California to finish out my contract.
There had been no more packages delivered to my apartment, something Cathryn had assured me of since Detective Kirtner was stopping by to check out my place every few days. He’d also done a few drive-bys of my parents’ house, just to give me a little more peace of mind, as well as checking the studio.
I was optimistic that the stalker had given up on me and I could go back to living my life as usual. When I got back to LA, I went straight home and slept in my own bed for the first time in over six weeks. My housekeeper had still been cleaning a few days a week, so the place was spotless when I walked through the door.
Sighing contentedly, I showered and then crashed after having spent the entire day traveling. I had to be at the studio early the next morning, so even though it was barely eight in the evening, I went right to bed.
For the next two weeks, I was so busy with not only filming but doing press for the final episodes that I didn’t have more than a few minutes to myself, and those were dedicated to sleep. But all the work and trying to figure out which part I wanted to take next seemed trivial when Violet’s husband died.
The funeral was kept low-key so the press didn’t get hold of the news that billionaire Remington Sawyer had passed in his sleep and poor Vi didn’t get dragged through the mud along with it. No one had even known Remington was sick except for Vi and a few others.
Dressed in a simple black dress that fell to my knees, I arrived at the church just as everyone else was sitting down for the service. Over the past few days, I’d wanted to visit my cousin to check on her, but my parents had told me Violet wasn’t in any condition to receive guests. Mom told me that Luca was with her, however. While that blew my mi
nd, it was also a relief.
I knew Violet was in the best of hands with Luca, so I didn’t worry about her falling apart like she had when she’d broken up with him.
The church was huge, but there were barely fifty people in attendance, and most of those were Violet’s closest relatives. Remington hadn’t had any family left, which was heartbreaking. He’d been alone most of his life. Violet had given him a family, was carrying his baby in her womb, and loved him completely. It didn’t seem fair that he had been taken before he’d even gotten to hold his daughter or tell her how much he loved her.
I couldn’t imagine losing my own father before I got the chance to meet and know what an amazing man he was.
Heart aching for my cousin and her unborn child, I took a seat in the back so I didn’t disturb anyone.
But it seemed I wasn’t the only late arrival. No sooner was I seated than someone dropped down into the pew beside me.
His scent hit me as he shifted to unbutton his suit jacket. Forcing down the disappointment and pain his nearness brought back to the surface, I slowly turned my head and found Jordan looking down at me with veiled eyes. Damn, but I loved his eyes. Such a rich brown color that made me think of maple syrup pouring over warm pancakes. Or a pool of thick molasses so deep, I could swim in the delicious sweetness.
“Hey,” he murmured softly.
“Hi,” I gritted out. Folding my hands around each other, I jerked my head back around to focus on the minister. But as I did, my gaze landed on the beautiful woman sitting several pews ahead of us.
Alexis Moreitti was watching her son and me with a guarded expression, and I quickly looked away from her probing stare. I couldn’t tell if she disapproved of us sitting together or if she was angry we had both arrived so late. Either way, the look in her pretty eyes made my chest ache because it only drove home for me just how much Jordan and I didn’t belong together.
It was glaringly obvious to me that his mom didn’t like me. It wouldn’t have been the first time a guy’s parents didn’t think I was good enough to be with their son. There were a few guys I was only friends with, but their mothers had basically shunned me. I was too…much for some people. I’d been called a flake, an airhead, and any number of other names by overprotective mommies who thought their precious little boys were too good for the likes of me.
But I’d never wanted to be accepted so much in my life as I did by Alexis Moreitti.
I craved for her to smile at me as I’d seen her smile at Mia so many times. As if I were one of her own, maybe even as the daughter she’d never had. I knew it was wishful thinking, but I’d lain in bed countless nights fantasizing about it. Which was ridiculous.
Just like it was ridiculous to imagine Jordan and I belonged together.
As the service continued and Violet’s broken sobs tore at something deep inside me, Jordan shifted beside me. His arm went along the back of the pew, and I felt his fingers grazing over my shoulder through my dress. Once he was settled, his fingertips skimmed the bare skin of my upper arm, drawing tiny circles that left goose bumps in their wake.
I shrugged his hand away and scooted over so that he wasn’t as close, but he followed until his thigh brushed against mine. As pissed and disillusioned as I was where this guy was concerned, my body couldn’t help but react to his nearness. Heat pooled low in my tummy, and an ache began to throb between my legs. I was disgusted with myself for feeling even remotely attracted to the asshole, especially at a funeral.
He wrapped his fingers around my arm and pulled me in closer as he lowered his head. “Why did you block my number?” he whispered, but there was no mistaking the hurt and underlying anger in his voice.
“I didn’t,” I hissed, keeping my eyes trained straight ahead.
“Yes, you did. I’ve been calling you every damn day, Arella. Texting you practically every hour. And nothing goes through.” He tightened his fingers, and he nuzzled my ear with his nose, making me shiver as his breath fanned over my neck, exposed from the way I’d styled my hair. “If this is my punishment, I surrender, baby. Just give me a chance.”
Angrily, I pulled my phone from my purse and opened my contacts. Clicking on his name, I brought up his information to show him I hadn’t blocked him—
