Page 38 of No Regrets

“Oh, I bet I can convince you to let me stay longer.” She came to him and slid her arms underneath his suit jacket.

He grabbed her elbows and roughly pushed her away. “I said, leave me the hell alone.”

Bethany had a conniving way about her. She had weaseled a diamond ring and an engagement out of him, and then he turned around and found her in bed doing another. He hadn’t love her. Not like he loved Brianna, but he had cared. She had give him companionship, and they had been seen as the perfect couple. Everyone wanted to be them.

Now he saw her for what she was, nothing but a pretty face with nothing to offer anyone. Honestly, she was so different from Brianna he felt foolish to even call her an ex. Stupid and foolish is what he was, what their relationship was.

He closed the door behind him after he entered his bedroom. He really wanted to talk to Brianna, if only to hear her voice. He knew she has work tomorrow, and he’d talked to her earlier. But he couldn’t help it. He needed her right now.

He picked up the phone and dialed their number. She answered on the third ring. “Hey, babe.”

“Kaden? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just got in and missed you. I wanted to hear your voice.” He sat back against his pillows hating his bed, the bed he’d once favored so much.

“You just got in? At . . . three?”

“Yeah. I spent the night looking through all my law books trying to find an answer, but I came up with nothing.” The look in that little girl’s eyes haunted him.

“Oh, Kaden. I’m sure you’ll find something. Have you asked your dad about it? Maybe he can point you in the right direction.”

“He’s too busy with five other cases. That’s actually why I took this case. He wanted me to help him out.” He huffed a breath and leaned back against the soft pillows, missing Brianna’s warm body.

“Well, I know you’ll find something.” He loved her encouragement, the way she tried to make the best out of bad situations. “You need rest though, sweetie. You’ve been up since five-thirty this morning. Get some sleep, and then start looking again with fresh eyes.”

“I miss you.”

“You saw me earlier today.”

“So? I still miss you.”

“Get some sleep, and you’ll see me soon enough. Don’t forget we have that party to go to this weekend. You mother called me a billion times wanting my opinion on this and that.” He could practically see her eyes roll, and smiled. Ever since the whole daycare thing, Blair Riggens has made Brianna her best friend. “Anyway. It’s a formal thing so you’ll have to get your tux.”

“It’s at my parents’ house.”

“Yeah, she told me that. I have to go tomorrow—well, today after work and pick out a dress. Any preferences?”

He grinned. “I’m pretty sure the kind of dress I’d prefer wouldn’t be the kind you’d wear in public.”

“Smart-ass. I was thinking blue, maybe a halter?”

“Is it easy to get out of?”

“Ugh. You have a one-track mind, you know that?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll surprise you. Kristy, my mother, and your mother are all making an afternoon of it. I may need a glass or two of wine when the day is done.”

“Or me. I tend to have a knack for making you forget everything.”

She sighed. “No denying that. Get some sleep, baby. I’ll see you tonight. Have a good day at work, okay?”

Kaden closed his eyes, picturing his wife alone in their bed, looking absolutely beautiful. He knew she wouldn’t be naked, since she only slept naked with him by her side, but he could imagine which silky nightie she wore. Lavender, probably, since it was her favorite. With a lace bodice that crossed over her breasts, stopping just at her waist. The damn thing was knee length, but looked sexy as hell when she wore it.

“Okay. Kiss Shiloh for me.”

“I will.”

They hung up the phone, and Kaden settled in his bed, hugging a very cold pillow that felt nothing like Brianna. He replayed their conversation over in his head. He needed his tux for his parents’ New Year’s party and hoped like hell Brianna didn’t plan on buying a damn dress that would threaten his libido before the stroke of midnight. But if she did, they’d be calling it a short night, to ring in the new year right.

---