Page 71 of When Hearts Surrender

What just happened?

How was it both the coldest and hottest experience I’ve ever had?

A burning sensation appears behind my eyes as a sobering ache blooms in my chest. I blink away my impending tears and remind myself this isn’t about love. This is about getting what we both want out of this arrangement.

I want to get pregnant. Focus on that, Belle.

But my heart is splintering in half, the blood pouring out of the deep wound.

He didn’t even kiss me.

Chapter 26

The biting wind lashesmy face as I throw open the doors of BSUA and step into the dingy shelter, a trail of dead brown leaves following me inside and littering the wet floors.

A pipe burst a block away, sending grimy, malodorous water down the streets. The driver had to make a few maneuvers around the block to find a place to drop me off.

“I’m so sorry for being late!” I wheeze at my girlfriends and Cole, who are gathered in the lobby and have already started wiping down the shelter during the BSUA’s quarterly volunteering day.

Because asshole Bob is too lazy to hire a proper cleaning crew to keep BSUA up to code.

One day, he’ll get one too many violations and then where will these poor animals go?

“No worries. We’ve been getting to know Cole over here.” Millie giggles as she ties her dark brown hair into a messy bun. “Do you know he and Tay both like carrot cake and horror films?”

Grace grins and nods. “They also both love ballet and prefer the mountains over the beach.”

“Right. Cole thinks Tay’s piercings arefascinating.”

“Totally, Millie! I forgot he said that!” Grace squeals, a devious glint in her dark blue eyes that frequently appears violet under certain lighting.

Cole snorts as he mops the puddles on the floor, no doubt from the busted pipe. He shakes his head, clearly amused at the girls’ antics.

Taylor rolls her eyes and sighs. “You guys need to stop trying to match make me with any available men you see just because you guys found your happily-ever-afters.”

She throws her dirty rag over her shoulder, clearly not caring about ruining her gray oversized sweater. “I don’t need men in my life. They’re more trouble than they’re worth.”

Sneaking a glance at Cole, she shrugs. “Sorry, dude. No offense to you, but I hate blonds.”

Millie and Grace let out a collective sigh, clearly crestfallen at their failure at matchmaking our remaining single friend in our girl group.

Cole snickers. “None taken.”

Taylor turns around, her face twisted in a dark scowl, and mutters under her breath, “Plus, one fucking annoying blond asshole is more than enough.”

Grace and I exchange a glance, and I cock a brow. Taylor’s hatred of Charles Vaughn is very obvious. He’s well-mannered, mature, and gets along with everyone, but for some unknown reason, he and Taylor have been oil and water ever since they met.

After putting my purse and coat inside a dingy metal locker in the back room, I rejoin my friends as we wipe down empty cages on the side of the shelter not currently occupied by animals. The acrid smell of dirty water mixing with cleaning agents is enough to make my stomach turn.

“So, how’s life going, Mrs. Anderson…or should we call you,Your Majesty,since you’ve conquered the frigid king?” Grace nudges me and I feel a heat blooming on my face.

“You can call her Your Grace too. She’s technically a duchess now.” Millie cackles and the two give each other a high five.

“Hold on a sec,” Grace muses. “No, not yet! Linus is still alive—technically, he’s the duke and Maxwell is a marquess.”

“Oooh, marchioness? So, what do we call her, my lady?”

“Beats me—I learn all my stuff from Regency romances andBBCshows.”

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