Page 43 of Not In Love

Josh. Coming in from the rain, umbrella half-collapsed, blazer clinging to his shoulders. He looked the same as he had eighteen months ago. Shabby and unshaved, his expensive clothes clinging to his lean frame, and full of resentment and hatred for her.

* * *

Diego feltthe tension that took over Kash’s frame instantly.

“Wow,” the man at the door said, his voice slick with disdain. “Really enjoying my father’s house, yeah? Looks like wedding preparations.”

The room froze.

Kash shot to her feet, spine straight as a blade. Diego and Kaif were on their feet too. The man—Josh—looked just like he had in Diego’s memory from the couple of times he had visited Simon at this very house. Tall, smug, with the kind of confidence only inherited money and unchecked bitterness could fuel.

Kash’s silence egged the bastard on, to say loud enough for the entire room to hear. “Don’t tell me you’ve found the next old geezer to bend over for, Kash?”

The heat that surged into Diego’s chest made him shake. He took one step forward before Kaif placed a subtle hand on his arm. Kash had already crossed the room, her mouth tight.

“It’s my brother’s wedding,” she said, voice cool but brittle at the edges. “You’re welcome to join the celebration if you’d like.” Her tone held no bite. Just bone-deep fatigue.

Josh scoffed.

Kash grabbed his arm—not roughly, just firmly—and led him toward the hallway.

“I’ve got this,” Diego said to Kaif, and followed her, fists clenched at his sides.

The study was quiet when he stepped in and closed the door.

Like a memory that Kash refused to let fade, the scent of sandalwood and old paper lingered. The room was masculine, subdued, with dark leather chairs and a mahogany desk with neatly stacked paperwork. A shelf of worn legal tomes and travelogues sat on dark shelves.

Framed photos lined the sideboard—Simon in his younger years, his daughter Beth laughing with a glass of wine, a Christmas photo of the whole family. Kash hadn’t taken anything down.

For just a second, Diego felt a rush of unadulterated jealousy fill him to the brim. She had trusted Simon and committed herself to him, despite the large age gap.

Josh stood near the desk, arms crossed, smirking. Kash faced him with her chin lifted, the angle revealing the long, tired line of her neck.

“I’ve told you before,” she said, quietly, trying diplomacy again. “Simon wanted me to have the house long before the accident. Even Beth agreed then.”

“Because my sister was happy to have someone look after the old man,” Josh snapped. “You fed her the same story you fed my father. You twisted him up, made him think you were the second coming. And then, conveniently, he dies, leaves you this house and a chunk of stock. Real nice setup.”

Diego’s vision narrowed.

Kash didn’t flinch, as if she’d heard it all before. “I loved your father, Josh” she said. “And I didn’t ask him for anything. He made his decisions with a clear mind, with lawyers. He wanted to take care of me just as he wanted to with you and Beth. You know better than anyone that the stock he left me was a tiny part of his fortune. Which he happily split between you and Beth.”

“You killed him,” Josh sneered, face pale and sweaty. “You and your stupid sister insisting that he give her a ride that day. You made him cut me off. Do you know what that’s done to me?”

Diego had heard enough. His pulse roared in his ears.

Kash raised her hand, holding him off. “Are you using again?”

Josh blinked and sniffled.

“I can help,” she said, almost softly. “But stop blaming me for your father’s decisions.”

He moved fast, leaning in close to her face, nostrils flaring. “You don’t get to play savior now. You ruined everything.”

Diego crossed the room in two strides. His hand curled around Josh’s collar and yanked him back with enough force to make the man stumble.

“You say one more word to her like that,” he growled, “and I’ll drag you to the streets. You think she has no one to look after her?”

Josh staggered but straightened, his mouth twisting like he was going to push it further. Diego vibrated with fury, his hand still fisted in the fabric of Josh’s soaked blazer.

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