Page 26 of Risk

Well, I don’t actually hate him, but whatever.

“What are you doing out here?” His voice is quiet, but I still hear it over the sounds of the party going on in the tent.

“Thea lost her favorite soft toy.”

“Bun-Bun?”

“Yeah. She can’t sleep without it. I went to help Elle get them ready for bed, and Thea freaked when she saw it wasn’t on her bed. She said she had it out here earlier when she and Gigi were playing. So, I said I’d come and look for it while Elle bathes them.”

“Want some help looking?” he offers.

The offer sounds casual, but it feels far from it.

Part of me wants to say no. The other part of me, which wants to spend time around him, speaks for me. “Sure.” I turn and walk into the wooded area, knowing he’s gonna follow me.

“You think it’s gonna be in there?” he asks, falling into step beside me.

“I’ve already checked around the garden, so I figure the only other place it could be is in the tree house.” My heel sticks in the soft dirt, and I grumble to myself. My shoes are gonna be done for after this.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Yeah, just heels and dirt don’t go well.”

His eyes meet mine in the dark, and I know he’s thinking the same thing that I am. Me taking my heels off in the elevator, which led to the kiss, which led to him fucking me in my hotel room, which led to him disappearing the next morning.

I look away. He clears his throat.

“We’re gonna need some light,” he says, taking his cell out. He puts the flashlight on, lighting the way for us.

We walk in uncomfortable silence in the direction of the tree house. It’s not too far past the tree line, so it takes no time to reach it—thank God, because I’m dying inside.

“You want me to go up?” he asks me, pointing the light at the stairs that lead up into the tree house.

“No. I’ll go.” My tone is firm, brooking no argument. The last thing I need is his help.

I bend over and unfasten the buckles on my heeled sandals, this time using the steps to the tree house as support and not him. Made that mistake once, not planning on making it again.

I leave my sandals at the steps and turn to Kaden. “Light the way,” I tell him.

He directs the flashlight at the steps for me.

I climb up, and once I’m up there, I take my cell from my pocket and put the flashlight on. I find Bun-Bun sitting in one of the little chairs they have up here.

I grab the soft toy that will help my niece sleep, turn off the tech on my cell, and pocket my phone.

“Got Bun-Bun,” I call out, stepping into the doorway.

His phone is still on me, lighting my way down, but I can’t see his face.

“Catch Bun-Bun so I don’t have to carry her down, okay?” I say to him.

“Okay.”

I toss Bun-Bun, and he catches her with the hand not holding his cell.

I carefully make my way back down the steps, not wanting to fall and make an ass out of myself. When I reach the bottom rung, I jump off, walk over to Kaden, and take Bun-Bun from his hand. I make sure not to touch him in the exchange.

“Thanks,” I tell him.

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