Page 38 of Love Me Like You Do

“Man, I love hearing you say that,” he playfully says.

“Well, then, Kane,” I emphasize his name, “I guess I’ll see you later then.”

“I guess so.”

Stepping to him, I kiss his cheek and start walking away from him. I can feel his gaze on me so I add a swagger to my step, swishing my ass from side to side. When I reach the street, I look both ways before I cross the road and just as I step out, I feel a hand at my lower back. Looking to the side, I see Kane escorting me across the road. “Looks like we’re both going the same way.”

“Looks like it … or you might just be stalking me.”

“You call it stalking, I call it escorting a beautiful lady across the road.”

A smile graces my face and we silently fall into step, making our way to Main Street and Fern’s apartment. Just as we reach her place, the door opens and she steps out. “Morning, hussy, where did you ru—”

“Ohh, good morning, Kane.”

“Good morning, Fern. Lovely morning, isn’t it?”

“Yep,” she says, letting the ‘p’ pop. Her eyes dart between Kane and me, and if I know my bestie, I’m about to face the Spanish Inquisition.

“I will see you later this morning, Calliope.”

“Sure thing, Kane.”

Fern’s eyes widen when I say his name and I know the mistake I just made.

“About time you started using my first name. I’ve only been saying it for years.”

“My dad told me to respect my elders.”

“Hey, enough with the elder talk, I’m not that old.” A silence falls between us and then he says, “I’ll leave you to it, ladies.” He nods at us, steps around Fern, and continues down Main Street.

He’s not even out of earshot when Fern starts. “Oh. My. Fucking. God, girl, you and I need to debrief now. Is it too early for wine?”

“Wine, yes … but maybe a mimosa, it—”

“is a brunch drink after all,” we finish that sentence in unison.

Over brunch, I fill Fern in on my adventures this morning. I can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed but a few hours later, that feeling dissipates with one text message.

ChapterTwenty-Four

I’m on a high after leaving Calliope and Fern, nothing, and I mean nothing, can bring me down. However, those are famous last words because when I enter my office later that morning, I come face-to-face with Bitchifer herself. “Danica, what the hell are you doing in here?” I growl from the doorway to my office.

“It’s nice to see you too, husband.” She accentuates the word husband, and I can’t help but roll my eyes at her.

“Ex,” I snarl, “ex-husband.”

“Not yet, dear husband,” she sasses, once again focusing on the husband part while I focus on not throttling her. I remind myself orange doesn’t look good on me … or if I’m locked up, I won’t be with Calliope.

“What do you want, Danica? I have a meeting soon.”

“Cancel it, we need to talk.”

“We can talk through our lawyers. I have nothing to say to you.”

“Don’t be like that, we have a good thing going.”

“The only good thing is you being far far away from Silverbell. The town and me are certainly better without you in it.”

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