Page 61 of Ruthless Redemption
“Well, it’s even harder when you’re an adult.”
She hustles to keep pace at my side. “But not impossible, right? Surely if you both love each other you can work things out.”
Vultures take over my insides, picking me apart, scavenging for the mere morsels of strength left behind.
“He doesn’t love me, Stella.” He never confessed the emotion. That was all on me.Myassumption.Mymistake.Mystupidity. “Now can we please drop it?”
12
LAYLA
Matthew ison the deck when we return, his gaze on mine the moment we walk into the yard.
“I’ve never seen a man look at you the way he does. Not even Dad.” Stella releases my hand. “It sure seems like love to me.”
She doesn’t give me the opportunity to respond as she takes off across the lawn. “I’m going to freshen up for dinner.” She bounds up the stairs two at a time, stealing Matthew’s attention once she reaches the deck to share murmured words.
I walk faster, tempted to break into a run to hear what they’re saying, but she’s already inside by the time I reach the upper level. “What did you say to her?”
He turns to me, raising a lone brow at my tempered aggression.
“And what did you say to her before she arrived?” I hiss. “She has certain misconceptions about us that I don’t appreciate.”
He scowls, his concern fake. “What sort of misconceptions,amore mio?”
He’s tempting me to fight with him again. Poking. Prodding.
I want to get in his face. To demand he quit calling me that stupid endearment. To stop being a manipulative prick and toying with my emotions.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” I chance a cautious glance inside, finding an audience of Stella, Keira, and Decker in the living room.Shit. I force a smile and relax my shoulders, not wanting my daughter to realize I’m a prisoner of circumstance. “She’s becoming more convinced that I’m here for romantic reasons.”
“I think you are, too.” He steps toward me, entering my personal space.
I huff a laugh and turn my back to the house so I have the freedom to glare. “Don’t push me, Langston. When it comes to Stella, I attack first and ask questions later.”
“Langston?” he muses. “I don’t think I like you calling me that.”
“Then back the hell off,” I growl.
He inclines his head. Subtle. Submissive. “I assure you, apart from answering her questions about you on the way from the airport, I’ve barely talked to her. I deliberately didn’t want to step on your toes. And I’m not trying to lay blame, but I’d assume your sister is the one who’s given the littleprincipessathe wrong idea. You really should speak to her.”
I’m almost tempted to believe him if it weren’t for his second suggestion—to confront Keira. He knows I won’t go there. My pride is too brittle to go crawling to her when I’m yet to make up for my mistakes.
“Stay away from my daughter.” I stand taller. Straighter. Attempting to see right through the charm he’s laying thicker than glue. “I told her you’re a liar. She knows you’re not to be trusted.”
His face falls. It’s a split second of confounded shock before his eyes narrow. “Whatever you say,amore mio.”
“And don’t call me that in front of her. She already thinks you’re obsessed with me. I don’t need you making things worse.”
“Knows,” he clarifies. “She alreadyknowsI’m obsessed.”
My hands itch to grasp the fight he’s offering. To dive headfirst into it in one rapid release of endorphins. But he’ll win. He’ll wrap my ovaries around his little finger like always and then I’ll be a slave to shame all over again—this time in front of a daughter who will hold me accountable.
“I’m not doing this with you.” I start for the French doors of my bedroom.
“I like seeing you like this,” he says to my back. “Your protective side is captivating.”
I snatch at the door handle and pull it wide. “You act like everything about me is captivating.”
