I close my eyes at the nickname and how easily it still rolls off his tongue. It’s pure nostalgia, but that can’t save what’s been broken. “What did you mean earlier?”
He sighs, rustling the sofa as he plops down. “You caught that?”
“Yes…”
He hums. “Your fiancé isn’t who he says he is.”
My hands grip the plate I’m washing so hard that I could shatter it. Is this his plan? Try to convince me that Dylan is some fucking villain, so he can have me back?
I fell for his tricks once, and it won’t happen again.
“Sure he isn’t,” I mutter, slapping the plate onto the drying rack. The sound echoes around the kitchen.
“You always do this,” Kaden says lightly.
I whip around, my heart pounding. “Do what?”
“Deflect,” he says matter-of-factly. “You do it when you’re scared.”
“I’m not scared,” I argue. “You come in here and make some crazy accusation—”
“It isn’t an accusation if it’s true,Melody.”
I scoff, crossing my arms. “You know what? I’m tired. I’m going to bed.” I pad toward the stairs, ignoring the presence of my phantom as he watches me.
“When are you going to start asking the right questions?” Kaden calls after me.
I pause mid-step, my brow furrowing. There’s a beat of contemplation before I recognize his mind game. “When you finally learn to accept that what happened between us is over.”
He chuckles bitterly, the sound low and rough, making my spine tingle. “I already told you that wasn’t happening, pretty girl. I have a wager for you.”
I rest my head back against my shoulders, blowing out a breath as I turn to him. “I don’t have time for your games, Kaden.”
He’s standing now, his hands tucked into his jeans. “No games when it comes to us.”
My eyes narrow. “There is nous. You made sure of that.”
His head tilts, his gaze becoming dangerous. “Okay, Sunny. If I can get you to admit that you still want me, I getyou.”
A sharp, abrupt laugh bubbles from me. “Oh, yeah? That’s never going to happen.”
“Then do you accept?” He asks.
It’s dangerous. I would be making a deal with the devil himself, but Kaden has no idea who I am now. I’ve overcome and conquered the loss of him while he was still breathing. I’ve paved my own path in life and accomplished everything I set out to. I’m not his prey anymore.
I tilt my head. “Sure. If you can get me to utter the words, I’m all yours.”
Fat fucking chance.
His grin stretches, growing wicked. “Then it’s a deal.”
Chapter forty-four
Kaden
Ilieawakeintotheearly morning hours, my hands tucked under my head as I stare at the ceiling. Upstairs, everything is calm and silent, the eternal restfulness of people dreaming blissfully. They have no idea that a beast lurks below them, waiting to strike.
I’ve done my own digging onDylan. He isn’t the picture-perfect man everyone paints him to be. Far from it. Melody has no idea what he’s done, but she will soon enough. I need to bide my time well and make her see that we’re meant for each other. That’s my first plan of attack—make her forget all about the fucking snake she’s engaged to. The final blow will be dealt once I’ve frayed their bond so thin it could shatter under anything.
