Page 95 of Happily Never After


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“This,” he’d said. Notyou.

He wants to fuck me. That’s it. He’s attracted to me, annoyed by me, hates me, and wants tofuck me.

Kade doesn’t like me. He doesn’t havefeelingslike I do.

He has a hard dick, and I’m…

Here.

Flirting with him, letting him touch me, tease me, turn me on. I’m just convenient, a distraction from the woman’s ghost his life is now inundated with.

Suddenly, I feel dirty, just like after theyoga tutorial that shall not be named. I feel like I need a shower, a pint of ice cream I can’t have, a good cry, and to puke, maybe all at the same time.

His hand wraps around my keys a second before the door slams open for the second time.

“What the fuck?” he barks, shooting daggers at the twins as they barrel toward us. “You’re gonna dent the wall!”

“Georgia!” Colby says, grinning from ear to ear, clearly ignoring her brother. “Guess what!”

“We’re going mudding!” Clem answers, clapping excitedly. She flicks her gaze to her mom. “Wanna come, Mom?”

She waves them away, smiling indulgently. “No, no, you go on ahead. Have a good time. Weather’s perfect for it. Just make sure you wrap up the horses well and give them the full spa treatment afterward.”

“Of course,” Clem says, bouncing on her toes. She grabs my hand, dragging me toward the door. “You’re going to have the best time!”

My mouth opens and closes, heart racing, stomach flipping. Mudding? Like with horses? I haven’t done that in years. But while the idea sounds exciting, and appealing, that’s not what I’m here for.

I’m not here for any of this.

Throat bobbing, I tug my hand free and force myself to look away from Kade’s intense gaze, finding Bea across the room.

“I’m so sorry, girls, but I’m here to help your mom with the Honey Bea Bash. I can’t—”

“Oh, don’t worry about it, dear,” Bea says, stashing her empty bags in a cupboard. “You go have fun. We’ll worry about the event next weekend when you come over.”

“See!” the girls cheer, snatching my hand back up. “Mom says you’re off the hook. Let’s go.”

“Guys,” Kade says slowly, and I look up just in time to see his jaw clench. “Don’t know if that’s the best idea.”

They freeze and Colby slams her hands to her hips, glaring up at him. “Why the heck not?”

He stares at me for a long moment, but doesn’t say anything.

And it’s the silence that grates on my nerves the most. All afternoon, he hasn’t shut up. Hasn’t stopped making promises that sound like threats, opening up and battering against my walls like he has any right to.

And the touching… God, thetouching.

With a few simple words, his eyes on my lips, hands on my body—he unraveled me in a way no one else has. Had my hopes high, and my lust higher.

Now that we’re not alone, not that his family is here, he’s quiet, refusing to speak, to lay his so-calledwantsout on the table between us.

Maybe that’s why I smile at his sisters and nod, giving him my back entirely.

“Actually, mudding sounds perfect. Let’s go.”

Chapter Nineteen

Eat the Food