“He said you called him yesterday.”
I nod.
“He said you were the one that convinced him.”
I nod.
“Um… How is that? I mean…How?”
I smile. “I think Sebastian just needed to hear that he was forgiven. That what happened wasn’t his fault. And then when he is done with rehab, he can choose any path he wants.”
“I...uh…thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You’re incredible.”
His lips touch mine, telling me just how incredible I am. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, and he might as well be sweeping me off my feet right now, that’s how good the kiss is.
He tucks my hair behind my ear as he breaks the kiss. His lips tighten like he wants to say more but can’t.
And I feel uneasy. I’m completely flushed, and I need a minute apart to cool down if I don’t seriously want him to fuck me in the bathroom.
“Excuse me a moment. I need to use the ladies room.”
I step out from his clutches and race to the bathroom. When I get there, I splash water on my face, not caring if it messes up my makeup. The water doesn’t help, because I have butterflies dancing in my stomach all the way up to my chest.
I don’t know what’s real and what’s pretend anymore. I don’t know if that feeling deep in my gut is because I love him or hate him. I don’t know if I wear the ring on my finger because I’m supposed to or if because I want this to be real.
I don’t know anything anymore. All I know is that in a few minutes I have to step back out of this bathroom and pretend like nothing’s changed. But I know deep in my heart, the second he thanked me for helping his brother made me want to spend the rest of my life loving him. Even if Kade doesn’t always deserve it.
I dry off my hands, and then I walk back out to the party. Anastasia hasn’t made any speeches, danced under a spotlight, or had all the attention on her in any way yet. So I expect when I walk back out that it will be about time for her to capture everyone’s attention.
What I don’t expect is for her lips to be pressed against my husband’s.
I storm across the dance floor, not caring who I take out on my path. My heels clank against the floor so loudly I’m sure everyone can hear me. I glare at Anastasia even though I’m still twenty feet away. I’ve never hated her so much in my life. I don’t know what she is thinking, kissing Kade. I know she is used to getting her way. But this is taking things too far. She can’t just kiss Kade and expect he will fall madly in love with her, divorce me, and marry her. That’s insane to think that. But I don’t know any other reason she would have for kissing my husband than to torment me.
I get closer, and I start running. Planning on tearing the bitch from his lips and pulling her by the hair until I can throw her out with the trash.
Kade finally wiggles out of her grasp. And he looks pissed. Eyes dark, lips stern, and cheeks red.
“Get the fuck out of my bar!” Kade screams.
Anastasia folds her arms and raises an eyebrow. “Excuse me? I paid to be here. Not to mention, I’m your sister-in-law. You can’t just kick my guests and me out.”
Kade senses me and looks up. He struts over to me and holds me tight against his body.
“You are no sister-in-law. You aren’t even a sister. You are a piece of trash that needs to leave now. Stop trying to manipulate your sister and me.”
The entire crowd in the room has fallen silent. All eyes are on us. But I no longer care what any of them think. I’m just happy to have Kade hold me in his arms and defend me against my supposed family.
“You don’t get to kiss me and get away with it. I want you out of my bar and out of our lives until you can apologize.”
Anastasia’s eyes panic when he mentions the kiss. And then she looks to me like I might save her.
“Out,” I say, with the same fire in my voice as Kade.
Anastasia pouts before looking around the room at all the prying eyes. It only takes her a moment to decide it might be best if she walks away. Her fiancé comes out of the bathroom, and several people point outside, telling him to follow Anastasia out.