"No the hell I'm not. Raya, I've wanted you back since you walked out. I'm a jerk. I'm an idiot. I'm every form of stupid there is. I made the biggest mistake of my life. Please, please come back. Let me make it up to you."
I try to break free again, but his hold is too tight. It only loosens for a second, but that's simply to spin me around to face him. Oh damn. I wish he hadn't done that.
Those beautiful blue eyes that have haunted my fantasies, my dreams, and my life are now staring into mine. It almost hurts to have to see the man I love, especially when I know he's here for all the wrong reasons.
"Kade," I mumble, feeling my lip tremble as tears drip from my eyes. "You don't... you don't want to be with me. I'm a conman's daughter. Your business, your dreams, and your name can't be tainted by a girl-"
His lips find mine, halting my objection, and he grips me tighter, pulling me to him to further drive me crazy. It'd be so much easier if I hadn't fallen in love like the fool I am.
When his tongue sweeps in, it takes all my strength to force him back. My tears storm my cheeks harder as he stumbles and almost falls, and I grab the door to jerk it open before he can regain his balance.
"Just go home, Kade. Please leave me alone."
I run in, deciding to call it a night, and I head toward the front, desperate to escape the man who is probably already coming after me.
Dane is going to kick my ass for calling in, but I can't help it. Kade needs a few days to digest things. After last night, I'm scared of seeing him at work again. It'd be too easy to give in.
A loud knock at the door draws my attention, and I walk over to the window. The covered porch hinders me from seeing who might be knocking downstairs, but it doesn't block my vision from the Range Rover I know too well.
"Damn it," I whisper to myself, tensing up.
"Coming," Dad yells to the door.
I rush to intercept him, but I barely make it halfway down the stairs before the door opens.
"Yes?" Dad asks, completely unaware of who he's talking to. Thank God I can't see him.
All I can see is the open door and my oblivious father.
"I need to talk to Raya, please," Kade says, sounding exhausted.
"And you are?" Dad probes, but by now he probably has it figured out.
"Kade Colton."
I almost get sick. How did he find out where I live?
"I think you know by now she doesn't want to see you. You should go and forget this address."
Dad starts to shut the door, but it thumps and stops against something, most likely Kade's foot.
"I really have to see her, Mr. Drivel. It's-"
"Capperton," Dad interrupts, almost growling. "It's Ray Capperton. I don't use Drivel."
"Sorry," Kade says, almost sounding amused. "Mr. Capperton, I'd really like to have a chance to apologize. Raya is wrong about us. I-"
"You hurt her," Dad says simply, interrupting him again. "She trusted you and you hurt her, because you, like all the other morons she meets, judged her based on my actions. She's a good girl. She has a heart like you'd never understand. She's the most forgiving, understanding, and compassionate person I've ever known, and you hurt her. She doesn't want to talk to you."
Tears fill my eyes as I sit down and draw my knees to my chest like a scared little girl.
"I didn't judge her. Mr. Capperton, I fucked up. You don't understand. If you'd just let me-"
"What? Let you in? Let you stalk my daughter more? You're lucky I'm not calling the cops. Believe it or not, I've actually got a few friends in that department. You have your vineyard, your plans can move forward, and your life will be as fucking shiny as you like it. You're the one who doesn't understand.
"You didn't fuck up because of what you said once. It's what you've preached about. Your life is supposed to be perfect. You want that. And you've made Raya feel as though she's inferior. My daughter is a better person than you'll ever be. Ever. She doesn't deserve to feel as though she's a lesser person because of decisions I've made, because of the money she didn't have handed to her, or because of where she came from.
"She's strong, and you damn near broke her. Now, go. The fuck. Away."