Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
"Keep saying that, and maybe you'll convince yourself one day." Onesimus stepped further into the room, his usual deference falling away. "You've already made several attempts to humiliate her. And failed. Because she is that determined to win you back."
Keiran tossed the towel aside. "I don't need your psychological analysis."
"No, what you need is to think very hard if this path you are on is worth losing any chance of having a life with her again."
The words hung in the air between them, too close to the truth for Keiran's comfort.
"When did you become such a romantic, old man?"
"When I watched you tear your own heart out three years ago," Onesimus said simply. "And I've been watching you try to live without it ever since."
Keiran had no answer for that.
"Dinner will be ready at seven," Onesimus continued, as if the conversation had been about nothing more significant than the weather. "I told Chef no cilantro. She hates it but never says anything."
The casual observation was like a knife to the ribs. How many little details about Cadence had Keiran collected over their short marriage? How many did he still remember?
The way she sneezed in her sleep. How she looked in his oversized shirts. The cookies she baked at midnight when she couldn't sleep.
"I have a meeting," Keiran said abruptly. "I won't be back until late."
Onesimus nodded, unsurprised. "I'll let Mrs. Quinn know."
"Cadence," Keiran corrected automatically, then scowled at the slip.
Onesimus's smile was knowing. "Of course, sir."
After he left, Keiran stood in the center of the gym, suddenly restless. The punching bag hadn't helped. Nothing helped. Not one thing to block out the words that threatened to tear him apart—-
That I loved you more than I ever loved them, and always would.
Cadence
PRESENT TIME
He walked out on me. Again.
It's all I could think about since our unexpected confrontation in the living room. Just when I've bared my heart to him, Keiran curtly tells me it's all in the past, to focus on the present, and then that was it.
The sound of my bedroom door opening startles me from my thoughts, and I turn just in time to see Keiran walking towards me.
I jerk to my feet, feeling self-conscious and more than a little nervous. My bedroom's en-suite suddenly feels too small even when it's not. And is it just me—or is the AC not working again?
Our gazes meet as he stands before me, and my heart skips a beat. My heart may still be hurting, but my eyes are still working fine, and right now, my ex-husband is looking absolutely dashing in his tux.
Yum.
I mean, wow.
"You look beautiful," he says quietly.
"You, too."
Keiran arches a brow. "Don't you mean handsome?"
I shake my head, and he looks at me for a few seconds before slightly shaking his head as well.
"You still don't know when to quit." His voice is gruff. But it's also tender. And just like that, my heart is no longer hurting, and well...
It's true.
I really don't know when to quit because the next thing I know, I'm running to his arms, and he's gripping my hair as he covers my mouth in a kiss so hard and deep it has every fiber of my being tingling and burning for more.
A whimper of protest escapes my lips when he pulls away, and smoke-gray eyes gleam down at me.
"Patience, Cadence."
He whispers the words into my ear, and my knees threaten to crumble.
His hands settle on my shoulders, and my heart leaps to my throat.
Is he going to—-
Oh.
—-turn me around so I can see myself in the mirror?
Okaaaay.
His fingers brush the nape of my neck as he gently gathers my hair on one side. The necklace he fastens around my neck is made entirely of diamonds.
But...
Keiran raises a brow as he meets my gaze through the mirror. "You don't like it?"
"I love it," I say quickly.
"But?"
"It's a choker," I say helplessly. "D-Does this mean you're, um, you know..."
"No, I don't know."
"The, um..." My face starts flaming. "Kinky master and sub—"
Amusement gleams in his gaze, and I think...I think it's time for me to just smile and say weakly, "It's beautiful, thank you."
Keiran steps back. "Turn around for me."
I do so slowly, and I can feel my breasts swelling behind my strapless gown at the way his gaze caresses my flesh.
"Very good." Keiran's voice is now rough, and my belly tightens with need.
"Do you want me to look like now?"
"A much loved secret ex-wife?"
His eyes bore through me, and I can only smile sheepishly. "I did tell you I want you back—"
"That's your answer right there."
Huh?
"You look exactly how I want you to look."
Which is...what?
"A woman who's willing to do everything she's ordered, everything she can think of—to earn her man back."
Keiran
PRESENT TIME
He'd made a fucking mistake.
The thought became clear to Keiran as soon as he saw his wife's eyes light up. The last time he saw that, she had tried climbing another tree for another "rare" fruit. And of course it had also ended in mishap, since that was the story of her life.