Page 17 of Trouble

With one hand, I pull off my shirt and grin. The bastard won’t follow, but fuck if I didn’t wish he would.

CHAPTER 9

Melina

After spectacular showersex and then another loud round before we got dressed, Cade dropped me off at Lake’s house with a promise to call me this week.

I don’t expect him to follow through. This morning was fun—especially the part where I screamed his name so loud when I came that the entire house probably shook, knowing that Declan heard every second of it—but I’m not a fool. Declan’s warning that Cade is a playboy was unnecessary. I knew that about him before we slept together.

Ilikethat about him.

I’m not ready for a real relationship. But to feel wanted in the way Cade is so naturally good at? I couldn’t have asked for more. And I wanted to remember what it felt towantto be touched again.

For so long, the idea of another person’s hands on me made my skin crawl.

Damn Declan for making me feel dirty for enjoying it.

He’s ruining my fun.

“So, Cade Fitzgerald?” Lake asks, her brow raised as she bounces Nash against her chest.

My best friend is never anything short of perfection, so it’s not surprising that she’s taken to motherhood so naturally. Though it’sendearing, how casual and comfortable she looks right now. She’s got her hair up in a messy bun on the top of her head, and she’s wearing one of Ford’s old Led Zeppelin shirts and a pair of oversized black sweats. Ford disappeared when I walked in the door, saying he was going to listen to the tapes his assistant sent over.

The two of them—three now, I guess—have a pretty perfect life. Though the once pristine house is scattered with baby items, the scene before me makes tears prick my lids. Will I ever have this? Do I even want it?

Will anyone ever truly want me?

“It’s nothing.” I wave a dismissive hand, batting away the emotions threatening to surface. “Just got caught by a reporter. It made more sense to say he was my boyfriend than to tell the guy that I was just interested in banging him and my new roommate.”

Lake squeaks, clutching the baby to her chest. “I—did you—” She blinks, speechless.

I laugh. “Don’t act all innocent. You are currently rocking your ex-boyfriend’s brother in your arms.”

Lake covers Nash’s ears. “Don’t say things like that in front of him.” Even as she scolds me, she giggles. “It really is ridiculous when you put it like that.” Chin tucked, she smiles down at the five-month-old who is completely oblivious to the absurd circumstance into which he was born. “And yet, I wouldn’t change a thing.”Her soft smile turns sharp as she looks up at me. “Now tell me about how you ended up with not one, but two men last night.”

With a shake of my head, I drop onto the couch and pull my legs up under me. “I didn’t. Not that I would have minded if it had turned out that way.”

“Mel,” she laughs. “I’ve got to be honest, I can’t imagine Chief Everhart sharing. He seems so broody.”

I sigh, my mood sinking a little. She’s not wrong. “Honestly, you’re probably right.”

She settles beside me. “But he’s been kind?”

With a shrug, I swipe at the arm of the couch, avoidingher scrutiny. “He’s fine.”

“That isn’t what I asked. You put up with fine for a long time with?—”

I hold up my hand. “I don’t want to talk about him.”

Lake frowns. “Okay, but please tell me if he reaches out. You can’t hide things like you did before.”

Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I duck my head. “I know.”

She brushes a hand down my arm. “I’m serious, Mel.”

What she doesn’t know is that I didn’t hide it from everyone. I told two people. I told my brother, and I told my mother. But Jason is so much more than just my agent. He’s my brother’s best friend. Like a second son to my mom. Though I told them separately, their responses were the same. They told me that I must have misunderstood the situation. That fame had changed me. That I’d become arrogant, behaving like I was too good for everyone.

Telling people only to have them not believe me made it hurt more. And to add to the pain, they almost had me convinced that I was the problem.

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