Page 102 of Vengeful Vows

Paige likes everybody, or at least everybody but Kael. But I don’t say that, not wanting him to feel worse.

“She's a good person,” I say. “Despite being born of a snake, she’s got a really good heart.”

“You do love her.” Kael looks at me with wide eyes.

“Is that so hard to believe?”

“It is to me. Just never saw you as that kind of guy.”

“I didn’t either,” I say honestly.

I’d never thought I would ever get married, never thought I would ever have a family outside of the rest of the Burkes. I didn’t know that someone would fit so well into my life. Now, it feels strange to have even slept in my office last night, felt strange not having her in my arms as we slept.

“What’s it like?”

“Hm? What?”

“Being in love.”

“Jesus.” I chuckle. “It’s rough. Like there’s always butterflies in your stomach. But when you’re with them... it’s like nothing else matters. Like no one else matters.”

“I can’t imagine that.”

“Neither could I, until it started happening. I’m honestly as surprised as you are, Kael.”

He laughs, finishing up his breakfast and sipping coffee. “Well, you should get back to your wife.”

I frown. “I don’t want to. Not until I really know what’s going on.”

“Have you asked her?”

“It’s not like she’s going to admit to it.” I shake my head.

“She might. If she feels the same way?—”

“She doesn’t,” I grumble.

Bree probably still hates me for what I’ve done, for kidnapping her, and I can’t blame her. That may be why she did it in the first place. She wanted me gone.

The idea makes my heart drop into my stomach.

I hate the way it feels when I think about Bree betraying me. She acts so sweet, acts so loving, but I don’t know how she really feels.

Kael doesn’t argue, but we fight over the bill for a moment before I slip cash into the server’s apron. Kael’s still complaining about it when we get back into the truck.

I drop him off at his car a couple of blocks from the warehouse.

When I make it back home, Bree’s in the living room, stretched across the couch and dead asleep. I smile a little, crouching next to her.

“Princess?” I call, and she snorts awake, yawning.

“Oh, you’re home,” she says. “I couldn’t sleep last night without you.”

She pouts again and this time, I do give in, scooping her off the couch and carrying her bridal style up the stairs.

She wraps her arms around my neck, nuzzling into my neck.

“You should get some more rest,” I tell her, and she makes grabby hands at me when I put her in bed.

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