BAILEE Alex’s house was warm and bright. All the windows were open, and I could hear a vacuum going upstairs. Things had been quiet between us since his comment in the car about our relationship, and for a little while, I just wanted to pretend that everything was okay between us… that we could b
BAILEE “Alex,” I moaned, arching my back until my chest was pressed against his. “I’m serious, Bailee,” Alex warned, and I gasped as he reached down and began lifting my dress. My heels felt heavy, hanging from my feet. Yet, Alex didn’t seem to mind them as he lowered one hand to run down the s
ALEXANDER “That’s my girl,” I said before thrusting forward into her. She cried out my name as I pushed in as deep as possible, savoring the feeling of her tightening and pulsing around me. “Oh, God.” She gasped, her eyes tightly closed, and her lips parted. Her legs constricted around me for a
BAILEE The sheets of his bed were soft and warm as I lay with my cheek on his chest. His fingertips ran up and down my spine as I stared out the window on the other side of him, wondering how my life had come full circle. It felt good. Right, even to be here in his bed. “You’re thinking too lou
BAILEE “We both know it was Caleb,” I said, grabbing the top sheet and pulling it over my chest before standing. “He had mentioned it the day after you saved me and took me to Ben’s house.” “I know that, but I need hard evidence,” Alex said, and I grabbed his arm, turning him to face me again as
BAILEE I had been annoyed when a group of people showed up at Alex’s house, stating they were there for damage control. It only intensified when I was politely excused by the mysterious Diana, who had called and ruined our day only a few minutes earlier. Alex had told me I could stay, but it wa
BAILEE “Why don’t you just call him, invite him over, and work through things?” I said, grabbing a knife from the block so I could butterfly the chicken. Even if Alex answered, I doubted that he would be able to talk about this right now, let alone drop everything to come over. “That’s not how m
BAILEE “I want to see Daddy!” Brinley screamed as fat tears rolled down her perfectly round, red cheeks. She had woken up in a tizzy, and all of my energy had been drained before we had even left the house. “I know, Honey! It is hard for you that you don't see Daddy anymore, and it’s okay to fe
HAVEN “I have to go,” I whispered, turning back to the elevator and pressing the down button repeatedly for it to reopen so I could get my car keys from my locker. “I don’t think you should go anywhere until we know what’s happening,” Ben said, following me. “I need to get to Siri,” I said, swipi
HAVEN Ben didn’t try to stop me as I stormed down the hallway to the elevator. Instead, he followed behind with a smile that I noticed in the reflection of the lift’s metal walls. I wasn’t even sure why I was so angry. I knew things would have to change once Ben found out about Siri, but I hadn’t
BEN “No! Of course not!” I exclaimed, glancing around my room again. Nothing looked out of place, and Haven had only been standing there when I walked in, but it still had me on edge to have someone in my private room when I wasn’t around. “I’m so confused right now,” Haven muttered. “That’s you
HAVEN The second I walked into the break room the next day, Bonnie and Calum jumped from their seats, asking if I was okay. Suzie had sent me home yesterday for the rest of the day unpaid, and while I wasn’t expecting my badge to work this morning, it did. “How are you?” Bonnie asked, and I shr
BEN Bailee gently hit his arm with the back of her hand as she walked by him to a cabinet to grab a glass, and I laughed. “It was a week ago. Where is Brinley?” I asked, looking around for my adorable niece. She would probably love to hear my news with them. “She said she had to go find her train.
BEN I wasn’t sure when I decided to return to the city. Still, I found myself pulling up to Alex’s house five hours later, my back irritated from being in the car for so long, and only one text from the manager of the rehab center checking in and asking if they could get me anything since I missed
HAVEN “Hey, have you guys seen my…” Calum said as he trailed behind the security guard who stormed past us, but he stopped in our way when he saw my face. “You’re crying?” “Not now, Calum.” He ignored her, but I didn’t want to discuss this with him. We were just co-workers, not friends. He fli
BEN My hands were sweaty, and a chill went through me. I couldn’t trust anyone. Not my parents, staff, or even Haven after her repeated lies over the past week. If she had told the truth this time, I would be in serious trouble. My staff had access to everything that controlled my life. I wou
BEN My heart twisted in my chest. After seeing her picture, I knew in my gut that Siri was mine, but Haven had lied so many times that even hearing what I had wanted to hear, I wasn’t sure I could believe it. “There wasn’t anyone else?” I repeated. If there wasn’t anyone else, then Haven hadn’t