“I just want to be thorough,” I say, smiling sweetly at her. “Trying to ease your workload.”
I look over at her, letting my eyes glow a little. I don’t trust her even slightly, and I want to make sure there are no mishaps with the money or any of the orders.
It would be just like her to have the formal decorations show up and spend the money on them, so I can’t afford to pay for the festival gear.
I don’t bother holding back a wide smile. If it came to that, I’d pay for it out of Grandfather’s money. Loretta, of all people, should know how rich we are. She was close to Grandfather for many years.
“I’m leaving this in your hands, Cade,” I state, moving away from the table. “I’m going to find Lexa.”
“All good,” Cade answers, waving me off.
I manage to walk calmly out of the hall, but once I’m through the doors, I can’t hold back my anxiety any longer. I start to jog, desperate to find Lexa.
I know she said that last night didn’t mean anything, and I’m trying to accept it, but I just don’t believe it.
I could feel her love for me… it was real.
As I enter the main street, I am reminded again of how I pledged my love to her and then took it back.
What she did to me today is nothing at all like what I did to her. There’s just no comparison.
Walking down the street, I don’t see any sign of her. I check out a couple of the shops, and the shop owners confirmthat she’d been there and that delivery of her items is being organized.
I hope she had fun. She deserves a little spoiling.
I’m towards the end of town when I see her strolling into a side street. Not far behind her, a tall, wiry guy in beat-up clothes is going the same way.
Who is that person?
He’s unkempt and a little dirty, as well as wearing shabby clothes. I assume he has to be from the West End and might know Lexa.
It doesn’t necessarily mean anything that I don’t recognize him. I’ve never spent much time in the poorer section of town.
There aren’t any shops in that area, so I have to wonder what both of them are doing, going in that direction. Even from this distance, it looks like the guy is following Lexa.
Do they know each other? Is she going down there to—
I shove that thought out of my mind and start to jog. By the time I round the corner, both of them are gone. I can’t discern any particular male scent—the air coming from the street is too complex—but I can pick out Lexa’s scent. I follow it like a golden thread.
It only takes me a couple of minutes to track her back to the main street, and I don’t see the guy anywhere. Having him suddenly disappear disturbs me, because I’m pretty sure he was shadowing my mate.
Maybe he wasn’t. Don’t get paranoid.
That good sense doesn’t really sink in, and I start wondering if Lexa is pushing me away because she has someone else.
Then why did she marry me?
For the money, maybe, or the status. But that doesn’t make any sense. She’s never cared about those things.
It doesn’t mean she hasn’t had a lover. She’s so bold and confident, nothing like the girl I knew years ago.
I track Lexa to one of the big coffee shops and see her sitting outside. When I hurry over and tap her shoulder, she jumps so high in her seat that she almost knocks over her coffee.
“Hey!” I say placatingly. “Lexa, it’s me. Are you okay?”
“Yeah! Sorry. You surprised me.”
“Who else would it be?” I intended to make a joke, but my voice comes out a bit hard.
