Page 13 of Monster Mistake

God, he was pathetic.

“Thanks,” she said. “I appreciate that. This whole thing is getting really old. He’s not even taking the time to write a personal message. Just writes ‘meant to be’ on the card.”

There was something about that message that gave Khill a bad feeling, like a spider had just crawled down his spine. He had no idea why. Maybe he was annoyed that someone other than him was in love with Justine? Or maybe he was annoyed with himself for not being able to express his feelings as easily as this flower-sending jerkoff was. “I’ll drop ‘em at the nursing home,” he grumbled.

Another sigh. She rubbed her temples. “He keeps calling, too. I blocked his number, but he must’ve gotten a new one just to call me on. When I answer, all I hear is some stupid old song about fate. It’s crazy! Why does he keep trying? I mean,hecheated onme. I would think having me out of his life would make it easier for him to bang other women. Why try to get me back?”

He knew the answer to that question better than anyone on the planet. But his inability to voice it was what had gotten him into this fiasco.

So, he did the only thing he could. He stepped in closer. And closer. Until she was forced to crane her neck up to meet his gaze. Her eyes widened as he slid his hand into her hair andcupped her neck. Slowly—oh so slowly—he leaned down, close enough to take her mouth with his if he chose to, and…

Pressed a kiss to her forehead.

He tried not to read too much into the way her breathing quickened. “I can’t imagine anything more painful than watching you walk away,” he whispered against her skin. “Other than maybe letting you go without a fight. That’s why he keeps trying.”

And with that, he let her go and walked away, taking whatever scraps of his dignity (and self-control) he still had with him.

Justine was still sittingat the foot of her bed, dumbfounded, a full half hour after Khill left her.

He’d been weird about the annulment, continued to act weird with her all week, gave her the sexiest kiss of her life (what did it say about her love life that the sexiest kiss she’d ever had was aforeheadkiss?), said it must be painful to walk away from her, then proceeded to walk away from her like it was nothing?

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

Was he trying to say—in his unique, annoying, non-communicative way—thathewanted her? Years afterhe’drejectedher? Had he wanted her all along? The whole time she’d been with Jake? When he drunk-married her in Vegas? And more importantly…if she asked him about any of this now, would he even admit it?

It was so hard to tell what Khill was thinking or feeling. He was so damn stoic. Always had been. She assumed it was because of his upbringing. From the little bits and pieces she’d gleaned from stories he’d told her in the past, orcs weren’t what anyone could call emotionally available. And she’d had to drag each of those stories out of him like she was pulling teeth.

So, how the hell was she supposed to get the most tight-lipped orc in the state—maybe even on the planet—to discuss his feelings with her?

She was making a mental list of possible solutions (that may or may not involve waterboarding) when her cousin called.

“I’m a legal goddess,” Lila said in lieu of a greeting.

“I know. You remind me every Thanksgiving and twice on Christmas. What’s up?”

“The court’s docket is jammed up for months, but because I’m a legalgoddess, I got you a court date next Tuesday.”

Justine took that news like a punch to the gut. “So soon?”

“I believe the response you’re groping for is, ‘Wow, Lila, thank yousomuch for being so freakin’ awesome at your job! How can I ever repay you?’ And the answer, since you seem slow today, is to let me borrow your red leather jacket next Friday. I have a date.”

Justine rubbed her aching temples. “I mean…thank you. And, of course, you can borrow the jacket.” It didn’t fit right across her shoulders, anyway. It had been a gift from Jake, who obviously had no idea what size she wore. “So, by next Wednesday, I’ll be a single woman again?”

“Yes.” Long pause. “Unless you’ve changed your mind? Youdostill want the annulment. Right, Jussy?”

She swallowed hard. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I?”

Lila snorted. “Because your husband is fuck hot? I’d trap his ass into marriage in a heartbeat if I thought he’d go for it. And believe me when I say, hon, if I wasyou, he’d go for it.”

“You thinkhemight not want the annulment?”

“Are you blind? He obviously has a thing for you.”

“He plays it close to the vest,” she admitted. “If he has feelings for me, he hasn’t said a word.”

“Well, he is a man. Monster or human, I haven’t met a single one of them who expressed a damn feeling unless he was forced into it. But go with your gut. If you want me to cancel the court date, I will.”

It’d be so easy to say yes. To just stay married until she was able to drag Khill’s feelings out of him. But manipulating him into expressing himself just didn’t feel right. Then again, neither did alcohol-fueled wedding vows.

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