Page 14 of No Regrets

She fell in bed and was grateful for the soft fluffy pillow to hug. Not as good as Kaden’s warm body, but good enough for her right now. All she needed was sleep, and she’d regain her common sense back. She had to believe it, because too many more nights alone with him and he’d make her love him . . . again.

* * * *

Kaden pulled up to the two-story ranch-style house his father set up for him to see today. He called Bree and told her the details, though she seemed a little short with him on the phone. He was stupid to kiss her last night, though nothing in the world could have stopped him. And kissing her only made him want her more.

He killed the engine just as the broker stepped out of his own Mercedes with a wide, toothy grin on his face. Just what he needed to deal with today. Another salesman.

“Hello, Mr. Riggens,” the man said thrusting his hand toward Kaden as he slammed the door behind him. “I’m Howard Hughes. Your father said you and your wife were looking for a house to buy.”

“Yes, sir.” Kaden shook his hand as the man babbled on. Evidently Howard and his father had gone to school together.

“Well, good. Good. I have several houses available for purchase in different price ranges, but your father said money was no hindrance?”

“Yeah. Whatever my wife wants, she’ll get.” Just as he said the words, Brianna pulled in the drive in her ratty old Mazda that hummed something awful when she pressed on the breaks. Howard gave Kaden a curious glance, and he grinned. Just because he drove a Mercedes didn’t mean his stubborn wife would give up her ratty old car. In fact, he had just offered to have it serviced, but she refused.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” she said almost immediately while running toward them in a slinky red dress that accented her curves with every step she took. Her long black jacket hung to her knees though hiding most of her body from Howard’s approving eyes. “Shiloh was a bit clingy to me. More than usual.”

“Shiloh?” the man asked Kaden.

“Our daughter.”

Bree smiled when she came closer, sticking her hand out in greeting to Howard. “Hi. I’m Bree.”

“Howard Hughes. It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Riggens.”

After she pulled her hand back, Kaden wrapped his arm around her, pressing a kiss to her hair. He didn’t care what she thought, but Hughes wasn’t going to get any ideas. For one year, Brianna was his. And he intended to convince her of it.

“Well, follow me. This house is very beautiful.” He started the whole spill he probably gave every couple when they came to see his featured properties.

An hour later, they put five houses behind them and came up on the last and final one of the day. A single story cul-de-sac the broker announced as a four-bedroom, three-bath, four-thousand-square-foot home. He could see exactly what was going on in Bree’s mind when she looked the house, though he knew she’d never say she wanted this one. She’d go for the cheapest because she didn’t want to be a burden.

“What do you think?” Kaden whispered as she checked out the master bath.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered back. “But we can’t have something like this, Kaden. It’s too expensive.”

“I told you not to worry about that. Just pick out a house you like, or tell the broker you want to see more.”

She looked almost sad as she stood staring into the master bath, longing, he knew, to be able to afford something like this for herself. She was extremely independent, too much for her own right.

“Sweetheart, we’ve been over this.”

“Yeah, and we agreed to split the bills down the middle. I can’t afford something like this.” She turned to face him, sad.

“Bree, I told you I’d buy the house. It’s not that big of a deal.” He stepped closer to her, pulling her to his body. “Get whatever you want.”

She wrapped her arms around the small of his back, and for a brief second, leaned on him, allowing him to support her. “I really like this one. I think that first bedroom would be perfect for Shiloh. Plenty of room for her toys and her own space. What do you think?”

“I think we just bought a house.”

After signing the paperwork and sealing the deal, the real estate broker handed them the keys to their new home. Brianna called in to work to say she’d be in later, giving them plenty of time to go shopping for Christmas presents.

He bought just about everything Bree picked out for Shiloh, and she nearly smacked him for spending as much as he did, but he loved it. Spending hours with Bree when they didn’t fight or talk about the past was peaceful and wonderful. She made a few purchases herself and they walked away with two armfuls of stuff for their baby.

“You’re ridiculous, you know that?” They took his car since, well, hers wasn’t guaranteed to make it.

“Brianna, stop being so uptight. It’s only money, sweetheart.” He saw her shake her head in his peripheral vision. “Besides, I didn’t actually buy the house. My parents did, as a wedding present.”

“Kaden!” She tried putting up a fight. But he stopped her before she started.

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